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Amy Louise Humphreys

Born: 1961 in Havana, IL
Pen Name: Amy Hamra, Amy Hamra Humphreys, Amy Humphreys

Connection to Illinois: A life-long Illinois resident, I was born in Havana and completed all of my schooling - right through post-graduate level courses, here in the Prairie State. I have degrees from Western Illinois University and the University of Illinois. The very first time I was hired as a writer was at age 18th. Armed with nothing more than hope, I wandered through the main administration building at WIU knocking on doors and asking, 'Do you hire student writers?' It paid off. After working all four years, the portfolio I developed enabled me to secure my first job after graduation as a writer for a Chicago advertising agency. Since then I've created materials for four publishers, and written everything from scripts and speeches to magazine articles.

Biography: After several years in the business world, I earned my Ed.M. and worked for 15 years as a teacher and coordinator of gifted services for Pekin District 108. The need to teach my own students about Illinois history led to my first work in educational publishing. Starting 1995 I created 36 issues of 'Illinois Windows' for Gibbs Smith Publishing. This tabloid-sized newspaper helped students in grades 3-5 meet Illinois State Learning Standards in social studies. Through stories, activities and images they learned about our state's political systems, economics, history, geography, culture and society. My first book for Pieces of Learning was 'But I Only Have 45-Minutes!' which remains in print 15 years after its initial publication. It was followed in 2003 by 'Making Literature Circles Come Alive.' This books was developed specifically to empower students to independently explore picture books, novels and non-fiction materials using high-level thinking skills in a variety of game and artistic formats. Descriptions of my other publications can be found at www.worldofthinking.com or on my LinkedIn profile. In addition to being an author, I travel the country supporting teachers and administrators grappling with today's toughest educational challenges. In 2000 I was one of the 1st 100 Illinois educators to become a National Board Certified Teacher, credentials held by less than 2% of this country's educators. In 2009 I completed the rigorous renewal process. As if that doesn't keep me busy enough, I serve as Director of Marketing for Heartland Community College in Normal. This role offers daily opportunities to exercise very different writing chops.


Awards:

Primary Literary Genre(s): Non-Fiction; Other

Primary Audience(s): Adult readers; Children

Email: amyhumphreyswot@hotmail.com
Website: http://www.worldofthinking.com
Amy Louise Humphreys on WorldCat : http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=amy+louise+humphreys


Selected Titles

But I only have 45 minutes! /
ISBN: 1880505428 OCLC: 45076523

Pieces of Learning, Dayton, Ohio : ©1999.

Making literature circles come alive :
ISBN: 1931334226 OCLC: 52768447

Pieces of Learning, [Marion, IL] : ©2003.

  Strategies for writers /
ISBN: 0736772758 OCLC: 794669551

Zaner-Bloser, Columbus, Ohio : ©2013.

Features a rubrics-based instruction and writing process. Lessons can be taught in any order. Includes activities to reinforce writing across the curriculum.

 

 

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