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!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

On Mondays, I ask this question: What are YOU reading?
But first, I always answer the question for myself. Thanks to Jen and Kellee over at Teach Mentor Texts for hosting this meme.

Teachers all over the country (including me) were off for the holidays last week, so many (we) had more time to read. We faithfully tended to our TBR piles, and as a result, finished books and discussed them on Twitter.

I joined in the fun! I also was on a mission: complete my 2012 Goodreads Challenge.
I had quite a few to go last week, so I got to work.

I read 15 chapter books, 2 graphic novels, and 32 picture books.
Here are the some of the books I loved!

SUMMER AND BIRD by Katherine Catmull

I really hadn't heard much about this book from any of my fellow Nerdy Book Club members, but everything about the title and the cover made me want to read the book. As I read the first few pages, I began to get a feel for the type of book it was: fairy-tale and very imaginative. Two sisters have lost their parents, and they enter a bird world to find them. They meet many unique characters along the way, and the situations are fantasy-filled and very intriguing. Pay attention to the details in this book. Everything means something! It made me think and wonder. (I'm definitely still processing this one.)

BUTTER by Erin Jade Lange (YA)
This novel reminded me somewhat of SKINNY by Donna Cooner. A teen struggles with his weight, his family life, and school. He desires popularity & a pretty girl desperately, so he sets a very unwise plan in motion. I reaad this one fairly quickly. It's modern and fast-moving.

 ALMOST HOME by Joan Bauer (YA)
A girl and her mother struggle to find their place in the world. There's a cute puppy involved, and Sugar (the main character) is motivated and positive. It's a heartwarming story, but it's also realistic. I want to read more Joan Bauer books. (I loved CLOSE TO FAMOUS, too.)

I also managed to read another Newbery winner:
JACOB HAVE I LOVED by Katherine Paterson. It is YA, and a quick read. It's about a girl who competes with her for the attention and focus in the family. It's also a story of hardship and determination.

Other books  I read were:
THE MYSTERIOUS HOWLING (INCORRIGIBLE CHILDREN OF ASHTON PLACE BOOK 1) by MaryRose Wood (Great series!)
SCHOOLED by Gordon Korman
ONE YEAR IN COAL HARBOR by Polly Horvath
A PERFECT TIME FOR PANDAS by Mary Pope Osborne (I recommended this one to my students.)
SURPRISE ISLAND (Boxcar Children) by Gertrude Chandler Warner (Love this one!)
AMULET 3: CLOUD SEARCHERS by Kazu Kibuishi
AMULET 4: THE LAST COUNCIL by Kazu Kibuishi
(Both are graphic novels and both are excellent!)


Thanks to the time off, and the nonstop supply of books, I was able to meet my Goodreads challenge! I read 600 books in 2012 with one day left over. I will use this day (today) to decide upon my 2013 goal, and yes, read.

I hope to read these titles this week: (Both YA)
A WRINKLE IN TIME: THE GRAPHIC NOVEL by Hope Larson
CODE NAME VERITY by Elizabeth Wein

I'm trying to find identify my book gap right now. That will be part of what I do in my 2013 reading life.

What are YOU reading this week?

Shoe choices today: My new Nike running shoes for #runteacherrun AND then my cowgirl boots again to ring in the New Year!

My Picture Book Faves

I started my blog over a year ago. I knew it was something I needed to do--as a teacher, learner, and writer. At first, I thought it would be about teaching. But then I just couldn't help myself: the books had to be shared.

In a year where I read more books than I ever had before, I recorded many of the titles here. I read picture books, middle grades, and YA. I discovered new authors and reaffirmed my admiration for the known authors who have always been a part of my classroom. I even had the privilege of meeting some of them this year. I cannot thank them enough for their work and dedication to children's literature.

It seems that many of  my fellow Nerdy Book Club bloggers are posting these end-of-the-year pieces, so I will do the same. Please forgive the predictability of this. For me, it is new.

I read many picture books in 2012, but here are the ones I name as my top picks:

FICTION:

Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen
This books is a really clever story. My class loved it. We loved the characters, and it gave us lots of great points to discuss.

