Sooo....I'm yet again going to ignore that I've been an absentee blogger this summer. I'm just going to jump into the post.
My January List has actually made it waaaay longer than I thought it would. It needs some overhaul though. Some things don't need to be talked about for a year...so they're being taken off the list. Some things are on a back burner or...off the stove altogether, so they're being moved. That's what this post is for.
I realize this list is definitely for me...and that nobody else would have any reason to care about it...that's okay. I'll post other things soon. This is for me to be able to look back on things and use it kind of as an accountability.
Things I'm still interested in pursuing (or adding to the list):
Researching PhD programs
Cooking more regularly
Going to Chicago
Going on a cruise
Meet Angie Smith
Visit Crosspoint Church
Meet Brandi and Pete Wilson
Re-read the Proverbs 31 woman study...focus hard on the character traits the Lord leads me too
Go cash predominantly
Post more regularly
Spend quality time with the Lord more regularly.
Take more pictures of life as it happens!
Write my little Compassion boy more often.
Plan fun lessons on the SMART board for next year.
Have my neighbors over for dinner.
Tuesday, August 03, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
God's lesson
A couple weeks ago I was very much aware of a lesson God was teaching me. Sometimes I feel like I'm not aware of His lessons or aware of them later than I should have been.
I was in a bit of a leadership role and things were pretty busy. Not chaotic, but busy. One lady was very smiley when we were face to face, but phone conversations and emails were another matter. She was very critical of the job being done...and not just my job, in fact, very little to do with anything I could control. Anyway, she would tirade, but then when we saw each other again, she was all smiles. It was odd. But that's a little beside the point. During that same week, I received some other news. Nothing that had anything to do with her or anything I was sharing publicly, but not news that was all warm and fuzzy.
It made me remember, I never have any idea what someone else is dealing with in their life. Maybe they're sharing it with others. Maybe they're not. Maybe I would be in that circle, maybe I wouldn't. It doesn't matter if it's the waitress at Chili's or a parent of a student or my neighbor or a close friend. The Lord was reminding me to treat others like I would want to be treated...ALL the time.
I was in a bit of a leadership role and things were pretty busy. Not chaotic, but busy. One lady was very smiley when we were face to face, but phone conversations and emails were another matter. She was very critical of the job being done...and not just my job, in fact, very little to do with anything I could control. Anyway, she would tirade, but then when we saw each other again, she was all smiles. It was odd. But that's a little beside the point. During that same week, I received some other news. Nothing that had anything to do with her or anything I was sharing publicly, but not news that was all warm and fuzzy.
It made me remember, I never have any idea what someone else is dealing with in their life. Maybe they're sharing it with others. Maybe they're not. Maybe I would be in that circle, maybe I wouldn't. It doesn't matter if it's the waitress at Chili's or a parent of a student or my neighbor or a close friend. The Lord was reminding me to treat others like I would want to be treated...ALL the time.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Haiti: Part I of...I'm not sure yet
Most of you know I recently traveled to Haiti. This was a scouting trip of sorts to make plans for a full-on trip in March. MJ and I were VERY BLESSED to be able to take this trip. We have outlined a sketch of what the March trip will look like (construction and medical) and made lists of supplies that are needed and supplies to avoid.
Most of you that read my blog have probably already received the below in an email. Each day of the trip, we wrote a brief post of that day's events. When we travel in March, we will do the same thing. These posts can be found on the church's mission blog. www.houstonsfirst.org/missionsblog Over the next few days, I hope to compile more of an emotional reaction to the time in Haiti. This is more of the nuts and bolts of it all. Thank you for your patience as I process through the trip. Thank you for your prayers as we traveled!
I'm adding a few pictures throughout this post. They're not necessarily from that day or events, but they do represent Haiti.
A baby girl standing in the doorway of her one room house.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
We had a bit of a delay in Houston and missed our connecting flight. It was the last flight to Fort Lauderdale of the night, but the Lord is full of provisions and we were rerouted to Miami! However, our bags did not make it. Thankfully, we had been instructed to pack our clothing in our carryons but the missing luggage included all the food and medical supplies we were bringing.
A short 20 minute drive to Fort Lauderdale, we fell into bed in the wee morning hours.
