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WinkWorld

    Gig ’em, Aggies!
    by Joan Wink – April 18, 2024

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, I have been creating documents for WinkWorld for over 20 years.  First, it was a static newsletter, […]

    Sister Bourne: Small Desert Schools to Tiny Prairie School
    by Joan Wink – March 29, 2024

    Dear WinkWorld readers,  I love the Arizona Highways magazine, and I love education, and I love education taking place in […]

    Tucson Festival of Books, 2024
    by Joan Wink – March 12, 2024

    Hi WinkWorld Readers, It is that time of year again when more than 100,000 of my very best friends and […]

    Prairie Pedagogy: Congratulations, Missy!
    by Joan Wink – February 29, 2024

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, If you have followed our prairie pedagogy series, you will know that Missy Urbaniak is the stellar […]

    Story
    by Joan Wink – February 27, 2024

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Recently, a dear colleague/friend of many years called me spontaneously and asked if I had anything she […]

    Another Home Run Story: “Meadowlark” by Dawn Wink
    by Joan Wink – February 15, 2024

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, If you are a reader of WinkWorld, you know that I love it when someone discovers their […]

    Prairie Pedagogy: The End Is the Beginning?
    by Joan Wink – January 17, 2024

      Dear WinkWorld Readers, Readers of WinkWorld know that I have been writing about prairie pedagogy because it fascinates me […]

    Meet Missy: The Teacher at Atall
    by Joan Wink – December 13, 2023

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, If you are a regular reader of WinkWorld, you know that I am writing about a  tiny […]

    From Tiny School to Big University and Big Equipment
    by Joan Wink – November 2, 2023

      Dear WinkWorld Readers, If you are a reader of WinkWorld, you know that I am focused on pulling together […]

    Prairie Pedagogy Previous Posts
    by Joan Wink – October 17, 2023

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, As I shared in the previous blog post, we are working on Prairie Pedagogy.  Our purpose is […]

    Prairie Pedagogy: Pulling the Past 10 Years Together in One Big Story
    by Joan Wink – September 26, 2023

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, If you read WinkWorld consistently, you are aware that I have been taking books and reading stories […]

    GinnyWink#5, A Badger, and Me: Another Ranch Story
    by Joan Wink – September 12, 2023

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Some of you may remember the snake story. Ranch Visitors: Blue Racer Snakes Others of you may […]

    Henry’s Literacy Development
    by Joan Wink – August 29, 2023

    Hello WinkWorld Readers, If you are a regular reader of WinkWorld, you know that one of the messages I hope […]

    I Learned to Read Through Phonics and the Jonathan Story
    by Joan Wink – July 5, 2023

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, I have been writing about a cool ranch kid, whom I have been observing.  Henry, now age […]

    Regalia: Woven Into Every Stitch
    by Joan Wink – May 17, 2023

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, As the incomparable Amanda Gorman writes in her poem, “Memorial” (2021, “Call Us What We Carry,”): When […]

    Back to the Books
    by Joan Wink – May 3, 2023

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, I love to share the books I am reading. South Dakota One Book The SD Humanities Council […]

    SD Board of Regents
    by Joan Wink – April 23, 2023

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, My six-year term of service as a member of the South Dakota Board of Regents has ended, […]

    Post AERA Reflection
    by Joan Wink – April 19, 2023

      Hi WinkWorld Readers, We are home from AERA in Chicago. Dawn, our daughter, did such a great reflection on […]

    AERA 2023, Chicago, April 13 to April 16
    by Joan Wink – April 10, 2023

    Hi WinkWorld Readers, I have completed my term of six years on the Board of Regents, and now I have […]

    Academic Family Tree: TESOL 2023
    by Susan Spreitzer – March 14, 2023

    Hello WinkWorld Readers, Academics on various campuses sometimes talk casually and lovingly about their own Academic Family.  For example, those who […]

    Books 2023, January
    by Joan Wink – January 5, 2023

    Hi WinkWorld Readers, Happy New Year to us all! Let’s keep on reading this year.  In this WinkWorld, I will […]

    Books: Looking Back on the Last Couple of Years
    by Joan Wink – October 2, 2022

    Hi WinkWorld Readers, I have been reflecting on some of my reading in the last couple of years.  I am […]

    Homework? Time to rethink your long-held assumptions and Dawn’s Dewdrops
    by Joan Wink – September 17, 2022

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, New learning can sometimes be a real pain in the neck.  For example, if this is new […]

    Joan’s YouTube Language Acquisition Videos
    by Joan Wink – August 28, 2022

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, This post is written primarily for my YouTube viewers and for those who are using the language […]

    The Power of Story: A Book Talk in WY by Deb Harrison
    by Joan Wink – August 21, 2022

    Hello WinkWorld Readers, If you follow WinkWorld, you know that I have been featuring blog posts on language acquisition, until […]

    Two Class Reunions: July 2022
    by Joan Wink – July 31, 2022

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, the past few posts have focused directly on language acquisition/literacy development.  I do this so that others […]

    Teaching As Mentoring: Language-as-a-problem, a-right, or a-resource?
    by Joan Wink – July 22, 2022

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, We continue with our series on “the big picture” of language acquisition.  In this series, we are […]

    Joan’s Video on Language Acquisition in a Bilingual Context
    by Joan Wink – June 30, 2022

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, This is the 3rd post in a series of language acquisition posts.  Feel free to use, if […]

    The Power of Reading by S. Krashen: A Powtoons by Deb Harrison
    by Joan Wink – June 20, 2022

    Hi WinkWorld Readers, As you know, I started a series on language acquisition and literacy development in the previous WinkWorld. […]

    Language Acquisition: Krashen Pulls It Together in 25 Minutes
    by Joan Wink – June 7, 2022

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, My plan is to share a  series of posts on language acquisition and literacy materials, so that […]

    A Storyteller: Sharing Books and Learning to Teach
    by Joan Wink – May 26, 2022

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Sometimes it feels like I live in two different worlds: My town friends and my country friends.  […]

    Career Camps for Kids
    by Joan Wink – April 7, 2022

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, This post is for 7th and 8th graders who might like to attend a FREE camp for […]

    Handy (wink)Links for CARE and EQRC
    by Joan Wink – March 20, 2022

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, It is not lost on me that my WinkWorld on snakes in the house had way more […]

    CARE Conference, March 21/22, 2022 (virtual)
    by Joan Wink – March 11, 2022

    Photo  credit: dbd 3-10-2022 Dear WinkWorld Readers, OK, I admit: My blog, WinkWorld, is quite eclectic.  Last time I wrote […]

    Ranch Visitors: Blue Racer Snakes
    by Joan Wink – February 2, 2022

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, as you know I usually write a blog post about whatever is on my mind, on my […]

    Reading a Story in a School: Imagine!
    by Joan Wink – January 27, 2022

    Dear WinkWorld Readers. Reading a story in your neighborhood school: Imagine how fun. How beneficial. How interesting.  Recently, I had […]

    A New Dr. Wink
    by Joan Wink – December 15, 2021

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, As many of you know, in the past year I have spotlighted several graduates who caught my […]

    Just Books.
    by Joan Wink – November 29, 2021

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, As you know, I have been highlighting recent graduates–one more left to come this season, and I […]

    Meet Another Brand-new Doc: Dr. Herman
    by Joan Wink – October 28, 2021

    Dear WinkWorld Readers. As you may remember, I have highlighted some recent graduates, and I will repost them at the […]

