Visualizing Success: Going For Your Goals
February 4, 2010 by Adrian
Filed under for children's writers
Like most other Americans, I did some major goal setting at the beginning of the year for the next twelve months. I have some good intentions, and perhaps this will be the year I have the satisfaction of completing them by December 31st.
I have often heard that writing down the things you want to accomplish is the first key to success. I recently read a book called Write It Down, Make It Happen by Henriette Anne Klauser, and while I don’t necessarily endorse or plan to do everything she recommends, I do think it’s a good resource for anyone who is interested in goal setting. It is a book that really helps the reader “focus” on what he/she wants to achieve, and how to take the necessary steps to move forward.
However, another important key is visualizing or having a clear picture in our minds of exactly what it is that we want to do or be. It is a driving factor to keep us motivated through the whole process. We can “see” the prize or outcome, and that picture keeps us going.
Is Visualization Effective?
I recently heard of two stories that illustrate how effective visualization can be. The first was about an experiment done where two groups of basketball players were shooting free throws. The first group of players actually practiced shooting free throws for at least an hour a day for several days that week. The other group of players was not allowed to actually shoot the ball at all. However, they were required to picture themselves shooting free throws for the same amount of time as the first group—but only in their minds. They had to ‘incorporate’ all five senses as they visualized themselves shooting the perfect free throw. At the end of the experiment, when both groups actually got on the court to shoot, the ‘visualizers’ outperformed the other group!
Another story involved a POW during the Vietnam War. Before capture, this young man had been an avid golfer, so to pass the time in his small cell, he ‘played’ the game of golf in his mind every day. He’d go through every course he ever played, and visualize each and every detail. After his release some ten years later, he played his best golf game ever! As one writer commented, his body carried out what his mind already knew how to do!
Visualization for Writers
So what does visualization have to do with writing success? It’s the same principle as if we wanted to lose weight, redecorate a room, or eliminate debt—we “see” the outcome in our mind’s eye. We are able to recognize the benefits, advantages, and rewards that will be ours if we reach the goal. In addition, that vision spurs us on to action to get the job done.
Do you picture yourself holding a book with your name on the cover, or perhaps simply reading a story to your children that you wrote with them in mind? Do you see yourself doing an author visit or presentation at a school or library, or maybe even passing out copies of the family history you compiled to your loved ones? What will it take to make those images into reality? One thing is for sure—you’ll already be motivated!
Story or Scene Visualization
There is also another type of visualization, called story or scene visualization. When I am writing a manuscript, I must first “see” the different segments of my story played out, much like a movie, in my mind. I need to picture the characters—what they look like, how they sound, how they move, etc. I also need to smell, touch, and perhaps even ‘taste’ these parts of my story as much as possible.
When we as writers immerse ourselves into the world of our writing with all of our senses set at full throttle, we are more apt to fully capture the magic of the moment in words. In my opinion, “seeing” the story or scene played out in “technicolor” with “surround sound” makes for easier and much more realistic writing!
Visualization is an excellent tool for writers, and one that is often overlooked. My mother always told me I was a daydreamer, so I now guess I am putting that skill to legitimate use.
Are you?
You can visit Amy at www.amyoquinn.com or www.homeschoolblogger.com/picketfencemom.
Fine Arts for Young Children: Picture Study
November 28, 2009 by Adrian
Filed under teaching tips
by Amy M. O’Quinn
Classical music. Art Appreciation. Nature Study. Poetry and Shakespeare. These areas of study may sound like complicated courses that are best left alone until the high school or college years, but young children can certainly benefit from an acquaintance with the fine arts as well. As parents, we all want our children to be well rounded and educated to the best of our abilities. We expect teachers (or ourselves if we homeschool) to cover the basics such as reading, writing, and arithmetic, but there is also something so satisfying about recognizing a Monet or a Cezanne, or hearing and identifying music composed by Mozart or Tchaikovsky.
