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.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
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.
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