    If You’re Not From the Prairie…,
    by Joan Wink – September 8, 2021

      Dear WinkWorld Readers. In this blog post, I am posting two oral readings of one of my all-time favorite […]

    The Power of Story: Dawn Interviews Joan
    by Joan Wink – September 6, 2021

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Here is a 5-minute video clip, as Dawn interviewed me about “The Power of Story.”   Hope […]

    TCNJ: ESL, Bilingual, Literacy, Language Acquisition Master Candidates #1
    by Joan Wink – August 14, 2021

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, This issue of WinkWorld is directed specifically to a group of teachers in New Jersey.  When they […]

    Storylistening: Beniko Mason and Steve Krashen
    by Joan Wink – July 30, 2021

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Once upon a time in a faraway land, I was a professor who lived and breathed language […]

    2 More Graduates in Their Own Words: Ana and Lizzie
    by Joan Wink – July 17, 2021

      Dear WinkWorld Readers. In the previous two WinkWorlds, I introduced you to some recent graduates, and I will continue […]

    Meet A Brand-new Doc: Dr. York
    by Joan Wink – July 5, 2021

    Dear WinkWorld Readers I am happy to introduce you to a former student, Ana York, who recently completed her doctorate […]

    Graduates in Their Own Words
    by Joan Wink – June 27, 2021

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, The graduation season is such a joyous and emotional time for all of us.  I have had […]

    Best 2 Books of the Last 6 Months
    by Joan Wink – May 19, 2021

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, I love to share my books with others, and recently a friend returned a pile of borrowed […]

    Free-range Reading
    by Joan Wink – May 2, 2021

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Sometimes you hear adults saying, “kids today don’t read.”  Here is a story, which paints a different […]

    Quilts and Books: Bring on the Stories
    by Joan Wink – April 17, 2021

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Recently, Dawn Wink posted a blog about quilts on her blog, DewDrops, and this led me to […]

    Russ on Reading: Mem Fox
    by Joan Wink – February 17, 2021

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Today I saw a blogpost from Russ Walsh in his blog, Russ on Reading, in which he […]

    Facts tell. Stories sell.
    by Joan Wink – February 8, 2021

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Once upon a time in a far, far away place, I was a university professor.  Not only […]

    Eulalia (Sister) Bourne: Rancher Schoolteacher
    by Joan Wink – January 31, 2021

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, As many of you know, I have long been a fan of Eulalia Bourne, a.k.a., Sister, since […]

    What is equity? What is equality?
    by Joan Wink – January 26, 2021

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, I didn’t mean to send out another WinkWorld so quickly, but today I bumped into a discussion […]

    Books. Books. Books.
    by Joan Wink – January 24, 2021

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, A friend just received her second new knee and is recovering.  She is an avid reader and […]

    American Generations: The Silent Generation to Gen Z
    by Joan Wink – January 10, 2021

    Hello WinkWorld Readers, I am often drawn to questions regarding the generations: The Greatest Generation to The Silent Generation to […]

    PART TWO: Post-COVID Needs of Society and Students
    by Joan Wink – November 3, 2020

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, In the previous blog post, I shared a review of Harari’s 21 Lessons for the 21st Century […]

    Post-COVID Needs of Society and Students
    by Joan Wink – October 27, 2020

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, As some of you know, I am on the South Dakota Board of Regents, and in that […]

    Teacher Observations: How do we do them virtually?
    by Joan Wink – October 19, 2020

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, If you are not in a classroom very often, you may not realize it, but teacher observations […]

    Books Which I Am Reading Now
    by Joan Wink – September 28, 2020

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Periodically, I share the books I am reading. Here we go… I just received this treasured book […]

    Krashen and Chomsky: Two of the Greats
    by Joan Wink – September 24, 2020

    Okay, languages/literacies folks on the WinkWorld readership list, this one is for you and for me.  I often use WinkWorld […]

    Why do we keep trying to standardize kids?
    by Joan Wink – September 15, 2020

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, This particular blogpost is specifically for teachers, families, and librarians. Look at these two geraniums. You can […]

    Read Aloud. Read Along. Read Alone. Read Again: Thanks, Russ Walsh
    by Joan Wink – August 22, 2020

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, this blogpost is specifically for teachers, families, and librarians–or anyone who cares about kids and reading.  Whether […]

    Wink Ranch, 2020 by Dawn Wink, Dewdrops
    by Joan Wink – August 16, 2020

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, In her blog, Dewdrops, Dawn Wink shares a bit of our summer on the ranch.  I hope […]

    3 Models of Pedagogy, Copyrights, and the Citation
    by Joan Wink – August 3, 2020

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, The purpose of this WinkWorld is to discuss my ambivalent feelings regarding copyright rules and regs.  When […]

    Little Free Library (LFL): Lorna and Alfonso
    by Joan Wink – July 16, 2020

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Previously, I have written about the Little Free Libraries (LFL), and how this process of giving away […]

    SUNY Oswego: WW Resources, PART TWO
    by Joan Wink – July 9, 2020

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, The purpose of this WinkWorld is to share ways to keep kids learning, whether they are in […]

    SUNY Oswego: WW Resources PART ONE
    by Joan Wink – June 18, 2020

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, The purpose of my blog, WinkWorld, is to share resources which I generated during my life in […]

    Spin Doctors: Looking back with Denny Taylor and Stephen Krashen
    by Joan Wink – May 30, 2020

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Recently, I was included in a lengthy email dialog about literacy.  This spurred me to want to […]

    Prairie School Post #17: COVID Edition
    by Joan Wink – May 19, 2020

      Dear WinkWorld Readers, As you know, I have written other blog posts about prairie pedagogy–and, particularly about a little […]

    Human Connections & MINES & More Ms. Dobras
    by Joan Wink – May 12, 2020

    Dear WinkWorld readers, As  you know, WinkWorld tends to be whatever has my attention at the moment, and I have […]

    Making with Ms. Dobras on YouTube: PART THREE- More of Ms. Dobras
    by Joan Wink – May 7, 2020

    This is a story about roots–Ms. Dobras’s and mine. In the photo above, I am standing in the dry San […]

    Making with Ms. Dobras on YouTube: PART TWO, What is making?
    by Joan Wink – May 2, 2020

    Sunny, you will meet her when you go to any of the Making with Ms. Dobras postings on YouTube. Hi […]

    Making with Ms. Dobras on YouTube: PART ONE
    by Joan Wink – April 22, 2020

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Meet my friend, Ms. Dobras, who has taught in San Francisco, and is now teaching Making to […]

    Henry Loves “Junk Reading:” Horrors. Nope.
    by Joan Wink – April 9, 2020

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, First, the photo at the top is just our little reminder to ourselves… Now, on to the […]

    Ann, a Pilgrim: “People Are Good.”
    by Joan Wink – March 31, 2020

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, As you know, my blog tends to capture (a) what is happening in my life and/or (b) […]

    Learning with Your Kids at Home: Some Resources
    by Joan Wink – March 18, 2020

    Dear WinkWorld Readers,  In what follows I will share a few resources, which you might want to use at home, […]

    Mem Fox & How This Blog Evolves
    by Joan Wink – March 8, 2020

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Sometimes I am asked how I write this blog, WinkWorld.  The truth is that it just sort […]

    Guided Self-Selected Reading (GSSR): Krashen and Mason
    by Joan Wink – February 5, 2020

    Hello WinkWorld Readers, this post is for reading teachers, families, and all who care about literacy, What in the world […]

    Influential She
    by Joan Wink – January 27, 2020

    Dear WinkWorld readers, be forewarned, there is a bit of self-promotion coming…. However, I truly am honored to have been […]