A couple of sweet boys that weren't quite sure how to respond to us.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
The Lord multiplied our sleep and we were able to arrive at the airport in the nick of time…literally! They closed the international flight check-in right after us (and we walked straight up the desk, past a REALLY LONG line of passengers!) We traveled through security quickly and met up with the Austin group of 12 at our gate. That flight went very smoothly and we’re in Haiti! The team and the family here at Haiti Bible Mission have all been so welcoming! We have already made friends, shared laughs and concerns with traversing a new country. MJ is the only one of the 14 of us that have ever been to Haiti before, so it is a new experience for us all!
We just ate a DELICIOUS dinner of rice with beef stew topping and plantains and petta. Absolutely yummy! Dave Stockeland, the HBM Director, led devotions this evening and asked us to ask ourselves questions when we’re reading God’s Word. “Is there a command I need to obey? Is there a promise I need to claim? Is there an example I need to follow? Is there an example I need to avoid? Does this show me something about the Lord? About myself?” These are questions we plan to ask ourselves in the coming days through our personal devotions.
Thank you for your prayers! Haiti does not participate in Daylight Savings Time, so we’re on the same time clock y’all are! It’s 7:30 right now and we’re planning to shower and go to bed!
=)
Alyssa and MJ
Isn't she precious! Lord, remind me to pray for these children!
Friday, July 9, 2010
We awoke this morning to roosters and the clicking of donkey hoofs outside our window (at 5:30am)! After a yummy breakfast of pancakes and pineapple, the men cut and removed nails from long pieces of wood. This wood later in the morning would be used to construct support for a tin roof at a gym that Mark Stockeland works out at–for $3 a month! This gym is more of a work out room, and the weights are recycled car parts (the bars were axles, the weights on either end are gears from big trucks). Construction at the gym attracted quite a crowd, but many of the onlookers jumped right in and helped us paint or nail the boards together. We returned to the mission house to eat lunch and sort the medical supplies the Austin team brought. Ours are sitting hopefully in Houston in our lost bags. This afternoon we drove about 45 min up to the mountains to the Stockeland's home church. The church is on the outskirts of a village nestled in the woods. Beyond the woods is a river. Near the river bank, there is a huge soccer field. Mark had arranged a soccer game with the teenage boys of the village to play against our team, along with the boys that live on the compound with the Stockeland family. Both teams played a great game! There was a convention going on at the church tonight, and will continue with 4 services tomorrow, and ending on Sunday morning. We were able to meet and pray for the pastor of the church, Pastor Eric, after the service tonight. He was so excited to stand next to MJ because finally he was taller than someone!!!! It was such a blessing to be able to pray over Pastor Eric. The precious Haitian girls prepared another wonderful dinner. We’re LOVING the native food! Pastor Dave leads devotions each night and asked specifically that any who share would use the pronouns ‘I and me,” making it more meaningful…more personal. Stop and think: When you hear someone sharing what the Lord has taught you, and they use “we” or “they” it doesn’t mean as much as when they use “I” and “me.” Something to change in our own conversations.
The Austin group is heading to another camp tomorrow where they will spend the night. We will stay here in town before leaving Sunday morning.
We appreciate all prayers! Love you all!
MJ and Alyssa
There was an Auburn fan or two on our team, so this one made several people smile.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Today has been a fun day beginning with taxi rides on ‘motos’ to the market! We walked around fresh fruit, vegetables, fish markets and butcher shops. A very interesting and awesome experience! The fresher the meat, the more flies. Yumm! It was great to see Mark interact with his valued sellers. He explained that he does shop at various vendors at times to share the wealth, but really tries to be loyal to a few, specifically some that are believers knowing they can support their families and further the Kingdom.
From the market, we traveled back to yesterday’s construction site and continued our work on the roof and painting the posts. We finished that project when we ran out of supplies…a few more sheets of tin are needed and Mark will handle that in the coming days.
MJ and Alyssa were able to talk to Mark and Dave about plans for a group’s trip in March and we are excited about our preparations. We look forward to helping to build a refugee house as well as set up a medical clinic in the same area as the construction workers. Lacey (Mark’s wife) said the construction will bring the people and then the clinic can help them!
This afternoon the rest of the Austin team left for an overnight trip to a village that is a 2 hour drive and a 1 1/2 hour hike. MJ and Alyssa stayed at the Stockeland’s house due to our early morning flight. We weatherproofed the metal gates to their garage and then helped Lacey with dinner.
