It's Monday! What are you reading?

I'm joining Jen and Kellee at Teach Mentor Texts to share what we've been reading this week. Hopefully, you can pick up some great titles!

What I read this week:

STARRY RIVER OF THE SKY
by Grace Lin (ARC)
This is one story filled with good mini-stories that all tie-in at the end.  A beautifully written MG. Great for a storytelling unit! I'll buy this one when it's released in September. I'll also recommend it for our school library.

REMARKABLE by Lizzie K. Foley
Quirky, eccentric, and fantastic tales from a very peculiar town named Remarkable. MG.The main character doesn't think she's very remarkable at all.  This book will appeal to kids because some really crazy things happen, and there are pirates involved! Funny pirates.

THE FALSE PRINCE by Jennifer A. Nielsen
If you like exciting adventures involving royalty AND filled with mystery, this book fits the bill! The main character is spunky and smart, and the story is filled with plot twists. I can't wait to introduce it with a book talk (which I have to prepare). I can see it being perfect for 4th graders and older.

Picture Books:
Wanted: The Perfect Pet by Fiona Roberton
Betsy Red Hoodie by Gail Carson Levine

What I'm reading now:

Leepike Ridge by N.D. Wilson (Hard to find, but worth the read. Good story so far! )

Captain Underpants & The Terrifiying Return of Tippy Tinkletrousers by Dav Pilkey

(ARC). Release date set for 8/28/12.

What I'm working on right now:

I have some district meetings that require prep time, plus I'll be wrapping up my grad class this week. I wish I could do everything, but I have to sleep and read, too.

Shoes for today: brown/white polka-dot flip flops from Yellow Box!

My Writing Profile

I've spent the last five days working on a paper for a grad class.  It was difficult for me to get the draft completed, and now that it's ready for revision, I'm exhausted. I don't even want to look at it anymore. So I've decided to print a copy and take a fresh look at it in the morning. I'll make sure everything is there that should be, I'll decide if paragraphs need to be moved around, and I'll probably add several parts I haven't even thought of yet. Two or three sections of my paper should also be aware that they won't have a permanent home on my final submission!

How do I know that I'll be doing all of these things? How do I know that I will be laboriously, tediously, and painstakingly stressing over every sentence and wincing at every paragraph I thought was so clever the night before? Answer: I have written enough to know my writing habits.

I wonder if our students know THEIR writing habits. I think knowing them would be very helpful.  It's helpful for me. I know there's an end in sight. I know how I'll feel at certain stages of the process, and knowing this gives me the motivation to go on. It's similar to those profiles you fill out when you join an organization, and they want to know more about you. I've been "filling out" my profile long enough to know it.

Do we give our own students the time to learn about themselves as writers? That all depends on how often they write. Realizing this today is one of my big take-aways from a day of hard work. It's also a good reminder to me that when I open up our Writer's Workshop every day at the same time and give my students the opportunity to write for an extended period (with the schedule only being altered in the case of assemblies or field trips), I am doing the right thing. I am allowing my class of 4th grade writers to learn their own profile.

I'm not the first to make this observation, but this is my way of expressing it: the more we write, the more we know ourselves as writers. (A few more things I know about myself as a writer: I will need a mechanical pencil and Post-its: both of which must come in a fashion color also perfect for shoes. Plus, a good book must always be within reach.)

It's Monday! What are you reading?

Mondays are the days I join in a meme with Jen and Kellee over at Teach Mentor Texts. Jen and Kellee are two wonderful teachers who offer this platform as a way for teachers to share books.

This week I read:

The Templeton Twins Have An Idea
by Ellis Weiner

• ARC from #ALA12: funny, clever mystery with great narration and two smart kids who have great ideas (MG). I'm buying this one, too.

Bad Island by Doug TenNapel

• A GN I bought at the Scholastic Book Summit. One of my students said I "HAD" to read it. I LOVE it when my students recommend books to ME. Very interesting story about a family vacation gone wrong.

Monster by Walter Dean Myers

• A signed copy I waited in line for at the Scholastic Book Summit. YA with mature content. Gritty, suspenseful story about a teenage boy on trial for murder. It's a tough book that will break your heart. Walter Dean Myers is such an excellent writer.  

 Granny Torrelli Makes Soup by Sharon Creech

• I checked this one out from the library, but I need my own copy. A fun book about two best friends and a granny you will love. Granny Torrelli invites you into her kitchen to make pasta and listen to her stories. This book made me happy.