    Prairie School Post (PSP): A Student Newsletter
    by Joan Wink – January 17, 2020

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Back to one of my favorite topics: Prairie Pedagogy.  In this issue I will share a series […]

    Shoebox Autobiographies: Funds of Knowledge and Steph Paterson of CSU Stanislaus
    by Joan Wink – January 12, 2020

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Teachers, the shoebox autobiographies are a good way of building community.  CSUS friends, I was able to […]

    Prairie Pedagogy: A Country Christmas Celebration
    by Joan Wink – December 21, 2019

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Yes, these one and two-room country schools in our area still have Christmas school programs, which some […]

    Thank You, Librarians: A Story About Stealing (and returning) Books
    by Joan Wink – December 17, 2019

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Got a couple of minutes?  You won’t forget this story.  Thank you to Sharon Biegen for sharing […]

    Prairie Pedagogy: Grandparents’ Day Program at Atall School
    by Joan Wink – December 5, 2019

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Recently, I was lucky enough to attend Grandparents’ Day Program at Atall School on the isolated prairies. […]

    InfluentialSHE and 3 Models of Pedagogy
    by Joan Wink – December 2, 2019

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, In this issue of WinkWorld, I will introduce you to InfluentialSHE, and tell you the story of […]

    Wyoming: Language Acquisition
    by Joan Wink – November 9, 2019

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, I am preparing to make a trip to Wyoming to share with teachers about language acquisition. I […]

    Top Stories
    by Joan Wink – November 6, 2019

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, I am putting this blog post together for a couple of different groups who want to talk […]

    How I got my first Sturgis library card and the poem, “Lovebrarians.”
    by Joan Wink – November 1, 2019

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, I just sat down to do a new WinkWorld and realized that I had never posted this […]

    The Power of Story: A video with Dawn and Joan – How we learned to read
    by Joan Wink – October 7, 2019

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, A fast video clip (3 minutes), which I was just reviewing for a couple of different groups.  […]

    Kids, Cows, and Community: Prairie Pedagogy
    by Joan Wink – September 27, 2019

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, As some of you know, Missy Urbaniak and I have been writing about prairie pedagogy.  Recently, we […]

    Sturgis Public Library, September 17, 2019: Children’s Library Renovation
    by Joan Wink – September 18, 2019

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Oh, how I love a good celebration of literacy. Sturgis Public Library: You know how to do […]

    Transactional, Transformational, and Louise Rosenblatt
    by Joan Wink – September 6, 2019

    (Photo credit: Kerry Frei, who captured the sign which dear Cuzzin’ Zane made for us.) Dear WinkWorld Readers, I have […]

    My Favorite Teacher: Update August 26, 2019
    by Joan Wink – August 27, 2019

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, I am often asked who my favorite teacher was, and even though I am very aware that […]

    Everyday Native: Free Resources, Grades 4-12.
    by Joan Wink – August 24, 2019

    Dear WinkWorld, Apparently, I had to go to Arizona to learn about Everyday Native, an online program, which offers FREE […]

    How To Help Your Child Become an Avid Reader, Jeff McQuillan
    by Joan Wink – August 19, 2019

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Families and teachers: This one is for you!  Jeff McQuillan, thank you for telling the story of […]

    Summer Reading: Books Beget Books
    by Joan Wink – August 9, 2019

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Thank you, Kerry Frei, for the photo of the sign which dear Cuzzin’ Zane King made for […]

    Gary, the Tall Montana Cowboy, Reflects on His Favorite Childhood Story
    by Joan Wink – July 8, 2019

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, I am reviewing this story for another project, and just decided to share with you, too.  I […]

    How I Learned to Read (a 5 minute video)
    by Joan Wink – July 3, 2019

    Image by Illustrator Katie Knox. Hi WinkWorld Readers, A colleague reminded me about this video recently.  It answers the question: […]

    Stories Trump Grammar
    by Joan Wink – June 17, 2019

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, ALERT: Self-promotion post coming your way.  One of the most difficult aspects of being an author is […]

    Beautiful Books by the Churchmans
    by Joan Wink – June 11, 2019

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, In the previous WinkWorld, I wrote about Free-range Reading*, a literacy activity which celebrates the freedom to […]

    Prairie Pedagogy: A Reflection on Free-range Reading
    by Joan Wink – May 21, 2019

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, In the previous WinkWorld (re-posted at the bottom of this blog), I mentioned that I was going […]

    Free-range Reading: What in the World Is It?
    by Joan Wink – May 16, 2019

    Dear WinkWorld Readers,  If you are a reader of this blog, you are aware of my interest in prairie pedagogy, […]

    Honoring Teachers: My All-Time Fav, Profe Beto
    by Joan Wink – May 8, 2019

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, This is the week that we are all honoring teachers.  There is not doubt in my mind […]

    Adapting to the Future: Gotta be Nimble and Quick
    by Joan Wink – April 6, 2019

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Those who can adapt to change are those who will thrive in the future.   I thought of this […]

    75: I highly recommend it.
    by Joan Wink – April 1, 2019

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, The Wink family March Madness Birthday Bash has finally come to a successful end–much to the relief of all […]

    “Lovebrarians” by Laurie Halse Anderson
    by Joan Wink – March 23, 2019

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, This poem, Lovebrarians, comes from a new book, SHOUT: A Poetry Memoir by Laurie Halse Anderson, available now […]

    Three of My Artist Friends
    by Joan Wink – March 19, 2019

    Dear WinkWorld Readers,  This issue will be very different from my usual posts, but I want to share some of […]

    Tucson Festival of Books (TFoB) 2019
    by Joan Wink – March 1, 2019

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, This weekend is the Tucson Festival of Books (TFoB), when more than 100,000 are expected to come to […]

    EQRC and CARE Conferences: Update
    by Joan Wink – February 27, 2019

    Dear WinkWorld readers, I am reposting all updated documents which we used at the EQRC and CARE conferences, as per the […]

    Research Rapture and The Din In The Head: Part Two
    by Joan Wink – February 19, 2019

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Previously, I posted my thoughts on research rapture and the din in the head on WinkWorld  (May 2, […]

    Prairie Pedagogy: The Book Challenge, or Just Read, Read, Read.
    by Joan Wink – February 18, 2019

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Missy Urbaniak, teacher at a tiny 2-room school on the prairies and Donalyn Miller, literacy guru, are […]

    EQRC & CARE Documents for Participants
    by Joan Wink – February 12, 2019

    Dear WinkWorld Readers & EQRC and CARE participants, These documents are posted here for the participants attending our two sessions at […]

    Visually Vygotsky: Our Guide to Images, Stories, and Newsletters
    by Joan Wink – February 9, 2019

    Dear WinkWorld Readers,  Later this month, my friend/colleague, Le Putney of  UNLV and I will be presenting on Vygotksy at […]

    Critical Pedagogy: A New Review
    by Joan Wink – February 2, 2019

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, What a nice surprise popped into my email today.  I do not know this reviewer, nor this journal, but […]

    What? Stories Are Data? (bibliography included)
    by Joan Wink – January 19, 2019

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, We don’t want data–we want a good story. We don’t remember facts, but we never forget a good […]

    Storytelling & Dementia
    by Joan Wink – January 17, 2019

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Often times readers will read a book and then reach out to the author. I am always […]

    Steve Krashen on Open Access
    by Joan Wink – January 15, 2019

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, I am happy to share Steve Krashen’s thoughts on easy and free access to all scientific knowledge, […]

