Posts Tagged writing tips

Inspiring Quotes for Writers or How to Avoid Writer’s Block

By on December 18, 2025   /   For Writers, Teacher Tips, Writing   /   Leave a comment

Don’t wait for a writing community to show up. Create one. Invite, seek and you will find.

Turn off your phone.

Read. Read. Read. Did I say read?

Live in gratitude

If you are not where you want to be that’s okay. It means you know what you want.

Even if you don’t have time, write for two minutes. You can even write—I don’t know what to write

Be kind to librarians.

Read. Read. Read. Did I say read?

Tell someone you love them.

Write what intrigues you, what you obsess over.

Don’t worry, work instead.

Don’t work, play.

Stop thinking. Feel.

Buy books, borrow books. And give books away.

Don’t fall in love with your words, fall in love with ideas…with feelings with people.

You will always need to change your words, but your feelings are yours.

Learn from everything.

Trust yourself.

See the world and feel the world.

Have faith in yourself.

No excuses.

Laugh.

Drink water.

Exercise to keep mind, body and spirit strong.

For the first draft, feel your writing; heart not brain.

Second draft, use your mind, and your heart.

Write what you like to read.

Take trips.

Journal.

Write down your dreams.

Meditate. Breathe more deeply.

Eat more veggies.

Take a walk.

Take a shower.

Don’t be afraid.

Write through to the end.

 Revise, revise, revise.

Read, read, read. Did I say read?

Love to love critiques.

Be honest with yourself so you can be honest on the page.

Cut corn syrup out of your diet; it slows down your brain.

Take an acting or improv comedy class.

You are a beacon of light. Shine brightly.

Art takes time.

Spend time in nature every day.

Befriend someone who needs to be friended.

You are here for a reason.

Revision makes all the difference. Revise.

You are loved.

Your beauty shines out of you, always.

Observe your envy. It will tell you what you want. Then tell it bye bye!

Learn to say no to the world but yes to the universe.

First drafts are supposed to be ugly, mushy and mad.

Revise. Revise. Revise.

Never stop learning.

Commit.

Believe you are worth it.

You already know everything. Learning is opening up and allowing yourself to remember.

Expect success.

Write thank you letters.

Create your own inner best friend.

Remember you are amazing!

See with your heart.

Love your antagonists.

Ask questions.

Write your own inspiring quotes…

Hillary Homzie is the author of the Ellie May chapter book series (Charlesbridge, 2018), Apple Pie Promises (Sky Pony/Swirl, 2018), Pumpkin Spice Secrets (Sky Pony/Swirl, 2017), Queen of Likes (Simon & Schuster MIX 2016), The Hot List (Simon & Schuster MIX 2011) and Things Are Gonna Be Ugly (Simon & Schuster, 2009) as well as the Alien Clones From Outer Space (Simon & Schuster Aladdin 2002) chapter book series. She’s also a contributor to the Kate the Chemist middle grade series (Philomel Books/Penguin Random House). And her nonfiction picture book, If You Were a Princess: True Stories of Brave Leaders From Around the World is a look at historical and current princesses from many diverse lands who have made their mark (Simon & Schuster, August 2022). During the year, Hillary teaches at Sonoma State University. In the summer, she teaches in the graduate program in children’s literature, writing and illustration at Hollins University. She can be found at hillaryhomzie.com and on Instagram, and her Facebook page 

Back to Top

STEM Tuesday– Electricity — Writing Tips and Resources

By on December 16, 2025   /   Electricity, STEM Tuesday  

Writing tips & more!

Electricity

Activities with electricity can be dangerous, of course, but there is the old standby – static electricity. While under some circumstances, static electricity can be extremely hazardous, small amounts are fun for kid activities. Many people will remember rubbing a balloon on your head and then watching your hair stand up straight.

Static Electricity

Static electricity is an imbalance of electric charges within or on the surface of a material. The charge remains until it can move away as an electric current or by electrical discharge. The word “static” is used to differentiate it from current electricity, where an electric charge flows through an electrical conductor. (from Wikipedia)

For youngsters, there is nothing like music to make learning a concept exciting. Composer Sherri Boekweg is a singer/songwriter from Utah, and this video gives a great and catchy explanation.

