My 2014 Book Challenges

I'm participating in #Mustreadin2014 and Check Off Your Reading List 2014.  I LOVE this challenge because it has allowed me to put books on my list that I've wanted to read for awhile.  I tend to get bogged down (well, maybe not bogged down, but rather attached to) new releases in the intermediate grade fiction and nonfiction area and this list has a nice spread of adult fiction, nonfiction, and kids stuff.

Drumroll Please...

(In no particular order)

1. Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy by Karen Foxlee

Oh, I didn't want to finish this one because it's so good! I can't imagine a middle grade kid who wouldn't love this creepy, modern-day fairy tale. Ophelia, her sister Alice, and their father have traveled to a museum in a town that is continuously snowy. Her father is an international sword expert and has been asked by the museum curator, Miss Kaminski, to head up the sword exhibition for Christmas Eve. Ophelia and Alice are trying to move past the death of their mother and both are a little lost. Ophelia, while exploring the mysterious museum, finds a young boy who weaves a story of wizards, magic, and the Snow Queen. It's up to Ophelia and the boy to defeat the Snow Queen before it's too late. Just the right amount of creepiness and reality, this is going to be a HUGE hit in my classroom!

2. The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (or J.K. Rowling)

I love Cormoran Strike. This is a classic who-dunnnit mystery, but written really well. Galbraith developed the characters fully and left no stone unturned in the investigation. If you were paying close attention, you could solve the crime right along with Strike. I especially appreciated how Galbraith made Strike a real person--one with many flaws, but one that could pull himself together and get back on his feet to do the right thing. It's a character driven mystery, but a good one!

3. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

This was such a creepy book! A great story about prep school boys in Virginia that are searching for the ley line to wake the elusive Glendower. Blue is the daughter of a psychic in the town of the prep school. She meets up with the Raven Boys and helps them in their pursuit. I must read the second one soon because the first one left me hanging!

4. The Great American Dust Bowl by Don Brown

This is a wonderful graphic novel about the Dust Bowl in the 1930s. I love how Brown gives readers the background knowledge necessary for understanding exactly what caused the Dust Bowl. He also does a nice job explaining what happened during the dreadful dust storms that lasted for nearly a decade. This is a perfect book for our journey unit.

5. The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty

I loved this book about secrets and the consequences our actions can have on others. The story revolves around three women, all connected in some way, all with regrets and burdens of their own. Yet, these women must take on their husbands secrets, too, and decide what to do with their lives once they are privy to the knowledge. Well told and compulsively readable, I'm glad we picked this for book club!

BOOK I'M CURRENTLY READING THAT ARE ON MY "MUST READ IN 2014" LIST:

I'm almost done with this one.  I LOVE it!!

I started this one Sunday evening and I'm keeping it at school for silent reading time.  It's good so far!

I've been making my way through this one.  I'm going to stick it out.

I started this one on vacation over spring break.  It's LONG, but I'm liking it!

I'm making my way!  I'd love to know what book (or books!) you're reading in 2014!

Dublin Literacy 2014 (#dublit14) Recap

A little over a week ago, I had the pleasure of attending the 25th annual Dublin Literacy Conference in Dublin, Ohio.  I've been attending this conference for the last several years, but this year was special in that I presented for the first time with my writing partner Holly Mueller.

We've been working on manuscript for a book about literacy contracts (about which we have both blogged before).  Basically, contracts are a tool we both use in our classrooms to develop lessons around a theme topic and ensure our students are exposed to book groups, high-interest nonfiction, and digital literacies each month.  Our contracts have been a hit with our students for several years and it's always encouraging when our students make comments around the cohesiveness of our lessons because they are all related back to theme topics.  We wanted to get the word out to other educators that are maybe looking for a new tool in their classrooms.  We decided to present our first contract of the year, focused on the theme topic EMPATHY.  You can check out our Prezi presentation here.  We had a packed house that day and it was so fun to present something that works well for us to others that are looking for new ideas.  I have garnered so many great ideas over the years from presenters at this conference that I was honored to be a presenter this year.