    Fall 2018: “It takes a ranch.”
    by Joan Wink – January 11, 2019

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, So often, it seems that Dawn, our daughter, captures stories of our life. She has done it again […]

    Storytelling: Do I have anything?
    by Joan Wink – January 8, 2019

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, recently I was asked by a colleague if I had anything on storytelling: Yes. You may remember […]

    Prairie Winter & Books
    by Joan Wink – December 28, 2018

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, this is the type of day which gives prairie winters a bad name…. However, I am happy […]

    Writing Projects: 2019
    by Joan Wink – December 18, 2018

    Dear WinkWorld Readers,   In the photo above, you can see that I am enjoying one of my fav things: Reading to […]

    Joan & Dawn: The Personal and The Professional
    by Joan Wink – December 14, 2018

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, As you know, my blog tends to be anything interesting, which is happening in my life.  Sometimes my […]

    Confessions of a Podcast Nerd: “Check This Out”
    by Joan Wink – November 5, 2018

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, I confess, I am a podcast nerd.  I have been planning to share with you some of […]

    Just Some Books Lying Around Here
    by Joan Wink – October 29, 2018

    Dear WinkWorld Readers,  We have just returned to the SD ranch from AZ, and I was not sure what I should write […]

    What is the idea generator? Part Two
    by Joan Wink – October 8, 2018

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, In the previous issue of WinkWorld, I told a story about the idea generator (see bottom of this […]

    What is the idea generator? Part One
    by Joan Wink – September 25, 2018

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, In a previous WinkWorld (posted below) I mentioned the idea generator when writing about Lisa and Chyllis and the Becoming a Better […]

    Anita Hill: A Personal Thank You
    by Joan Wink – September 19, 2018

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, If you are a reader of WinkWorld, you know that I promised a story about the idea […]

    Chyllis, A Special Project Inspired By Lisa
    by Joan Wink – September 16, 2018

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, This one is mostly for teachers and teacher educators.  You may remember my former student, Lisa, who […]

    Janet Visits the Prairies
    by Joan Wink – September 8, 2018

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Janet Towell is a dear friend from my CA days.  Our offices were right beside each other, and we […]

    Riding Horses to the First Day of School: Hereford (K-8) School
    by Joan Wink – August 29, 2018

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, We often read in the academic literature that schools of the future will thrive if they also serve […]

    Library Resources for the Mainstream Teacher (or, any of us)
    by Joan Wink – August 27, 2018

      Dear WinkWorld Readers, Linda Huff, a teacher in Texas, was kind enough to share a short story about when […]

    Shadowing a Student: What, Why, How
    by Joan Wink – August 22, 2018

    Hi WinkWorld Readers, Teachers and Teacher Educators, this one is really for you. About 6 months ago, a colleague, Beth […]

    Many Ways to Begin the School Year: Annie, Missy, and Tammy
    by Joan Wink – August 19, 2018

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, There are many great ways to begin a new school year, and I hope you will share your […]

    Comprehensible and Compelling by Krashen, Lee, Lao (2018): My Review
    by Joan Wink – August 18, 2018

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Teachers, family members with kids in schools, and all people interested in literacy and learning: This one is for […]

    Those People
    by Joan Wink – August 15, 2018

    Dear WinkWord Readers, A group of graduate students and I wrote and published this piece, Those People, in 1997.  Sadly, […]

    State Mandated Tests: Which Do You Choose?
    by Joan Wink – August 2, 2018

    Hey Teacher Friends and Families with Kids in Schools, This WinkWorld is for you.   IF you could choose which test to […]

    by Joan Wink – July 23, 2018

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Dawn, our daughter, just wrote on her blog, DewDrops, about our branding in late May.  These memories […]

    Literacy, Part 3: Reading the Word and the World.
    by Joan Wink – July 21, 2018

      Dear WinkWorld Readers, In the previous two posts on literacy*, I wrote about newer perspectives on literacy.  We used to […]

    Danger: Slip, sliding into the dreaded Summer Slump
    by Joan Wink – July 14, 2018

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Beware the Summer (reading) Slump!  Don’t let it happen to you and yours. Just grab a book, kick […]

    Part Two: What is literacy?
    by Joan Wink – July 8, 2018

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, In my previous short blog post (What is literacy?), I mentioned that 3 different groups had asked me lots […]

    What is literacy?
    by Joan Wink – July 4, 2018

    Dear WinkWorld Readers,  In the past month, I have been asked by 3 different groups: What is literacy?  I suspect […]

    Tammy’s Professional Reading: 41 Professional Books this Summer
    by Joan Wink – June 29, 2018

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, In the last WinkWorld, I wrote about Lisa, who read 2,684 picture books during the last academic […]

    Lisa, You Read 2,648 Picture Books This Year? Tell Us More.
    by Joan Wink – June 24, 2018

    Dear WinkWorld Readers,  Lisa MacKenzie-Miller of CA, a former graduate student, posted on social media that she had read 2,648 books during […]

    Why read? Rosie Rae and “Russ on Reading” Have the Answer
    by Joan Wink – June 19, 2018

      Dear WinkWorld Readers, Russ Walsh (Russ on Reading) and Rosie Ray, 4th grade student, tell us how to encourage reading […]

    TAA (Texbook & Academic Authors Association)
    by Joan Wink – June 18, 2018

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, For years, my dear friend and colleague, Dr. Pam Sharpe, has told me to join TAA, and for […]

    Synergy Is Synergy: Joan Sandin, Sister Bourne, & A Night-blooming Cereus
    by Joan Wink – June 8, 2018

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, On my walk to the University of Arizona this morning, I re-learned that “synergy is synergy,” as my colleague […]

    Branding and the Day After
    by Joan Wink – May 28, 2018

    Dear WinkWorld Readers For my non-prairie friends, the annual branding is a big day in the year.  Branding Day Here […]

    Sanford Underground Research Facility: a.k.a., Grampy’s Old Homestake Mine
    by Joan Wink – May 25, 2018

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Well, Homestake Mine of Lead, SD wasn’t really Grampy’s, but I did believe that he was the most […]

    Why a School Is Not a Business
    by Joan Wink – May 18, 2018

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, A special THANK YOU to Jaime Volmer for sharing this story about blueberries with us.  It might […]

    Why humanities?
    by Joan Wink – May 11, 2018

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Recently, I read several articles about tech companies searching to hire humanities graduates. I will post a […]

    Research Rapture and The Din In The Head
    by Joan Wink – May 2, 2018

    Thank you to Katie Knox for the images. Dear WinkWorld Readers, I am playing with several new ideas (ok, researching) […]

    Kelly’s Petting Zoo
    by Joan Wink – April 15, 2018

    Dear WinkWorld, Readers, you know that my blog tends to be whatever is hanging out on my desktop or in my […]

    TESOL 2018, Biliteracy: Our Best Bet
    by Joan Wink – March 28, 2018

    Dear WinkWorld Readers,  TESOL 2018 friends, this one is for you.  Dawn and I will be sharing during PreK-12 Day. […]

    Dawn’s Review of “The Power of Story,” Part Two
    by Joan Wink – March 25, 2018

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, It is humbling to read this 2nd review by Dawn Wink of my new book, The Power of Story. […]

    Thank you, Perry Gilmore: Kisisi
    by Joan Wink – March 6, 2018

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, What in the world is Kisisi? It is an invented language between two little five-year-old boys, one, […]

