Allison Bruning's Blog, page 16

ExpressYourself: Just Call Me Garfield

Just Call Me Garfield This week I was asked to share with my readers my favorite recipe or meal. My favorite recipe was my grandmother's potato salad. I don't have her original recipe but here is one that I found on All Recipes that is close to it. 
My favorite meal since childhood has always been lasagna. My mom use to make a three cheese lasagna that was so good! Hmm, lasagna. I think I might have to have some lasagna.....hmm.....

Down In the Bayou: Jacques Cartier #French #Louisiana

Last week I introduced you to my new series Down in the Bayou with an overview of French history in Louisiana. Although Louisiana is a state in modern day United States it was in fact the term used to describe all of New France during the 17th through 18th centuries.
The French began their claims in the New World with the expeditions of Jacques Cartier. 

 Jacques Cartier 
Jacques Cartier was born on the same day that Christopher Columbus sailed for his first voyage in 1492. He was born in Saint-Malo, a fortified sea port in North France that lies on the English Channel. He was of Briton descent meaning his ancestry came from Brittany in France. 
Jacques Cartier learned to navigate in Dieppe. Afterwards, he sailed with fishermen to Newfoundland. He also accompanied Giovanni da Verrazzano on at least one of his voyages. 

In 1534, Cartier met with King Francis I of France with one goal in mind. His family were prominent watchmakers in Europe who were seeking new places to trade. Cartier wanted to find the passage that Giovanni did not. He believed the Northwest passage through the New World to Asia would open new trade routes for his family. King Francis I had other plans. He commissioned Cartier to take two ships and 61 men to the New World in order to find spices, gold and the Northwest Passage. Cartier left port, set sail across the Arctic Ocean and found Newfoundland. 



Join me next week as we discuss Cartier's second voyage. 

#Gifted #Children: Little Bodies, Big Mind, Misdiagnosed

Gifted Children:Little Bodies + Big Minds = Misdiagnosed



Stories like these don't happen everyday. Most of the time when we hear about them in the news were are astonished, amazed and forget that this prodigy is still a child. Gifted children have a hard time in the world because their minds are far more advanced their their emotions and bodies. Sometimes gifted children are misidentified in the school as being ADHD, having Learning Disabilities and/or being the problem child. How is that a gifted child can be unrecognized by those in educational field? More times than naught it is because the educator doesn't know what to look for when it comes to determining whether or not their student is gifted.

Here are some signs to look for:


Gifted children can be problematic in the public school setting if they are not challenged. Their minds easily wander if they already know the material you have set before them. Remember, gifted children are the leaders of their generation and need to be treated as such. They may not come from a home environment that supports their high IQ. Often times, school or the library because a place of safety for gifted students because they have an thirst for knowledge that can never be satisfied.

Often times, gifted children are labeled as having special needs because in their early years they may display developmental delays. This is very common in gifted children. I was one of those gifted children who had a speech delay until Kindergarten and was placed in special education classes from K - 2nd grade. Then all of sudden, I was learning so fast that I was in the normal classroom in 3rd grade and all of sudden I was reading three grades higher than my peers. This rapid acquisition of skills is normal for gifted children. Once they reach this level they keep learning skills that are higher than their peers.





Gifted children will sometimes become fixated on a subject matter until they learn all they can with the subject then disregard it and move to the next subject. They are quick learners, fast thinkers and want to learn everything. Sometimes this attribute causes them to be labelled as ADHD.

Socially, these children may be labelled as loners or with some sort of disorder. Gifted children struggle with establishing and maintaining relationships with other their own age because in their minds they are not their peers. They are more likely to see out friendships with adults because in their minds they are their equals. It's very important to teach these children social skills that their peers already know. This may be harder to do with children who are not gifted as well. Gifted children are born leaders and may try to lead children their own age instead of cooperate with them to solve a problem.

Gifted children are a blessing to our society. Let's treat them as such.

#WhatsUpWithAllison: Writing and Webcomics

Good Morning!

This week is the last week of NaNoWriMo and I have to get myself in gear if I want to win this year. I have been so swamped with a new teaching job that I have forgone writing everyday. I know that's not like me at all. Now that I'm into the swing of things I can relax and write.

After I finish writing Le Creole I plan to turn my attention to a few webcomics that I have planned. I'm planning to have Le Creole published in January or February. My webcomics will be published this spring. I have some wonderful illustrators who are interested in my work. They are amazing!!! More information will be coming soon about these projects.

