Pencil and Clock: Pearls for Life($10.00Value)

Description

This book hits like the sweet sound of a ukulele solo—simple, bright, and totally unforgettable. Pencil and Clock ~ Pearls for Life is not your typical guidebook. It’s a toolkit for success, a pep talk in paper form, and a backstage pass to the real secrets of school. Written by Mr. Lambert, a teacher with decades of wisdom and a ukulele always nearby, this book breaks down the essentials—how to think, speak, read, write, and thrive—into short, powerful lessons. Just like a well-tuned ukulele, the right tools in school can turn ordinary days into something magical. With a sharpened pencil and a ticking clock, you’re ready to make some academic music of your own. Whether you’re a student, teacher, or parent—this book is your invitation to think deeply, work wisely, and grow with purpose. When life dropped me into its most unexpected and painful chapters, I had a choice to make—let it define me or write my way through it. Smashing Spiders was born from a place of deep love and personal loss. It is a memoir—a raw and honest journey of love, grief, healing, and ultimately, hope. It taught me that when life feels chaotic or unfair, writing is not just a way to make sense of it—it's a way to reclaim it. Pencil and Clock, on the other hand, was born in the classroom. After 32 years as a teacher, I realized that the very same tools I leaned on to find freedom through the storm—planning, setting goals, listening deeply, reading, writing, learning, and adapting—were the tools every student and educator needs. That book became my distilled gift: a guide for students, teachers, and parents who want a clear, powerful roadmap to success and happiness—both in school and in life. These two books are not separate. They are part of the same truth: You are never stuck. You are never out of options. If one path is blocked, find another. Be passionate. Be relentless. Make a plan. Reflect. Learn. Adjust. And try again. Your joy is not found. It is created—through purpose, preparation, and persistence. I hope both books serve as companions on your journey. Whether you're navigating heartbreak or homework, setbacks or second chances—know that your future is unwritten. And your hand holds the pencil. Mr. Lambert Author of Smashing Spiders and Pencil and Clock - Pearls for Life Open your notebook. Sharpen your pencil. Time to find the pearls. School isn't always neat. Learning isn't always linear. But tucked between the pencil marks and clock ticks are the secrets to a joyful, resilient life. Written by longtime educator and storyteller Joey Lambert, Pencil and Clock - Pearls for Life offers bite-sized wisdom wrapped in heart, humor, and hope. These pages are filled with daily pearls, clever little nudges to help students push through tough days, parents breathe a little easier, and teachers remember why they started. It's not a textbook. It's a lifeline. It's not homework. It's soul-work. It's not just for school. It's for life. From the author of Smashing Spiders, a poetic love story born from loss...comes this uplifting guide to staying curious, kind, and wonderfully human... even on a Monday. So sit up straight. Take a breath. And let the learning begin. I wrote in a conversation van with my friends while drinking beer and cheap wine. In-between crushing and writing poetry, I lost my inhibitions but found a voice... from that point, I never stopped writing. The reasons I write are a mystery. I write for my own pleasure. My writings will never go down in history, but will always be mine to treasure. I do hold formal post-high school education: a BSE from SUNY Cortland and a Master's Degree from Fordham University. Both experiences refined the rawness of my writing. Losing my beautiful wife did reveal the writing and rawness again. I lost her—and gained my voice again. For 32 years, I taught high school Earth Science and Special Education, always driven by a belief that learning should be both imaginative and accessible. The classroom was my lab, and my students were the spark. Pencil and Clock was born from those very moments: while I held the pencil and watched the clock, it was my students who pulled the idea from my soul. They taught me that the simplest tools—attention, effort, time—are the pearls of a meaningful education. After the Smashing Spiders series is complete, I'll write more—about being widowed, dating as a widower, education in America, student success, teaching, substituting, and stepping into a world of fiction as well.