Unstoppable by Tim Green

• ARC from #TLA12. Signed! (My librarian picked it up for me!). YA. A great main character who will inspire you. A foster kid with a dream to play football. I won't tell you anymore, because I don't want to spoil it. I'm a big college football fan, and I loved this book--but I loved the non-football part the most.

I am reading:

Remarkable by Lizzie K. Foley
Cardboard by Doug TenNapel (ARC)




I will read:
Before I write this section, I must confess that I usually change my mind about one or two of the titles. I pick the book according to my mood.
The Raven Boys  by Maggie Stiefvater
Starry River of the Sky by Grace Lin

School:
My last few grad school projects are due this week, and I'll be spending today in the library studying. While I study, write, read, research, etc., I think about my students, and how my experience will benefit them, too. I'm rewarding myself with a night of free reading.

My campus is still closed due to carpet installation, but I'm planning decor in my head again. Camping theme? New colors?

Shoe choices:
Yellow Box flip-flops for the library
Silver Naturalizer flats when I have to dress up

Scholastic Reading Summit

Yesterday, I attended a Scholastic Reading Summit. I learned a lot from the two guest speakers: Donalyn Miller and Walter Dean Myers. They both spoke about literacy and how critical is it that our students read independently and daily. I was inspired by both of them to continue making sure that my students love to read and read every day, and that they are not 'dependent' on ME to do that.

But here are some other nuggets I learned yesterday:

First, from Donalyn Miller (author of The Book Whisperer and all-around inspirational educator), I learned the importance of sharing many genres with our students. They may not like all of the genres we share, but then again, as she said, they may end up discovering the one they love! Second, book talks have power! They don't have to be rehearsed or perfect, but they should share your excitement about the book. From a fellow participant's tweet at the summit I learned one more thing: If you share one book talk a day, by the end of the year, you will have shared about 180 books a year! And, from Mr. Walter Dean Myers (acclaimed author and National Ambassador of Young People's Literature), I learned that when lack of access to books is an issue in a community or school, we must bring the books to the children. I'm thinking more about this in my own community.

After the great keynotes and sessions, I also bought two books to add to my ever-growing, about-to-topple TBR stacks which now sit around my home waiting for my time and attention.

• Bad Island by Doug TenNapel
• Powerless by Matthew Cody  

As is the case with conferences I attend, it takes me a few days to process. So, I'll post more about this day in the future.

Back to my issue analysis paper and my #bookaday!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

This Monday, I once again join Jen and Kellee over at Teach Mentor Texts in their weekly meme. I appreciate how they support readers/teachers!

Since I have several papers due soon, I struggled to find reading time for myself. But it's something I love, and its part of my self-designed professional development, so I make the time. (It just means some late nights!)

THE GREAT UNEXPECTED by Sharon Creech

I was so glad to get this ARC in the mail (thanks Harper Collins)! If you read my ALA WRAP-UP post, you know how I feel about Sharon Creech! I love her books! So when I heard that she had a new title out in September, I made it my mission to read it. I was so happy I did.
This book is about two pairs of people and two stories. (It's not difficult to keep them straight because they're both so intriguing!) Naomi and Lizzie make up one of the pairs. They are both orphans living in an odd little town named Blackbird Tree. They meet strange people in the town (including a boy who falls from a tree), and we see their special friendship carried out in the events of the story. I believe the characters are the very best part of this book; in fact, the character descriptions are perfect writing examples to share in my Writer's Workshop. Mystery and unexpectedness fill this book (as the title suggests), but there is also what makes a Sharon Creech book so wonderful: richness in story and the heartwarming feeling that remains after you finish it.

I also read these titles:
CHAINED by Lynne Kelly; published 5/8/12 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux
BABYMOUSE by Jennifer Holm & Matt Holm; published 7/10/12 by Random House Children's Books
THE REVOLUTION OF EVELYN SERRANO by Sonia Marzano (ARC); published 9/20/12 by Scholastic
SMALL MEDIUM AT LARGE by Joanne Levy; published 7/3/12 by Bloomsbury USA

This week I am reading:
UNSTOPPABLE by Tim Green (ARC);publishing date: 9/18/12 by Harper Collins

I plan to read:
REMARKABLE by Lizzie K. Foley; published 4/12/12 by Penguin
TEMPLETON TWINS by Jeremy Holmes and Ellis Weiner; publication date: 8/15/12 by Chronicle Books
Journal articles for my issue analysis paper (Lots of nonfiction for me!)

