Ivan Wins!

 

 

By now, the world knows that THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN by the awesome Katherine Applegate is the winner of the 2013 Newbery Award. I am still so incredibly happy about this, especially because I was able to attend ALA Midwinter and be at the awards announcement yesterday morning.

Now I am back home in Texas thinking about all of this.

Here's why I am happy about this:
(Told in a timeline)

• I read THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN in February of 2012 and LOVED it.
• I read THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN aloud to my class in April and THEY loved it.
• We Skyped with Katherine Applegate in May of 2012 and she was amazing!
• I met Katherine Applegate at ALA Annual in Anaheim in June (2012). I presented her with a banner my students made in class. Great moment!
• I read THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN aloud to my next class in October of 2012 for Global Read-Aloud. They ALSO loved it. I had no doubt!
• On Jan. 28th, I was present at the ALA Youth Media Awards when THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN won the Newbery.

Do you see now why I'm so happy?

But the timeline does not come to an end here. More people will know about the book, more books will be purchased, and as my students told me, I could now put it in the Newbery basket in our classroom library.

The next event in the timeline occurs June 30, 2013. I'll let you guess the event.

And I'll go back to being happy and hugging my stuffed Ivan.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

I'm writing my post today while I attend the ALA Midwinter Conference in Seattle. And because I spent the week preparing for this conference, my reading was light! 

Of course, I read chapters from my library science textbooks. My choice reading, however, consisted of:

I finished this book before the conference, and I thought it was very well-written. The main character is a boy whose mother has passed away. As he and his father struggle to recover, he goes away to a boarding school where he meets the second major character of the story. Their friendship and adventures (along with a few mysteries here and there), make for a many-layered tale that readers can dig into with comfort.

I think I had great timing reading this book on this particular week. Clare Vanderpool won the 2011 Newbery Medal for MOON OVER MANIFEST, and tomorrow I will be attending the Youth Media Awards in Seattle where we will find out the 2013 Newbery Medal award winner as well as the winners of the 2013 Caldecott Award (along with others).  I attended these awards last year and blogged about them, and I get another opportunity to do this again tomorrow.

I also think it's appropriate that on Monday, I am not just celebrating my reading, but I'm also celebrating books. I'm not celebrating alone, and that's the other wondeful thing. I'm celebrating with  librarians and fellow teachers who believe as I do that our young readers deseve wonderful books.

What am I reading this week:

from amazon.com

THE CENTER OF EVERYTHING by Linda Urban


What are YOU reading?

*My ALA Midwinter Medley post is in the works. One more day!

Middle of Midwinter

 

 

 

I am here in Seattle at ALA's Midwinter Conference. I'ts my 2nd full day, and I would say it's the middle of the whole thing for me.

 

This is the banner you see as you make your way up the escalators to the Washington Convention Center floors. It is grand and welcoming, and I love how it says "This way to" and "the conversation starts here". Both of those things are very true.

 

 

THIS WAY TO:

 

As a library school student, attending this conference is a great supplement to my courses. It is real life library learning. There are sessions and discussions on so many topics, and for me this means making meaninful connections between what I'm learning in my courses and what is actually happening now. I smile widely when I hear something I've learned before, or I hurriedly write something down when I hear in a new phrase/explanation that confirms previous learning. I just love it when this happens. This is my 3rd ALA conference, and I would say that each one has been an education in itself.

 

THE CONVERSATIONS STARTS HERE:

At every turn, there is an opportunity for conversation. In the elevator, on the escalator, or on the way to sessions, I'll start chatting with fellow ALA goers. When they hear I'm a teacher/library school student, they are ready to help and offer information. Even in elevators, they are willing to connect people with knowledge!

 

The conversations contnue in the exhibit hall with publishers and authors. I want to tell them how much I loved a book. I want to ask them about more books. I want to learn. I ask and I listen, and there is something to be learned in every conversation.

