Actually, Gorey wrote and illustrated many bizarre books, and his home is a museum on Cape Cod, I believe. I got Clare one of his books for Christmas a couple of years ago. It was about these strange children, and I think it was written in verse. It was called The Gashlycrumb Tinies. I talked to Clare a bit about your poems and book. She said getting them self published by Amazon's publishing company is easy. Then I forgot to get her to write down the details. But I think if you go on Amazon's website and hunt around, you'll find info on self publishing. I've seen the info many times. Clare was interested in the illustration idea, and I want to talk to her more about it. She's deep in a job right now, illustrating software on teaching children to read, and the publisher/editor who hired Clare keeps making the work more elaborate and changing things. Clare's stress level is building dealing with this person. Say....this thread is a great place to have private conversations I've noticed. Heehee. Maybe I should post a rose photo. Diane

Hi Luvs, I hope you're having a terrific trip, it sounds like alot of fun! I know it's probably a little late for more ideas, but just had to pass this one along - maybe you can use it another time. I've done these for several of my children's teachers over the years and they loved them. I'd paint the little terra cotta pots (4" or smaller) with black paint around the bottom and yellow around the rim/band. On the black area I'd paint ABC, 123, A+, #1 Teacher, etc. in white to look like chalk and then paint a little apple, pencils, books - any little school related thing. Then around the yellow rim I marked it off in inches and numbered it like a ruler. Inside I'd tie a little bundle of chalk with raffia, ribbon or string. A couple of them I personalized with "Ms. _____'s Chalk" or would paint "from:____ (child's name), etc. Anyway, just though I'd throw my 2 cents in and let ya'll know I'm still here. Sorry I haven't been on here much...been trying to get some painting and other work done, and been out trying to find at least maybe a part-time job. Also Luvs, just another idea - not so much for the school thing, but more for your personal use - I had this idea the last time I made a trip MS to CA. I picked up a rock in each state - tried to keep it something that looked rather indigenous to the area - and when I got home I was going to paint something on each one from it's native state, like the state flower, bird, motto, etc. and then use them to border a flower garden. I think I managed to get about 4 on that trip from CA, NM, AZ & TX before my sis told me I had to stop. I was getting 8-10" diameter rocks and she was afraid the back end of the car would be dragging the pavement if I got anymore!

I love that...really LOVE it! Thanks for sharing! I can see this as a small gift with (hopefully) a big impact! A nice cup (or not so nice) along with a packet of Hot Chocolate and a spoon, in a gift bag..along with this printed out on some pretty paper.*S*

Great advice, Mayflowers. I have been befuddled by the whipsaw learning fads that have been foisted, top down, onto teachers over the decades. I already knew how to read when I got to first grade. We had multiple level classes so I could be with a group of old children and not bored, but I still remember what the teacher did with the other, just learning groups. She started them on sight reading function words like "the" which are hard to sound out. That was concurrent with phonetic drills. Then she had them working on sentences that combined the sight words with sounding out. Then she transitioned them to the reading books. At all levels, we learned phonics, including, and using the correct names of, consonant blends, diphthongs, etc. We learned about compound words, homonyms, homophones, etc., etc. There were also concept drills and comprehension exercises. It was all done in class, though I'm sure it was assumed that we'd also be reading at home. There were two boys who were held back half a year for developmental reasons, but they could read! Everyone coming out of the first grade could read. Well. Then they started reinventing reading. Such a shame! I've seen the Fourth Grade Common Core syllabus. While I was dismayed that it was very cutsified, like the teacher had to be treated like a child, the content seemed reasonable. What didn't seem reasonable was the assumption that all the children would be equally prepared for it coming in, that there would be no heat days/snow days or other days of disruption, that the lessons could be delivered in the time alloted and wouldn't need repetition or remediation--ever--and that teachers are automatons who just spit out directions and cause children to learn, rather than educated and creative beings who have to tailor their lessons to how their pupils best absorb them, create groups and one-on-ones to best serve them, and keep them engaged and happy to be learning.