Weekend Coffee Share 3-8-19
Good morning Everyone.
Come in for a cup of strong hot coffee. It is still wintery cold on the south shore of Long Island. I, for one, am looking forward to springing ahead. An additional hour of daylight and the tilt of the earth towards warmer temperatures and color can only improve the winter blahs.
If we were having coffee, I would announce that the report cards and IEP progress notes are just about finished. Next week, the weather forecast predicts above freezing temperatures and dry conditions so the kids can get outside for recess. We are all suffering from assessment overload and acute cabin fever.
If we were having coffee together, I would let you know that The Writer’s Dream television interview with Linda Frank will be aired on Cable TV (local channel 20) on March 21 at 3 p.m. It’s not the most convenient time to watch TV. I’ll have to find a way to tape it.
If we were having coffee together, I would tell you that the big accomplishment this week was signing up for Blogging A-Z Challenge 2019. My theme is Small World Jumping Name Game. It is a children’s lit project I had been working on and off for years. Remember the jump rope chant, A My Name is Amy…? The Small World Jumping Name Game is similar. Each child begins his/her turn by greeting friends with a friendly hello then skip through a letter alliterating their name, a friend’s name, and their home city. They also state their country, the language they speak, and their favorite game. The game descriptions are included as a sidebar (if I could figure out how to make a sidebar on Word Press). I chose games that are played in schoolyards, playgrounds or the streets where children negotiate their terms and teams. Most of these games have been passed down by siblings and neighborhood children. You may recognize your favorite games that differ only in name. The Small World Jumping Name Game celebrates the beauty of diversity. As the chant progresses, it becomes apparent that the pursuit of laughter and fun are universal. Cooperation and peace are daily possibilities.
Most of the research is complete. The spreadsheet is epic! I will need to search out free graphics and photos. Suggestions, please.
As always, BIG THANK YOUs go out to, Eclectic Alli for managing Weekend Coffee Share.
Have a good week, Everyone. Make it great.
Antoinette Truglio Martin is the author of Hug Everyone You Know: A Year of Community, Courage, and Cancer. The memoir is a wimpy patient’s journey through her first year of breast cancer treatment.
Stories Served 
Can’t wait to follow you through the A to Z; glad you signed up.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am excited you signed up for the challenge! I am looking forward to your posts – as always!
LikeLiked by 1 person
HI, Antoinette – I picked up your book today….and honestly could not put it down. I am now 100 pages in. I feel as though I have spent this morning in your living room, having coffee together, as Matt, your daughters, your friends, and family drifted in and out as we chatted. I can’t wait to read more, but also want to pace myself as I already don’t want to end this time together.
Great post this morning. I am glad to hear that you will be doing the A – Z Challenge again. I have declined for this year. I greatly look forward to reading more about Small World Jumping Name Game…and where it leads us!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! Your kind words lifted my spirits. Enjoy the read. Looking forward to reading about your adventures. With your inspiration, I am pondering my next career move.
LikeLike
Here, it is not yet spring. The Small World jumping game sounds interesting. Best wishes for your Children’s Lit project.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sidebars, you say. Hmmm. I don’t know either, but now will have to look and see if I can figure it out. WordPress and I are beginning to get along better, but I suspect this relationship may only get good, if I become a paying blogger.
I do know of a few good free photo sites, that I use often.
1) Google Images is good if you mouse to the options below the box for what you want to search for and click on: Tools, then Usage Rights and pick one of the options that best fits your needs. I normally just use:”Labeled for reuse” then you can freely use anything you see and like.
2) Usplash is great. Check it out at: https://unsplash.com/
3) WordPress has a free photo collection you can use. From your post edit window, click the “(+) Add” button in the upper left and select “Free photo library” instead of Media as you might normally do.
I’ve found some great stuff in each of these places. Hope I’ve been able to help out.
LikeLike
Great tips. I’ll look into them. Thanks a bunch.
LikeLike
Great idea for a theme! I look forward to your posts.. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad to hear you’ll be doing the A to Z… I’ll be there also. It’s been awhile since I’ve heard many of those games. It sounds interesting. See ya soon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Starting to feel the A to Z excitement. I look forward to reading your interesting and unusual topic. Happy writing and see you there!
LikeLiked by 1 person