    Dawn Wink on “The Power of Story”
    by Joan Wink – March 3, 2018

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, So yesterday morning, I got up to this surprise on my Facebook (FB) feed.  #speechless #humbled   And, […]

    An Effective Principal in Action
    by Joan Wink – February 28, 2018

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, This week I am in Las Vegas, working with colleagues at a school and also presenting at a […]

    Mentoring: Our Academic Family Tree
    by Joan Wink – February 22, 2018

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Forgive all of my back-to-back burst of blog posts.  You can probably tell that I am getting ready […]

    Prairie Pedagogy: A Story about a Bromeliad and a Geranium
    by Joan Wink –

    Dear WinkWorld Readers,  Previously, I wrote about the scientific method which is being used in a rural school near us.  You […]

    Storytelling as Research: A Bibliography
    by Joan Wink – February 21, 2018

      Dear WinkWorld Readers, The beauty of a blog is that you can read, whenever you have time or interest. […]

    If You Don’t Know the Prairies: A Story
    by Joan Wink – February 20, 2018

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, We tried something new when the blizzard was about ready to hit us here on the prairies. […]

    More Treasures
    by Joan Wink – February 19, 2018

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Recently, I posted some treasures* which we found while cleaning out boxes, cubbies, closets, etc.  Well, it […]

    So, This Just Happened
    by Joan Wink – February 14, 2018

    So, WinkWorld Readers, this just happened.  Wink has been cleaning out the garage and hauling in filthy boxes, which neither of […]

    Dawn Doig: Three New Children’s Books
    by Joan Wink – February 12, 2018

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Dawn Doig is a former graduate student who was in one of classes in Mallorca Spain during […]

    Back to Robert Frost
    by Joan Wink – February 8, 2018

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Recently I posted a blog about Robert Frost, in which I visited a school and read the […]

    These Hot Springs readers are hot, hot, hot.
    by Joan Wink – February 1, 2018

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Often times, readers of WinkWorld will share with me privately and not in our comment section.  No […]

    Nadifa: An Interview by KELO.
    by Joan Wink – January 27, 2018

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Recently, I posted a short piece about Nadifa, and I’m thrilled that she has now been interviewed […]

    Lisa Westbrook: How/why to spiral bind a book
    by Joan Wink – January 26, 2018

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Lisa Westbrook, a colleague and friend from TX, wrote to me about her Mystery Red Books Bookshelf.  […]

    Reading For Meaning: The BEST 12 Minute Video of your Day
    by Joan Wink – January 22, 2018

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Please find 12 minutes to relax and watch this video from Debbie Stone Bruell.  She has taken […]

    Display of Data or Doodles?
    by Joan Wink – January 17, 2018

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Recently, I posted a Steve Krashen (2005) article about what good writers (GWs) do, and what good […]

    Jack Frost or Robert Frost?
    by Joan Wink – January 15, 2018

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, In December, I went to one of our local* rural schools on the prairies to read some […]

    Krashen: How good writers, write.
    by Joan Wink – January 2, 2018

    (pens/pencils from Dreamstime, 60890206)   Dear WinkWorld Readers, Recently,  Steve Krashen reminded me of a paper he had published in […]

    Krashen/McQuillan (2018). Should we encourage e-reading? (in press)
    by Joan Wink – December 28, 2017

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, I am sharing this one with permission.  Happy Reading, Everyone. Krashen 2018 Should we encourage e-reading? This […]

    The Harvest of my Career: And, a Refugee from Chad
    by Joan Wink – December 17, 2017

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, The harvest of my career: This is how I think of my time on the Board of Regents in South […]

    A Creative Table of Contents: Missy and Susan
    by Joan Wink – December 9, 2017

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, As I mentioned in the previous WinkWorld, people begin to create amazing gifts to give to an […]

    The Good and the Bad of Publishing a Book: My Mighty Marketing Team
    by Joan Wink – December 4, 2017

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, There is such joy in finishing a book and finally holding it in your hands.  The good […]

    “The Power of Story” Is Now Available
    by Joan Wink – November 27, 2017

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, The birthing of a new book: There is just nothing quite like it.  After months/years of musing, […]

    Name Dropped from WinkWorld Readership
    by Joan Wink – November 14, 2017

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, I have recently learned that the software for WinkWorld dropped a few names from the readership.  I […]

    The Price of Books
    by Joan Wink – November 11, 2017

    Dear WinkWorld Readers,   Steve Krashen has warned us about pricing ourselves out of the market, if our books are long, boring, […]

    A great trip to AZ and CA
    by Joan Wink – October 22, 2017

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, I’ve been lucky to enjoy a couple of great trips the last month. First, I went to California […]

    DSU: What does a cyber attack look like?
    by Joan Wink – October 16, 2017

    Dear WinkWorld Readers Did you ever wonder what a cyber attack looks like? Dakota State University has an wall-sized monitor […]

    Linda Darling-Hammond to you from Diane Ravitch
    by Joan Wink – October 13, 2017

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Diane Ravitch is generously sharing with all of us the opportunity to hear Linda Darling-Hammond, October 19, […]

    Judith Green: Ethnography
    by Joan Wink – October 10, 2017

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, I am still lucky enough to work with a few doc students, and this post is specifically […]

    Prairie Pedagogy: The Scientific Method
    by Joan Wink – October 7, 2017

    Dear WinkWorld Readers,  The following story is about the Scientific Method and some of my pitiful house plants.  I realize that in […]

    Project GLAD(R): See you soon!
    by Joan Wink – September 29, 2017

    Dear WinkWorld readers, soon I will be teaching/learning with a marvelous group of Project GLAD(R) teachers of Orange Country Office of […]

    Prairie Pedagogy: Scones and Croquet
    by Joan Wink – September 25, 2017

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, if you follow this blog, you know that I love to visit Atall School, which is a rural […]

    Chicken Little Was Right.
    by Joan Wink – August 31, 2017

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Sometimes the roles of writer, rancher, and/or professor blur a bit–for example, today. I got up early again […]

    Bilingual Bibliography
    by Joan Wink – August 23, 2017

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, As you know, WinkWorld tends to be whatever is lying around on my desk or my computer […]

    Dakota State University: Small, but Mighty
    by Joan Wink – August 19, 2017

      Dear WinkWorld Readers, As part of the South Dakota Board of Regents, I get to work with very good people on […]

    Sing it, Reba. Thank you, Patricia Polacco.
    by Joan Wink – August 16, 2017

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, sing it, wherever you are.   I would not have known about this song without the wisdom and […]

    STEM Crisis? What is the evidence?
    by Joan Wink –

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Sometimes this blog has tidbits which interest some of you.  Sometimes, not so much.  However, WinkWorld also […]

    A Morning Walk on the Prairies
    by Joan Wink – August 7, 2017

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Just a little glimpse into one morning last week on the ranch. First, I did my 6 […]

    Scaffolding with Students: What? Why? How?
    by Joan Wink – August 6, 2017

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, A colleague and I were discussing scaffolding, which led me to review some of my materials.  The […]

    Whole Language Umbrella, Tucson 2017
    by Joan Wink – July 24, 2017

    It happened: I hit PUBLISH after the draft only version.  Every blogger’s worse nightmare. Forgive me. I’ll edit and be […]

    The Power of Story Chapter Seven
    by Joan Wink – July 21, 2017

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Chapter Seven, Patience and Fortitude, is the final chapter of the book.  Patience and Fortitude are the names of the […]

    The Power of Story Chapter Six
    by Joan Wink –

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Here we go with a peak into chapter six, Into the Clouds.  This is the pixel or paper chapter. I […]