 

The discussions about books abound here. But one must be ready! Think quickly! Support your ideas. Everyone loves books here, and we all want to learn. There is so much one can say about whether a book is good or whether it misses the mark. But each interaction helps deepened my love of books. If that's possible.

 

Tomorrow is the exciting day-- the Youth Media Awards. I will be celebrating books with people who love books as much as I do. Books and authors will be honored. In the midst of all this, I will be very happy to be present. Very. Happy.  

 

So as the banner has promised, attending ALA has lead me to conversations and the right path.

 

I can only dream of what it will lead to next!

 

 







It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

On Mondays, I join Jen, Kellee, and some teacher/librarian/blogger friends of mine to write about what we've read the previous week. I really love this meme! (If you don't know what it is, just know that you are reading one right now!) Hope you can pick up some great book titles. Make sure you visit Teach Mentor Texts  !

This past week was hyper-busy for me. (Read below to see why.) However, I did finish the ARC of this wonderful book:

I stayed up late reading it on a few nights. I love when a book does that to you.
The Runaway King is Book 2 in the Ascendance Trilogy by Jennifer Nielsen. If you haven't read THE FALSE PRINCE, do so as soon as you can because it is highly awesome! I'll blog about RUNAWAY KING as time draws nearer to its release on March 1st, 2013.

This week, I found myself mainly reading informational text.  I read to learn, and I read to be prepared. Reasons? I was attending and presenting at the TCTELA Conference in Dallas this week, and my semester of library school started Monday. Just about every spare minute went to prep work or study.

Here's what I'm reading:

I mainly have online material to read for my library school courses, but I do have 3 textbooks. This is one of them. I have questions to focus on (sent by my professor), and although that will help me read it,  I'm also MOTIVATED to read it. (I am curious about how libraries acquire and maintain their collections.) Question: is reading easier when you are motivated and have a purpose? Answer: For me, yes.

I'm also reading a periodical. I'm headed to ALA Midwinter this week, so I'm reading my latest issue of American Libraries. I want to know what I should be on the lookout for, and I don't want to miss anything while I'm there. Also, the coffee and conversation pairing drew me in on this one. I will read it cover to cover because it's filled with interesting articles. Am I motivated to read this one, too? Yes. I have a purpose: plan a great conference!

My fiction selection this week is NAVIGATING EARLY by Clare Vanderpool (author of MOON OVER MANIFEST.) Many of my Twitter friends have recommended this one. I'm a little slow in reading it.  I gave it a chance (about 20 pages), and I now I'm invested in the story. Reason for reading: Wanting to talk about it with friends!

 

 

My next selection goes under the topic of professional development.

While attending TCTELA, I had the privilege of meeting and listening to Cris Tovani--a literacy leader I have always admired. Her videos on conferring are very helpful to watch. She's honest and inspiring, and she gives practical advice for assessing reading. I want to get better at conferring, and I want to assess my students in the best possible way. Reason for reading this book: helping my students.

 

After hearing Cris Tovani, I am thinking more about how I read nonfiction. She spoke about how "talking to the text" helps readers comprehend the material. I definitely "talk to the text" now, and if it works for me, it will work for my students.

 

On a shoe note:

I packed 5 pairs of shoes for my conference this week. Mainly, I wore boots. These gray suede booties were my favorites:

 

 

 

What are you reading?

 



Great Day! Reason: Words!

 

This morning I headed straight for the hotel coffee shop to get breakfast. It would be another busy day at my conference, so I needed something healthy. I ordered coffee and oatmeal, and noticed that the nice coffee shop worker had handed me a little paper sack. I took it to my table & looked inside. Nestled deep in the crisp paper sack were dried blueberries, bits of almonds, and brown sugar. Each of those items individually were pretty great, but when I put them all in my oatmeal together, they were better.