We look forward to the upcoming months of planning and praying over our trip and the team that God already has in place.
Please pray for us as we travel tomorrow, in Haiti, by ourselves. The system the Stockeland’s have in place is very good, but we are still new to this!
Love you all and will talk to you when we arrive in Miami, approximately 7:00pm.
Alyssa and MJ
This is the airport in Jeremie!
Most of you that read my blog have probably already received the below in an email. Each day of the trip, we wrote a brief post of that day's events. When we travel in March, we will do the same thing. These posts can be found on the church's mission blog. www.houstonsfirst.org/missionsblog Over the next few days, I hope to compile more of an emotional reaction to the time in Haiti. This is more of the nuts and bolts of it all. Thank you for your patience as I process through the trip. Thank you for your prayers as we traveled!
I'm adding a few pictures throughout this post. They're not necessarily from that day or events, but they do represent Haiti.
A baby girl standing in the doorway of her one room house.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
We had a bit of a delay in Houston and missed our connecting flight. It was the last flight to Fort Lauderdale of the night, but the Lord is full of provisions and we were rerouted to Miami! However, our bags did not make it. Thankfully, we had been instructed to pack our clothing in our carryons but the missing luggage included all the food and medical supplies we were bringing.
A short 20 minute drive to Fort Lauderdale, we fell into bed in the wee morning hours.
A couple of sweet boys that weren't quite sure how to respond to us.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
The Lord multiplied our sleep and we were able to arrive at the airport in the nick of time…literally! They closed the international flight check-in right after us (and we walked straight up the desk, past a REALLY LONG line of passengers!) We traveled through security quickly and met up with the Austin group of 12 at our gate. That flight went very smoothly and we’re in Haiti! The team and the family here at Haiti Bible Mission have all been so welcoming! We have already made friends, shared laughs and concerns with traversing a new country. MJ is the only one of the 14 of us that have ever been to Haiti before, so it is a new experience for us all!
We just ate a DELICIOUS dinner of rice with beef stew topping and plantains and petta. Absolutely yummy! Dave Stockeland, the HBM Director, led devotions this evening and asked us to ask ourselves questions when we’re reading God’s Word. “Is there a command I need to obey? Is there a promise I need to claim? Is there an example I need to follow? Is there an example I need to avoid? Does this show me something about the Lord? About myself?” These are questions we plan to ask ourselves in the coming days through our personal devotions.
Thank you for your prayers! Haiti does not participate in Daylight Savings Time, so we’re on the same time clock y’all are! It’s 7:30 right now and we’re planning to shower and go to bed!
=)
Alyssa and MJ
Isn't she precious! Lord, remind me to pray for these children!
Friday, July 9, 2010
We awoke this morning to roosters and the clicking of donkey hoofs outside our window (at 5:30am)! After a yummy breakfast of pancakes and pineapple, the men cut and removed nails from long pieces of wood. This wood later in the morning would be used to construct support for a tin roof at a gym that Mark Stockeland works out at–for $3 a month! This gym is more of a work out room, and the weights are recycled car parts (the bars were axles, the weights on either end are gears from big trucks). Construction at the gym attracted quite a crowd, but many of the onlookers jumped right in and helped us paint or nail the boards together. We returned to the mission house to eat lunch and sort the medical supplies the Austin team brought. Ours are sitting hopefully in Houston in our lost bags. This afternoon we drove about 45 min up to the mountains to the Stockeland's home church. The church is on the outskirts of a village nestled in the woods. Beyond the woods is a river. Near the river bank, there is a huge soccer field. Mark had arranged a soccer game with the teenage boys of the village to play against our team, along with the boys that live on the compound with the Stockeland family. Both teams played a great game! There was a convention going on at the church tonight, and will continue with 4 services tomorrow, and ending on Sunday morning. We were able to meet and pray for the pastor of the church, Pastor Eric, after the service tonight. He was so excited to stand next to MJ because finally he was taller than someone!!!! It was such a blessing to be able to pray over Pastor Eric. The precious Haitian girls prepared another wonderful dinner. We’re LOVING the native food! Pastor Dave leads devotions each night and asked specifically that any who share would use the pronouns ‘I and me,” making it more meaningful…more personal. Stop and think: When you hear someone sharing what the Lord has taught you, and they use “we” or “they” it doesn’t mean as much as when they use “I” and “me.” Something to change in our own conversations.