Appropriately timely, I just today read an article about the importance of empathy when hiring an employee.  The article stated that you can't outsource empathy, or automate it.  Businesses need people who can be empathetic to a customers needs.

This came right from the article: A University of Toronto study on the effects of literature on empathy shows that those who read fiction frequently have higher levels of cognitive empathy; i.e., the ability to understand how another person feels.  Keith Oatley, one of the researchers, said the reason fiction improves empathy is because it helps us to "understand characters' actions from their interior point of view, by entering into their situations and minds, rather than the more exterior view of them that we usually have." This improves interpersonal understanding and enhances relationships with customers and business associates. 

Holly and I tapped into this same idea in our presentation.  In our own words, "Not only is empathy important to us in the classroom, it is the cornerstone of reading.  If we do not feel empathy, it is impossible to connected to characters."  Most teachers work extremely hard at the beginning of the year to develop a safe, inviting classroom environment where students feel more like family than strangers.  This is done by teaching kids how to be empathetic.  By focusing our reading and writing at the beginning of the year on empathy, we are more likely to achieve a classroom environment that is forgiving of each others faults and celebrates others successes.  This is what we highlighted in our session at the conference.  The contract presentation went over well and we were so thankful to all of the educators who attended our session.

While we weren't presenting, we were listening to some pretty amazing educators.  The keynote presenter for the conference was the amazing Penny Kittle.  Her keynote addressed the importance of keeping students engaged in reading throughout their school career.  So many kids start of as eager readers and then something happens around 5th or 6th grade that turns them off to reading and many of our youth don't read a single book for the remainder of their school careers.  How sad!  Penny touched on the importance of a classroom library.  I tweeted this out during her speech: Classroom library environment is so important to entice readers. Makes students less teacher dependent to find books. How true that is! If we're teaching kids to read (either at an early elementary age, or at a middle and high school age where they are finding books of interest), it is our job to be well-read and knowledgeable to that we can recommend books to our students. Without someone who is excited about their own reading life, how can we expect to light a fire for our students?  

I was lucky enough attend Penny's last session of the day, in which she focused on reading and writing conferences. Conferences are something we all know we should do, but they are so hard to fit in during our short amount of class time. Kittle acknowledged this and then validated (for me) that conferences do not have to be five minutes per child. Quick check-ins count as conferences (whew!). I've seen Penny present a few other times and one of the things I love about her presentations are the videos she inserts that show her talking with her own students. It makes is so real! The other take-away I got from the session is that "Writing floats on a sea of talk." This I knew. It's how I gain ideas, too. But, with all of the demands that must be hit every single day in my ELA class, it's sometimes hard to justify "talk time". However, it's something we must do if we want our kids to share their thoughts and help others come up with different ideas. Talk is the cornerstone of communication and we must make time for it each day in our rooms. As always, Penny Kittle is an inspiration to all teachers because of her love of kids. Here we are after she signed my Book Love book:

The other session I attended was presented by Don Brown, author of several children's nonfiction picture books, most recently The Great American Dust Bowl (a graphic nonfiction novel about what it was like on the prairie during the Dust Bowl). It's a hit with my kids! Brown led us through the publication process, from idea to hard-bound book. He does all of his own illustrations in watercolor for every book! Amazing! I would love for my students at school to hear Brown speak about his process and see his writer's notebook full of ideas.


Obviously, the Dublin Literacy Conference was a HUGE success! I look forward to it every year. If you've never attended and you live in the driving vicinity of Columbus, I would HIGHLY suggest you check it out next February. You won't be disappointed!

On a completely different side note: Does anyone know why half of my post is double-spaced and half is single-spaced? I've spent WAY TOO LONG trying to reformat it.

It's Monday! What are you reading?

I'm participating in the meme from Book Journey and Teach Mentor Texts.

I'm going to include the books I've read and listened to in February, since I've been a little negligent in posting!  Oops!

