Zing! Seven Creativity Practices for Educators and Students

Pat Mora, a popular presenter across the country at conferences, campuses, libraries, and schools, speaks and offers workshops on literacy, creativity, leadership, the writing process, and serving diverse populations. "Sharing Bookjoy: Creative Literacy Leaders" and "ZING! Seven Creativity Practices for Educators and Students" are among her more popular themes. The author of award-winning books of nonfiction and poetry for adults and of many children's books, Pat received honorary doctorates in letters from North Carolina State University and SUNY Buffalo and is an honorary member of the American Library Association. Among her other awards are the 2006 National Hispanic Cultural Center Literary Award, a Civitella Ranieri Fellowship, a Visiting Carruthers Chair at the University of New Mexico, a Poetry Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, and a Kellogg National Leadership Fellowship. A former teacher, university administrator, and consultant, Pat is the founder of the family literacy initiative El dia de los ninos/El dia de los libros, Children's Day/Book Day (Dia), now housed at the American Library Association. The yearlong commitment to linking all children to books, languages, and cultures and of sharing what Pat calls "bookjoy," culminates in national celebrations in April. Pat was named one of the "Fifty Most Inspiring Authors in the World" by Poets & Writers magazine in February 2010.

Acknowledgments About the Author Welcome! Bienvenido! 1. Value Your Creative Self Value Each Student's Creative Talents 2. Enjoy Quiet Create Quiet Spaces for Students 3. Gather Your Materials Motivate Students to Gather Their Materials 4. Begin Your Project Assist Students to Begin Their Projects 5. Revise Support Students With Revision 6. Share Your Creations Create Sharing Opportunities for Students 7. Steadily Persist in Your Creative Work Motivate Students to Persevere Hope/Esperanza Suggested Reading Other Books by Pat Mora

"Zing! is a wonderful book that encourages others to be creative by sharing what has worked for Pat Mora in all of her creative efforts. Sharing her seven habits for creativity is so Mora-ish. She is the most unselfish author I know." -- Camila A. Alire, Dean Emeritus "In a series of letters to teachers written with her signature poetic grace, Pat Mora gently reminds us of the potential in ourselves and our students while expanding our understanding of the writing process through metaphoric descriptions of other common creative acts. Zing! is a book to be savored, shared, and returned to for inspiration." -- Lee Galda, Professor "In this era of mandates, accountability, and adherence to canned curricula, Pat Mora reminds us that great educators are fueled by passion and creativity. Mora reflects on her experiences working with teachers and students across the country, challenges us to reflect on our own experiences, and inspires us to think and act in new and more powerful ways." -- Gary Bloom, Superintendent "One of the most valuable things to me in any book I look at for my professional library is the references it shares to lead me other resources. I inevitably turn to the back to look for this, and Mora's book does not disappoint. Overall, it's a fairly quick read with a long afterlife." -- Lisa Van Gemert