Lots of reading

I have been doing a lot of reading lately. So I will talk about a few of the books I have finished. Then move onto a few of the movies I have watched based off of books.

I read "New York to Dallas" by J.D Robb. I loved this installment of the in death series. At first i was confused because it is the only book not the have in death in the title of the book. But the way this book is structured and what it deals with makes sense. What I love about this series is the development of the characters. While I have read some reviews saying the books are the same story over and over, I would argue that the premise of the books are the same but what is important is the relationships the author is building within the stories. We are seeing these characters grow and change and come back multiple times. We as readers are building relationships with the characters. I thought it was a good build on the series. I am looking forward to the next installment which is stilling on my bookcase.

The next book I read was "Ruby Red" by Kerstin Gier. I greatly enjoyed this book. It is the first book in a trilogy and is really a set up book. While I thought it was interesting, it seems to just set you up for the adventure to follow in the next book. This is one that my friends and I are reading for book club, so it will be interesting to see what they thought of it. I actually am excited to read the next installment. I think once I put it into mu classroom library the kids are really going to enjoy it.

I also finally took out a copy of "Wintergirls" by Lauri Halse Anderson from the library. It was amazing. It looks at two girls, one who has passed away and her friend that is left behind. It deals with anorexia and the emotional and mental problems that go with those diseases. it was a fascinating and tragic book. It shows you how it effects the actually person suffering and how it effects the people around them as well. This is a powerful book I would to recommend to teens and parents.

Next up is "The Reading Zone" by Nancie Atwell. I liked this book. It had some really good ideas and reasoning about how to construct a class. it is worth a read. But I did feel is was a bit optimistic. it is written by a teacher who teaches at a school where she has a lot of control over what she teaches and what the school believes. But I really liked the book and got a lot out Atwell says about her reading workshops. I also really liked the ideas of the readers workshop and writers workshop.

I also went and saw two movies out right now based off of books. i saw The Mortal Instruments. I loved that movie. I loved it so much I am reading the book. I had started it but had a hard time getting into it. But after seeing the movie I really wanted to get through the book. So I am giving it another shot.

The other movie was Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters. I actually liked this movie more the then first one. I was so engaged with the story that I really want to read the series now to see what happens. It was a series I had every intention of reading I just haven't gotten around to it. But now it is higher on my reading list.

Reading starts

So while I finish up my summer reading I have selected a group of books I am excited to read at the beginning of this school year. I have selected young adult titles that I think the kids will like. I am excited about a new set of students and the changes I have made to how I am doing the 40 book challenge. I am excited about the companion book to The Book Whisperer that is coming out. I am anxiously awaiting my copy. So as I start a new year I am excited and hopefully I will help student discover the love of reading. 

New school year

As the summer comes to a close it is time to reflect and finalize how I want to go into the school year. While I am very excited and hoping to help my students become life long readers. There is also that apprehension that happens before each school year. Are you really ready? What will be thrown your way? Have you done everything you can to be as successful as possible? 

This year I am doing my 40 book challenge again and I am very excited about getting a book that has come out that is a companion book to The Book Whisperer. While I have not read as much as I would have liked or usually do. I have a large stack of books I plan to read this school year. I am going I with excitement and enthusiasm and hopefully doing the challenge again with my kids will make a difference. 

My book reviews and what I am doing in my class will be coming soon. 

Next Leg of the Journey

As I am having trouble getting some of my students to read, others are taking the 40 book challenge to heart. I found a trick that also is motivating students is that I post how many books I have read. As of today I have only read 15 books and it makes the students to beat my score. It is very interesting. I want the kids to love books. Some are going to be a struggle, so we shall see. I am trying to think of new techniques to introduce students to reading and selecting books.

As for my challenge I have added a few books to my list since I last posted. I read the Biography of Ann M. Martin. While I love her writing, I thought her biography was a bit dry. I liked reading about her life but wasn't overly impressed with the author.

