Easy to Read, Hard to Run

Exercise has never been easy for me. I took aerobics classes, Jazzercise, step classes, etc. I've done Tae Bo and the Jane Fonda. Nothing stuck.  And, though I know that exercise is good for me, I could never make exercise a permanent part of my life. I admire people who have conquered this. It's something I've always wanted to do.

How different the experience is for me when it comes to reading! Even if I have a challenging book about an unfamiliar topic, I get through it relatively unscathed. And when I love a book, I read it very quickly. I'm challenged by bookstacks, motivated to tackle them, and usually do so without much effort.

At our Field Day at school the other day, my lack of athleticism was painfully evident. I was asked to participate in the scooter races on the track, and, sadly, every 4th grader reached the finish line before I did! Wheeling myself was a struggle! Halfway through, I began to feel powerless. I was trying hard, but I wasn't succeeding. Some sweet 4th graders took pity on me and encouraged me as I managed to reach the end. "Good job!" one student said. Her compassion made my heart smile.

The moment was forgotten by most (I think). Field Day went on, and the students had a great time. But the scooter memory remained with me. I felt so very defeated.

Then the realization hit.  Is this how struggling readers feel when they try to read a book that's difficult for them? Do they feel powerless, too? How do they get to the finish line? How do they feel when they get there? Do all of them reach the end?

I started running on the treadmill this weekend. I want to feel better. I want to be healthier. I want to be able to accomplish something that is difficult--something that no one would expect me to do.

But I also want to understand my students' struggles. I want to do something that's not in my comfort zone so that I can have greater empathy for the students in my class who do struggle with reading, or math, or anything else. I want to be able to encourage them with the right words--the right words that come only because I have been in the same spot.

I hope to stick to my running plan. This time, I have even more reason to do so.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

Every Monday. I love to join Jen and Kellee over at Teach Mentor Texts where we blog about what we've read the previous week. It's a great way to review my reading habits!

What I read this week:
My students really love graphic novels, and I do, too! Here are the GNs we love, and they all come in a series!

Babymouse by Matt and Jenni Holm
Squish by Matt and Jenni Holm
Lunch Lady by Jarrett Krosoczka
Fangbone by Michael Rex
Jellaby by Kean Soo
Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi
Knights of the Lunch Table by Frank Cammuso
Binky the Space Cat by Ashley Spires

But I found a new book that's set to be published this July. My wonderful school librarian shared this ARC with me, and I am so glad she did.

Earthling by Mark Fearing
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Publication date: July 2012

Bud is a nine-year-old who finds himself trapped in space! He's the new kid at the Cosmos Academy and he's there because he caught the wrong bus. But he makes friends with a space alien and together they face all sorts of adventures as they try to get Bud back home to Earth. There is so much action in this book! I finished the book pretty quickly because I wanted to see what would happen next.  I think my students will really like this graphic novel! The ARC I read had black and white pages and I still enjoyed it. The ARC says that the final copy will be in color, so I can only imagine how fun it will be to read.

Close to Famous by Joan Bauer
Published by: Viking
Published: Feb. 3, 2011
Winner of the Schneider Family Book Award (2012)

I also read Close to Famous by Joan Bauer (this is a young adult novel so it's not for my classroom.) Foster is a middle-school girl with a dream: to one day have her own cooking show. She is a talented baker who brings cupcakes and muffins wherever she goes. She and her mother have to move away quickly, and as they find their way to a better life, they make some very interesting friends. I think I loved this book so much because I loved Foster and her determination! (Read the book to see what other challenges she faces!) I really enjoyed her enthusiasm.

This books deals with serious issues--and it will touch you and break your heart like good books do.  It's been a while since I've read a book like this one.

What I'm reading now:

The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy
Published by Walden Pond Press
Published: May 1st, 2012

I started reading this a few weeks ago, but I didn't get too far into it. With the three-day weekend, I'm planning to finish it. It's a really funny book about the Princes  in the lives of Cinderella, Snow White, Rapunzel, and Sleeping Beauty. How much do we really know about them? It's filled with good stories and humor, and I am enjoying it so far. There are so many good lines in this book, too.

