Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Hello Again....It's Been a Minute!!

Wow....I can't believe it has been over a month since I have stopped by to blurt out some thoughts on my blog. Let's just say, it has been a jam-packed last couple of weeks. The week following the launch of my virtual blog tour, I got THREE wisdom teeth pulled. Two of which were impacted. I was home from work for a WEEK! I thought the discomfort would subside after the first few days but....NOPE! In fact, after day three the pain got worse because the muscles in my neck were strained from the jerking and me tensing up. I ended up making THREE trips to the doctor during my recovery....partly because I am a hypochondriac and partly because I have a high tolerance for pain so if I feel "pain-pain"...something is wrong.

Since then I have presented at a teacher's educational conference on how to start a teacher blog- you can visit this site that I created for the purpose of the presentation. There are several links and tutorials on just about everything you need to start blogging or to dress up a blog you already have!

During this conference I also debuted the softback version of my book!! I sold quite a few and I learned a lot about how to "sell" myself. I am not big on talking or on taking the spotlight. I am usually the mastermind and executer who lets someone else take the grand spotlight. When I plan programs for my students, they take the spotlight. So this talking about myself to generate a sale is .....different. One thing I have learned through this process is that I most definitely have to step out of my comfort zone. And I am learning how to do this more and more as I go along.

The week following the conference, I presented a workshop for teachers called Just for Teachers where I shared teaching resources that can accompany my new children's book. I talked about how these resources can be used in class and their benefits. Again...my brain earned a few wrinkles because this too was a learning experience.

So here I am now planning for THE book launch...The Summer in the City Block Party Book Launch! It is scheduled for April 20, 2013 at a local children's library. If you are in the area, you should go!! RSVP here! In the midst of planning for this unveiling I am still working full-time at the job that pays the bills and teaching part-time at Temple University. BUSY is an understatement. I am trying to wrap my head around this whole thing in a way where I am able to work SMART and get a BIG BANG for my BUCK! With this said...I am at a blogging standstill. I have so many ideas but just NOT enough time to share them all (I am sure most bloggers can relate to that). I would LOVE to retire early and pursue my career as a writer and "freelance" educator but.....I am not ready to make that leap just yet.

So I am thinking out loud here. In the future I would like to continue with my book reviews and reading activities as well as write about my journey as an independent author. Are you interested in reading about that? Do you want to know the ins and outs, the lessons, and the experiences I gain as I go through this process? I was on the fence...do I start a new blog or do I kind of transform this one? What are your thoughts?

Also, what questions do you have for me as a new independent author? Are you interested in publishing a children's book also? If so, feel free to leave some questions below. I would be more than happy to answer them : )

Thanks for stopping by,
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Monday, February 18, 2013

Summer in the City: A Virtual Book Tour!





IT IS FINALLY HERE! 
The Virtual Book Tour starts tomorrow, February 19th and ends Thursday February 28! I have teamed up with 10 great TEACHERS who have agreed to host me during this TEN day tour! There are a ton of giveaways, previews of the book, my personal connections and experiences related to the book and FREEBIES FREEBIES FREEBIES!!! Are you ready?? Here are the ten VIRTUAL BLOG TOUR STOPS:















PREVIEW THE BOOK! 



 
Summer in the City is a heartwarming picture book based on author Kathleen Wainwright’s childhood growing up in the city. Before there were 24-hour cartoon channels, laptop computers or the internet, what did kids do all day to occupy their time when schools were on break and the days were hot?

KIDS MADE THEIR OWN FUN!

Double-dutch, hopscotch, hide and seek…There never seemed to be enough hours in the day for kids to play with siblings and friends, explore their surroundings, or just laugh and giggle. Children and adults can enjoy this timeless story, which captures memories of blissful childhood summers in cities everywhere.
I look forward to you following the tour! This is definitely the highlight of my year! I hope that you LOVE the book as much as I love sharing it!

Be sure to enter the Virtual Book Tour Giveaway! 

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Stay Connected!! 

Keep the hardback for your library and the eBook for your classroom activities, iPad, Nook, computer! 
The eBook, which includes a Teacher's Reading Companion of over 50 pages, is on sale now. VISIT TPT for your eBook today, then enter the eBook giveaway! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

To purchase the Summer in the City e-bookvisit my TPT store here! To order a Summer in the City as a hardback, visit my website! 

I will also be giving away 10 free, signed copies of Summer in the City at the end of her virtual book tour! Be sure to enter the giveaway for your chance to win! For additional giveaways, click here!



Kathleen Wainwright is a dedicated teacher in the School District of Philadelphia. She received her bachelor’s of Science degree in education from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA, and her master’s in education with a focus in literacy, from West Chester University, in West Chester, PA. Kathleen also teaches literacy courses to aspiring teachers at Temple University and developmental reading courses to incoming freshman at Delaware County Community College. “This story captures a typical summer’s day for me and my friends growing up in the 80’s! Every time I read it I travel back to some of my favorite childhood memories.” Kathleen recently earned National Board Certification in Literacy: Reading-Language Arts (Early and Middle Childhood). She enjoys sharing her personal teaching experiences and educational resources in her blog, The Diary of a Not So Wimpy Teacher (www.notsowimpyresources.com).




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Saturday, February 2, 2013

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME...TPT SHOPPING!

It is Super Bowl Sunday and we are playing a TPT SUPER SUNDAY SALE GAME!! Yup! A group of bloggers have gotten together to shake things up a bit. Do you plan on shopping on Sunday? If so, check out some of the items below and see if you can win our TPT Super Sunday Sale game. Here is how it works. All of the resources posted below have a hidden letter in them. You can find this hidden letter on the second page of the resource. All of the letters will spell out: 49'ers or Ravens. So, for example, if you buy my Reader's Companion for Enemy Pie, you will find the secret letter "E". If you buy Valerie's St. Patrick's Day Craftivity, you will find the letter "V". Collect as many letters as you can and then root for your favorite team!! After the game, check to see if you have enough letters to spell out the winning team. If you do, be the first to post your name and email address AND the items you purchased that spell out the winning team. Within 24 hours all of the sellers listed below will email you one free item from their store. Sound easy??? Of course it does!!! Follow the links below and check out all of the items that have hidden letters. Only the items on this linky qualify. While your at it, be sure to follow these TPT stores to get updated every time new resources are added! Enjoy your Sunday, Happy shopping : )


4 CUPID-A Sweet Sight Word Game
9 Valentine's Day BINGO Game
E Enemy Pie Reader's Companion or, Super "e" Heroes-A CVCe Word Game,
    or It's About Elapsed Time
R Prefix/Suffix/Root-of-the-Day-Book-and-Bundle
S St. Patrick's Day Craftivities
R Roll and Graph a President
A American Symbols Activities
V Valentine's Literacy Centers Aligned to Common Core
E Enemy Pie Reader's Companion or, Super "e" Heroes-A CVCe Word Game,
    or It's About Elapsed Time
N Mixed Numbers Concentration/Matching Cards
S Iditarod Themed Bulletin Board Project with Student Activities and extra clip art images
Download the Preview for a *Freebie! 

Download the Preview for a *Freebie

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