From the Minnesota Children’s Museum comes Three Fun Static Electricity Experiments to Do at Home. Bending water, separating pepper and salt, and can races are like magic – educational and entertaining.

Three Fun Static Electricity Experiments to Do at Home

Etch-A-Sketch

One toy that has been around for 60 years is based on static electricity. According to the Strong National Museum of Play, it was invented in the 1950s by French electrical technician André Cassagnes. The silvery screen is aluminum particles and plastic beads that are removed by a stylus to make marks. Static charges hold the mixture of aluminum powder and tiny plastic beads to the screen and shaking it erases the lines.

Science journal

I am a huge advocate for science journals for all ages. The journals really bring in the STEAM concepts that can include writing, art, and design. Journal keeping involves planning, observation, communication, research and referencing, and much more, especially if children construct their own journals. I have included book making in past posts.

For older students, The California Academy of Sciences offers a step-by-step guide to setting up a science notebook, including Strategies for Reflection and Notebook Stories. Being flexible with content makes it more meaningful to students. Let them express opinions and observations.

https://www.calacademy.org/educators/setting-up-your-science-notebooks

Teacher Lessons

One of my favorite sites for teachers is Teachers Pay Teachers. Here are some offerings.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Bill-Nye-STATIC-ELECTRICITY-Video-Guide-Quiz-Sub-Plan-Worksheets-Lesson-4397449

Designing an electrical safety poster.

Some rules for designing posters. This page is about designing environmental posters but it has practical information about target audience, visuals, and text.

https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/kids/activities/be-a-scientist/design-a-poster

https://www.twinkl.com/resource/design-an-electrical-safety-poster-activity-t-sc-1711982676

Twinkl is a new site for me. The website says:

Experienced educators, professional graphic designers, and market-leading illustrators creating award-winning K-12 resources for use at school and home.

A basic membership is free but you can subscribe to a Premium Account. I don’t know anyone who is a member so I am not recommending, simply making readers aware of its existence. Like anything online, take care.

Margo Lemieux – is an author, illustrator, former art professor, and, even though retired, still does all those things and more.

Back to Top

STEM Tuesday– Electricity — In the Classroom

By on December 9, 2025   /   Electricity, STEM Tuesday  

See what kind of spark grows in your students’ minds from these interesting classroom activities about electricity—this month’s theme for STEM Tuesday!

 

Hidden Systems: Water, Electricity, the Internet, and the Secrets Behind the Systems We Use Every Day by Dan Nott

This graphic novel makes incredible use of the comic format to break down complex systems and abstract concepts into bite-sized explanations. Nott not only explains the science behind our electricity, water, and internet systems, but also illuminates how these systems have encoded and perpetuated some of our human biases…sometimes with devastating consequences. This eye-opening book is sure to make you think differently about the technology you use everyday!

Activity

Have students pick one of the systems covered in the book: internet, power grid, or waterworks. Tell them to research a famous inventor who was important to the development of that system. Ask them to create presentations about the inventor, including a basic diagram of what that person invented. Students should explain its importance and other interesting details about its invention, such as how long it took to create and if there were any failures along the way.

 

Science Comics: Electricity: Energy in Action written and illustrated by Andy Hirsch

A dynamic graphic-nonfiction dive into volts, current, and power plants, wrapped in a monster-vs-mech storyline. Vibrant visuals and plenty of detail engage middle-grade readers (ages 9–13), though some heft in the science may require careful reading. A charged mix of education and adventure.

Activity

What’s the atoms’ story? Direct students to pages 7-8 of the book, showing atoms and their electrical fields. Have students make a mini-comic explaining the atoms characters stories.Tell students to have fun with it but keep electricity in the plot.

 

Look Inside an Electric Car by Taylor Fenmore

Part of Lerner’s “Peek Under the Hood” series, this slim volume introduces readers to the basics of electric cars and what makes them run. With large-print text and vibrant color photos, this short book would be a particularly good fit for younger and/or struggling readers.

Activity

What’s your dream electric car? Ask students to think of what they would want in their dream electric car. Have the draw it and label each feature that they want to include. Tell them to be as imaginative as they like!

 

Karen Latchana Kenney is a children’s author and editor who loves creating all kinds of STEM books and classroom content. Find her at https://www.karenlatchanakenney.com/.

 

 

Back to Top