Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
Genre: Fantasy, Children's lit. Rating: (out of 10): 9
As usual, I hung on to every word as I read this. Rowling did a great job of tying up all of the loose ends and connecting events from all seven books together. I do think things ended a little too neatly, however.
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
More for the Wish List
Landmark Ruling on Race & Schools (news article? Seattle 2007)
Their Highest Potential- Author: Walker
Educational Wastelands
1776- David McCullough
Radical Possibilities- Jean Anyon
The Hidden Curriculum of School at Work- Jean Anyon
Author: Joy Hakim (revisionist S.S. history)
Other People's Children- Lisa Delpit
All American Yemeni Girls
Eating the Other- bell hooks
History of Education in America- Pullam, J
The School in the United States- Fraser, J
Minor Re/Visions-
Against Common Sense
Their Highest Potential- Author: Walker
Educational Wastelands
1776- David McCullough
Radical Possibilities- Jean Anyon
The Hidden Curriculum of School at Work- Jean Anyon
Author: Joy Hakim (revisionist S.S. history)
Other People's Children- Lisa Delpit
All American Yemeni Girls
Eating the Other- bell hooks
History of Education in America- Pullam, J
The School in the United States- Fraser, J
Minor Re/Visions-
Against Common Sense
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Add to the Wish List
A project for one of my classes centers on books, so I am spending a lot of time looking at them this week.
Ben Franklin's Almanac: Being a True Account of the Good Gentlemen's Life- Candace Fleming
To Establish Justice: Citizenship and the Constitution- McKissack, Patricia
Ben Franklin's Almanac: Being a True Account of the Good Gentlemen's Life- Candace Fleming
To Establish Justice: Citizenship and the Constitution- McKissack, Patricia
Thursday, June 28, 2007
The Last of Fun Reading for a Bit...
Two more classes start next week... I received the syllabus for one of them today and it looks like I'll be quite busy for the next month with reading for that...
The Wright 3 by Blue Balliett
Genre: Realistic Fiction, Children's lit. Rating: (out of 10): 9
Chasing Vermeer was a popular book by this author in the recent past, and he followed up with another good one. I like this book because it has ties to many subjects, many more than just reading. For example, Fibonacci's sequence and pentominoes are major players in the storyline (math), and architecture (Frank Lloyd Wright) also plays a major role. The students have a fun, out-of-the-box teacher, and they are believable characters who have personal struggles such as jealousy and selfishness. It is a long book, but it has short chapters. I'll try to find a way to work it in for this upcoming year.
Ruby Holler by Sharon Creech
Genre: Realistic Fiction, Children's Lit. Rating: (out of 10): 7
Two orphans have had a tough, tough life. They have spent most of their time with an abusive set of foster parents. They are taken in for the summer by a wonderful older couple who treat them well and let them have the types of experiences all kids should have. It's a wonderful story, with short chapters. Another teacher is using it to train his kids in how to have book clubs. I am not sure if all of my kids will be able to read it on their own... I may need to find another book to use.
I can't write worth anything tonight.
The Wright 3 by Blue Balliett
Genre: Realistic Fiction, Children's lit. Rating: (out of 10): 9
Chasing Vermeer was a popular book by this author in the recent past, and he followed up with another good one. I like this book because it has ties to many subjects, many more than just reading. For example, Fibonacci's sequence and pentominoes are major players in the storyline (math), and architecture (Frank Lloyd Wright) also plays a major role. The students have a fun, out-of-the-box teacher, and they are believable characters who have personal struggles such as jealousy and selfishness. It is a long book, but it has short chapters. I'll try to find a way to work it in for this upcoming year.
Ruby Holler by Sharon Creech
Genre: Realistic Fiction, Children's Lit. Rating: (out of 10): 7
Two orphans have had a tough, tough life. They have spent most of their time with an abusive set of foster parents. They are taken in for the summer by a wonderful older couple who treat them well and let them have the types of experiences all kids should have. It's a wonderful story, with short chapters. Another teacher is using it to train his kids in how to have book clubs. I am not sure if all of my kids will be able to read it on their own... I may need to find another book to use.
I can't write worth anything tonight.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
School Books
Say What? by Margaret Petersen Haddix
Genre: Realistic Fiction, Children's lit. (out of 10): 8
I have enjoyed several other books by Margaret Petersen Haddix for older readers, specifically her Among the Hidden series. I am working on boning up my collection of lower-level books for my students, and this book is written at a third-grade level. It was a very cute story about kids whose parents try a nontraditional technique to get their behavior in line.
The Differentiated Classroom: Responding to the Needs of All Learners by Carol Ann Tomlinson
Genre: Nonfiction, education (out of 10): 9
My spring class is on differentiated instruction, and this is the text. It is a wonderful book. I had previous knowledge of DI and had tried to implement it, but it all makes sense now that I've read the book. Chapter nine, particularly, is wonderful for making it seem like differentiation is doable for all teachers. Personally, I think that for public education to survive, teachers need to become differentiators on a large scale.
