Spring Break Reading

Hour Game by David Baldacci
Genre: mystery, thriller Rating: (out of 10): 7
I read this book while at the house in Italy. They had a neat book exchange program, and I wished I had brought a paperback rather than just class reading. I have read a few of Baldacci's books. They aren't great literature, but they are a quick read. He managed to surprise me in this one, too!

Ecofeminism by Maria Mies and Vandana Shiva
Genre: Ecology, women's studies Rating: (out of 10): 7
This book was very readable. I enjoyed the articles in it that were well supported and disagreed with some others, but it was all good food for thought. I'm keeping this one.

Tales of the Field: On Writing Ethnography by John VanMaanen
Genre: Research writing, informational Rating: (out of 10): 5
I learned what I needed to learn from this book. Not terribly interesting, but it did help me organize my thoughts about informational writing.

Ways that Work: Putting Social Studies Standards into Practice by Tarry Lindquist
Genre: Teaching, Social Studies Rating: (out of 10): 9
I am doing an independent study with a professor at EMU this spring to help me develop the social studies curriculum for my district. I'm in charge of the new standards in 3rd and 4th grade. This book gave me some great ideas about relating social studies to kids' lives and how to organize the new curriculum. Highly recommended.

Social Studies at the Center: Integrating Kids, Content, and Literacy by Tarry Lindquist & Douglas Selwyn
Genre: Teaching, Social Studies Rating: (out of 10): 7.5
I skipped parts of this book that didn't relate to the 3rd and 4th grade standards. It was also, though, full of good strategies and positive messages about how and why to effectively teach social studies.