Book 3: Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper
What a satisfying read!
Eleven year old Melody is bright, smart, funny, awesome. Eleven year old Melody is a paraplegic with cerebral palsy who cannot walk, who cannot talk. All these thoughts of words and music and colors and feelings fill her head, but she has no way to get them out, no way to speak.
Her parents just know that she is a smart child and with the help of her caregiver she learns to communicate all the brilliant things that she knows, all the things that fill her head.
This book made me think, made me laugh, made me cry, made me thankful and thoughtful. Yes, a nice satisfying read.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
100 Books in 2012: Smile by Raina Telgemeier
Book 2: Smile by Raina Telgemeier
I do not usually read graphic novels. I completely avoid the Japanese manga and anime stuff, but I will at least skim through the latest in our school's graphic novel collection to make sure the titles jive with the reviews that I read before actually purchasing them.
When I saw the students (girls!) that were checking out and voraciously reading (and laughing out loud) the book, I had to see what the commotion was all about. Smile is the autobiographical graphic novel of Raina Telgemeier, who unfortunately endured a painful loss of her two front teeth when she was in the 6th grade, followed by numerous dental surgeries and braces. Thank goodness Raina "survived" to tell and wonderfully illustrate her story of learning to smile again through her lack of teeth and the painful middle school and high school taunts of her supposed friends.
The story will make you say, "Ouch!" It will make you laugh out loud. And it will definitely make you smile.
I do not usually read graphic novels. I completely avoid the Japanese manga and anime stuff, but I will at least skim through the latest in our school's graphic novel collection to make sure the titles jive with the reviews that I read before actually purchasing them.
When I saw the students (girls!) that were checking out and voraciously reading (and laughing out loud) the book, I had to see what the commotion was all about. Smile is the autobiographical graphic novel of Raina Telgemeier, who unfortunately endured a painful loss of her two front teeth when she was in the 6th grade, followed by numerous dental surgeries and braces. Thank goodness Raina "survived" to tell and wonderfully illustrate her story of learning to smile again through her lack of teeth and the painful middle school and high school taunts of her supposed friends.
The story will make you say, "Ouch!" It will make you laugh out loud. And it will definitely make you smile.
100 Books in 2012: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
Book 1: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
Yes, I finally read Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins, the third and final book in the Hunger Games trilogy. That book has been staring at me from my stack on the floor next to my bedside for over a year and a half when it was released in 2010.
I just didn't want the story of Katniss to end.
But with the movie coming out March 23, 2012, and more and more of our students reading the trilogy (Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay), I wanted to be able to say that yes, I had read all three of the titles.
Just like the first two books, the final installment is action packed, violent, intriguing, and complex while Katniss is a likable, resilient, empowered, and determined protagonist. While I thought Collins wrapped up the trilogy just fine (I absolutely will not spoil it for you and tell you who she ends up with, Gale or Peeta), there was one spot near the end where an editor must have taken license to pull out a scene or two. (The "next thing you know I wake up in a hospital" scenes always sit wrong with me.)
Definitely a great read, but start from the beginning of the trilogy. And remember that this trilogy is not for those readers with weak stomachs.
Yes, I finally read Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins, the third and final book in the Hunger Games trilogy. That book has been staring at me from my stack on the floor next to my bedside for over a year and a half when it was released in 2010.
I just didn't want the story of Katniss to end.
But with the movie coming out March 23, 2012, and more and more of our students reading the trilogy (Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay), I wanted to be able to say that yes, I had read all three of the titles.
Just like the first two books, the final installment is action packed, violent, intriguing, and complex while Katniss is a likable, resilient, empowered, and determined protagonist. While I thought Collins wrapped up the trilogy just fine (I absolutely will not spoil it for you and tell you who she ends up with, Gale or Peeta), there was one spot near the end where an editor must have taken license to pull out a scene or two. (The "next thing you know I wake up in a hospital" scenes always sit wrong with me.)
Definitely a great read, but start from the beginning of the trilogy. And remember that this trilogy is not for those readers with weak stomachs.
Monday, January 9, 2012
100 Books in 2012 Challenge
I've tried this before, but only managed to make it to 30 some books, but I'm taking on the challenge of reading 100 books in a year in 2012.Thanks to my friend - teacher and writer - Jen McConnel, I'm challenging myself once again to read as much as possible and then post them on my blog.
So if you think you'd like to join us, pop over to Jen's blog, leave a comment, and start reading!
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Declutter and Organize Calendar
A Facebook friend shared the link to this 2012 Declutter and Organize calendar. It's a daily list of small areas to declutter and/or organize throughout the year. It's sort of the old "how do you eat an elephant? one bite at a time" question and answer. My winter vacation gave me a jump start to get the laundry room, little E's room, and the kitchen started on the decluttering and organizing path.
But a little exploring on the site, My Simpler Life, and blogger and "simpler living educator" (as she call herself) Beth Dargis has some commonsense approaches to helping you live more simply. I like her weekly simplicity tips. She also offers a simple annual plan. She tauts positive and practical ideas to get yourself organized and to have peace in your life. Check it out!
But a little exploring on the site, My Simpler Life, and blogger and "simpler living educator" (as she call herself) Beth Dargis has some commonsense approaches to helping you live more simply. I like her weekly simplicity tips. She also offers a simple annual plan. She tauts positive and practical ideas to get yourself organized and to have peace in your life. Check it out!