#Blessing: Workplace Paradise

This week's small blessing is a large one for me. I am so blessed to work as the Elementary Educator at Todd Academy. Todd Academy is a private school that educates students from grades 3rd through 12th that have an IQ of 130 or more. All of the educators who teach there are gifted as well.

The world can be a cold, hard place for anyone who is gifted. I have had my struggles and can tell you so many tales. Todd Academy is a sanctuary for me. I love working with administration and other educators who get me. It's just an amazing thing when you are work around people who not only understand you but appreciate you as well.

#QuoteMeThursday:Does he love me more than her?

#ExpressYourself: Fav Five Characters

Express Yourself:Five Characters That Will Remain With Me Forever


This week I was asked to reveal five fictional characters I would want to have in my life. I decided to share some of the characters that I have written that have stuck with me throughout the years. 
1) Elsa from Elsa (The Secret Heritage)Elsa is a young woman who defies society in order to marry a man with Asperger's Syndrome. Her story and character is based on my Great Grandmother Elva Russell. I had never met my Great Grandmother before and to be honest no one in the family remembered who she was. I had searched for years for information about her so I could add it to our family tree. I finally found the information I was looking for a few years ago. I was amazed to learn about her interesting life story and knew I had to write it down. I fictionalized most of her character and story. 
2) Creek from Calico (Children of the Shawnee)Who doesn't love Creek? Creek is a young woman who married a French trader and adopted his brother's daughter. She is the daughter of a Shawnee peace child. Creek is the youngest of six children. Her first husband was killed in the French and Indian War only days after they married. Her heart was broken yet she married Pierre a few months later. She never married him for love but did so in order for him to trade with her family. Five years later, she submitted her complete life to Pierre and became his wife under God. Creek is a devoted wife, loving mother yet is very shy. 
3)Sherlock from Bailey's Revenge (Irish Twist of Fate)Sherlock was one of those characters that just begged for his story to be told. He is more than a brother to his younger sister, Kathleen. He's old enough to be her father and does take that role even through their father is alive. Sherlock is one of those good guys whose lives goes terribly wrong. You feel for this guy because you know in a different time and place he would have a much better life than he has in Bailey's Revenge. 
4) Albert from Field of GraceAlbert Ernst Tanner immigrated from Germany with his family only to be imprisoned in an internment in Georgia with his family because they were German. After World War I is over he and his family are released. The migrate up to Marion, Ohio where they start a grocery. It is here that he meets Ida McIntyre. The couple instantly fall in love. Albert is a good young man that wants to provide for Ida and their baby. He and Ida have been in a romantic relationship for less than a year when she tells him she is carrying his child. Albert wants to start a family with her but Ida can't let go of her inhibitions. 
5) Mary from Bailey's Revenge and Le CreoleMary is just one of those characters that won't leave you alone until you tell her story. My fans first meet her in Bailey's Revenge. Le Creole tells the story of what happened to her right after the end of Bailey's Revenge. Mary is a very shy woman prone to depression and suicidal thoughts. Those faults often land her in situations that she doesn't want to be in. Mary is a very loving and caring mother who has been scarred by events in her life. 

#ExpressYourself: Who is #AllisonBruning

Express Yourself:Who is Allison Bruning?


I was finally able to get back to blogging last week and, as such, found that I was behind in my Express Yourself posts. This week I will be posting two entires into the Express Yourself weekly blog hop in order to catch up. 
Last week, participants were asked to share our MBTI personality. I had never heard of the MBTI personality test until a few years ago when I was studying characterization in my MFA program at Full Sail University. The MBTI is an excellent tool to use when creating your characters. It gives you an in depth look at how they would respond to certain situation. 
According to the MBTI my personality type is: 