A NOTE ON NONFICTION:
I'm reading research and journal articles, so I'm finding myself being a student again--officially. I highlight, write in the margins, take notes, etc.  Nonfiction reading (scholarly) requires concentration and active participation. I'm an accomplished reader, but when reading these pieces, I must attend and have the energy to do so! If I don't, I will miss something I need to know for later. This is what my students experience.  We read great pieces of nonfiction, but I know they must also learn to read this type of material as well. What more can I do in the classroom to support this? I want them to succeed, as I am trying to do so now.  Being a student again will help me be a better teacher--not just because of the content, but because I am going walking the learning walk myself.

Listen to Your Heart

Everyone has passions and interests that guide them. Clearly, mine are books, teaching, shoes, writing, and learning. But sometimes it's a struggle to carve out a path for myself. There are so many great people in the world doing great things. What can I do that has not been done? These innovators and thinkers inspire me.


I woke up this morning to read before the sun was up. Three books called for my attention. One of them was What You Know By Heart by Katie Wood Ray, an amazing writer, teacher, speaker, and all-around inspirational person.

I met Katie Wood Ray at the TCTELA Conference in San Antonio.
Remember: Authors are "rockstars" to me.

I opened to the title  page and read the autograph she'd signed to me. I'd forgotten all about it. I was really glad I read it today. It came in handy.

She wrote: "Always listen to your heart."

Writers, you never know just how much power your words have.

I don't know the answers all the time. But eventually, the ideas come, and I try them out in my own flawed way. I take one little step and then two big steps. I get close to a new goal and look back. Sometimes there are people ahead of me. Sometimes there's no one around. And this morning I just decided to keep going with what I've been doing: reading, writing, blogging, learning, teaching, sharing what I can, collaborating, and continuing my 2nd trip to grad school. (Don't worry! I made it successfully through the first one. I'm just going back for another!) I do these things because I believe in the power of literacy for all people--but especially for young readers.

I read that note, reread the book, and decided I'd continue on the path I have set for myself. I'm not sure where it will lead, but I know no one else has taken my path---because it's mine. And I will do what only I can do.

ALA WRAP-UP

I met some of my favorite authors at ALA in Anaheim. These authors have become my co-teachers. I bring their books into my classroom and share them, and they become my teaching tools. Without them, I couldn't teach writing or show the power of story! Here are a few of the authors I met!

Here I am with Kazi Kibuishi. He writes the Amulet series of graphic novels. I can never have enough copies of those in my classroom. (I told him that.) They're very exciting! My students will be so amazed that I met him. (P.S. Graphic novels get kids reading!)

Smile is a very popular book in my classroom. It is read and reread over and over again! So I had a BIG SMILE when I met the author, Raina Telgemeier. (Sorry about the picture. I'm not sure why it's in a checkerboard pattern or why it's so dark! Strange! But it's the only one I have so it's going up!)

I tweeted a lot this spring about the super special book, The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate. When I read this book aloud, my students hung on my every word. My students really connnected with this novel-in-verse, and Ivan, the main character in the book (silverback gorilla) won our hearts.  Our first author Skype was with the awesome Katherine Applegate, so she'll always have a place in my teacher heart. Can you tell how excited I am in this picture?

I also met Sharon Creech. I waited in line for her, and that was fine! She wrote LOVE THAT DOG, which inspired my kids to write poetry. . VOLUNTARILY. AT RECESS. JUST FOR FUN. I owe her a debt I cannot pay. I'm a little calmer in my pic with her. I think it's because I was nervous. But she was so gracious! She even took a picture of me and put it on HER blog. LOVE THAT SHARON CREECH. (I'll be blogging about her upcoming release THE GREAT UNEXPECTED in a future post.)

And for my final pic, I have a question for you. Have you read WONDER yet? If you haven't, I highly recommend it. It's a book about a boy with severe facial deformities who attends school for the first time. The book's theme is: CHOOSE KIND, and it's become a national campaign. My friend and I met RJ Palacio, and we chatted about how this book has resonated with so many.


"Authors are my rock-stars". I saw that quote on a t-shirt once, and it is definitely true for me. They craft words and sentences together into books that help me connect with my students. With their work, authors make it possible for my students to become lifelong readers -- and that is why I am SO very happy to meet them.