 

 

C.R. Mudgeon by Leslie Muir and Julian Hector
This is a story about being friends with people who are different from you. Paprika and C.R. Mudgeon couldn't be more opposite. I loved the message of this book.

 

This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen
It's no secret. I WANT MY HAT BACK was such a fave of of mine in 2011! I think I carried it around everywhere expecting to book talk it at any minute. THIS IS NOT MY HAT is also wonderful. My students voted this one as our Mock Caldecott winner!

 

Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin and Daniel Salmieri
Funny, funny book! My students adored it, too. We all wanted to eat tacos afterward. We still do. It was  Mock Caldecott Honor book in 4A.

Boy + Bot by Ame Dyckman and Dan Yaccarino
A personal fave, but also my students' fave. It's a story about friendship that is fun to listen to and even more fun to read. I wear my "Affirmative!" wristband every day! Ame Dyckman is such a talent!!

goodreads.com

 

The Monsters' Monster by Patrick McDonnell
Get a copy of this one, too! Some monsters decide to create their own monster, but things don't turn out like they planned. So cute! So sweet! I had to check it out from the library, but I will be buying my own copy soon--next time I'm at the bookstore (which will probably be today).

goodreads.com

 

 

Unspoken by Henry Cole

I read this at ALA in the summer. It took my breath away. Henry Cole is such an amazing artist and storyteller. Take a close look at every page. Infer and draw conclusions!! It is BRILLIANT.

 



NONFICTION:

goodreads.com

 

Looking at Lincoln by Maira Kalman
I loved the way this author told us all about Abraham Lincoln! Great book!

 

Plant Hunters by Anita Silvey (along with a QR Code I made for a video of Anita Silvey talking about the book)
This is a very engaging nonfiction book about people who did risky things to find and collect plants. I learned a lot from this one. I used it in a presentation to show the ways teachers could use a QR Code as a supplement in reader's workshop.



Fifty Cents and a Dream by Jabari Asim and Bryan Collier
This book tells an amazing story of determination. The story is about Booker T. Washington, and what he did in order to be able to go to school! It's very inspiring and well-told, and watch the illustrations on this one, too. They speak text in their own way.

goodreads.com

Here Come the Girl Scouts By Shana Corey and Hadley Hooper
I'm a former Girl Scout, so this book holds a special place in my heart. Well-written and very inspirational!

These are books I'll remember the most. It would be impossible for me to name all of the books I loved, so I hope I am forgiven if I've left any out.

In tomorrow's post, I will list the middle grades and YA novels I especially loved this year.

Which picture books would be on your 2012 list?

P.S. Today, I'm wearing my cowgirl boots. They're perfect for just about everything. Except running. ;-)

Note to Self: Clean Out Closet!

This holiday season is going by quickly. So many things I want to do! Organize my study, clean out my closets, etc., etc. I'll also do some lesson planning, and probably learn a lot of good things on Twitter, too.

But I think the best gift I will give myself this break is getting to know myself as a reader again. I have the time to stay up late, read all night, explore the library, go to the bookstore (again), abandon books, reread books, etc., etc.

Although I do read during the school year, I don't have the time to reflect or see where my reading is taking me.

Yes, I will have the time to respond to books in my notebook, try out a new genre, take up a colleague on that book recommendation, and weed out my personal library. I will have the time to look at my "book gaps" and meet them. I'll have the time to look back at the reading I've done and pat myself on the back for it, or promise to do better. I'll reaffirm some reading commitments (Newbery/Caldecott Challenge), complete my reading challenge*, and set a new reading goal for 2013.

Another plus?  I will have the luxury of going to the bookstore and library in the same day. THAT is a gift.

Yes, I'll organize that study, and those closets will get cleaned out. (THAT will be a lot of work.)

But first, I'll do some reading.

*As of this post, I am 11 books away from completing my 2012 Goodreads Challenge for number of books read. Back on Jan. 1st, 2012, I set 600 books as my goal. I'm almost there, and I won't stop.

*Also, I took the time to order myself a pair of black sparkly Toms slip-ons. I know myself as a shoe-shopper, too. ;-)