That's rather like my conference experience at TCTELA. I had little, awesome moments throughout the day: listening to Georgia Heard read poetry, sitting with my friend Donalyn and talking books & teaching, laughing at Jeff Anderson's always funny jokes and getting inspired by him, hearing Matt de la Pena share his story, and so many many, more. Each moment was great & perfect in itself. But when I put them all in my memory in one place, their preciousness is all the more preserved.

I'll blog about the whole experience when it's over, and when I do I will not be surprised that what made this great experience possible was, of course, books.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

On Mondays, I join fellow #nerdybookclub bloggers Jen and Kellee over at Teach Mentor Texts  to share what we've read throughout the week. I love this meme because it is another great reading community. 

This week was back to school for me! It was great to see my students again! Of course our discussions led to what we did and read over the winter break. Also, we sat together and set new book goals for the year! Having these conversations enriched me as a reader and a teacher, too!

So, my new reading goal is 700 books (up 100 from last year). I didn't make much progress on this goal this week, but I did read some wonderful books. I also made a little bit of a dent in my Newbery Challenge!

This week, I read these picture books:

KEL GILLIGAN'S DAREDEVIL STUNT SHOW by Michael Buckley
BEAR IN UNDERWEAR by Todd Goldman
NEVILLE by Norton Jester
ICE PALACE by Deborah Blumenthal
BUSY NIGHT by Ross Collins
CAMILLA THE CUPCAKE FAIRY by Tim Bugbird

Graphic novels:
EXTREME BABYMOUSE by Jenni Holm

Newbery Winners:

goodreads.com

MISSING MAY by Cynthia Rylant: Winner for 1993

goodreads.com

SHILOH by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor: Winner for 1992

goodreads.com

A YEAR DOWN UNDER by Richard Peck: Winner for 2001

All three of these distinguished books were winners for me, too! The writing and characters were incredible and I finished them fairly quickly. I had read SHILOH a long time ago, but in this second reading, I found myself appreciating it in a new way.

Participating in the Newbery Challenge has not been easy for me.  I've been selective about my choices. But readers can do that! It seems I have given myself permission to pick & choose. The point is that I have been reading the Newbery books. The reading is the point. Always.

I start back to library school this week, so I will have to make adjustments to my reading schedule. I'm anxious to see how I do that!

What have you been reading this week?

So Simple!

 

 

I have a good size classroom library. Actually, the picture above was taken at the beginning of the year, and since then my book collection has grown. By a lot.

But not all of the books get read. The new ones do. So do the graphic novels. Or the popular series like HEROES OF OLYMPUS or BABYMOUSE or NERDS or others.

I do weed my library every now and then, but for the most part, I don't part with books.

Recently, I browsed my own classroom library and came across my Boxcar Children books. I realized my students weren't reading these at all, and having just reread Surprise Island, I thought I neee to do something about that.

So I grabbed a couple of them, and talked to my class about them. I hadn't prepared anything. I just told my students why I thought the books were interesting. I read the first page. Then I surveyed my class about them. I found out that very few of my students had seen the books even though they had been in the library since the first day of school! (They tend to reach for the newer ones and ignore the rest.)

After I talked about a few of them, the results were immediate. Several students walked up and pulled a few Boxcar books out and took them to their seats. One student asked if she could go to the library to see the whole collection. By the end of the day, half of the collection had been checked out.

Students won't be aware of  the literature until we tell them about it. We can't expect them to read it just because it's on the shelf. Some books will need our "stamp of approval".

I will champion all good titles to my students. And I will continue to buy the new titles as much as my budget allows. But I also promise to keep older favorites in circulation and book talk their goodness so that readers don't miss out on a great potential read!

What favorites are being overlooked in your library? How do you promote them?

Treat Tuesday!

Designed by Shannon Houghton @MsHoughton

Do you ever enjoy a sweet treat while you read? I know I do!

On Tuesdays, I join some of my Twitter friends in this fun meme called #TreatTuesday. We post pics of our books and treats. I try to pair up my book and my treat in a creative way. (Read last Tuesday's post.)

