Hans
Brinker or the Silver Skates by Mary Mapes Dodge.
Abridged for the Chick-fil-A® Classic
Stories & Essential Values book series. Copyright © Frederic
Thomas Inc. All rights reserved.
Writing this book required that I condense a lengthy classic into a mere 24
pages. I relished the challenge of staying true to the original tale and author’s
voice, while creating a story that would engage young children (ages 6-10).
“Meitje Brinker earned a
meager living for her family by spinning yarn, knitting and raising
vegetables. Her husband, Raff Brinker, required constant care. Hans
and Gretel did nearly all of the outdoor work and household chores.
In the summer, the children dug peat, which is decaying moss and plants,
from marshy areas. Then they stacked the square, brick-like pieces
to dry for the family’s fuel supply. Hans was clever at carving wood,
and both he and Gretel were good gardeners.”
Save
Our Murals from Sandblasting from Write Source.
Pages 29-30. Copyright © Great
Source. All rights reserved.
I worked on several chapters of this book, which teaches tenth graders about
writing. I wrote student level models and generated instructional text. This
model is from the chapter “One Writer’s Process,” which follows how a student
used the writing process to develop a persuasive essay about saving murals
in her community.
“Perhaps the most important
reason to save the murals is the message each one conveys. Every day
thousands of people drive through downtown. Before the murals, commuters
and shoppers had nothing to look at but brick walls and billboards.
Now people can find inspiration in the themes expressed in the paintings.
Unified Universe shows teenagers supporting the Earth. Divine Diversity
presents costumed children from around the world. Creative Culture
features young artists, musicians, and dancers. If the city removes
the murals, it’s saying that these issues aren’t important.”
Mountain
Encounter from Write Source. Pages 340-341. Copyright © Great
Source. All rights reserved.
I worked on several chapters of this book, which teaches eighth graders about
writing. I wrote student level models and generated instructional text. This
essay is from the chapter “Writing for Assessment.”
“Keira leaned against a large
boulder and gasped for breath. She stared at the clear blue sky overhead.
A small bird flew along, disappearing into the trees. Keira sighed
and wished that she could fly like that bird. Instead, she was stuck
here, slogging along a trail. She looked ahead at the dirt path that
switched back and forth up the steep mountainside. Her parents and
little brother, Ethan, were already at the next bend.”
An
Indian Meal from Write Source. Page 144. Copyright © Great
Source. All rights reserved.
I worked on several chapters of this book, which teaches seventh graders about
writing. I wrote student level models and generated instructional text. This
essay is from the chapter “Writing in Social Studies.”
“Then the waitress brought
out several more dishes. A big silver bowl held mounds of steaming
white rice. Two small baskets had large slices of nan bread. In the
middle of the table, a round pot held spicy chicken curry. Grandma
showed me how to tear off some bread and use it to scoop up my curry.
The curry was unbelievably hot! Soon I was using the nan bread between
dishes just to cool off my mouth!”
Weight
Lifting 101 from Write for College. Pages 199-200. Copyright © Great
Source. All rights reserved.
I worked on several essays in this book, which teaches college students about
writing. This is a model of classification from the chapter “Analytical Writing.”
“I’d heard rumors about it
before I ever left for college, and once I moved into the dorm, I realized
it was not just a rumor. I needed a way to combat the “Freshman Fifteen,”
that dreaded poundage resulting from a combination of late-night pizzas,
care-package cookies, and cafeteria cheesecakes. So, my roommate and
I headed to the university gym where the weight-training rooms are
filled with student “chain gangs” sweating and clanging their way through
a series of mechanical monsters. As I looked around, it became obvious
that people work out for quite different reasons. Health enthusiasts,
toning or defining devotees, athletes, and body builders seems to be
the main categories of those lifting weights.”
Down
the Rabbit Hole from Write
for College. Pages 254-255. Copyright © Great
Source. All rights reserved.
I have several essays in this book, which teaches college students about writing.
This model is from the chapter “Writing About Literature.” I originally wrote
this essay for a children’s literature class.
“Alice’s sister knew that the young girl “would keep, through all her riper years, the simple and loving heart of her childhood . . . the dream of Wonderland long ago . . . and find pleasure in . . . simple joys, remembering her own childlife, and the happy summer days.” My childhood imagination, too, hasn’t faded with time. I haven’t forgotten my journeys into backyard jungles or my faithful steeds of polished wood. Creativity and imagination are precious, not to be forgotten in literature or in life.”