Month: March 2022

Tex the Explorer – Journey Through Our Solar System is a Distinguished Favorite

by Eleanor K. Smith, posted in Books for Children, Uncategorized

The INDEPENDENT PRESS AWARD recognized Tex the Explorer – Journey Through Our Solar System by Ellie Smith, Illustrated by Eyen Johnson, as a Distinguished Favorite in the category of Children’s Picture Books.

The competition is judged by experts from different aspects of the book industry, including publishers, writers, editors, book cover designers and professional copywriters. Selected IPA Award Winners and Distinguished Favorites are based on overall excellence.

Tex the Explorer: Journey Through Our Solar System continues the journey of Tex the Explorer. Tex is a young T-Rex. He loves to explore. For his birthday his parents gave him a rocket ship. Tex is off to explore our Solar System!

In 2022, the INDEPENDENT PRESS AWARD had entries worldwide.  Authors and publishers from countries such as Australia, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Jordan, Puerto Rico, Switzerland participated.

Tex the Explorer – Journey Through Our Solar System is available on Amazon.

One School’s Journey – Further Down the Path is a Winner

by Eleanor K. Smith, posted in Blog, Books for Parents, Books for Teachers, Uncategorized

The INDEPENDENT PRESS AWARD recognized One School’s Journey – Further Down the Path by Eleanor K. Smith and Margaret Pastor as a Winner in the category of Education.

The competition is judged by experts from different aspects of the book industry, including publishers, writers, editors, book cover designers and professional copywriters. Selected IPA Award Winners and Distinguished Favorites are based on overall excellence.

One School’s Journey – Further Down the Path is the continuation of the story started in the award-winning book One School’s Journey, about an elementary school in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C.  Learning to teach authentically using projects, even virtually, is chronicled by two authors – a teacher and the school’s principal.

This book includes additional insight and information about teaching authentically and the use of authentic projects with diverse learners at all age levels. The authors’ experiences that teaching authentically is the best way to engage and teach students has been re-enforced by the success of the school’s staff and students as they travel further down this path. 

In 2022, the INDEPENDENT PRESS AWARD had entries worldwide.  Authors and publishers from countries such as Australia, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Jordan, Puerto Rico, Switzerland participated.

Available in Paperback and on Kindle from Amazon.

Authentic Project Ideas – Standing Stones

by Eleanor K. Smith, posted in Authentic Project Ideas, Blog, Uncategorized

Standing stones have always inspired interest and speculation.  From the real world of Stonehenge to the fantasy world of time travel, stones have fascinated people.

How did they get there?  What did they represent? So much authentic history to learn about!

Research, write a story, create a legend, build a model…

Be authentic and have fun! And I am going back to my favorite activity regarding standing stones – reading Outlander!