writer of children's books, plays, and teacher resources

COMPLETED MANUSCRIPTS

Middle Grade Chapter Books

GWENDOLYN CLAIRE VS. THE FOXFIELD FOUR

Gwendolyn Claire vs. the Foxfield Four (176 pages; 32,014 words), a middle grade chapter book tackles the issue of elementary school girl  bullies.   The title character, a bright, personable fifth grader who loves creative writing, enters her new school Foxfield Elementary in late September following her mother's job transfer. On her first day Gwen comes face-to-face with Olivia, the self-proclaimed leader of the Foxfield Four, a group of girl bullies. This is the first book in the GC series.

GWENDOLYN CLAIRE AND THE FOXFIELD SCHOOL PLAY

GC and the FSP (131 pages; 25,867 words) follows the cast of characters from the first GC book into the next month of school and highlights two big events: Halloween (with the possibility of a library ghost) and, more importantly, tryouts for the school play.   Two new characters, Gracie (Gwendolyn’s competition), and Colin (Gwen’s best friend from her “old” school) figure strongly as Gwen deals with the possibility of not being cast in a leading role. After a very bumpy ride, she learns something about herself and even makes a new friend. GC and the FSP  addresses: competition, jealousy, and disappointment as they relate to play tryouts. This is the second book in the GC series. 

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Educational Resources 

THEATRE4KIDS:  PLAYS AND PROCESS

AN ANTHOLOGY OF ORIGINAL CHILDREN’S PLAYS AND AN EFFECTIVE AND SIMPLE GUIDE

TO PRODUCING A CHILDREN’S PLAY

WHILE ON A BUDGET

Here is part of the "Introduction" to this manuscript.

INTRODUCTION

During my almost thirty-five years of teaching English and Drama, I worked with thousands of high school and elementary school students. Once approached by a high school student about the possibility of my advising and directing the school’s drama group, I thought that my limited experience in high school and college theatre would provide me with just a basic knowledge of theatre and perhaps not be enough.   Then again, I loved the theatre and kids, and decided to take a chance.

THEATRE4KIDS: PLAYS AND PROCESS is the culmination of my experience. Finding that a simple and effective course is the most productive, I would like to share my knowledge with you so that you too can take the plunge and offer your students, your children, and/or the members of your club or troop, the chance to experience the thrill and education of acting in or working on a school play.

Simple instructions for staging, costuming, prop management, and programs are provided along with various forms that I actually used in the production process to communicate with the adults that worked with me to provide theatre for their children. Most importantly, an anthology of original Theatre4Kids plays that I wrote and produced with my elementary students also are included here. All have been presented and have met with great success from both the actors’ and audience’s points of view.  

So, what are you waiting for? Everything you need to get started lies before you! It’s time to create a future Audrey Hepburn or Cary Grant who will never forget their first moment in the spotlight or you, in fact, for providing them with the thrill of being in a school play.       

For more info. on the plays, check out:  www.theatre4kids.com

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THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO HIGH SCHOOL VOCABULARY INSTRUCTION

 15 COMPLETE VOCABULARY UNITS INCORPORATING WORDS SELECTED FROM STANDARDIZED TESTS 

Here is the "Introduction" page from the manuscript.

INTRODUCTION 

Help your students improve their vocabulary skills and ready themselves for standardized verbal tests while you fit

EFFECTIVE AND PROVEN SUCCESSFUL VOCABULARY INSTRUCTION

into an ever-tightening teaching schedule.

While an English teacher at the highly-ranked New Hartford High School in upstate New York, I discovered that the curriculum lacked an intense immersion in vocabulary study. Classic literature, writing, and grammar weighed heavily in the curriculum; on the other hand, vocabulary study per se was not emphasized. Since the verbal aspect of standardized testing required of high school students focused a great deal on the vocabulary itself, I decided to develop a program to use with my students to address this need.

Sharing my work with my colleagues was a priority while I was teaching and still is now. This book offers 15 vocabulary intensive lessons, including: word lists, tests, review tests, and answer sheets that secondary education teachers and even middle school honors English teachers may easily fit into a typical 40 week school year. The program is also easily adaptable to a 20 week or 10 week course. Work on analogies, association, content, synonyms and antonyms is highlighted.

My simple effective approach to the lessons is easy to follow and employ within the classroom schedule whether the schedule is standard or flexible.