The Austin group is heading to another camp tomorrow where they will spend the night. We will stay here in town before leaving Sunday morning.
We appreciate all prayers! Love you all!
MJ and Alyssa
There was an Auburn fan or two on our team, so this one made several people smile.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Today has been a fun day beginning with taxi rides on ‘motos’ to the market! We walked around fresh fruit, vegetables, fish markets and butcher shops. A very interesting and awesome experience! The fresher the meat, the more flies. Yumm! It was great to see Mark interact with his valued sellers. He explained that he does shop at various vendors at times to share the wealth, but really tries to be loyal to a few, specifically some that are believers knowing they can support their families and further the Kingdom.
From the market, we traveled back to yesterday’s construction site and continued our work on the roof and painting the posts. We finished that project when we ran out of supplies…a few more sheets of tin are needed and Mark will handle that in the coming days.
MJ and Alyssa were able to talk to Mark and Dave about plans for a group’s trip in March and we are excited about our preparations. We look forward to helping to build a refugee house as well as set up a medical clinic in the same area as the construction workers. Lacey (Mark’s wife) said the construction will bring the people and then the clinic can help them!
This afternoon the rest of the Austin team left for an overnight trip to a village that is a 2 hour drive and a 1 1/2 hour hike. MJ and Alyssa stayed at the Stockeland’s house due to our early morning flight. We weatherproofed the metal gates to their garage and then helped Lacey with dinner.
We look forward to the upcoming months of planning and praying over our trip and the team that God already has in place.
Please pray for us as we travel tomorrow, in Haiti, by ourselves. The system the Stockeland’s have in place is very good, but we are still new to this!
Love you all and will talk to you when we arrive in Miami, approximately 7:00pm.
Alyssa and MJ
This is the airport in Jeremie!
Monday, July 05, 2010
Uncluttered = Calm
I didn't always understand, as a child, when Mom would talk about not being able to relax if there were things everywhere. I thought "Of course you can. You sit down. You relax. What's the big deal if there is clutter? How do the two (clutter and relaxation) have anything to do with each other?
Well...now I understand. I am TOTALLY my mother's daughter!
I don't mind a little clutter. But eventually I have to pick it up. And I REALLY don't like it when the clutter builds up and up and up...and goes on and on and on.
The past month, I've had things in my apartment. I'm tutoring this summer, so some school materials came home for me to use. Some are in the dining room and some are in the living room. Discreet...but there.
Two different piles for a garage sale took up my living room for two weeks. The garage sale came and went and I got rid of all of that.
Then just a few days later, all the VBS craft supplies came home to stay. 5 boxes and a few bags were lined neatly up under my wall of clocks. Not in the way, but taking up space. Gradually a few would find their way to a different home, but the pile remained. Haiti food supplies were next. A different corner had peanut butter, pancake syrup, bandaids, Tylenol, Desitin, stickers, bubbles, and you get the idea!
I love VBS and I am thrilled and beyond blessed to go to Haiti.
But I was ready for my home to be calm.
MJ and I packed all the food and medical supplies for Haiti on Saturday. One corner clear! The suitcases are sitting along my bookshelf, but it's not piles!
Andrew loaded all the VBS boxes in to his car today, so that cleared out the whole living room!
I put a lot of the school/tutoring materials (from the dining room) in my car to drop off at school tomorrow. I brought a lot more home than I needed, just not sure what all we would use, so I'm returning what I don't need.
Not everything is back in place. There are still some piles that need to be 'put away,' but overall I'm feeling a little more at home and less chaotic.
I know.
Apple...meet tree.
Well...now I understand. I am TOTALLY my mother's daughter!
I don't mind a little clutter. But eventually I have to pick it up. And I REALLY don't like it when the clutter builds up and up and up...and goes on and on and on.
The past month, I've had things in my apartment. I'm tutoring this summer, so some school materials came home for me to use. Some are in the dining room and some are in the living room. Discreet...but there.
Two different piles for a garage sale took up my living room for two weeks. The garage sale came and went and I got rid of all of that.
Then just a few days later, all the VBS craft supplies came home to stay. 5 boxes and a few bags were lined neatly up under my wall of clocks. Not in the way, but taking up space. Gradually a few would find their way to a different home, but the pile remained. Haiti food supplies were next. A different corner had peanut butter, pancake syrup, bandaids, Tylenol, Desitin, stickers, bubbles, and you get the idea!