Genre: Realistic Fiction, Children's lit. (out of 10): 8
I have enjoyed several other books by Margaret Petersen Haddix for older readers, specifically her Among the Hidden series. I am working on boning up my collection of lower-level books for my students, and this book is written at a third-grade level. It was a very cute story about kids whose parents try a nontraditional technique to get their behavior in line.
The Differentiated Classroom: Responding to the Needs of All Learners by Carol Ann Tomlinson
Genre: Nonfiction, education (out of 10): 9
My spring class is on differentiated instruction, and this is the text. It is a wonderful book. I had previous knowledge of DI and had tried to implement it, but it all makes sense now that I've read the book. Chapter nine, particularly, is wonderful for making it seem like differentiation is doable for all teachers. Personally, I think that for public education to survive, teachers need to become differentiators on a large scale.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Summer Reading
Three Weeks with My Brother by Nicholas & Micah Sparks
Genre: Memoir (out of 10): 9
This is a book that spoke to me. I need to own it. I haven't read much (none that I can remember) of Nicholas Sparks in the past. I viewed him as a writer of romance novels, and never picked up any of his books. In the book he writes about his life and growing up in his family. He and his brother have faced some hard times, but the part of the book that spoke to me the most was about his propensity to work too hard and let life pass him by. Throughout the course of the book, his brother tries to get him to lighten up and see what is important about life. The way he describes himself and his attitudes reminded me exactly of myself.
Through Ebony Eyes: What Teachers Need to Know But Are Afraid to Ask About African-American Students by Gail Thompson
Genre: Nonfiction, Education (out of 10): 4
I was very disappointed in this book. I had hoped for some practical, useful strategies and techniques. The book was an overview of different issues facing African-American students, and I got very little from it that I hadn't already learned from my own experience. There are many recommended books to read, and also a guide for professional development. The plan sounds good, but is lengthy, and I don't know that I have the time to complete it.
Pretty Woman by Fern Michaels
Genre: Romance, realistic fiction (out of 10): 4 (for being a great vacation book)
I read this book in an evening at the family cottage. It was a perfect book to relax with- and I can't even say I remember all of what it was about... a woman whose husband was a jerk, she left him, got a personal trainer, lost a bunch of weight and married the personal trainer... In all honesty, it was much more well-written than it sounds, although not realistic and very predictable.
Genre: Memoir (out of 10): 9
This is a book that spoke to me. I need to own it. I haven't read much (none that I can remember) of Nicholas Sparks in the past. I viewed him as a writer of romance novels, and never picked up any of his books. In the book he writes about his life and growing up in his family. He and his brother have faced some hard times, but the part of the book that spoke to me the most was about his propensity to work too hard and let life pass him by. Throughout the course of the book, his brother tries to get him to lighten up and see what is important about life. The way he describes himself and his attitudes reminded me exactly of myself.
Through Ebony Eyes: What Teachers Need to Know But Are Afraid to Ask About African-American Students by Gail Thompson
Genre: Nonfiction, Education (out of 10): 4
I was very disappointed in this book. I had hoped for some practical, useful strategies and techniques. The book was an overview of different issues facing African-American students, and I got very little from it that I hadn't already learned from my own experience. There are many recommended books to read, and also a guide for professional development. The plan sounds good, but is lengthy, and I don't know that I have the time to complete it.
Pretty Woman by Fern Michaels
Genre: Romance, realistic fiction (out of 10): 4 (for being a great vacation book)
I read this book in an evening at the family cottage. It was a perfect book to relax with- and I can't even say I remember all of what it was about... a woman whose husband was a jerk, she left him, got a personal trainer, lost a bunch of weight and married the personal trainer... In all honesty, it was much more well-written than it sounds, although not realistic and very predictable.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Belated
I finished this book on the way to Mackinac...
The Shame of the Nation by Jonathan Kozol
Genre: Education Rating: 6
This book documents the current reversal of Brown vs. Board of Education (desegregation) currently taking place in our schools. More and more schools- particularly in urban areas- are heavily segregated. The book focuses quite a bit on money and unequal distribution of resources to the schools. In my opinion, funding is a big part of the schooling problem. If school dollars are based on tax revenues, it stands to reason that there will be less money for the schools in areas in which many people rent. Right?
The Shame of the Nation by Jonathan Kozol
Genre: Education Rating: 6
This book documents the current reversal of Brown vs. Board of Education (desegregation) currently taking place in our schools. More and more schools- particularly in urban areas- are heavily segregated. The book focuses quite a bit on money and unequal distribution of resources to the schools. In my opinion, funding is a big part of the schooling problem. If school dollars are based on tax revenues, it stands to reason that there will be less money for the schools in areas in which many people rent. Right?
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
A Journey into Politics
The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama
Genre: Nonfiction, Politics (out of 10): 7
I have been impressed with what I have heard about Barack Obama, and wanted to find out more about him and his views. Obama's writing is a quick read, and many of his opinions seemed like common sense to me. I don't think he took too biased a stance, but I haven't read many political books to compare it to. He was just straightforward, and he clearly stated it when he felt he was biased. In my opinion, he has a clear view of many of the problems facing America today. It remains to be seen whether he has policies to fix them all.