    The Power of Story Chapter Five
    by Joan Wink – July 20, 2017

    Dear WinkWorld Readers,  On we go to chapter five, Of Immigrants and Imagination. First, an mage that chapter, which Katie Knox created for […]

    The Power of Story Chapter Four
    by Joan Wink –

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Here we go with a glimpse into chapter four, High-Stakes Stories.  Remember all of those feel-good stories of the […]

    The Power of Story Chapter Three
    by Joan Wink – July 19, 2017

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, I’m back with a glimpse into chapter three, Animals and the Alphabet.  Yesterday on a early morning walk to […]

    The Power of Story: Chapter Two
    by Joan Wink – July 18, 2017

    Hi WinkWorld Readers,  I am still sitting here working on copy edits and sharing a bit as I go. Here is a […]

    The Power of Story: Chapter One
    by Joan Wink –

    OK, WinkWorld Readers, here is a little overview of chapter one, as I finish the copy edit for this section. […]

    The Power of Story: Preface
    by Joan Wink –

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, As I mentioned in an earlier blog posting this a.m., I am in the midst of a copy […]

    Hunkered Down on My Dear Desert
    by Joan Wink – July 17, 2017

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Time to hunkered down on my dear desert and begin/end all of the copy edits from the book […]

    Prairie Pedagogy: Trailin Talks Trucks
    by Joan Wink – July 10, 2017

    Dear WinkWorld Readers,  If you have been following my blog, you are aware that one book project, “The Power of Story” […]

    The Power of Story (my next book)
    by Joan Wink – July 2, 2017

    Hey WinkWorld Readers, Look what I just found on my publisher’s webpages; I had not yet seen this cover.  The […]

    Prairie Pedagogy: Paul Interviews Missy
    by Joan Wink – May 10, 2017

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Meet the wonderful Atall School (K-8) of Meade County, South Dakota.  As some of you know, I […]

    Personalized Learning = CBE: Ka-ching.
    by Joan Wink – April 26, 2017

      Dear WinkWorld Readers, What in the world is personalized learning?  It sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? Be careful.  I have […]

    What is the ZPD? Or, How To Clean A White Board, or Mumbo Jumbo Theory
    by Joan Wink – April 12, 2017

      Dear WinkWorld Readers, I was recently reminded of this story, which was published originally in “A Vision of Vygotsky,” […]

    Steven M. Singer: Kids are a captive market for the testing industry.
    by Joan Wink – April 11, 2017

    Dear WinkWorld Readers,  In the previous WinkWorld, I shared Nancy Bailey’s thoughts on what happens when librarians are replaced by computers. […]

    Nancy Bailey: Librarians or Computers?
    by Joan Wink – April 10, 2017

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, I rarely repost another’s blog, as there is already access for all.  However, recently, there have been […]

    Reading During the Testing Season
    by Joan Wink – April 8, 2017

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, This post is for all the teachers who are slogging through testing season.  Teachers, I know you […]

    Those People: You Know How They Are
    by Joan Wink – March 30, 2017

      Dear WinkWorld Readers, Recently, while working on a project with CO colleagues, I came across this long-forgotten article buried deep […]

    Pre-K Babes Who Speak Other Languages at Home: What do we do?
    by Joan Wink – February 18, 2017

    Dear WinkWorld Readers,  A colleague in Colorado invited me to work with her during an online inservice in late March. The participants […]

    IJFLT Shares Recent Stephen D. Krashen Videos.
    by Joan Wink – February 14, 2017

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, IJFLT (International Journal of Foreign Language Teaching), a fav journal, just published two recent (November 2016) videos from Steve […]

    A Valentine’s Greeting: Thank you, Krista Tippett
    by Joan Wink –

      Dear WinkWorld Readers,  Valentine’s Day provides an opportunity for me to share one of my favorite radio shows, “On […]

    How are US Schools doing when compared with schools internationally?
    by Joan Wink – February 11, 2017

    Thank you, Katie Knox, for your drawing. Dear WinkWorld Readers, How are our schools doing when we compare them with […]

    Verbal to Visual: Teachers, Students, Librarians, Readers, and Writers
    by Joan Wink – January 16, 2017

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Just a fast post to share a great example of how to jazz up Cornell Notes, have […]

    Post-truth, Fake News, Elephants, and Stories
    by Joan Wink – January 8, 2017

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, I hate it that the Oxford Dictionary now even has a definition for ‘post-truth,’ which they have chosen as […]

    Road Warrior Literacy
    by Joan Wink – January 6, 2017

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, I gave myself a little break from writing and from social media during the holidays.  However, I’m […]

    Flat Stanley, or Jaylee on a Journey with Joan
    by Joan Wink – November 21, 2016

      Dear WinkWorld Readers, Some of you are aware of Flat Stanley and Flat Stella literacy and community project.  The […]

    Teaching as Mentoring.
    by Joan Wink – November 12, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Some of you may remember that last February I wrote a WinkWorld to honor the work of […]

    Storytelling, Listening, and Love by Dr. Janet Towell
    by Joan Wink – October 25, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Some of you know my dear friend and colleague, Janet Towell, of Florida Atlantic University.  Janet and […]

    GLAD: Guided Language Acquisition Design
    by Joan Wink – October 19, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, I have been revisiting Project GLAD and want to share a peak into the process.  First, I will […]

    Spiral of Literacy with a New Blank Spiral for Your Own Use
    by Joan Wink – October 17, 2016

    Hi WinkWorld Readers, Previously, I have shared the Spiral of Literacy, which is a great, reflective activity.  However, I have […]

    In An Evil State, Far, Far Away
    by Joan Wink – October 14, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, I am inspired by many women to bring this true story back with the hope that it […]

    Libraries: What will they be like in 10 years?
    by Joan Wink – October 12, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, A blog from OnlineUniversities (April 24, 2012 by Staff Writers) predicts what libraries will be like in […]

    Buffalo Roundup (9-30-2016)
    by Joan Wink – October 1, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Recently, we have focused on linguistics and language acquisition from Ruthie Wienk, and now we will jump […]

    Language Acquisition: 3 perspectives by Ruthie Wienk
    by Joan Wink – September 27, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, You may remember that in a previous edition of WinkWorld, Ruthie Wienk shared her introduction to a linguistics […]

    Translingualism from David Schwarzer
    by Joan Wink – September 23, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Some of you may remember that I recently posted Translanguaging: What In The World Is That?  After that […]

    Paper or Pixel–Laptop or Longhand?
    by Joan Wink – September 22, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, This post is really for a group of friends/colleagues on Facebook, but this is just the easiest […]

    Ruthie Wienk, introductory presentation on linguistics
    by Joan Wink – September 16, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, In the last WinkWorld, I mentioned to you that we would begin a short series of selected videos from […]

    Translanguaging? What in the world is that?
    by Joan Wink – September 13, 2016

    Hello, WinkWorld Readers, A few of you are as excited about translanguaging, as I.  In this post, I am including some […]

    I’m Back: UofA and Grambling Marching Bands
    by Joan Wink – September 10, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Forgive my absence. Let’s just call it my summer vacation.  But, I’m back. In this WinkWorld, I want to […]

    Palma de Mallorca, Spain July 2016
    by Joan Wink – July 10, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, On my morning walk today, I realized that the cathedral was on my right, and… and, the […]

    Link to Wink: 2010
    by Joan Wink – July 6, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, The series of chapter summaries on my book-in-progress has now been interrupted by my teaching international educators […]