PICTURE BOOKS:

Sophie's Squash

written by  Pat Zietlow Miller, illustrated by Anne Wilsdorf

Natalie and I both love this book! Sophie gets a squash at the farmers market and takes care of it as if it's a baby. Her parents try to convince her to give it up, but instead she asks the farmer how to care for it. She buries it in the back yard before winter and in spring she watches it grow and produce two new squash, which she also befriends. A fun story!

A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin

written by Jen Bryant, illustrated by Melissa Sweet

I can understand why this book garnered so many ALA awards this year. It's wonderfully told and beautifully illustrated. Horace Pippin should be an inspiration to us all. A war injury didn't stop him from what he loved doing--painting. While he wasn't "discovered" until later in his life, Pippin has left behind some special pieces of art that define the early part of the 20th century in America. I will certainly be sharing this with my 5th grade class!

CHAPTER BOOKS:

Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy by Karen Foxlee

Oh, I didn't want to finish this one because it's so good! I can't imagine a middle grade kid who wouldn't love this creepy, modern-day fairy tale. Ophelia, her sister Alice, and their father have traveled to a museum in a town that is continuously snowy. Her father is an international sword expert and has been asked by the museum curator, Miss Kaminski, to head up the sword exhibition for Christmas Eve. Ophelia and Alice are trying to move past the death of their mother and both are a little lost. Ophelia, while exploring the mysterious museum, finds a young boy who weaves a story of wizards, magic, and the Snow Queen. It's up to Ophelia and the boy to defeat the Snow Queen before it's too late. Just the right amount of creepiness and reality, this is going to be a HUGE hit in my classroom!  This was on my "Must Read in 2014" list, too!

Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu

I loved this current-day version of The Snow Queen. Hazel and Jack are real characters that kids can easily relate to. Anne Ursu has beautiful language in this middle grade novel.

ADULT BOOKS:

The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty

I loved this book about secrets and the consequences our actions can have on others. The story revolves around three women, all connected in some way, all with regrets and burdens of their own. Yet, these women must take on their husbands secrets, too, and decide what to do with their lives once they are privy to the knowledge. Well told and compulsively readable, I'm glad we picked this for book club!  This was also on my "Must Read in 2014" list.

Songs of Willow Frost by Jamie Ford

This was a depressing read (listen). William is a 12 year old Chinese orphan at a Catholic orphanage in Seattle in 1934. He ventures into town on the one day a year the nuns recognize the orphans birthdays. He finds movie poster of Willow Frost, as woman who looks just like his mother (who abandoned him five years earlier after she was found bleeding in the bathtub in their apartment). William embarks on his journey to seek out his mother. In the process, the reader is told Willow's story, starting in 1924. A powerful story of the hardships of life for a young Asian woman, struggling to care for her son.

PROFESSIONAL BOOKS:

Reading in the Wild by Donalyn Miller with Susan Kelley

Yet another great professional read from Donalyn Miller. She validated many of my classroom practices and beliefs. I came away with some new ideas and the knowledge that we all can help students find their inner wild reader.

CURRENTLY READING:

All three of the books I'm currenty reading are on my "Must Read in 2014" list! (visit There is a Book for That for more info)

There!  I'm caught up!  I'd love to know what you're reading, too.  Leave me a message!  Happy Monday!

Must Read in 2014

Since one of my goals this year is to read and write more just for me, I'm taking part in Carrie Gelson and Maria Selke's "Must Read in 2014" idea.  I have a HUGE to-be-read list on Goodreads (and in my head), but I've tried to narrow it down to a good mix of children's and adult books that I absolutely feel I must get to this year!

Okay, here goes the list (in no particular order):

1. I've wanted to read this since I asked for it (and received it) LAST Christmas.  I've watched Susan Cain's TED talk, which is wonderful.  I think there are ideas in this book that can apply to everyone, even if you're not an introvert (which I suppose I am).

2. This is on our list for book club.  We love Sarah Addison Allen.  While the books aren't heavy, they always make you think and provide fodder for discussion at book club!