There is joy in taking a walk, finding a special leaf to sketch in a nature journal, and later discovering in a field guide that it belongs to an aspen tree. And who hasn’t heard or read a common phrase (such as green-eyed monster) that can be traced back to the pen of William Shakespeare?
Why Study Fine Arts?
Charlotte Mason, a 19th century British educator, believed that exposing children to great ideas and beauty in all areas inspired them to greatness as well. She theorized that by letting them become familiar with the best artists, composers, and writers, they would be less willing to settle for mediocrity in themselves. As Elizabeth Gutman said in her book, The Story of Art, part of The Bookshelf for Boys and Girls series:
“The magic power of art can arouse all kinds of emotions in us, from simple joy to much deeper feelings. And artists are great people whose works can gladden our eyes, enrich our thoughts, and deepen our feelings.”
I think these words can apply to ALL areas of the fine arts. And with today’s norm of following the crowd or being happy with the status quo, we should want our children to be inspired and motivated to strive for more—to reach for excellence instead of being content with the marginal.
In my monthly contribution to the “Parenting and Teaching Tip” column over the next few weeks, I’d like to explore some of these areas in more depth. But for this particular column, I will focus on “picture study”, which is one facet of art appreciation.
Picture Study
Introducing a new artist or a specific piece of art is very easy to do. Many websites have lists of suggested artist rotations, but it’s better to choose one artist’s work to study at a time so the child can become familiar with the style and at least four of his/her pieces of artwork. My twelve-year-old son recently studied the work of Mary Cassatt, and he can now easily recognize her paintings.
We began our study of Mary Cassatt by reading more about her life in a biography. Then I had him focus only on her painting, Children On the Beach (1884). I let him study the picture for several minutes, then I turned it over and asked him to describe what he remembered about the painting, even the little details. Afterwards, we turned the picture back over to see how well he’d seen it all in his ‘mind’s eye.’ We talked about the medium used, the colors, the subjects, etc. We did this for several days, and each time he remembered more and more about the painting. On another occasion, I had him try to re-create the painting himself from memory. Although not a natural artist, he did quite well! We went on to study three more of her paintings before moving on to a new artist.
On another note, I had a large framed poster of Children On the Beach hanging in my children’s bathroom. When my little ones (ages 2 and 4) took a bath, we would look at the painting and talk about it. It’s amazing how much they learned about Mary Cassatt’s work in just a few minutes each night! They remembered almost as much as their older brother, and it was just that simple.
Some people choose to make artists timelines, create portfolios of artists studied, or collect books of paintings by each artist that are purely for enjoyment. But no matter what path you choose, the whole family (and especially children) will benefit from picture study.
There are many picture study resources:
Websites:
www.amblesideonline.org/ArtSch.shtml
www.doverdirect.com (This site has ‘classical art’ coloring books and postcard sized reproductions of various artists/paintings).
www.livingbookscurriculum.com/assets-lbc/pj-archives/pj-April5.pdf
www.nga.gov/kids/kids.htm (National Gallery of Art)
Books:
Discovering Great Artists: Hands-On Art for Children in the Styles of the Great Masters by MaryAnn F. Kohl and Kim Solga
Great American Artists for Kids: Hands-On Art Experiences in the Styles of Great American Masters by MaryAnn F. Kohl and Kim Solga
Let’s Meet Famous Artists by Harriet Kinghorn, Jacqueline Badman, and Lisa Lewis-Spicer Smart About Art series by True Kelley
Anholt’s Artists Books for Children series by Laurence Anholt
Getting To Know the World’s Greatest Artists series by Mike Venezia
13 Artists Children Should Know by Angela Wenzel
Amy M. O’Quinn online at amyoquinn.com or http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/picketfencemom.
What’s New at the Zoo? – A Review
September 18, 2009 by Adrian
Filed under Book Reviews
Reviewed by Amy M. O’Quinn for the National Writing for Children Center
Title: What’s New At the Zoo?