I love VBS and I am thrilled and beyond blessed to go to Haiti.
But I was ready for my home to be calm.
MJ and I packed all the food and medical supplies for Haiti on Saturday. One corner clear! The suitcases are sitting along my bookshelf, but it's not piles!
Andrew loaded all the VBS boxes in to his car today, so that cleared out the whole living room!
I put a lot of the school/tutoring materials (from the dining room) in my car to drop off at school tomorrow. I brought a lot more home than I needed, just not sure what all we would use, so I'm returning what I don't need.
Not everything is back in place. There are still some piles that need to be 'put away,' but overall I'm feeling a little more at home and less chaotic.
I know.
Apple...meet tree.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
A Reading Teacher's Thoughts
I don't often post things about teaching philosophy, and I probably still won't do it too often, but in keeping with yesterday's post...
The Rights of the Reader
By Daniel Pennac
1. The right to not read.
2. The right to skip pages.
3. The right to not finish.
4. The right to reread.
5. The right to read anything.
6. The right to escapism.
7. The right to read anywhere.
8. The right to browse.
9. The right to read out loud.
10. The right not to defend your tastes.
Source: Pennac, 2006.
According to Miller:
Book Review Criteria
• Quotes from the book
• Quotes from famous writers and reviewers
• Cliffhanger questions
• Personal reactions and opinions
• Awards the book and author have won
• Recommended reading age
• Other books by the same author
• Comparisons with other books
The following are my favorite reasons (by Jen Robinson) to read children's books, but I've linked to the entire list!
WHY YOU SHOULD READ CHILDREN’S BOOKS AS AN ADULT
By Jen Robinson
5. It clues you in on cultural references that you may have missed (both current and classical.)
9. It’s often inspirational – reading about heroes and bravery and loyalty makes you want to be a better person. And couldn’t we all do with some of that?
10. Did I mention that it’s fun?
Source: Jen Robinson’s Book Page, 2005.
The Rights of the Reader
By Daniel Pennac
1. The right to not read.
2. The right to skip pages.
3. The right to not finish.
4. The right to reread.
5. The right to read anything.
6. The right to escapism.
7. The right to read anywhere.
8. The right to browse.
9. The right to read out loud.
10. The right not to defend your tastes.
Source: Pennac, 2006.
According to Miller:
Book Review Criteria
• Quotes from the book
• Quotes from famous writers and reviewers
• Cliffhanger questions
• Personal reactions and opinions
• Awards the book and author have won
• Recommended reading age
• Other books by the same author
• Comparisons with other books
The following are my favorite reasons (by Jen Robinson) to read children's books, but I've linked to the entire list!
WHY YOU SHOULD READ CHILDREN’S BOOKS AS AN ADULT
By Jen Robinson
5. It clues you in on cultural references that you may have missed (both current and classical.)
9. It’s often inspirational – reading about heroes and bravery and loyalty makes you want to be a better person. And couldn’t we all do with some of that?
10. Did I mention that it’s fun?
Source: Jen Robinson’s Book Page, 2005.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
A Book Review
As you'll see in my last post, I recently read The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child. She promotes having students write book reviews. For my presentation today, I wrote a book review of the book! =)
This little blurb was inside a cute clip art pic of an open book with a little bird in the top left corner, kinda peering into the book, but that doesn't really transfer to the blog...
An Amazon.com reviewer writes of The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child, “In less than a week, I became a Book Whisperer, too.”
The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child is a title that immediately piqued my interest. Donalyn Miller writes as if she is a real person, even telling the reader right off the bat, “I am not a reading researcher. I am not a reading policy expert. I do not have a PhD. What I am is a reading teacher.” Soon, I found out she is a reading teacher in Texas! Texas! I was thrilled to have a book in my hands written by a teacher that understands the high-stakes of our high-stakes testing. In my mind, she had instant credibility. She addressed her credibility immediately, “My source of credibility is that I am a teacher who inspires my students to read a lot and love reading long after they leave my class.”
Miller’s core belief is that children need to be able to choose what they read. How do you awaken the inner reader? You teach them to read for pleasure! A simple concept, but not one many teachers are putting into practice. Her requirement? Every child will read 40 books during the school year. Forty books! Some of her students don’t think that is possible, but she is vague when they ask what the consequences are for not meeting the goal because failure is not an option. If a child read 1 or 2 books last year and reads 26 books this year, then who cares if they don’t read 40? They increased their reading by 1200%!