    Of Stories and Standards, ch 4 in the series
    by Joan Wink – June 30, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, The peak into my book-in-process continues. Briefly,  I have given you a glimpse into Chapter 1 (literacy), […]

    Animals & The Alphabet, ch 3 in the series
    by Joan Wink – June 27, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, In the first two chapters, we looked at literacy and stories, and now we are moving on […]

    Loving Those Stories, Chapter Two (series: Update on My Writing)
    by Joan Wink – June 25, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, If you are following along in this series of blog posts, you will remember that Chapter One, Loving […]

    Loving That Literacy, Chapter One (2nd part of Update on My Writing)
    by Joan Wink – June 23, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, This is the 2nd part of a glimpse into my work on the next book, which will […]

    Update On My Writing:
    by Joan Wink – June 20, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, As some of you know, I am working on a new book about literacy stories. A few […]

    Joanne Yatvin: What We Want for Schools
    by Joan Wink – June 18, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, I am a long-time fan of Joanne Yatvin, who is a highly experienced teacher, principal, and superintendent. […]

    Free Online Books for Kids: Thanks, Jill Outka-Hill.
    by Joan Wink – June 17, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, No slip, sliding behind in reading this summer for your kids!  Here is a list of FREE […]

    What Diane Ravitch Would Say to Obama, Clinton, and Trump Today
    by Joan Wink – June 14, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, So, what should we do in K-12 schools today? Here are great ideas for your consideration. Thank you, […]

    Some resources on my webpages: Help yourselves, Teachers.
    by Joan Wink – June 6, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld  Readers, Here are some resources from my website. Help yourself. Can you tell that I am getting ready […]

    Steve Krashen by Deb Harrison
    by Joan Wink – June 3, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Deb Harrison is a teacher in WY, and while she was in my classes at BHSU, she […]

    Diary of a 50th Anniversary: June 4, 1966 to 2016
    by Joan Wink – May 31, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, We decided that the best 50th anniversary (June 4, 1966 to 2016)  for us would be to […]

    Dyslexia
    by Joan Wink – May 19, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Normally, in this blog, I try to share some little tidbit, often related to kids and cows, […]

    The Wizard of Oz and a Cowboy
    by Joan Wink – May 11, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Some of you know that I am busy working on the next book, which will focus on […]

    Karly on Krashen + video clip of 2 readers
    by Joan Wink – May 2, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, In this issue, I will share a product from my class at Black Hills State University (BHSU) this […]

    Sonia Nieto: Language, Literacy, and Diversity (GCLR archive)
    by Joan Wink – April 28, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, In this issue, you will find the archive of Sonia Nieto speaking on Language, Literacy, and Diversity […]

    Testing: Good News, Bad News, and The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad News
    by Joan Wink – April 25, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld readers, I’ve got good news, bad news, and terrible, horrible, no good, very bad news. My question: Why do […]

    Kitchen Calves
    by Joan Wink – April 16, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Today on the ranch.   I seem to remember reading some pesky memo, which said that I […]

    Post TESOL 2016 in Baltimore
    by Joan Wink – April 9, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, This post is primarily for my teacher friends and colleagues in TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers […]

    TESOL: 1966 to 2016
    by Joan Wink – April 5, 2016

    Dear WinkWord Readers, This post is for all of my TESOL (Teachers of Speakers of Other Languages) friends and colleagues.  See […]

    BEST 90th Birthday Party Ever
    by Joan Wink – April 3, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, In this edition, I will try to capture bit of magic: The 90th birthday party for Betty Jay, […]

    March Madness from Tammy McMorrow
    by Joan Wink – March 30, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Thank you, Tammy McMorrow, for sharing, yet another classroom treasure with us. Enjoy. March Madness  

    Reflecting on My Birthday: 10 Years Cancer Free
    by Joan Wink – March 24, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, As someone once said to me, “I love your daughter’s blog, but yours is all about learning.”  I […]

    Hummingbirds
    by Joan Wink – March 18, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, We, prairie people, get really excited about hummingbirds, and with all of the news of the Tucson Festival […]

    Tucson Festival of Books (TFoB): Post Festival Reflections
    by Joan Wink – March 15, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, The Tucson Festival of Books (TFoB) ended yesterday with 140,000 of my best friends celebrating literacy.  I arrived on […]

    Tucson Festival of Books (TFoB)
    by Joan Wink – March 12, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, TFoB:  Life is just too short to ever miss this wonderful event where 10s of thousands of […]

    Getting Books into The Hands of Kids (Week 9, sort of…)
    by Joan Wink – March 10, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Sometimes it just falls smack into your lap, when you least expect it.  I was beating myself […]

    Week 8, 3.1: Critical Pedagogy: Notes from the Real World
    by Joan Wink – March 1, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, This week, the teachers have been playing with and reviewing some of the ideas found in Critical Pedagogy: […]

    The Chaos by Dr. Gerard Nolst Trenité, 1922
    by Joan Wink – February 24, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, This one is just for fun.  Can you read this entire poem aloud? At the bottom of […]

    Week 7: 2.23, Tech Tools and Voki
    by Joan Wink – February 23, 2016

    WinkWorld Readers, again this issue is for the teachers in my class, but you are more than welcome to come […]

    ESSA: What does it mean for kids and teachers?
    by Joan Wink – February 19, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld Readership, I know that many of us are trying to understand the new education bill, Every Student Succeeds […]

    Week 6, 2.16, Krashen: Pulls it all together in 25 minutes.
    by Joan Wink – February 16, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, as you can guess, I am posting this for the teachers in my class, but any of […]

    Of Books and Blogs
    by Joan Wink – February 15, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, I am often asked what I read. Here are a few blogs and books, which I am […]

    MHS in AZ: Making More Memories
    by Joan Wink – February 9, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, This issue of WW is especially for dear friends of many years ago.  Recently, a group of […]

    Week 5, 2.9, ZPD
    by Joan Wink – February 8, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Here we are again, but this one is for the teachers in my class.  I love it […]

    Week Four, 2.2.16 (Generative Learning)
    by Joan Wink – February 3, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, remember this one is for the teachers in my class.  Join us if you like. Class, in […]

    Does real reading really help real reading? The Book Whisperer answers.
    by Joan Wink – January 27, 2016

    Donalyn Miller generously shares her thoughts and a great overview of the research (if you must have it).  Or, just […]

    Week Three, 1.26.2016, The Big Ideas
    by Joan Wink – January 26, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, remember this is for my class.  No required reading for you.  “Please, please, please do not throw […]

    Why Stories? The Answer from Carmine Gallo
    by Joan Wink – January 21, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, I know that many of you are aware of this, but I wanted to share, in case […]

    Week Two, 1.19.2016
    by Joan Wink – January 19, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, remember this is for my class, and you do not have to read it… Class, in what […]

    Fun With Words, Collective Nouns
    by Joan Wink – January 15, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, This post is specifically for teachers, who just want to have a little fun with words today […]

    Remember Those 2 Young Boys from the Congo?
    by Joan Wink – January 14, 2016

    Remember the two young boys from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), who suddenly found themselves living with new […]

    Class: Week One, The Heart and Soul of our Foundations Class
    by Joan Wink –

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, please remember that this post is specifically for the teachers in my class at Black Hills State […]

    How WinkWorld Will Change
    by Joan Wink – January 11, 2016

    Dear WinkWorld Readership, I have wanted to refer to my blog, as irreverent and irregular, but that is already taken: […]