My reading plans:
With four more days of school to go, and lots of packing to do (we are getting new carpet so I have to box stuff up), I know reading time will be limited. But I also know that I'm a determined reader who will find time to enjoy a book somewhere!

How are you fitting in reading time with the end of the school year?

Start Strong, End Strong

At the end of the year, teachers are ESPECIALLY busy people.
We're trying to complete paperwork. finish up our grading,  and fill out checklists.
We're returning library books (which is no easy task for me), making sure our students have turned in all their textbooks, and hoping we remember all those end-of-year special events that occur throughout the day.

But just because the year is ending, it doesn't mean I'm winding down. I started strong, and I'll end it strong, too.
The way I see it, I have my class for four more days, and I don't want to miss out on anything. I want to share with them, and make great memories. I want to create more opportunities for them to discover who they are. Could there be one more book I could share? Could there be one more word someone needs to know? Could we solve one more puzzle or real-world math problem? Is there one more possibility that could be made real for a student in my class? To all these questions my hopeful teacher-self says: "Yes!"

So we're finishing up personal research projects and sharing them with our class. We're making a movie about what 4th grade is all about. (We'll share it with 3rd graders next week.) We're wrapping up a great read-aloud and having great discussions about it. We're still posting to our classroom blog. We're still questioning together and learning new tech tools. We're strengthening friendships and counting how many books we've read as a class (2,247 +) and still wondering things.

I can wind down when I say goodbye on the last day of school, and the last student in line has walked out the classroom door.
I can relax the day after the last day of school, and I wake up late--ignoring my alarm clock.
Right now, I've still got a chance to make a difference.

21st Century or Just Now?

I'm fortunate to serve on several school and district committees. There are many advantages to this. I learn a lot from attending the meetings, and I get the opportunity to interact with colleagues I respect. I hear different viewpoints. I get the chance to verbalize my thinking on topics I'm interested in. And I have the opportunity to think on my feet--and practice the learning I want for my very own students. From one conversation, I can pick up something that changes my thinking (for the better) or helps me put a twist on an idea. .

Recently, I've been privileged to serve on our school's instructional design team. We've been sharing ideas on how we can move our school forward and create even better learning for our students. Of course, we've talked about 21st century schools. We've also talked about how this "21st century" term is really overused. I mentioned how I'd even heard the term "22nd century" schools.

I came to this conclusion: I am preparing my students for NOW. Yes, I am thinking about their future and I want the very best lives for them. But my students have to live in today's world and they already function there. They live and play and dream  and hope right now. All of those activities require thinking--and skills that I taught just yesterday. So I am not only preparing my students for a time that hasn't arrived. I'm preparing them for today.

When I think of it this way, I'm inspired even more to do my best. Are you?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! I always join Jen and Kellee over at Teach Mentor Texts in a weekly meme where we discuss what we've been reading the past week!

May is always a busy month. There were many demands on my time this past week. The result: I only read TWO books in a 7-day period. I did do a lot of professional reading in preparation for some important school/district meetings, though!

Here are the two books I read:

EYE OF THE STORM by Kate Messner
Published: March 13th, 2012
Publisher: Walker & Co.


Eye of the Storm is a suspense-filled science adventure. It takes place in the future. Jaden attends a science camp owned by her father, and while she is there she uncovers some very interesting secrets about his company's projects. In this time, tornadoes and bad storms are an everyday happening. (As with Kate Messner's Marty McGuire series, this book is filled with science!) Jaden tries to figure things out and along the way she learns about herself. I loved her character because she is smart and strong! This story has lots of interesting plot twists. It's great for middle grade to YA--and I especially recommend it to anyone who loves science!

A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban
Published: Sept. 1, 2007
Published by: Houghton Mifflin

This is a WONDERFUL book. Zoe is the main character, and her life is far from perfect. She has a dream to play the piano! Instead, she gets an organ. She makes the best of it, learning to play TV theme songs. Her family and friends are interesting characters, helping her along the way. The story is very endearing and sweet, and I cheered (and cried!) for Zoe. Read this book as soon as you can!


Here's what I hope to read this week:

Earthling by Mark Fearing
My librarian picked up this ARC for me at TLA. I love graphic novels.

Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis
(I loved Bud, Not Buddy and Mighty Miss Malone---also by Christopher Paul Curtis! If you haven't read these books, read them as soon as possible!)

Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse
(I've got to get back on track with my Newbery Challenge, and this book was the winner in 1998.)

I find my TBR stack changes from week to week. I can PLAN on reading something, but I change my mind. I usually read what's right for me at the time. It's what I allow my students to do, too.

At this time of year, I'm not letting up on the reading that happens in my classroom either. We are reading independently everyday, and I am still conferring everyday. My students depend on this. So, no matter what assembly or event is scheduled, we STILL read independently for at least 35 minutes.

With end of year assessments and turning in textbooks, I'll need to reward myself--with a cute pair of shoes AND lots of reading.

P.S. Today, I'm wearing my silver TOMS--sparkly and comfy!


Happy reading!

Skype Helps Us Learn

My classroom is at the end of the hallway. Teachers drop by our classroom, and our principal stops to visit, too. We always try to learn from our visitors and special guests.

Of course, my students also learn from each other. They can teach other in ways I cannot. I've seen students explain things to each other using visuals, examples, and analogies I never would have thought of! But we also learn from the world! How? Through Skype!
Two ways I have used Skype in my classroom:

1.)Mystery Skype:
We Skype with classes around the country. I know the location, but the students do not. There are many formats that work, but the best one I've come across is where each class comes up with 12 clues about their state. Usually, the students have guessed the state by the 8th or 9th clue! After all 12 clues are given, we state our guess and celebrate! We've always guessed correctly, and so has every class we've met. (Great way to learn geography!) Afterwards, we have a time where the students ask each other questions. It's so awesome to watch them learn from one another!
(I first learned about Mystery Skype on Twitter!)

2.)Author Skype:
We connect with authors of books we've read.  We read the book beforehand, create products to share with the author, and schedule a time/day for a visit. Each student has written two questions for the author. We don't always get through all the questions but we're always prepared! The students feel empowered when they are able to interact with an author in this way. They gain valuable reading tips and are often inspired to be even better writers.

I try to remember that Skype is a tool. The real learning is in the interaction it brings about!

Warehouse of Books!

I love my classroom library! I am always trying to add to it. I buy books straight from the bookstore, I accept donations from the wonderful parents of my students, and I order all I can from Scholastic book club. Also, I love the Scholastic Book Fair when it comes around to my school! I'm sure I've posted about that before!

But I had never attended the Scholastic Book Warehouse Sale! I finally went to one near me this past weekend!

What a fabulous place! I picked up some great books at a discounted price, and I had so much fun looking! I even ran into some book friends there!

I am so glad I went. I met some wonderful volunteers who work at the sale, and perusing the stacks brought back book fair memories.  In ever aisle, I ran into teachers who were also readers. We started conversations as passed each other with our carts, and I even recommended Wonder and The One and Only Ivan to several of them.

And I asked myself why  I felt so happy about my trip.

Was it because I saved some money?
No.

Was it because I made some new friends?
No.

Here's why I'm happy I was able to go to the sale: I knew that because of the books I picked up, I was better prepared to grow readers in my classroom.

What if one of the books I picked up is THE book?
What if one of the books I took from the shelves is the RIGHT book for one of my students --- now or in the future?

I don't know which book it might be.  But I am excited to offer these books up and see!

Head to your local Scholastic Warehouse sale next time it's in your area!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday, and that means I connect with Jen and Kellee over at Teach Mentor Texts. I join in on their meme and we discuss what we've read this week.

This was field trip week, but I managed to read. When I don't read, I don't feel like I'm ready for the week!

First, the picture books:

I Am Invited to a Party! by Mo Willems
Shark Vs. Train by Chris Barton
The Three LIttle Aliens and the Big Bad Robot by Margaret McNamara
The Amazing Adventures of Bumblebee Boy by David Soman
My Name is Elizabeth! by Annika Dunklee
Squish Rabbit by Katherine Battersby
Chilly Milly Moo by Fiona Ross
I Had A Favorite Dress by Boni Ashburn
Rock N' Roll Moll by Carolyn Crimi
Hooper and Wilson by Maria van Lieshout
Betty Bunny Loves Chocolate Cake by Michael B. Kaplan
Gilbert Goldfish Wants A Pet by Kelly DiPucchio
M.O.M. by Doreen Cronin

The two books I will remember the most:

• I AM INVITED TO A PARTY! by Mo Willems. It was so funny and cute.
• Shark vs. Train is wonderful, too!

