Self Indulgences

Tooling Through the Toll Booth

Debbie Gonzales — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 02:26:40 +0000

A few weeks ago my friends at the very cool literary blog, Through the Tollbooth, asked me to write a blog post about Self Marketing Through the Use of Teacher/Activity Guides.

In it, I told the brilliant Teresa Harris, "You’re familiar with the adage “Write what you know,” right? Well, that’s what I’m doing. I pull from my years and years of teaching and curriculum development experience and pour it all into these cross-curricular book guides. I make guides like the ones I wish I would’ve had when teaching. Science, math, crafts, creative writing, analysis, games – you name it, I put it in. They’re becoming so popular; I’m having a hard time keeping up with the demand. That’s a good problem, right?"

So true, my friend. So very true!

I Heart the Penguin Group

Debbie Gonzales — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 02:18:54 +0000

I am super-thrilled to announce that guides for three of the books I've worked on have been included in the following webpage. How wonderful is that?

Click on the link below and behold my guides for Ellen's Broom, Princess Posey and the First Grade Parade and Forgiven.

This honor makes me very, very happy!

http://us.penguingroup.com/static/pages/youngreaders/teachers-librarians/tl-guides.html

Heading out to Highlights

Debbie Gonzales — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 20:44:42 +0000

It's kind of cool to see my mug on the Highlights Foundation website! I'll be assisting with the Whole Novel workshop in November 2012 and cannot wait!

http://www.highlightsfoundation.org/content/deborah-gonzales-teaching-assistant

The Anatomy of a Teacher Guide

Debbie Gonzales — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 22:17:02 +0000

Not long ago I was asked to write an essay about the components of a teacher guide.

Ask a simple question, get a complicated answer, right?

So I wrote an essay entitled the Anatomy of a Teacher's Guide in which I sought to cover aspects of cross-curricular, sensory-driven, age-appropriate, and just plain old fun guides. The essay is founded on the gazillion teacher guides I've used over my decades of teaching experience, as well as the guides I craft for individuals today.

The essay was featured in Hunger Mountain: the VCFA Journal of the Arts which is both a print publication and an online destination for readers, writers, artists, and art lovers. Our mission is to cultivate engagement with and conversation about the arts by publishing high-quality, innovative literary and visual art by both established and emerging artists, and by offering opportunities for interactivity and discourse.

Here's the essay. Hope you enjoy it.

http://www.hungermtn.org/the-anatomy-of-a-teacher-guide/

Me on Dear Teen Me

Debbie Gonzales — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 04:10:58 +0000

In keeping with the phrase "If I knew then what I know now," I had the great honor of being a contributing author on the very cool website Dear Teen Me. The premise of the site is for an author to write a letter to their teen self to discuss an issue that the they once struggled with as a teen.

Look around the website. It is truly amazing. Many of the posts have to do with some very serious issues...life altering ones.

My post deals with...well...access the link and see for yourself.

http://dearteenme.com/2011/02/18/dear-teen-debbie-from-author-austin-scbwi-ra-debbie-gonzales/

My Guide on the Penguin Page

Debbie Gonzales — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 03:17:44 +0000

I was so thrilled to see on of my teacher guides included as part of a collection on the Penguin website!

The guide featured is the first one I did for my dear friend, Stephanie Greene, to compliment her oh-so-darling Princess Posey and the First Grade Parade. To have yourself a look, simply click on the link below.

Check it out...

http://us.penguingroup.com/static/pages/youngreaders/teachers-librarians/tl-guides.html

Twenty-five Years of Mother-Daughter Nutcrackering

Debbie Gonzales — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 13:06:09 +0000

A news story from the Austin Statesman featuring a holiday tradition Taylor, my daughter, and I have maintained for 25 years!

http://www.statesman.com/news/local/mother-and-daughter-about-to-celebrate-25-years-1094297.html

Janet Fox - How To Get Organized Without Losing It Activity Guide

Debbie Gonzales — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 15:40:00 +0000

Access an game I created specifically for Janet's sensational How to Get Organized Without Losing It here: http://www.janetsfox.com/foxs-den.php

An Interview with Austin Author Donna Bratton About Teacher Guides

Debbie Gonzales — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 20:39:31 +0000

Author Debbie Gonzales is the current Regional Advisor for the Austin, Texas chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). She brings forth an impressive resume jam-packed with experience as a teacher, school administrator, curriculum designer, workshop leader, works as an adjunct professor, and an MFA from Vermont College. You might know Debbie from her oh-so-popular website, her Simple Saturday blog, or the new cooperative blog, Readerkidz. I know Deb as a lovely, supportive, talented friend, so I’m honored to have her join us today...

The Truth About Teacher Guides - An Interview with Author Bethany Hegedus

Debbie Gonzales — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 02:07:23 +0000

One of the women, among the many here in Austin, that have taken me under their wing, taught me the ropes, and have shared their time and talents with me is the incredible Debbie Gonzales. Debbie is the RA for our Austin Chapter and is a fearless leader who has stamina and a deep connection to community and with everything Debbie takes on she gets it all done. And not just done. Done well. Done fantastically. Debbie, and others on the SCBWI team, have put together a stellar line up for the Austin Boots, Books and Buckskin Conference. Registration is open now and spots are going fast...

To read more access - http://bethanyhegedus.livejournal.com/4715.html