    Power UP: Book-At-A-Glance
    by Joan Wink – January 8, 2016

    When I prepare to teach a class, I always like to create a document, which is labeled, Semester-At-A-Glance. Hopefully, this […]

    Baby Monet
    by Joan Wink – December 18, 2015

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. Let me introduce you to Baby Monet, 5 months old. Obviously, in […]

    Strega Nona, Atall School, & Country Kids
    by Joan Wink – December 16, 2015

    December 16, 2015 Dear WinkWorld Readers, If you follow this blog, you are aware that I love going to Atall […]

    Whatever Happened with Those 2 Boys from the Congo?
    by Joan Wink – November 23, 2015

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, You may remember a couple of weeks ago, I posted a blog about 2 boys from the Democratic Republic […]

    Krashen in 6 minutes–with our apologies to Steve for his vast contributions.
    by Joan Wink – November 14, 2015

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, As some of you know, Deb Harrison of Moorcroft WY teaches English to high school juniors and […]

    The Power of Reading Is My Home Run Reading Book
    by Joan Wink – November 9, 2015

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Recently, Deb Harrison, a high school English teacher in WY and a graduate student in my class […]

    Why stories? Ruthie and Regression Help Us Understand
    by Joan Wink – October 31, 2015

    October 30, 2015 Dear WinkWorld Readers, You may remember that recently, I asked the question: Why stories? I used the […]

    2 New Students from the Congo
    by Joan Wink – October 23, 2015

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, I need  your help. Last night I received a question from a teacher in Wyoming, who had […]

    Critters, Polacco, Novak, & Atall
    by Joan Wink – October 22, 2015

    Dear WinkWorld Readership, Yesterday I drove to a local school, Atall, about 50 miles away to read a story, and […]

    4 Questions about Stories
    by Joan Wink – October 20, 2015

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, In what follow, I will focus on 4 questions: What are stories?, What are your favorite stories?, […]

    A Peek Into Our Class
    by Joan Wink – October 14, 2015

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, As some of you know, I continue to teach part-time in the English as a New Language […]

    Buffalo: Custer State Park, SD
    by Joan Wink – September 28, 2015

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Normally, I share something for teachers and/or teacher educators, but in this issue I will share something for […]

    Krashen videos: Update
    by Joan Wink – September 26, 2015

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, In the previous WinkWorld, I shared a Word doc, created by Deb Harrison, which shared several of Krashen’s […]

    Krashen, Harrison, and Wink videos
    by Joan Wink – September 22, 2015

    September 22, 2015 Dear WinkWorld Readers, This WinkWorld edition is primarily for those interested in literacy and language acquisition.  First, […]

    Intentional and Incidental Learning
    by Joan Wink – September 3, 2015

    WinkWorld September 2, 2015 Dear WinkWorld readership, Now that the school year has begun, I want to return to my […]

    Why Stories?
    by Joan Wink – June 15, 2015

    I have been thinking a lot about stories lately. Why is it that we love to hear a good story? […]

    Socrates Returns to the Classroom
    by Joan Wink – June 11, 2015

    I have written and presented on the reflective cycle or Socratic teaching and learning in various places. If you are […]

    Summer Reading: Get Your Free Book Here
    by Joan Wink – June 7, 2015

    June 6, 2015 No slip, sliding into the summer slump–the reading slump, that is. Families and teachers often worry about […]

    Reflection: Not About a Cow
    by Joan Wink – May 28, 2015

    Today when I was out for my morning walk, I came upon this particular heifer. This made me think that […]

    My Reading of “Book With No Pictures”
    by Joan Wink – April 21, 2015

    Atall School Book With No Pictures by B.J. Novak Recently, I again visited some of my favorite kids in the whole […]

    Thank you, IASL.
    by Joan Wink – April 15, 2015

    Thank you to IASL (International Association of  School Librarians) for the invitation to come to Austin to share some of […]

    Literacy and Love Last: Darcie, One of The Benson Kids
    by Joan Wink – March 30, 2015

    WinkWorld March 30, 2015   Dear WinkWorld Readership, Much of what I know about teaching and learning, I learned from The […]

    Tucson Festival of Books: WOW
    by Joan Wink – March 28, 2015

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, Recently, I attended the Tucson Festival of Books, and once again, it was an amazing group of […]

    Books Beget Books: Burnett Did This to Me
    by Joan Wink – March 3, 2015

    Dear WinkWorld Readers, this post is a bit longer than I usually post: Here, I have the equivalent of 3 […]

    Poe and Powtoons
    by Joan Wink – February 26, 2015

      I love it when teachers and students in various classes find unique ways to solve problems. For example, last […]

    No Cow Left Behind
    by Joan Wink – February 24, 2015

    This idea was originally written by Ken Remsen, a school principal from Vermont, and was based on farming and falling […]

    The Passing of Richard Ruíz of the University of Arizona
    by Joan Wink – February 11, 2015

    February 10, 2015 We are saddened to learn of the unexpected passing of Dr. Richard Ruíz, who had a long […]

    Joan’s YouTube Videos, Language Acquisition
    by Joan Wink – February 3, 2015

    The following videos were created between 2011 and 2014 for specific graduate classes with the support of Cal State Stanislaus […]

    Oh Fudge
    by Joan Wink – January 28, 2015

    WinkWorld “I love your fudge recipe,” Josie said to me. “May I have it?” “Sure, I’ve got the recipe in […]

    WinkWorld: Teachers Sharing Diverse Projects
    by Joan Wink – January 20, 2015

    One of my great joys of retirement is that I get to work with local teachers in various contexts. In […]

    WinkWorld: Teachers Sharing Diverse Projects
    by Joan Wink –

    January 20, 2015 One of my great joys of retirement is that I get to work with local teachers in […]

    WinkWorld: Change is hard.
    by Joan Wink – December 31, 2014

    The Problem: Change. In 2014 I changed from the more static electronic newsletter, WinkWorld, to the more interactive blog, The […]

    The Benson Kids
    by Joan Wink – October 14, 2014

    Much of what I know about teaching and learning, I learned from The Benson Kids in the late 1970s and […]

    Northern Rocky Mountain Educational Research Association
    by Joan Wink – September 29, 2014

    NRMERA Northern Rocky Mountain Educational Research Association Historic Hotel Alex Johnson Rapid City, SD October 1-4, 2014 Theme of Conference: […]

    A Dynamite Dinosaur Day, 9.14.2014
    by Joan Wink – September 15, 2014

    66 million years ago, or so the story goes, dinosaurs roamed South Dakota. (Actually, I was not there, so I […]

    A brief glimpse of Mallorca, Spain
    by Joan Wink – July 16, 2014

    Best Gig in the World: Teaching/learning with international teachers in Mallorca. Our class of 24 active and engaged teachers represent […]

    The Problem & The Fix: Broken Waterlines
    by Joan Wink – June 30, 2014

    You may have heard of all of flooding and erosion near our ranch. For example, the primary East/West road (Highway […]

    Arne Duncan and a Little Girl, named, “Susan”
    by Joan Wink – April 21, 2014

    Today I read that Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, dismisses those who question Common Core and Smarter Balanced Assessments as […]

    WinkWorld, March 2014, is published.
    by Joan Wink – March 6, 2014

    The latest WinkWorld (March 2014) has gone out to my readership list. In addition, it is linked to FB, Twitter, […]

    WinkWorld is back.
    by Joan Wink – January 15, 2014

    Hello Friends, I have made some major changes on my webpages, which will hopefully feel seamless for you. Previously, WinkWorld […]

Joan Wink