But I was SO glad to finally read Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen.

 I'd been trying to get a copy of it for a long time, but the copy was always checked out. I went to the Scholastic warehouse sale this weekend, and there it was! It's a very sweet story about following the rules in the library!

My chapter book for the week was the MG novel Plunked by Michael Northrop.

Published: March 1, 2012

Published by: Scholastic
Hardcover: 256 pages

It's a story told in first person, and the narrator (Jack) is a 6th grade little leaguer who faces the biggest challenge of his young sports career. He really wants a starting spot on the team. (I don't want to give away any spoilers here!) Jack is a boy whose life is about baseball and everything that goes with it. His friends play on the team, and his parents are supportive and come to his games. But the challenge he faces has him questioning things he's always done. He finds himself doing things he never thought he'd do--like lying to his parents and friends.  Each chapter builds up to the next, and I found myself really thinking through the consequences of the story. I was surprised by some events, and I liked that because it meant the story was unpredictable. Jack has to work through difficult days with determination, and he makes mistakes along the way.
This book really made me think about the students in my class who play sports and about what they go through every time they play a game--whether it's baseball, hockey, volleyball, football, or any other sport. I have several baseball players in my class--almost a whole team!--and I am very curious about how they would like the book.

I really enjoyed this book even though I don't know as much about baseball as I do about football. Considering I was really tired from field trip planning and the overall awesomeness of teaching 4th grade, I read it in two nights!

I am currently reading Eye of the Storm by Kate Messner.

This is a really intense science adventure, and it's very exciting so far! I've been wanting to read it for a long time, and I finally got it! I'll blog about this one next week.

Finally:
This week in my class we are continuing to add to our class total of books read this year. At last count we were well over 2,000 books! Tomorrow we'll be setting our final goal of the year, and I'll be sharing more titles from my Scholastic book sale.

Happy reading!

Maurice Sendak: Reflections From 4th Grade

When I heard that Maurice Sendak passed away this week, the news came from Twitter. I immediately thought of Where the Wild Things Are. I couldn't remember the last time I'd read it.

I didn't have a copy of the book available, so I sent a student down to the library to check it out. Not only did I want to reread this book for myself, but I wanted to read it to my class as well.

I held it up during Reader's Workshop. Most of my students said they'd read the book, or that it had been read TO them many times. Some noticed that prestigious gold sticker on the cover and said, "Look!" Since we'd had a mock Caldecott in January, they could spot that sticker from miles away.  "Yes, this book won the Caldecott in 1964," I said. "OH!!!" came the collective, awestruck response.

So I read the story aloud. And, then in a flood, I remembered the best things about it.  I remembered Max and his wolf suit, the private boat, and, of course, the wild things. . I remembered the wild rumpus, and how Mom left supper for Max that night.

But I wanted to know what my students would remember. Here are their reflections:

"No matter how old you are, you can always enjoy a nice children's book."

"There is no reason not to love this book."

"I love this book because everything about it is good and well-written."

"Older people are role models for young people."

"This book made me think this: Always use your imagination, and always dream!'

"Thanks, Mrs. Alaniz! I forgot all about this book!"

"I wish Max had stayed with the wild things."

"I always thought Max should have stayed with the wild things a little longer."

"I think Max was brave to go back to his mom."

"I will remember that Max went home to see his mom."

I was so proud to read their thoughts. I almost started to feel ownership of them. Then I realized it: the credit all went to Mr. Sendak. Once again, his words engaged readers. Once again, he'd made children feel important and special with a story they could love.

I know he's been remembered a lot this week by people much more important than me.
But now I'm remembering him.

Thank you, Mr. Sendak.

Wishing Teach Mentor Texts A Great Birthday!

I am thrilled to be a part of the birthday celebration for Teach Mentor Texts. Since I started book blogging last December, I have participated in their weekly meme "It's Monday! What Are You Reading?" Jen and Kellee stop by every week to comment and are so kind! They've asked fellow bloggers like me to join in on their celebration and share their own mentor texts!

