Hello All:  At the beginning of this new year, I want to express my thanks to everyone who is posting on all the lists I receive.  I do not often respond, but be advised that each of you has made a contribution to the teachers in Oakland.  I share pertinent information with each program--ABE, HSS, GED, Career and Technology, ESL.  I also archive postings on my computer for easy reference and future use.  Kudos to all of you!  
Bonnita Solberg, Oakland Unified School District
Teacher On Special Assignment

WmZ at aol.com wrote: Dear reader,
 I am the author of a number of books that have been used in family literacy and ESOL programs and currently teach at the College of Mount St. Vincents Institute for Immigrant Concerns in Manhattan and at the Aguilar branch of the New York Public Library.   I have just launched a new educational web site that can be used for family literacy programs and am hoping you will share the notice below with your subscribers.   The site encourages families to create comic strip stories using the characters and story ideas provided; in dong so, they can improve their literacy skills in a fun, friendly manner.   The site is free and without advertising and was created as a public service for educators and stems from my lifelong work in creating resource materials to help people   find their voice.   I would be very appreciative if you could list the announcement.   You are free to make any necessary adjustments to the copy below. 
 Thank you.
 Sincerely,
 Bill Zimmerman
 
 Bill Zimmerman Launches Online Educational Comic Site for Family Literacy and ESOL Programs   –- http://www.makebeliefscomix.com
 
 Dear reader,
 
 I wanted to share with you news of my newest educational project and also ask for your help to make it succeed. 
 
 I’ve just launched a new web site -- http:// www.makebeliefscomix.com -- where children and adults can create their own comic strips.   They can select from 10 fun characters with different moods   -- happy, sad, angry, worried – and write words for   blank talk and thought balloons to make their characters talk and think.   There also are story ideas and prompts to help users create graphic stories.   
 
 The site can be used by educators to teach language, reading and writing skills, and also for students in English-as-a-Second-Language programs to facilitate self-expression and storytelling.   Parents and children can create stories together, print them to create comic books or email them to friends and family.   Others will find the site a resource to be creative, calm down and have fun.
 
 I am hoping that you will share http://www.makebeliefscomix.com   with your colleagues, teachers, students or readers of your publications and resource lists.   Any help you might offer in getting word out about this project is very appreciated.   If you can suggest other people or groups whom I might contact to make them aware of the site please send me their names, email addresses or phone numbers.    Relevant Internet resource sharing groups would be helpful, too. 
 
 As one who learned to read with comic books, I know that creating comic strips can help people tap into their creativity and practice their language and storytelling skills.   The site is free and stems from my lifelong mission to create resources that help people find their voice and express themselves. The concept for makebeliefscomix.com is derived from my earlier books, Make Beliefs and Make Beliefs for Kids of All Ages (which can be found on my other web site: http://www.billztreasurechest.com).   A Make Beliefs interactive feature appeared for 13 years on my syndicated Student Briefing Page for Newsday, and in National Geographic’s World Magazine. 
 
 I hope you like http://www.makebeliefscomix.com and will use it in your work and personal life.   Your feedback is welcome and very helpful.   
 
 With thanks and every good wish,
 
 Bill Zimmerman
 (wmz at aol.com)
 
 
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