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Teaching My Kids Mystery Writing
What I Use to Teach Mystery Writing to my Homeschooled High School Students
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Upgrading with Teaching Textbooks
Dyslexia doesn’t stop with reading and writing. Math gets tossed into the mix- just for fun. After years of trying many curriculums, Teaching Textbooks came to our family’s rescue! Now, as I’m watching my kiddos grow and learn, I get to introduce you to the upgraded, improved, and still life-saving Teaching Textbooks 4.0. Teaching Textbooks is a computer-based math program for elementary through High School. My family has used it for years! Not only does it instruct my kiddos in easy-to-understand, playful, humorous, and simple ways- but it also grades them for me. All I have to do is check their grade books and check in on their progress now…
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Unraveling the Ultimate Self-Care For Mystery Writers
I might weave some incredible plot twists into the lives of my main character and their friends, however, when my life gets twisted, it isn’t easy to take a break. What would a break from writing even look like? How would a mystery writer spend a day of self-care? I’m glad you asked. Morning Midday Afternoon Evening With this plan, you’ll not only refresh your mind but also have a few laughs along the way! A little bit of levity and a brain break or three will get you right back into the thick of things in no time. Your main character can wait. The villain won’t escape. Unless your…
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Get Ready to Sparkle and Sleuth: A Cozy Mystery Writer’s Guide to 4th of July!
As we gear up for fireworks, barbecues, and perhaps a touch of mystery this 4th of July, it’s time to sharpen our sleuthing skills and sprinkle in a little holiday spirit! Here’s your essential guide to navigating Independence Day like a cozy mystery protagonist with tips for writing a July 4th cozy mystery. 1. Find Your Inspiration: Think sparklers, backyard cookouts, and suspiciously missing potato salad. Every corner of your neighbor’s block party could be hiding a clue! 2. Master the Red, White, and Blue: Your protagonist might uncover clues hidden in patriotic decorations or overhear intriguing conversations amidst the “oohs” and “aahs” of fireworks. 3. Secret Ingredients: What’s in…
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3 of My Favorite Dyslexia Resources
Every family with over one child will tell you no two kids are the same. Especially in learning styles and strengths. In my home, we have many difficulties, some diagnose and some left undocumented. Dyslexia is one of the loudest in our homeschool. Here are three resources we use to battle dyslexia. Let’s get straight to the list: Homeschooling with Dyslexia— this fantastic resource is more than just a website. It’s a one-stop learning platform to teach you (the parent/teacher) how to live with and teach your dyslexic kiddo. Marrianne was my first stop to educate myself on how to educate my student. She’s also the first place I send…
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I Don’t Think So- JB Fletcher
Jessica Fletcher calls out criminals using four simple words- I Don’t Think So. Check out how I use Murder She Wrote Episodes to get my students prepared to write their own mystery novels. First, Murder She Wrote is the iconic cozy mystery television series that rocked the eighties and nineties. If you weren’t alive to watch the episodes as they aired, odds are you caught a few reruns with your parents or grandparents. Second, Jessica Fletcher is a fun character to follow. Plus, she’s static. She doesn’t grow very much throughout the series. This means we can focus on the mystery instead of following the character arc, making the journey…
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It’s Agatha Christie Time
Funny thing about mystery writers. Their real lives are often mysteries of their own. Agatha Christie is no exception. Multiple movies have hypothesized and dramatized her missing days. There’s even a Dr. Who episode about them. It’s time to meet the grand madam of mystery, Agatha Christie, and her big-time murders in small-town settings. *** As authors come closer to the present time, their biographies may become more graphic. Please use care. Don't rely on my standards. Please- Vet the videos to fit your family's needs. *** Agatha Christie Biographies Short Ones Longer Ones Mystery of Agatha’s Missing Days Here are some theories about Agatha’s missing days. What do you…
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Meet Father Brown
Onto another master of mystery, and his iconic character, known as Father Brown. One can often find GK Chesterton gracing the book lists of Classical Education families and teachers. Even more often, someone unfamiliar with Mr. Chesterton’s essays and arguments can stumble upon his most famous fictional character. Meet GK Chesterton’s witty and wily Father Brown. Read this article about GK- https://www.chesterton.org/who-is-this-guy/ to learn more about the man. Or watch this video about his Catholic faith and ideals. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id3GL9KwGcM But now let’s discuss the Priest with a Passion for crime solving- Father Brown. Father Brown mysteries combine faith and fiction, common sense and character qualities, producing another amazing sleuth. https://www.fatherbrowngame.com/about-father-brown.htm…
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Hello, Sherlock!
When you think of a detective, odds are, a familiar image comes to mind. Namely, a spindly tall man smoking a pipe and playing the violin. Say hello to Sherlock Holmes. Below you’ll find what I’ve used to introduce my kiddos and students to this investigator that is almost as shady as the villains he stalks and the man who created the legend. I use one of my favorite short stories to invite my students to enter Sherlock’s world. Then, if they want to dig deeper, I pull out the big dogs with The Hound of the Baskervilles. Get to know the Detective on his official site —> https://sherlockholmes.com/ Meet…
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Say Hello to Edgar Allan Poe
This Building A Mystery Post is all about the author of the very first detective story. Say Hello to Edgar Allan Poe, the sith lord of the macabre and melancholy himself. I believe diving into Poe’s famous detective story is a fabulous place to start when learning how to write a cozy mystery. (Something this writer mom loves to do with her high school students. I’m thrilled to share it with you.) Let’s start with Mr. EAP and his wild biography. Like other famous mystery writers, Mr. Poe leaves us with a tremendous gap in his timeline. It’s a mystery no one has unraveled with certainty. Edgar Allan’s death pulls…
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Five Bookish YouTubers for Writers
We all need a little help sometimes. When you’re just getting started with writing, you may need more than a little. If you’re like me, you need a GRIP LOAD of advice, tutorials, and more. Here are five YouTubers that I turn to for guidance. I bet they can help you as well. Self-Publishing with Dale From uploading your manuscript to finetuning your keywords, Dale cuts through the haze of how to’s and helps writers become authors. Snarky and understanding, Dale has no qualms about bringing in experts and getting his hands dirty assisting his viewers. Check out his channel and subscribe if a jump start into publishing is what…