3. I've heard a lot of buzz about this book and I think it's one my students would love.  Nonfiction for kids has become such an amazing area recently.  I love getting new books like this in my students' hands.

4. I've heard a lot about this one!  I'm anxious to order it and start reading.

5.  This is one EVERYONE was talking about at NCTE in Boston in November.  I just ordered it through Scholastic and read the first chapter yesterday.  I'm not even putting it in my classroom library until I read it, I'm that excited about it!

6. This is another book club pick.  I'm looking forward to it because J.K. Rowling is actually the author.  I'm anxious to read her debut as an adult author.

7.  One Came Home  has been on my list since it came out and now that it's won a Newbery Honor, I have to read it!  Sounds intriguing!

8. Since my daughter and I avidly bird watch in our own backyard, I thought this would be appropriate.  And, it won the Sibert Honor this year, so now I have to read it!

9. I just ordered this from the library and am excited to start it.  It also won an honor for best adult books that appeal to teens.

10. I've had this since my birthday in November and haven't yet read it.  I saw Kate Robers and Chris Lehman at NCTE in November and they were AMAZING!  Can't wait to dig in.

11. Anything by Deborah Hopkinson is good.  I think my students will love this one.

12. I've only heard really great things about this one.  I might try it on audio.  Even though it's YA and I teach 5th grade, I still like to dabble in the YA world.  There are so many great YA books out there!

13. I've wanted to read this since before it came out.  I just ordered and received it through Scholastic.  One of my students has already checked it out!

14. Because how could the author of Eleanor and Park write anything that wasn't amazingly real.  I love Rainbow Rowell!

15.  Holly loved this one and my book group has it on the list to read sometime in the next four months.  

16.  Another pick by Laurel Snyder!  The book birthday for this book is today, too!  I can't wait to get my hands on it.

17.  I love reading about the 1920s and the Fitzgeralds.  They were so young and so influential.  They've always piqued my interest~especially Zelda and the mental struggles she wrangled with her whole life.

18.  Many people have stated this is the quintessential book that helped them become better writers.  I've owned for quite some time.  It's high time to read it!

19.  I bought this on 11-22-13.  I've been looking forward to reading this since it came out.  It's definitely a book for the Kindle, as it's HUGE!

20.  This was generously gifted to me at a writing retreat I attended for Choice Literacy this past summer.  I've read the intro and started chapter one, but I need to keep going.  It's fascinating!

21.  This is another one from 2013 that I didn't get to.  I'm looking forward to it because I've only heard great things about it.

22.  Yet another one from 2013 that I must read.  Holly loved it and I know I will too.  I'm a sucker for historical fiction.

23.  I absolutely LOVED Countdown by Deborah Wiles.  I can't wait for the next installment in the trilogy!

24.  A couple of my students read this for our memoir unit and thought it was top notch.  I'm looking forward to it, too.

25.  This book just won an award for best audio.  I'll have to listen to it!

26.  Louise was kind enough to sign this for me at NCTE in November.  It's perfect with the journey theme we're doing in our classroom right now!

27.  I've had the privilege of meeting Jennifer Nielsen a couple of times and she's so fun to talk to!  I have love the other two books in the Ascendence Triology.  I received the ARC of this book at NCTE. It's going around my classroom like wildfire.  I'll have to get my hands back on it!

28.  I want to read the whole series this year.  My struggling readers LOVE these books (as do my non-struggling readers) and I can see why.  What's not to love about a fighting lunch lady?

29.  This is another book that goes well with our journey theme topic this month.  Anxious to share this one with kids.

30.  And, let's end with this month's book club book.  I'm 45% through it and it's what I'm going to read as soon as I publish this blog post!  It's SOOOO good!

I'd love to hear what you're reading plans are for this year!  It's fun to comb through lists and see what interests others.

Since I have the list made, I'm going to take part in Gathering Books Check Off Your Reading List Challenge.  I'm shooting for Level 3: Rabid Bibliophile.  We'll see!