Author: Suzanne Slade
Illustrator: Joan Waites
Reading Level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Sylvan Dell Publishing (June 10, 2009)
ISBN-10: 1607180383
ISBN-13: 978-1607180418
Want an easy way to introduce or reinforce basic addition while also getting a nature lesson to boot? Then check out Suzanne Slade’s fantastic book, What’s New At the Zoo?, one of Sylvan Dell’s Fall 2009 titles, for an educational, yet entertaining, resource.
What’s New At the Zoo? has the subtitle “An Animal Adding Adventure,” and young readers will indeed enjoy learning basic addition as they combine sets of different sets of zoo animals for a total sum on each full-color, two-page spread. They’ll also discover what the babies of various animals are called, what they eat, and about some of their activities.
The colorful illustrations and fun rhyming verses mesh together to create a first rate picture book—one that will have children eagerly turning pages. And at the end of the book, readers will be able to count the total number of animals featured at the zoo.
Sylvan Dell does an outstanding job of producing books that combine math and science concepts with an interesting story to carry the action or simply provide the background for the lessons that are taught or introduced. What’s New At The Zoo? is no exception.
And as always, the ‘For Creative Minds’ section at the back of the book provides extra activities and/or information. In fact, this particular book includes two methods of teaching addition, a section on using fact families, and an animal matching activity. But there are tons more resources and even ebook versions on the Sylvan Dell website at SylvanDellPublishing.com for this book and many more.
About the Author: Suzanne Slade is the author of more than sixty books for children, both fiction and non-fiction. One of her favorite parts of the writing process is researching and learning about new topics. Ms. Slade lives near Chicago with her husband, Mike, two children. You can visit her website at suzanneslade.com.
About the Illustrator: Joan Waites, a former neo-natal intensive care nurse, has been a freelance illustrator for over eighteen years. In addition to What’s New at the Zoo? Joan has illustrated nearly 40 books for the educational and trade marketplace. She is also an adjunct faculty member of The Corcoran Museum School of Art and Design in Washington, DC. Her website is joanwaites.com.
Visit Amy O’Quinn at amyoquinn.com or homeschoolblogger.com/picketfencemom.
Moose and Magpie – A Review
August 28, 2009 by Writing for Children
Filed under Book Reviews
Reviewed by Amy M. O’Quinn for the National Writing for Children Center
Title: Moose and Magpie
Written by: Bettina Restrepo
Illustrated by: Sherry Rogers
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Sylvan Dell Publishing (June 10, 2009)
ISBN-10: 1607180421
ISBN-13: 978-1607180425
Moose and Magpie is one of the new books in the Sylvan Dell Fall 2009 line-up, and young readers will be double-served by this witty anthropomorphic tale by Bettina Restrepo as they learn fascinating facts about moose while also having their funny bones tickled. Mrs. Restrepo uses a clever play on words to create jokes and riddles within the text that are sure to garner a few giggles throughout the book. Educational material with a humorous twist—definitely a win-win choice for this age group!
Readers will discover all sorts of interesting information as they follow Moose, Magpie, and several of their friends on their adventures and activities through the seasons of one year and find out what changes happen during that time. For example:
How do moose antlers grow and why do they fall off? Then what happens to the antlers?
What is a girl moose called? A boy?
What is a moose’s bell?
What does a moose eat?
How is a moose’s hair different from the hair of other animals?
Does a moose migrate?
Is a moose a good swimmer?
How does a moose get a mate?
Of course, since Magpie is Moose’s joke-telling sidekick, we also learn more about magpies as well—and why the two animals get along so well. Do you know the reason? It’s a good one!
Sherry Rogers has done an outstanding job on the illustrations as well, and children will enjoy perusing all the hilarious and whimsical pictures on the full color two-page spreads. The illustrations of the “literally interpreted” antics of the raccoon, beaver, and skunk are wonderful!
I also like how the publisher has added in ‘fact boxes’ on certain pages to highlight pertinent facts throughout the story. And as always, the ‘For Creative Minds’ section at the back of the book is excellent, as well as helpful for parents and teachers. Included are: Is It For Real: Moose and Birds, What Do Moose Eat?, Moose Antlers, Moose Life Cycle, Match The Moose Body Part to Its Adaptation, and Moose Fun Facts. You can also find more activities and free online resources and support for Magpie and Moose, as well as other titles, at www.SylvanDellPublishing.com.