Miller refers to every child as a reader and thinks we should change the lingo and better address each child’s needs. Instead of ‘struggling’ readers, they are developing readers. Dormant readers are those that will do what you tell them to do, flying under every teacher’s radar because you know they will pass the test. Underground readers are those who frustrate teachers. They are gifted readers that fail tests because “they see the reading they are asked to do in school as completely disconnected from the reading they prefer to do on their own.”
She outlines traditional practices in the classroom and then gives very do-able alternatives for that practice. Reading Logs? Chunk ‘em! Book Reports? No more! Round Robin Reading? It’s outta here! Buuuut, you’ll have to read her book to find out what the alternatives are!
I recommend this book for every 3rd-8th grade teacher. Not just the language arts teachers, but every teacher that works with children reading chapter books!
Donalyn Miller also writes a blog for www.teachermagazine.org Look for The Book Whisperer’s summer challenge of reading a book a day this summer!
This little blurb was inside a cute clip art pic of an open book with a little bird in the top left corner, kinda peering into the book, but that doesn't really transfer to the blog...
An Amazon.com reviewer writes of The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child, “In less than a week, I became a Book Whisperer, too.”
The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child is a title that immediately piqued my interest. Donalyn Miller writes as if she is a real person, even telling the reader right off the bat, “I am not a reading researcher. I am not a reading policy expert. I do not have a PhD. What I am is a reading teacher.” Soon, I found out she is a reading teacher in Texas! Texas! I was thrilled to have a book in my hands written by a teacher that understands the high-stakes of our high-stakes testing. In my mind, she had instant credibility. She addressed her credibility immediately, “My source of credibility is that I am a teacher who inspires my students to read a lot and love reading long after they leave my class.”
Miller’s core belief is that children need to be able to choose what they read. How do you awaken the inner reader? You teach them to read for pleasure! A simple concept, but not one many teachers are putting into practice. Her requirement? Every child will read 40 books during the school year. Forty books! Some of her students don’t think that is possible, but she is vague when they ask what the consequences are for not meeting the goal because failure is not an option. If a child read 1 or 2 books last year and reads 26 books this year, then who cares if they don’t read 40? They increased their reading by 1200%!
Miller refers to every child as a reader and thinks we should change the lingo and better address each child’s needs. Instead of ‘struggling’ readers, they are developing readers. Dormant readers are those that will do what you tell them to do, flying under every teacher’s radar because you know they will pass the test. Underground readers are those who frustrate teachers. They are gifted readers that fail tests because “they see the reading they are asked to do in school as completely disconnected from the reading they prefer to do on their own.”
She outlines traditional practices in the classroom and then gives very do-able alternatives for that practice. Reading Logs? Chunk ‘em! Book Reports? No more! Round Robin Reading? It’s outta here! Buuuut, you’ll have to read her book to find out what the alternatives are!
I recommend this book for every 3rd-8th grade teacher. Not just the language arts teachers, but every teacher that works with children reading chapter books!
Donalyn Miller also writes a blog for www.teachermagazine.org Look for The Book Whisperer’s summer challenge of reading a book a day this summer!
Friday, June 25, 2010
Self Reflection Activity
I'm going to ignore, for the moment, the fact that I've been an absentee blogger for the past month and jump right in to this post.
I'm in grad school right now and have a book report due on Tuesday. My professor is phenomenal and chose books he thought applied to where we are as teachers.
My book is called The Book Whisperer Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child and it is inspiring! I recommend it for all teachers of grades 3-7!
I'm about halfway through it and it gave a "Self Reflection Activity"
Without further ado:
What were your reading experiences as a child? My parents read aloud to me as far back as I can remember. Little Women was a mother/daughter favorite! I quickly fell in love with Nancy Drew (I always wanted her to end up with Frank instead of Ned!) all the Babysitters and the Sweet Valley Twins and gradually moved on to anything by Janette Oke or Grace Livingston Hill.
Were these positive or negative experiences for you? Absolutely positive! I would read so much, my parents grounded me from reading if my homework wasn't done! I thought it was funny that my friends were grounded to their room to read!
Do you see yourself as a reader now? I still love to read today, though don't have as much time for it as I would like...