People Magazine
Genre: Periodical, Current Events Rating (out of 10): 4
I read this one on the way back from Las Vegas. More standard fare.
The Ann Arbor News
Genre: Periodical Rating (out of 10): 8
I started getting the daily newspaper again after Christmas. I missed it! I look at every page, but most often read things in the Opinion and Sports sections. I always check the death notices, the prep sports scores/results for water polo and swimming, and the weather.
Genre: Nonfiction, Politics (out of 10): 7
I have been impressed with what I have heard about Barack Obama, and wanted to find out more about him and his views. Obama's writing is a quick read, and many of his opinions seemed like common sense to me. I don't think he took too biased a stance, but I haven't read many political books to compare it to. He was just straightforward, and he clearly stated it when he felt he was biased. In my opinion, he has a clear view of many of the problems facing America today. It remains to be seen whether he has policies to fix them all.
People Magazine
Genre: Periodical, Current Events Rating (out of 10): 4
I read this one on the way back from Las Vegas. More standard fare.
The Ann Arbor News
Genre: Periodical Rating (out of 10): 8
I started getting the daily newspaper again after Christmas. I missed it! I look at every page, but most often read things in the Opinion and Sports sections. I always check the death notices, the prep sports scores/results for water polo and swimming, and the weather.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Wishlist
This is my wishlist, because they are the books I hope to have time to read someday. I continually lose all of the lists I make, so hopefully I'll be able to return to this one.
The Difference: How the Power of Diversity Creates Better Groups, Teams, Schools & Societies- Scott E. Page
You Are Your Choices- Alexandra Stoddard
Fart Proudly- Ben Franklin (No joke!)
Cultural Literacy- E. D. Hirsch
On Miseducation- Noam Chomsky
I have many, many more on another list of mine.... someday!
The Difference: How the Power of Diversity Creates Better Groups, Teams, Schools & Societies- Scott E. Page
You Are Your Choices- Alexandra Stoddard
Fart Proudly- Ben Franklin (No joke!)
Cultural Literacy- E. D. Hirsch
On Miseducation- Noam Chomsky
I have many, many more on another list of mine.... someday!
Friday, April 13, 2007
Getting Started
My students have to keep track of the books they read for part of their reading grade. Every summer, I faithfully keep track of everything I read in order to model how to do it. Then, I lose the paper and stop keeping track. I've seen several other people keep track on blogs, so I think I will give it a try. The genre and rating are things I also make my students do.
The title of this blog came from a shirt I had when I was younger. I was one of those kids who would take their books with when the family went to dinner at a restaurant, and I would be reading it in my lap the whole time.
I was on vacation this past week, so these are the books read:
Savage Inequalities by Jonathan Kozol
Genre: Nonfiction, Education Rating (out of 10): 8
This book speaks volumes about the differences in public education across the country. It is alarming and depressing at the same time. I will have more commentary about this book after I complete an independent study (about this book and others) this spring term. I'll be reading it two more times.
Nothing But the Truth by Avi
Genre: Realistic Fiction, Documentary Rating (out of 10): 10
Avi is my favorite children's literature author. He writes books aimed for upper elementary to middle school kids. This book is the story of a student who was suspended from school for, supposedly, singing the national anthem during announcements. It is written in a documentary style, and I'm trying to figure out if my fifth-graders could handle it. Avi did a great job of leaving the reader to pick up the pieces and find meaning in this book.
People Magazine
Genre: Magazine, Current Events? Rating (out of 10): 4
This was laying around the house in Las Vegas. I have to admit, I enjoy catching up on the lives of celebrities every once in awhile.
The title of this blog came from a shirt I had when I was younger. I was one of those kids who would take their books with when the family went to dinner at a restaurant, and I would be reading it in my lap the whole time.
I was on vacation this past week, so these are the books read:
Savage Inequalities by Jonathan Kozol
Genre: Nonfiction, Education Rating (out of 10): 8
This book speaks volumes about the differences in public education across the country. It is alarming and depressing at the same time. I will have more commentary about this book after I complete an independent study (about this book and others) this spring term. I'll be reading it two more times.
Nothing But the Truth by Avi
Genre: Realistic Fiction, Documentary Rating (out of 10): 10
Avi is my favorite children's literature author. He writes books aimed for upper elementary to middle school kids. This book is the story of a student who was suspended from school for, supposedly, singing the national anthem during announcements. It is written in a documentary style, and I'm trying to figure out if my fifth-graders could handle it. Avi did a great job of leaving the reader to pick up the pieces and find meaning in this book.
People Magazine
Genre: Magazine, Current Events? Rating (out of 10): 4
This was laying around the house in Las Vegas. I have to admit, I enjoy catching up on the lives of celebrities every once in awhile.
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