About the Author: Bettina Restrepo lives with her family in Texas, and this is her first picture book. However, her writing has appeared in Highlights for Children, Nature Friend, and Boys’ Life magazine. Restrepo loves nature and traveling.
About the Illustrator: Sherry Rogers lives with her family in Northern California. She spent twelve years as a corporate graphic designer and artist before becoming a freelance illustrator. She has also illustrated several other books for Sylvan Dell.
Visit Amy at amyoquinn.com or www.homeschoolblogger.com/picketfencemom.
Henry The Impatient Heron – a Review
June 5, 2009 by Writing for Children
Filed under Book Reviews
Reviewed by Amy M. O’Quinn for the National Writing for Children Center
Title: Henry The Impatient Heron
Author: Donna Love
Illustrator:Christina Wald
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Sylvan Dell Publishing (February, 2009)
ISBN-13:978-1934359907
ISBN-10: 1934359904
Henry just cannot be still! He’s here, there, and everywhere, driving his parents and siblings crazy. And while other Great Blue Herons can stand still for hours, then strike out and catch a fish or salamander, Henry can only itch, twitch, scratch and flap. There’s just too much to do and too much to see to be still—at least until his tummy starts to grumble and rumble and he finds himself separated from his family and on his own. Then he quickly realizes that he must feed himself.
Henry has no luck as he wades, darts, twists, and bobs, frightening the fish away. Next, he tries to catch a salamander, then a frog, with comical results as he runs smack into a log. Poor Henry! Feeding himself is no easy task. However, the “log” he ran into is not a log at all. In fact, it’s the leg of The Great Blue Heron, the heron of all herons, and the true King of Camouflage.
Before he flies away, the kind older bird reveals to Henry his secret for staying still. The Great Blue Heron’s advice? The trick is to look like a stick! A fish is afraid of a heron, but not a stick. If Henry can stand very still, the fish will think his legs are sticks and he will have a chance to snag a meal.
Henry decides to give The Great Blue Heron’s suggestion a try. He finds an inlet and thinks to himself, I must think like a fish. I must look like a stick. Even though it’s getting dark and he’s cold and tired, he stands very still. And finally, just before daylight fades, a fish swims by. Quick as a flash, Henry strikes and catches his supper! Full, content, and proud of himself, he settles down to sleep. The impatient heron has learned a valuable life lesson. Sometimes we have to be patient and disciplined to get the result we desire!
Small children are wiggle worms as well! They are always on the move, and the word “patience” has yet to be added to their vocabulary. So they will certainly be able to identify with and be delighted by this wonderful tale about Henry, the Impatient Heron. And parents and teachers will also appreciate all the great educational information that is seamlessly interwoven into the captivating story—a trademark of all Sylvan Dell titles. Readers are exposed to interesting facts about herons and their habitats, yet entertained by the charming story in the process.
And as always, there is a section in the back of the book called ‘For Creative Minds’ that provides optional educational activities, facts, and information. The illustrations by Christina Wald are exceptional and add lots of interest to the book. Learning at its best!
About the Author:
Donna Love is an award-winning author who lives in Montana with her ranger husband in the Lolo National Forest. They have three children. Her book, Awesome Ospreys, became a Skipping Stones Press Honor Award Winner in 2006 for promoting ecological understanding and cooperation around the world. In addition to the gift of writing, Donna has a background in art education and enjoys substitute teaching at the elementary and high school level.
About the Illustrator:
Christina Wald has illustrated for a wide variety of toys, games, books, and magazines. She enjoys research, and she says each new book is a fascinating new learning experience. In addition to illustrating, she enjoys movies, travel and reading. She and her husband live in Cincinnati. Henry the Impatient Heron is Christina’s first book with Sylvan Dell.
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Visit Amy at amyoquinn.com or www.homeschoolblogger.com/picketfencemom.