How do you share your reading experiences --both current experiences and those from the past--with your students? Oo, good question! I don't think I do this very well. I'm sure I've told stories at some point about reading as a child to my students...but I don't think I talk about it much with them. After reading this book, I will for sure!
With which group of readers in your classroom do you most identify--the underground readers, the developing readers or the dormant readers? Definitely the underground reader...I would score low marks on novel quizzes and tests because the questions would be over minute details from a chapter I had read 8 weeks ago and the class was just completing it!
Who have been your role models for reading? Hmm, that's a good question. My mom enjoys reading, but read mostly magazines when I was a girl. She reads books more often now and we'll recommend them to each other. I don't know of a specific role model for reading...
List the last five books you have read. The Truth Seeker by Dee Henderson, Pirates by David L. Harrison, Tap Dancing on the Roof by Linda Sue Park, Shades of Blue by Karen Kingsbury, In Harm's Way by Irene Hannon
How long did it take for you to read these books? Pirates and Tap Dancing on the Roof were read in less than 20 minutes each...They're children's books and I was reading them aloud to my tutoring students. I read In Harm's Way on my first day of summer vacation. Shades of Blue took a little longer, because it was snatches at night before bed. The Truth Seeker was a casual stroll, because I've read it so many times. It's an old friend.
Which books were read for a job or for a school-related purpose? Hmmm, I'll say Pirates and Tap Dancing on the Roof were both read for a school-related purpose. They're ok. They're both on the Name That Book List and I think both are Bluebonnet books this next year, too. They're both poetry books. Pirates has PHENOMENAL illustrations!
Which books were read for pleasure? In Harm's Way, The Truth Seeker, Shades of Blue were all read for pleasure (And I highly recommend them all!)
I'm in grad school right now and have a book report due on Tuesday. My professor is phenomenal and chose books he thought applied to where we are as teachers.
My book is called The Book Whisperer Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child and it is inspiring! I recommend it for all teachers of grades 3-7!
I'm about halfway through it and it gave a "Self Reflection Activity"
Without further ado:
What were your reading experiences as a child? My parents read aloud to me as far back as I can remember. Little Women was a mother/daughter favorite! I quickly fell in love with Nancy Drew (I always wanted her to end up with Frank instead of Ned!) all the Babysitters and the Sweet Valley Twins and gradually moved on to anything by Janette Oke or Grace Livingston Hill.
Were these positive or negative experiences for you? Absolutely positive! I would read so much, my parents grounded me from reading if my homework wasn't done! I thought it was funny that my friends were grounded to their room to read!
Do you see yourself as a reader now? I still love to read today, though don't have as much time for it as I would like...
How do you share your reading experiences --both current experiences and those from the past--with your students? Oo, good question! I don't think I do this very well. I'm sure I've told stories at some point about reading as a child to my students...but I don't think I talk about it much with them. After reading this book, I will for sure!
With which group of readers in your classroom do you most identify--the underground readers, the developing readers or the dormant readers? Definitely the underground reader...I would score low marks on novel quizzes and tests because the questions would be over minute details from a chapter I had read 8 weeks ago and the class was just completing it!
Who have been your role models for reading? Hmm, that's a good question. My mom enjoys reading, but read mostly magazines when I was a girl. She reads books more often now and we'll recommend them to each other. I don't know of a specific role model for reading...
List the last five books you have read. The Truth Seeker by Dee Henderson, Pirates by David L. Harrison, Tap Dancing on the Roof by Linda Sue Park, Shades of Blue by Karen Kingsbury, In Harm's Way by Irene Hannon
How long did it take for you to read these books? Pirates and Tap Dancing on the Roof were read in less than 20 minutes each...They're children's books and I was reading them aloud to my tutoring students. I read In Harm's Way on my first day of summer vacation. Shades of Blue took a little longer, because it was snatches at night before bed. The Truth Seeker was a casual stroll, because I've read it so many times. It's an old friend.
Which books were read for a job or for a school-related purpose? Hmmm, I'll say Pirates and Tap Dancing on the Roof were both read for a school-related purpose. They're ok. They're both on the Name That Book List and I think both are Bluebonnet books this next year, too. They're both poetry books. Pirates has PHENOMENAL illustrations!
Which books were read for pleasure? In Harm's Way, The Truth Seeker, Shades of Blue were all read for pleasure (And I highly recommend them all!)
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