My book choice is a classic with an iconic yellow cover. It's got a great title, and many teachers have it in their classroom libraries: LOVE THAT DOG by Sharon Creech.

I know many bloggers and reviewers have already shared their opinions about this book. What can I write that has not already been written?

Answer: What it has done in my own classroom!

As we started our poetry unit, I wanted an entry point for my readers/students. I picked up LOVE THAT DOG and started reading it aloud. (My students know that anything I choose to read aloud to them is a text I value. They listened because they trusted me. After all, had I not read A Dog's Life, I Want My Hat Back, Extra Yarn, Grandpa Green, and so many more?)

So from the first page, I had a class of engaged listeners. But Jack took over from there. As he truthfully told my students how he felt about poetry, Jack started becoming my students' writing mentor. Amazingly, with a 5-line stanza in which he told us how he didn't want to write poetry, Jack was unknowingly inspiring my students to do that very thing.

When I read Jack's red wheelbarrow poem, my class wanted to read The Red Wheelbarrow by William Carlos Williams! Thankfully, it's included at the end of the book. (Do you see what Jack did here? He lead us to a poem we might not otherwise have read.)

When Jack first told us about the blue car, he gave my students something to wonder about. In his November poem, we find out Jack had a pet. My students are intrigued. The questions naturally erupted as I paused after reading and waited.

As I showed the shape poem on p. 37, my students asked, "Can we write a poem like that?"

Yes.

With each progression of the story, I stopped to offer up Jack's learning to my class. Do we want to learn what Jack is learning?

And so the poetry writing came--- in beautiful bursts each day as I read. Simply, it was my students liking what Jack had done, and wanting to do the same.

Moving from this point, we were ready for focused lessons on techniques and types. But Jack had prepared my students for this path, and he had given them permission to love poems.

How do I know this book has had an impact on my class?

Recently, a student wrote "Love That Bear!"
Another student, heading towards his desk with Hate That Cat in hand said, "I'm about to be inspired by Sharon Creech."
Today, as we rode the bus on a field trip, I overheard another student tell his chaperone all about Walter Dean Myers.

So the next time you begin your poetry unit, bring out LOVE THAT DOG. Let Jack show your class the power of poetry.

It's Monday: What Have You Been Reading?

Jen and Kellee over at Teach Mentor Texts have a weekly meme that I am happy to join every Monday. We discuss what we are reading in children's and young adult literature.

My reading last week:

My reading was very sparse this week because it was filled with several special class and school events.
I finished one book at the beginning of the week, and another at the end.

First, I read The Plant Hunters by Anita Silvey. This is an excellent non-fiction book filled with amazing stories and very interesting people. It tells the true stories of adventurers who have gone on dangerous journeys to gather plants for study.  The illustrations/photos are wonderful, and it is a very engaging book. It's probably best suited for upper elementary/young adult readers.

Second, I finished Chomp by Carl Hiaasen (Random House Children's Books). This is a young adult book about a teenager named Wahoo who lives in the Everglades with his parents. His dad is an animal wrangler, and he's been hired to work on a reality adventure show. The story is a crazy, wild adventure filled with some amazing, funny events. Along the way, they meet some interesting people--each with their own troubles. Mostly, it's about a son who cares for his father.

This week I am reading these two middle grade books:

Plunked by Michael Northrop
I just discovered this author, and Plunked was recently released. It's a fiction book about a boy who plays on a Little League team. I don't know baseball well, but I am really enjoying the story so far. I have quite a few students who play and LOVE baseball, so if I can find a book for them, I'm happy! I'll post my review on this next week.

The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy
This is published by Walden Pond Press, and I've loved some of their recent titles (including Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu). I read the first paragraph, and I was instantly hooked. It's a fiction book about the princes we never hear about in our favorite fairy tales. I think it's a brilliant idea for a book. Can't wait to read it!
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This past week we were very fortunate to Skype with Katherine Applegate, author of The One and Only Ivan. Check the sidebar of this blog for the link to our classroom blog and read all about this wonderful visit! Katherine Applegate is a wonderful author who taught my students so much!