That really doesn't surprise me. I have always been an Introvert even though many people think I'm an Extrovert. Many people misunderstand my intentions, actions and thought process. I think the best explanation of my personality type was written by Marina Margaret Heiss and Joe Butt. Here is what they wrote on their website at http://www.humanmetrics.com/personality/infj.
NFJs are distinguished by both their complexity of character and the unusual range and depth of their talents. Strongly humanitarian in outlook, INFJs tend to be idealists, and because of their J preference for closure and completion, they are generally "doers" as well as dreamers. This rare combination of vision and practicality often results in INFJs taking a disproportionate amount of responsibility in the various causes to which so many of them seem to be drawn.INFJs are deeply concerned about their relations with individuals as well as the state of humanity at large. They are, in fact, sometimes mistaken for extroverts because they appear so outgoing and are so genuinely interested in people -- a product of the Feeling function they most readily show to the world. On the contrary, INFJs are true introverts, who can only be emotionally intimate and fulfilled with a chosen few from among their long-term friends, family, or obvious "soul mates." While instinctively courting the personal and organizational demands continually made upon them by others, at intervals INFJs will suddenly withdraw into themselves, sometimes shutting out even their intimates. This apparent paradox is a necessary escape valve for them, providing both time to rebuild their depleted resources and a filter to prevent the emotional overload to which they are so susceptible as inherent "givers." As a pattern of behavior, it is perhaps the most confusing aspect of the enigmatic INFJ character to outsiders, and hence the most often misunderstood -- particularly by those who have little experience with this rare type.Due in part to the unique perspective produced by this alternation between detachment and involvement in the lives of the people around them, INFJs may well have the clearest insights of all the types into the motivations of others, for good and for evil. The most important contributing factor to this uncanny gift, however, are the empathic abilities often found in Fs, which seem to be especially heightened in the INFJ type (possibly by the dominance of the introverted N function).This empathy can serve as a classic example of the two-edged nature of certain INFJ talents, as it can be strong enough to cause discomfort or pain in negative or stressful situations. More explicit inner conflicts are also not uncommon in INFJs; it is possible to speculate that the causes for some of these may lie in the specific combinations of preferences which define this complex type. For instance, there can sometimes be a "tug-of-war" between NF vision and idealism and the J practicality that urges compromise for the sake of achieving the highest priority goals. And the I and J combination, while perhaps enhancing self-awareness, may make it difficult for INFJs to articulate their deepest and most convoluted feelings.Usually self-expression comes more easily to INFJs on paper, as they tend to have strong writing skills. Since in addition they often possess a strong personal charisma, INFJs are generally well-suited to the "inspirational" professions such as teaching (especially in higher education) and religious leadership. Psychology and counseling are other obvious choices, but overall, INFJs can be exceptionally difficult to pigeonhole by their career paths. Perhaps the best example of this occurs in the technical fields. Many INFJs perceive themselves at a disadvantage when dealing with the mystique and formality of "hard logic", and in academic terms this may cause a tendency to gravitate towards the liberal arts rather than the sciences. However, the significant minority of INFJs who do pursue studies and careers in the latter areas tend to be as successful as their T counterparts, as it is *iNtuition* -- the dominant function for the INFJ type -- which governs the ability to understand abstract theory and implement it creatively.In their own way, INFJs are just as much "systems builders" as are INTJs; the difference lies in that most INFJ "systems" are founded on human beings and human values, rather than information and technology. Their systems may for these reasons be conceptually "blurrier" than analogous NT ones, harder to measure in strict numerical terms, and easier to take for granted -- yet it is these same underlying reasons which make the resulting contributions to society so vital and profound.Beneath the quiet exterior, INFJs hold deep convictions about the weightier matters of life.Those who are activists - INFJs gravitate toward such a role - are there for the cause, not for personal glory or political power.INFJs are champions of the oppressed and downtrodden.They often are found in the wake of an emergency, rescuing those who are in acute distress.INFJs may fantasize about getting revenge on those who victimize the defenseless.The concept of 'poetic justice' is appealing to the INFJ."There's something rotten in Denmark." Accurately suspicious about others' motives, INFJs are not easily led.These are the people that you can rarely fool any of the time.Though affable and sympathetic to most, INFJs are selective about their friends. Such a friendship is a symbiotic bond that transcends mere words.INFJs have a knack for fluency in language and facility in communication. In addition, nonverbal sensitivity enables the INFJ to know and be known by others intimately.Writing, counseling, public service and even politics are areas where INFJs frequently find their niche.(INFJ stands for Introvert, iNtuitive, Feeling, Judging and represents individual's preferences in four dimensions characterising personality type, according to Jung's and Briggs Myers' theories of personality type.)

Down in the Bayou: #Louisiana #History

Down in the Bayou
Welcome to my new blog series Down in the Bayou. Down in the Bayou is an in depth look into the culture and history of French Louisiana. This blog series will take place every Tuesday. 
My next novel, Le Créole, takes place in 1739 New Orleans. New Orleans was the capital of Louisiana at that time. You're probably thinking Louisiana as the state but at that time the term meant all of New France. The video below gives a simplified history of the French colonization in North America and the creation of Louisiana (New France).


 French explorer, René-Robert Cavelier, named the land the French controlled in the New World   as La Louisianne. He chose that name because he wanted to honor his king, King Louis XIV. 
The French made many important discoveries in the New World. The video below briefly gives an overview of important French explorers that shaped the culture of French Louisiana. 

