Connecting Readers and Writers to the Word: National Library Week

“There’s More to the Story”Celebrating National Library WeekApril 23-29, 2023 Why celebrate libraries? Not because I retired as a teacher-librarian at the end of last school year. Not because I love libraries. But maybe loving libraries is a great reason to celebrate. Overall, we can observe and recognize our libraries because they hold many stories […]

Connecting Readers and Writers to the Word: Empowered by Creativity

Happy New Year! This year, I’m focusing on a specific and unique ‘word’ instead of my usual resolutions. Actually, I gave up on resolutions a few years ago. I never kept them! While one’s word for the year can be a verb or a noun, I chose the action word, “empowered.” Little did I know, […]

Connecting Readers and Writers to the Word: National Poetry Month

Spring and the month of April remains to be one of my favorite seasons. During this season, the weather turns warmer, grass and trees turn to green, flowers bloom, and birds sing. But, I also celebrate because it’s Poetry Month! As a young child, I loved writing poems. My teacher exposed me to all genres […]

Connecting Readers and Writers to the Word: African American History

To commemorate and recognize the contributions of African American people, Carter G. Woodson established Black History Week (initially Negro History Week) in 1926. Known as the Father of Black History, Carter G. Woodson felt that in order for Blacks to participate intelligently in the affairs of our country, they should know their past. In 1976, […]

Connecting Readers and Writers to the Word: Christmas in July

As reported in an article, “How a North Carolina Summer Camp Started Christmas in July” written by Maria Carter (7/13/17), the legend of “Christmas in July” began in 1933 at the Keystone Summer Camp for girls, located at Brevard, N. C. Two days, July 24 and 25, were dedicated to this special celebration. Original decorations […]

Connecting Readers and Writers to the Word: National Ice Cream Month

I scream, you scream! We all scream for ice cream! Today, I’d like to lighten the mood from my normal blog posts because during the month of July, we celebrate National Ice Cream Day. It was established by President Ronald Reagan in 1984. Furthermore, July 8 was National Ice Cream Sundae Day. And, the 3rd […]

Connecting Readers and Writers to The Word: Remembering Juneteenth

Juneteenth, the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States, dates back to June 19, 1865, when the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that slaves were free due to the war having ended. Remarkably, this was two and a half years after the official January 1, 1863 […]