First, the sweet treat:

 

 

 

My treats are --get ready for this-- CHOCOLATE COVERED CINNAMON GUMMY BEARS. When one of my Twitter friends suggested them, I immediately ordered them! They are super delicious (although I can only eat a couple at a time), and aren't as sweet as you might think. The gummy bear holds up incredibly well under the chocolate, and the gummy bears aren't the little ones you usually see.  

 

I think this treat is very innovative (especially pairing chocolate and gummy bears). So I'm pairing it up with this book:

 

from goodreads.com

This book was a gift from my wonderful principal. He often buys books for team leaders to use in book studies. (I love getting books as gifts.)  As with most nonfiction, I read a chunk at a time, and then mull over it a lot. In this book 2012 release, Wagner shares his interviews with young innovators. What I realize from reading Mr. Wagner's book so far is the importance & necessity of fostering innovation in our classrooms.

This starts with asking questions and seeing the possibilities in every day. I know that reading leads us to innovation because as we grow as readers, we also grow as thinkers.

 

I'm also thinking about my own creativity and practice. How am I being innovative in my teaching? How am I pursuing my creativity for myself as a learner?

 

Nonfiction books always inspire me to pursue possibilities.

 

What are you reading? What snack do you pair with it? 

 

 



 



It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

On Mondays I join Jen and Kellee over at Teach Mentor Texts in a meme about the reading we've done throughout the week. Make sure you visit their great blog and see what others are reading this week, too!

Before I write what I've read this week, I have to do a little goal talk:

There's been a lot on Twitter this week about reading goals. Goals have always been essential to everything I do. Goals give me the motivation I need to achieve impossible (and possible) things. I don't always reach them, but I always set them with good intentions! I would never have achieved certain things had it not been for intentional planning. So I emphasize goal-setting with my students, and I share my own goal-setting with them. We set reading goals together weekly, as well as a yearly goal of 40 books (although sometimes this number can certainly be raised as needed).

I believe teachers must be readers if we have any hope of encouraging reading in our students. So I read every day, and I try to read a lot. I set a number to it this year on Goodreads: 600 books for 2012. I accomplished this by reading at every opportunity, watching less TV, spending lots of time in the library, and carrying a book with me just about anywhere (on my iPad or phone, too). I don't have the magic formula for reading. I just read.

So this year, I will share the accomplishment of my goal with my students. And then we will set the goals for the year. Together!

from goodreads.com

from goodreads.com

This week I read 13 books:

Graphic Novels:
Amulet 5: The Last Council by Kazu Kibuishi
A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel by Hope Larson

YA:
Ask the Passengers by A.S. King
Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Newbery:
Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson

Early Readers/Chapter Books:
Lulu and the Brontosaurus by Judith Viorst
Stat by Amare Stoudemire
Like Bug Juice on a Burger by Julie Sternberg

MG:
The Hidden Gallery (Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place #2)
Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life by James Patterson

Picture Book:
Heart and Soul by Kadir Nelson

Professional Development:
The Joy of Planning: Designing Mini-Lesson Cycles in Grades 3-6 by Franki Sibberson

I plan to introduce Lulu and the Brontosaurus and The Hidden Gallery to my students this week.

from goodreads.com

This week I will read The Peculiar By Stefan Bachmann and (hopefully) The Cloak Society by Jeramey Kraatz.

What are you reading?

Right Shoe

 

 

Recently on Twitter, one of my awesome Tweeps posted a great picture collage of her favorite shoes. THAT gave me the idea for this blog post. (I must tell you from the beginning that this post WON'T be exclusively about shoes.) It will eventually lead to reading. I assure you.  

 

I made the above pic using Pic Collage on my iPad. It shows 3 pairs of shoes from my closet. The black boots have a higher heel. I wear those only for nice, dressy kinds of events or days where I don't need to do a lot of walking. My sneakers are shoes I must wear because I wear them to walk/run, and that is something positive & healthy I'm doing for myself. The cowboy boots are, however, my favorites! Not only are they comfortable, but they work with just about any outfit. In Texas, that's what we do!