I have also read:
 Punished by David Lubar
19 Varieties of Gazelle by Naomi Shihah Nye
Kristy's Great Idea by Ann M. Martin
Witness by Karen Hesse
Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry
Indulgence in Death by J.D. Robb
A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Parker
Messenger by Lois Lowry
The Death Catchers by Jennifer Ann Kogler

I really enjoyed The Death Catchers. Each chapter is a literary term. It is a language arts teachers dream book in many ways. I assigned it to my students to read and for the most part they really enjoyed it. I will be using it all year as an example of these different elements and to use as a comparison for many elements.

I had just learned last year that The Giver had companion books. Well I just got around to reading the next two and fell in love all over again. I loved how they added to this world she has created. So when I took my students down to the media center you can imagine my excitement when the media specialist mentioned the new book that had just come out. The Son is on my living room table waiting for me to finish the two books that need to be returned to library next week. So I am reading them first before I start that treasure. Gathering Blue and Messenger where lovely stories that really make you think and ponder your own world and surroundings.

A Long Walk to Water was a pleasant surprise. I would highly recommend that book. It really gives you a look at what was/is happening in another part of the world. I really would like to read this book with my students at some point. I loved this story.

This year I have challenged my students to  do the 40 Book Challenge. Now I got this idea from Donalyn Miller's book The Book Whisperer. I highly recommend this book to any teacher that is trying to get their students to read and get excited about reading. This is my first year trying it so I already have things I want to change for next year, but overall I think it is going well. I have read quite a few books so far that I want to discuss.

The first book i read was Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. I thought this book was amazing. I liked how ti was set up and how the story was told. The way the story built was steady and effectively done. I would highly recommend this book for middle school students. The book does deal with some very delicate and important issues and i would advise you to read the book before suggesting it to people, but it brings up some good points and important discussion points.

Lawn Boy by Gary Paulson was another good read. it is a very quick read and would be a good book to help struggling readers in middle school get started. It is a very cute book and did not take long to read at all.

I was surprised at how much I liked Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix. I thought it was an interesting book about a futuristic world. It is usually not my type of book but it was pretty entertaining.

Hunger Games

So I am a bit behind in my reading and posting this year. I hope to get better as the year progresses. But I did finish the Hunger Games recently. I thought it was super stressful. But I really did love it. It took it a while to grow on me. Now I am among the many waiting for the movie to be released.

I enjoyed the characters in the book. Even though 1st person narrators are really not my thing. The way the author builds the suspense through the novel and keeps the reader engaged is wonderfully done. The ending was also very good. I actually want to read the 2nd book now. I had decided to read it because all my students were reading it. It is a good book for middle schoolers. It is well written and fast paced.

Quote of the Day: "Literature is a textually transmitted disease, normally contracted in childhood." -Jane Yolen The author of The Devil's Arithmetic was born on this day in 1939. (via Goodreads) http://goodreads.com/quotes_of_the_day/387?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=editorial&utm_campaign=quote_of_the_day

SQUEEEE! Ebook sale! The first Hurst Book is on Kindle and B & N for only $4.99! I do wish they'd tell me these things; I had no idea! I'll post the B & N link below. :) (via Karen Hawkins) http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003UYUSVO/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=romaauthkareh-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B003UYUSVO%22%3EOne+Night+in+Scotland+%28Hurst+Amulet%29%3C%2Fa%3E%3Cimg+src%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.assoc-amazon.com%2Fe%2Fir%3Ft%3Dromaauthkareh-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B003UYUSVO%22+width%3D%221%22+height%3D%221%22+border%3D%220%22+alt%3D%22%22+style%3D%22border%3Anone+%21important%3B+margin%3A0px+%21important%3B%22+%2F%3E

E-BOOK SALE ALERT! If you think you'd love a fairy tale romance with a plus-sized heroine who just happens to be the only virgin left in the village, the e-book of my historical romance THE BRIDE AND THE BEAST is only $4.99 right now! You'll find the Kindle link below and the Nook Book here: http://tinyurl.com/7pn528m (via TeresaMedeirosFans) http://www.amazon.com/Bride-Beast-ebook/dp/B001M5JVLG/?tag=teresamedeirauth