Iowa Public Television

My general presentation starts with a brief personal history of how I started my writing career and then moves onto a discussion about how to write an interesting story. I talk about creating opening lines to grab a reader’s attention, how to build conflict, and the importance of integrating a creative cast of characters into a story. Then, I demonstrate these techniques by having students act out a scene from Mia the Meek.

Following this session, registrants receive the complimentary books Amber Brown is Not a Crayon and Junie B. Jones Has a Peep in Her Pocket.

Session Related Web sites:

• Mia the Meek - Learn about Eileen Boggess and Mia the Meek.
• Iowa Book Festival (http://partners.adeliowa.org/iowabookfestival.page/) - Visit the Iowa Book Festival and learn more about the Iowa Authors you can meet in person there on May 2!

Related Lesson Plans and Units:
Do a Thinkfinity Search (www.marcopolosearch.org):

1. Search for: author
2. Limit Subjects to: language arts
3. Limit search to appropriate grade level.
4. Click on the 'Search' button to view results.

PBS Teachers (http://www.pbs.org/teachers/) - PBS Teachers offers free lesson plans, professional development and more for preK-12 educators.

Are you new to the ICN experience? If so, take a moment to view the IPTV K-12 Connections Frequently Asked Questions and Keys to a Successful Session.

Applicable standards from McREL:

English Standards

Standard 6: Uses reading skills and strategies to understand and interpret a variety of literary texts

Level II [Grades 3-5]
1. Uses reading skills and strategies to understand a variety of literary passages and texts (e.g., fairy tales, folktales, fiction, nonfiction, myths, poems, fables, fantasies, historical fiction, biographies, autobiographies, chapter books)
2. Knows the defining characteristics of a variety of literary forms and genres ( e.g., fairy tales, folk tales, fiction, nonfiction, myths, poems, fables, fantasies, historical fiction, biographies, autobiographies, chapter books)
3. Understands the basic concept of plot (e.g., main problem, conflict, resolution, cause-and-effect)
4. Understands similarities and differences within and among literary works from various genre and cultures (e.g., in terms of settings, character types, events, point of view; role of natural phenomena)
5. Understands elements of character development in literary works (e.g., differences between main and minor characters; stereotypical characters as opposed to fully developed characters; changes that characters undergo; the importance of a character’s actions, motives, and appearance to plot and theme)
6. Knows themes that recur across literary works
7. Understands the ways in which language is used in literary texts (e.g., personification, alliteration, onomatopoeia, simile, metaphor, imagery, hyperbole, rhythm)
8. Makes connections between characters or simple events in a literary work and people or events in his or her own life

Level III [Grades 6-8]
3. Understands complex elements of plot development (e.g., cause-and-effect relationships; use of subplots, parallel episodes, and climax; development of conflict and resolution)
4. Understands elements of character development (e.g., character traits and motivations; stereotypes; relationships between character and plot development; development of characters through their words, speech patterns, thoughts, actions, narrator’s description, and interaction with other characters; how motivations are revealed)
5. Understands the use of specific literary devices (e.g., foreshadowing, flashback, progressive and digressive time, suspense)
6. Understands the use of language in literary works to convey mood, images, and meaning (e.g., dialect; dialogue; symbolism; irony; rhyme; voice; tone; sound; alliteration; assonance; consonance; onomatopoeia; figurative language such as similes, metaphors, personification, hyperbole, allusion; sentence structure; punctuation)
7. Understands the effects of an author’s style (e.g., word choice, speaker, imagery, genre, perspective) on the reader
8. Understands point of view in a literary text (e.g., first and third person, limited and omniscient, subjective and objective)
9. Understands inferred and recurring themes in literary works (e.g., bravery, loyalty, friendship, good v. evil; historical, cultural, and social themes)
10. Makes connections between the motives of characters or the causes for complex events in texts and those in his or her own life

Classroom Resources:

The following related programs are available on IPTV's broadcast or from the AEAs: (Check The Classroom Resource (www.iptv.org/k12catalog) Web site for broadcast dates and times.)

• Write in the Middle: A Workshop for Middle School Teachers

Check out additional Classroom Resources prepared and compiled by IPTV K-12 Connections staff. <

Sessions are provided at no cost by Iowa Public Television in collaboration with the Iowa Communications Network to PK-12 students and the adults working with or on behalf of PK-12 students in Iowa. If you are not employed by a school district or an AEA please register at library sites only.