Friday, December 30, 2011
Thanksgiving Revisited
During the month of November, many Facebookers were posting their daily thanksgivings, trying to post for thirty days. Here's my list of thanksgivings:
People we are thankful for:
1. Family (big J, little E, and all the parents!)
2. Cul-de-sac friends (best neighbors ever!)
3. College friends (pick up right where you left off!)
4. Cool teacher-librarians (LTM, gurus, and rock stars!)
5. Inspirational colleagues (Cores and SPEDs rock!)
6. Wise ones (both young and old and retired!)
7. Church families (nurturing, spiritual, caring!)
Intangibles we are thankful for:
8. Love (of family, friends)
9. Freedom (to live, work, play)
10. Intelligence (to think, create)
11. Integrity (to speak, live)
12. Happiness (to exist, work, play)
13. Security (to fear not)
14. Faith (to believe)
Tangibles we are thankful for:
15. Food (y'all know we like to eat)
16. Home (y'all know we like to sleep)
17. Car (y'all know we like to travel)
18. Books (y'all know we like to read)
19. Computers (y'all know we like to surf)
20. TV (y'all know we like to watch)
21. Job (okay, so we like having all the other things!)
And some other stuff that we are thankful for:
22. Warm blankets and hot chocolate for cold nights
23. Clear night skies with twinkly stars
24. Contentment and satisfaction with life
25. Chocolate
26. Music to sing with and to dance to
27. Peaceful mornings
28. Rocking chair evenings
29. Hot showers
30. Rainbows
People we are thankful for:
1. Family (big J, little E, and all the parents!)
2. Cul-de-sac friends (best neighbors ever!)
3. College friends (pick up right where you left off!)
4. Cool teacher-librarians (LTM, gurus, and rock stars!)
5. Inspirational colleagues (Cores and SPEDs rock!)
6. Wise ones (both young and old and retired!)
7. Church families (nurturing, spiritual, caring!)
Intangibles we are thankful for:
8. Love (of family, friends)
9. Freedom (to live, work, play)
10. Intelligence (to think, create)
11. Integrity (to speak, live)
12. Happiness (to exist, work, play)
13. Security (to fear not)
14. Faith (to believe)
Tangibles we are thankful for:
15. Food (y'all know we like to eat)
16. Home (y'all know we like to sleep)
17. Car (y'all know we like to travel)
18. Books (y'all know we like to read)
19. Computers (y'all know we like to surf)
20. TV (y'all know we like to watch)
21. Job (okay, so we like having all the other things!)
And some other stuff that we are thankful for:
22. Warm blankets and hot chocolate for cold nights
23. Clear night skies with twinkly stars
24. Contentment and satisfaction with life
25. Chocolate
26. Music to sing with and to dance to
27. Peaceful mornings
28. Rocking chair evenings
29. Hot showers
30. Rainbows
Monday, December 19, 2011
Blogs I would write if I had time to blog...
Six months later my running list of blogs that I would like to write grows longer, but the time to carve out to actually write the entries grows shorter and tighter each day. So here's the list of blogs (topics) that I would like to write if I had time to blog:
Risk taking - how taking risks can bring about big results and make one's life more enriching.
Genuine enthusiasm - how the kind word, the sincere greeting, the genuine inquiry and enthusiasm about life is contagious and betters the world
Missing Dixie - how the positive, effective leadership of our now retired principal is so very needed at a time of low morale, budget cuts, disorganization and non-communication
New Year's resolutions - always a good entry to set one on the right course for the new year
Teacherprenuership - the idea that teachers develop their pedagogical talent, “sell” their expertise, and find innovative solutions to challenges facing their students
Digital footprints - making our stamp on the digital world, making connections both personally and professionally in the digital age
NaNoWriMo - the National Novel Writing Month and how I once again attempted to get thoughts on the page (I made it to 5000 words)
The Power of Small - a book that I am reading about how little things make the difference
Thanksgiving - a list of 30 days of things I was thankful for during the month of November
Information and Technology Essential Standards - the new document to integrate information and technology into the core curricula and how teacher librarians need to push in to the classroom and push back those that don't get our role in education
Growing up with Elizabeth - how life as a mother puts everything else in perspective
So perhaps over the winter break and in the new year, I will once again reorganize my life, break out my list, crack my knuckles and get to typing and posting new blog entries.
Risk taking - how taking risks can bring about big results and make one's life more enriching.
Genuine enthusiasm - how the kind word, the sincere greeting, the genuine inquiry and enthusiasm about life is contagious and betters the world
Missing Dixie - how the positive, effective leadership of our now retired principal is so very needed at a time of low morale, budget cuts, disorganization and non-communication
New Year's resolutions - always a good entry to set one on the right course for the new year
Teacherprenuership - the idea that teachers develop their pedagogical talent, “sell” their expertise, and find innovative solutions to challenges facing their students
Digital footprints - making our stamp on the digital world, making connections both personally and professionally in the digital age
NaNoWriMo - the National Novel Writing Month and how I once again attempted to get thoughts on the page (I made it to 5000 words)
The Power of Small - a book that I am reading about how little things make the difference
Thanksgiving - a list of 30 days of things I was thankful for during the month of November
Information and Technology Essential Standards - the new document to integrate information and technology into the core curricula and how teacher librarians need to push in to the classroom and push back those that don't get our role in education
Growing up with Elizabeth - how life as a mother puts everything else in perspective
So perhaps over the winter break and in the new year, I will once again reorganize my life, break out my list, crack my knuckles and get to typing and posting new blog entries.
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