Author: michardillo
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Book Review: The Sweet Taste of Muscadines by Pamela Terry
This debut novel by Pamela Terry represents authentic Southern storytelling. It unfolds slowly and the reader gets to know the characters and plot as it is peeled back layer by layer like a Vidalia onion. So much of the story resonated with me as a Louisiana native whose mother was first generation Scottish-American. Lila’s descriptions…
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Tween and Teen Book Recommendations
March 12, 2021, marks the one year anniversary of the last day I was teaching in my classroom last school year. It seems like eons ago, doesn’t it? This pandemic and quarantine business has been very difficult and challenging for all of us. With the third quarter of the 2020-2021 school year almost over, we…
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Book Review: The Missing Treasures of Amy Ashton by Eleanor Ray (Gallery Books, June 2021)
I’m glad I persevered with this book. When I was at 27%, I wasn’t sure I wanted to finish it. But, I hate leaving books unfinished out of respect for the author and the hard work involved in bringing a book project to fruition. The beginning of the book focuses a lot on Amy’s hidden…
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Grammar for Grownups
Just for fun: How many of these can you check off? ☐ Do you ever lose your train of thought when you stumble upon a typo while reading a magazine or newspaper article? ☐ Do you cringe when you see a billboard or signage in a store with an apostrophe being used to show possession…
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Grammar for Grownups: Kangaroo and Joey Words (yes, really)
Allow me to blow your 🤯 mind! I recently saw this image on a friend’s post on Facebook. I guess that makes Facebook an educational tool, right (LOL)? To understand this, just look at the white letters above. The word “masculine” contains within its letters the word “male” which is another word for masculine. So,…
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My latest piece – published in a national outlet!
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/classroom-teacher-retired-covid-19-pandemic_n_5ff89e3bc5b63642b6fb71e4
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New Article!
November is a busy month for me! Check out my new article in Baltimore’s Child! http://digital.baltimoreschild.com/issues/November-2020/index.html
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New Article!
Please check out my latest article in Washington Family! http://digital.washingtonfamily.com/issues/November-2020/index.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=Delivra&utm_campaign=nov20
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The Magic of the ABCs
Check out my guest post on the Nerdy Book Club website! The Magic of the ABCs by Michelle Blanchard Ardillo
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In the Silence
Silence. As a former middle school teacher, I have often thought, “How can you hear me if you are talking?” Or, “Weren’t you listening? I just explained how to do this.” As adults and educational professionals who spend all day in noisy, busy classrooms, is it possible for even us to listen and talk at…
Michelle Blanchard Ardillo 