His messages from a teacher to his students: YOU CAN DO IT and DON’T QUIT! Rest in peace, Jaime! You did the job that every teacher needs to do…LOVE YOUR CHILDREN FIRST, then the teaching comes naturally.

Another W.A.R. writer & illustrator, Jesse Joshua Watson, is putting his talents behind the lens, and onto the canvas to help Haiti. His new book, HOPE FOR HAITI will be released by Penguin Books in October of 2010, and the book trailer is very cool.  Take a look!

Just a few days ago I was sitting at my mother’s home in Blue Mountain Lake, NY, pondering my upcoming student-led IDENTITY forum, when there was a knock at the door.  There stood a delightful, elderly man who asked if I could answer my mom’s census questions, since at the time she was at work. I gladly obliged, [...]

I interviewed Matt for this W.A.R. series and I was happy to stumble upon this inspirational video which speaks to some important issues facing our young people: growing up, bi-racial identity, wanting to be a basketball player, on being a writer, and more. It’s great for students of every ethnic background, and it’s also, real.  Are [...]

It’s true… I am on spring break! Whoo hoo!!! And while on spring break, I am also re-reading To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee and Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor.  TKAM has not been an easy feat; just ask my mom. Each day I ask her, is it me? This [...]

Fledgling’s blogger, author, and educator, Zetta Elliott, who helped to spearhead this series,  and another W.A.R. participant, Tony Medina, will be presenting an elementary school program at this year’s National Black Writers Conference held at Medgar Evers College in New York. KUDOS to you both!  I am also looking forward to the feedback from this conference, [...]

Nigerian born poet, Chris Abani, speaks about "The Mirror to Our Own Humanity." Well, I looked into that mirror over this past week and found the lost reflection of what my life was like in 11th grade. It’s relevant in that I remember reading TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee – feeling scared – and [...]

HOT OFF THE PRESS > I just received this e-mail from Floricanto Press and wanted to pass along, perhaps to high school English teachers and librarians.   NEW Latino books…  Dreams=Sueños. By María del Pilar Muñoz. ISBN: 978-1-888205-24-4 $22.98 Dreams is a book that will help you understand and  interpret the meanings of dream symbols, learn special methods [...]

My darling daughter made me very proud  this week, as she produced an adorable voice-over about the life of astronaut, Mae C. Jemison. She used Movie Maker to edit the voice clips. Please take a look at my "mommy-brag-book" moment.

To all of my women readers from around the globe, I celebrate with you, International Women’s Day today! I also wish that one day we will live in a world where peace, equality, literacy, health, and prosperity, will prevail seamlessly.   (Comes via The Great Debate – Women: the "Secret Weapon Against Hunger and Poverty")