Here are some interesting links that I found on Twitter over the last several days. I hope you find them interesting as well. Thank you to those in the Twittersphere who took the time to share.
Here are the same links in OneTab.
Jul13
Tag Archives: Reading
Jul10
Curricu-Links: Retweet Round-Up
Here are some interesting links that I found on Twitter over the last several days. I hope you find them interesting as well. Thank you to those in the Twittersphere who took the time to share.
Here’s the OneTab link to these resources.
Jul7
Curricu-links: Retweet Round-Up
Here are some interesting links that I found on Twitter over the last several days. Thank you to those in the Twittersphere who took the time to share. 
Right now this is just a hodgepodge of different topics, hopefully in the future I’ll have this a bit more organized. You can also access these links through the QR code or my OneTab Link.
Aug1
Minding My Gap
Maybe it’s because I’m reading more blogs and tweets this summer, but I have been thinking a lot about what I’m reading and what I’m recommending (and what I’m not.) In this June post from School Library Journal, Reading Nonfiction for Pleasure | On Common Core, the authors talk about how non-fiction is underrepresented on summer reading lists. Ryan M. Hanna in his Reflections post on Nerdy Book Club discusses how teachers who reflect on their various reading lives (how they’ve progressed to the readers they have become) can help their students make better book choices. Here’s part of my comment in response to Matt’s post:
“Right now I have an entire box full of fiction that I brought home from my library for summer reading. I had every intention of bringing home some non-fiction, and biographies, and graphic novels, but my box was already full!”
As I reflected (an read comments from Matt) I realized that I have a huge reading gap. I love children’s fiction. I love young adult fiction. I love fiction in general. Everything else I read when I get to it. Of course… I never get to it. (There’s just so much good fiction!) I’m guilty of not recommending many genres (non-fiction, biographies, graphic novels) not because there are not amazing works out there, but because I don’t know it well enough to share.
I suggested this challenge:
“How about this challenge? What 5 books are on your “I Know I Should Read This But I’d Rather Clean the Cat’s Smelly Litter Box” list? OK… its not that I don’t want to read, these I really do, but as the saying goes… “so many books, so little time…” With a choice between these and a fiction book, I know what I’m going to choose.”
I agree… maybe the title of the challenge is a little harsh… How about the “Mind the Gap” Challenge.
Here’s my MTG list (and I’m completely embarrassed by this list…):
- Babymouse by Jennifer L. Holm
- The Boy Who Invented TV: The Story of Philo Farnsworth by Kathleen Krull
- George Washington, spymaster by Thomas B. Allen
- Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler’s Shadow by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
- Written in Bone: Buried Lives of Jamestown and Colonial Maryland by Sally M. Walker
My goal for the remainder of the summer is to not only keep up with my fiction, but to mind my reading gap. The MTG Challenge will be to read all of the books on my list (and then some.) Look forward to some Summer Reading MTG posts in the future.
What titles do you know you should read, but keep pushing to the bottom of your stack? What’s on your MTG list? Are you up for the MTG challenge?
Jul22
Inspired Idea: Reading Remix
Hold Fast Remix from M E Shenefiel on Vimeo.
I was listening to some Pandora yesterday and the station kept playing those funky, jazzy remixes with spoken word throughout. Maybe I’m still lingering on the rhythms of Langston Hughes and Blue Balliett’s Hold Fast, but I kept stirring that around in my head. In the middle of the night I woke up with this idea of creating reading remixes.
Similar to a book trailer, a reading remix could be used to promote a favorite book. Key words, ideas, and phrases could be remixed with audio loops, and possibly images to create a composition that enhances the book and engages a prospective reader. Students could work individually or in groups to promote a book club book. For classroom novels, you could have different groups find quotes and phrases for different themes throughout the book. The challenge is selecting the words and music and deciding how to manipulate the tracks so that the end product is aesthetically representative of the writing.
Admittedly there is not a lot to look at in the sample remix above. When I created this earlier, I was more focused on finding and manipulating the words and music than the visual appeal. Other images could have easily been added. That’s one of the benefits to a project like this… there is all kinds of room for flexibility.
Has anyone else done something like this before? What types of advice do you have for starting a project like this?
Jul22
Wishing You Passion
On Nerdy Book Club yesterday, Mr. Sharp (@colbysharp) posted his “Nine Days I Am looking Forward to Celebrating With My Students.” Certainly, read about all of the marvelous activities he’s planned, but if you only have time for one video, watch this one, his first day of school speech, in which he talks about how much he loves reading.
As you plan for 2013-2014 and begin to make your way back to the classroom, here’s wishing you this much passion for the endeavor you are about to undertake.
Jul18
Teach Mentor Texts: TMT Labels
I am frequently asked for recommendations for books that can by used to teach a specific skill, particularly a writing skill. Often times that leaves me scrambling and Googling to find some choices for the teacher. Teach Mentor Texts is a blog that “focuses on sharing books that can be used to promote all areas of literacy.” Language Arts teachers should check out this blog. When you do, visit the “TMT Labels” page:
Teach Mentor Texts: TMT Labels.
This page features a glossary of all of the labels that Jen and Kellee have used to tag the books. Then check out the word cloud in the right hand navigation bar. Click on one of the tags and… “Presto!” you have books that match with that skill. The book reviews are very thorough (similar to the ones posted here but much more detailed.)
Read more: http://www.teachmentortexts.com/
Kellee is now blogging at http://www.unleashingreaders.com/
Jul12
Summer Slacking
Well… I’ve been slacking a bit this summer… not so much with reading, but definitely with writing. I’ve decided to give my writing a kick-start with my new WordPress blog.
I’ve put a pretty good dent in my summer reading take-out box, but have yet to write about anything. So here’s a quick update on what I’ve tackled so far:
- Wrapped by Jennifer Bradbury- Historical Fiction/Mystery. Egyptology, Napoleon. Grade 6 and up.
- Seraphina by Rachel Hartman- Dragon Fantasy, Music, Families. First in a series. Grade 6 and up.
- Fake Mustache by Tom Angleberger- Mystery/Humor, politics, friendship. Begs to be read while wearing a fake mustache. Great read aloud. Grades 4 and up.
- May B. by Caroline Rose Starr- Historical Fiction/ Novel in Prose. Survival, learning disabilities, life on the prairie. Grade 5 and up.
- Prairie Evers by Ellen Airgood- Realistic Fiction. Family, friendship, chickens. Grades 5 and up.
- Legend by Marie Lu- SciFi/Dystopia. Survival, rivalry, epidemics. First in a series. Grades 6 and up.
- This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel- SciFi/Horror. The apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein, alchemy. A few gruesome scenes. Grades 6 and up.
- The Enemy by Charlie Higson- SciFi/Horror. Zombies, survival, rivalry. First in a series. A bit too violent for EHUE (Will not be at our library.) Grades 8 and up.
- Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz- Dark Fantasy. Orphans, puppetry, magic, witches, family. Grades 5 and up.
- The Trouble with Chickens by Doreen Cronin – Mystery/Humor. Search and rescue dog is asked by their mother to find two kidnapped chicks. Good read aloud. One of a series. Grades 4 and up.
Curiously Questioning 