 

So this made me think of the genres I read. I have a favorite genre, and I could probably read that every day or many days in a row. However, sometimes I really feel like picking up a book that's a bit uncomfortable at first, but that I really do enjoy once I read further.  Finally, there are genres I don't really prefer at first, but reading them improves my reading fitness. I feel stronger after reading them.

 

Back to the shoes: I also realize that no one bought the sneakers for me and told me to start wearing them. I picked them up for myself because I knew I should and others around me do so. I've connected with fellow teacher runners, and they inspire me to put mine on and get moving! Each time I put them on, I feel better in them. I'm just wondering if the same principle could apply with genres students don't prefer to try on their own.

 

Those heeled boots are always in my closet. I know when it's time to wear them. When I do, I adjust for the higher heel by walking on certain surfaces only, or sitting more! When I read a genre I like but don't read as often, I adjust for that, too. I'll sit up in my chair when reading lengthier works that require more attention.

 

Waiting for me always, though, are my cowgirl boots: that comfy genre in which I can completely relax! If someone took away my cowgirl boots, I'd be a very sad Texas gal.

Likewise, if someone told me I had to stop reading my favorite genre, I'm sure I'd be unhappy about it.  

 

I believe the different genres work together to improve my reading. But I didn't start off reading them all. It took me time to pick up good habits, and try new things.  

 

I'm not sure if I've figured out the solution to getting our students to try and like different genres, but I know I'm thinking about it. These random thoughts may not even apply to you, but to me, the shoe analogy makes a lot of sense.

 

What are your favorite genres? How do you encourage students to try new one?

 

Thirstday!

As a blogger, I love memes. They are a good framework for writing my posts.
Here's a new one for Thursdays. My friend David started #Thirstday over at his blog Eat the Book. With this meme, we post a beverage and a book.

So, in the interest of creativity and writing today, my combo is:

• Water in my favorite snowman cup
• Three books: INSURGENT by Veronica Roth, CODE NAME VERITY by Elizabeth Wein, and CREATING INNOVATORS by Tony Wagner

I've had a really hard time deciding what to read these days (vacation days). So I usually have a few books going. Both INSURGENT & CODE NAME VERITY are the two YA Nerdy Award winners I haven't read yet, so I'm reading both. I think reading several books at one time helps me finish books faster.

The Tony Wagner book was a gift, and I've heard great things about it, too. I read Wagner's first book, THE GLOBAL ACHIEVEMENT GAP, a couple of years ago.

I think the water goes well with INSURGENT. After all, these books are about survival! I'm trying to drink more water these days, and Tris is just trying to make it through the day!

What are you reading?

Books I Couldn't Stop Talking About in 2012

In 2012 I did something new.

I started sharing books with people OTHER than my students. (I have always shared books with them, so that's totally NOT new.) When I say people other than my students, I mean other teachers, principals, parents, speakers, friends, bookstore browsers, etc.

Now when I say "sharing" I mean the following:

• recommending books on Twitter
• actually lending books (buying more copies to share)
• bringing books to meetings, workshops, staff development sessions, etc. (I usually bring these in a bag and wait for the right time to share.)
• helping at school bookstore events
• blogging about them here
• talking about them wherever I could to anyone who might listen (dentist, grocer, fellow guest at dinner, repairman, etc.)

For example, I was at the Scholastic Warehouse sale one rainy Saturday. A teacher was browing through the shelves. She stood in front of this book:

Well, I immediately started singing its praises! (She listened to my advice and bought it.) RJ Palacio has created a book all educators should read!

I can't think of the first time I recommended this one:

goodreads.com

But I think I shared it AT LEAST once a week, sometimes more.
I absolutely LOVED this book, and read it aloud to last year's class as well as this one. They BOTH still talk about it--even last year's students! I shared it at grade level meetings, in the hallway, in emails, etc, etc.  (Katherine Applegate was the first author who would Skype with me. I will forever be grateful to her.)