Join me next week as we learn about Jacques Cartier and his discovery of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. 

LTW: Teaching the #giftedchild: A #new #blog series

Welcome to a new section on my blog titled Lighting the Way. This blog is focused on teaching gifted and talented students but some of the techniques I talk about can be applied to a regular classroom. The series will run every Monday.

So why start this blog series? 
Gifted students have a harder time in regular classrooms and will often be the students who are failing. Educators and parents who are unfamiliar with gifted students may be frustrated as to why their child is so bright but are failing academics. Gifted students have a hard time with academics in the regular classroom because they become bored. It's not that they don't want to learn. The problem is that they are not being challenged enough. So what is a parent or educator to do with that child?
Welcome to Lighting the Way: Teaching the Gifted Child.

Ok, so you may be asking yourself what does a historical fiction author have to do with educating gifted and talented students? I'm so glad you asked!

WHO IS ALLISON BRUNING?
I, like many other gifted children, was easily bored in school. When I was little my parents and most of my teachers didn't understand me. I began reading at an early age and by the time I was in Kindergarten I was writing my own stories and was already reading small books. I was obsessed with words, nature, and history. Like most gifted children, I did experience some developmental delays. I was placed in special education because my parents and teachers couldn't figure out what was causing my delays. But then came 2nd grade and I quickly worked my way out of that classroom. I began to read and comprehend reading material on a 5th grade level. I was reading Einstein's Theory of Relativity and fully comprehended it in 8th grade. My interests were all over the place from history, science, reading, social studies but never, ever, in math. I have an IQ of 130 but struggled as a child because I never received the support my students do today. I grew up thinking there was something wrong with me because I never fit in with my peers. I would much rather spend the day with adults than with children my own age.



I began my teaching career in 1999 when I taught music on the Mexican Border. after obtaining my BA in Theatre Arts. I did that for a few months then the school decided to cut their art programs. In 2001, I married the love of my life and the following year I started substitute teaching throughout West Texas from 2002 to 2006. I became a 2nd grade classroom teacher at Alamo Elementary in Fort Stockton, Texas in 2006 while I was working on my certification along with a Masters of Education as a Reading Specialist. I wanted to help low readers find academic success and enjoy reading as much as I do.

In 2008, I left the classroom and moved to Kentucky with my husband. I was two classes away from finishing my Masters. I tried to transfer my teaching certificate to Kentucky but they didn't recognize my Texas Teaching Certificate so I focused on starting my writing career. In 2010, the Kentucky Young Writers Connection hired me as their Executive Director. I created writing curriculum for the entire state and implemented it throughout the Kentucky State Park system. I recognized that I could combine my passion for education and writing into one career if I taught on the university level. I applied to the MFA program at Spalding University but was denied entry because I was already an accomplished published author.

A few weeks later, I applied for the MFA at Full Sail University and was granted entrance. I graduated with my MFA in Creative Writing in June of 2013. My husband moved to Indiana a few months later after I resigned my position with the Kentucky Young Writers Connection. I tried to move my teaching certificate from Texas to Indiana but they, too, do not recognize Texas Teaching Certification. I was hired by IPS as a second grade teacher but when my certification wouldn't roll over they had to let me go. I ended up working as a homeschool teacher and a nanny while searching for a teaching position. I decided if the public school system didn't want me then perhaps I could try to teach in a private school. Yet, every private school I applied for wanted Indiana certification. I tried to find a college teaching position but had a hard time doing so because I do not have a PhD. After months of searching I decided I would just get one. So I applied at Walden University and was accepted into their program. I am currently working on my PhD in Education with a specialization in Learning, Instruction and Innovation. Last month, I was hired by Ivy Tech Community College as an adjunct professor in the English Department. Then a miracle happened last week.

I applied to teach a 2, 3, and 4th grade class at Todd Academy. A few hours later, the headmaster called me for an interview. I went to the interview the following day and never left the classroom. I didn't realize that Todd Academy was a private school that only admits children with IQ's of 130 or above. I have absolutely fallen in love with the school. Most of the other educators are like me, geniuses. Can you imagine what life is like in our school? I can. Just watch the show Scorpion and multiply that by 50 students and 15 adults.



The struggles I faced throughout my life are an example of what the normal life of a gifted child is like in the real world. We live in our little world. But with help, we can understand the outside world just enough to be able to navigate it and live thriving lives.