The book below was also shared by ME at a few faculty meetings, workshops, hallway discussions, emails to fellow teachers, etc.

goodreads.com

We even read it for my faculty book club! Lynda Mullaly Hunt is an author to watch and appreciate!

I talked about this YA book at a meeting or two recently:

This story will require Kleenex, but your heart will be the better for it. Jo Knowles, I thank you for this amazing story!

And in many a tweet, I have shared this special title with fellow teacher readers:



goodreads.com

 

 

The main character in Mighty Miss Malone, Deza, has stayed with me in my teacher/reader heart. She lives in hardship and goes to school so eager to learn! Her teacher recognizes her gifts. Deza is someone I think about each day I am in the classroom. More people should know about this book and the treasure Christopher Paul Curtis has given us in these pages.

Rebecca Stead really made me think with her latest book. I really want to reread this one, and I know I'll see something new:

goodreads.com

I also really loved The False Prince by Jennifer Nielsen. Do you want to read a solid, exciting suspense-filled story that is smart and witty and very entertaining? Then you must read FALSE PRINCE by Jennifer Nielsen. (Book #2, The Runaway King, is a very anticipated title in 2013.)

goodreads.com

I also talked a lot about this book (which is also about prince (s):

Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom is a really funny, clever book about the REAL story behind all of those princes in fairy tales.  I can't wait for Book #2.


No, I couldn't stop talking about books in 2012.  I know I probably annoyed some people around me. I do hope I wasn't too much of a bother. But I know it will only continue (with more intensity) in 2013. In fact, I pledge to read more than ever*, to keep up with as many new releases as possible, revisit old favorites, support my students in their reading lives, and champion literacy for all readers--young and old-- in any way I can.

I hope 2013 is a year of good books for you, too!

Oh, and there's one more. Let's call it a Bonus Book!

goodreads.com

The Great Unexpected is the latest book by one of my favorite authors, Sharon Creech.
This book is surreal and splendid. Naomi and Lizzie are two orphan girls who live in BlackBird Tree. They meet interesting people as they head towards their destiny. It's lyrical and beautiful.

Not only can't I stop talking about these books, I think about them a lot, too. Good books stay with you--in your heart--forever. Each book I read helps me be a better teacher. The experience is a tool I use when I'm sitting with readers and conferring with them. Time spent reading (beyond professional books) is just as valuable to me as sitting in on a great PD session or asking a literacy expert for advice.

*I met my 2012 goal of 600 books with one book left over. I'm very surprised I did it. But I know my students inspired me, as did my Nerdy Book Club friends.
In 2013, I'm challenging myself to read 700 books! (I hope I haven't set it too high!)

Shoe choice today: Gray UGGS because they're warm like slippers.

Treat Tuesday

designed by @MsHoughton

It's Treat Tuesday! I'm joining Niki over at her awesome blog in this new weekly meme. Some Twitter pals of mine started up this great chat about getting together with books and fun food.

So on Tuesdays we'll be pairing up treats with books. Here's my first picture for #TreatTuesday:

I'm reading A WRINKLE IN TIME: THE GRAPHIC NOVEL by Hope Larson. I'm pairing it up with a white chocolate-apricot muffin from a local bakery (and a cup of coffee).

Here's my rationale for this combo:

• This muffin is a favorite of mine as is A WRINKLE IN TIME by Madeleine L'Engle.
• It's a 392-page book, so I needed something filling.
• I would never have thought of putting A WRINKLE IN TIME in graphic novel format; similarly, combining white chocolate and apricots is something that hadn't occurred to me either. But BOTH seem to work. ;-)

The pages of the book are in three colors: blue, white, and black. I'm on pg. 57 so far, and it's got me hooked. I'm stopping my reading only for a walk/run today (because I'm having that muffin). 

What treats and books do you like to pair up? Happy #TreatTuesday!