What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know

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What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know

By Sonya Sones

I messed up and read this book without reading the book that comes before it. I'm curious to find out what did come before this book, but it didn't really effect my reading of this book. This book is a novel written in verse about a boy who is a huge loser at his school but who starts dating a hugely popular girl. It's all about how they deal with being outcasts. I love the poems. It's fun to read how an author uses the style to really punctuate what she is trying to say. I was worried about recommending this book to my 8th grader, but I think it's okay...I thought it might be a little too risque but it's not all that bad...she'll be a freshman in less than a month...

The Daily Five

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The Daily Five: Fostering Literacy Independence in the Elementary Grades

By Gail Boushey and Joan Moser

This was a great book and I think an especially great book for an elementary school classroom teacher. I've never had a classroom because I have always taught itinerant, but I think I would definitely use this as the base of my literacy block if I ever were to have a classroom. I love the idea of modeling and taking time at the beginning of the year to teach students the habits you'll expect from them the whole year. I loved it.

As an itinerant, I still really took a lot away from this book. I have focused so much on getting my students to read at home this year. I've been more successful with some than others. With the really young students I truly feel that the idea of helping them build their stamina so they can read 30 minutes is important. Sometimes, as a reader, and someone who has been a voracious reader for a looooong time, it's hard to imagine not being able to easily sit down and maintain my focus for 30 minutes. It's amazing how much I am still a learner when it comes to relating to my students and their lives outside of school.

With the students who I have really pushed to read more this year, now I'm planning how I'm going to keep them motivated during the summer. I think they'll be okay, but I realized I need to reinforce their ability to feel confident in choosing their own books and finding books they'll enjoy over the summer. I'm so glad I got my hands on this book. The ideas were great.

The Hundred Dresses

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The Hundred Dreses

By Eleanor Estes

I can't believe I've never read this book. It has such a strong message about standing up for people who are being ridiculed or being made fun of. I just read "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson with one of my middle school students. If you aren't familiar with the story, it's a skillfully written story about a horrible long-standing tradition that no one ever questions or takes a stand against. This book reminded me of that because the message is very much the same. Obviously, this book would work for a younger audience and is probably an experience that many kids could relate to in some way; whether they are the ones being mean to another kid, the kid being made fun of, or a kid on the sidelines feeling bad but not doing anything about the situation. The plot was definitely the strongest point of this book. I think it could be a great book to get conversations going about how we treat each other.

The Gift of Reading

Most Recently Read Book:

The Gift of Reading

By David Bouchard

I've been doing so much reading lately about reading. This book is another book that discusses the importance of reading with kids in and out of school. I can't say there was anything that was new but I did enjoy reading the author's relay of the information. It was really cool to hear his love of reading come out. His voice was evident throughout the entire book. I thought it was really interesting that he didn't grow up with books and how he actually used to try and pick books his teachers hadn't read so he could just make up the plot of the book when it came time to do a book report! It was good to read and to hear again how important it is for kids to read, but it was more fun to read versus enlightening to read.

National Boards Finale

Emily reminded me that I never posted about the end of National Boards! It is officially over and it feels so great to be done. The last time I posted, I had pre-packed my box with my family. The next night I went through it again with the people in my cohort. It was awesome to have it all officially ready to go. Here I am with Amy, she was also working on National Boards in the area of literacy so we supported each other through the entire thing. It was awesome to have someone to go through it with me!

And these are the wonderfully amazing women who mentored us through the entire process. Lana and Laura are both Nationally Board Certified teachers in our school district. They made the whole thing seem do-able. I just did exactly what they suggested throughout the entire process and it all worked out! I can't imagine having tried to do everything without their support. Can't you just tell from their faces how great they are? They will always have a special place in my heart.

So after that night, I took my box to the post office the very next day. It was stressful taping up my box and making sure it was addressed correctly. I could barely let the lady at the post office take it out of my hands. It was like sending my baby off to college. I literally left the post office, went to my car, and cried. And then I had to call everyone and tell them that I had actually mailed it between sobs.

Amy took her tests within the next week or two and we went out to Cheesecake Factory to celebrate. I didn't want to take my tests right away because I wanted some time to study and to destress from the portfolios and the "box" part. Last Monday was the day for me to take my tests at the assessment center. Can I just tell you, that place is hardcore? I had to go in and put my hand on a little box so they could take a picture of my palm vein. They also took my picture. I wasn't allowed to take anything into the testing room with me. They checked my palm vein again, to make sure I was still me before going into the actually testing room. There was a proctor watching over us all behind a glass partition. It was intense. I felt completely prepared for the tests though after all the work I have been doing this year. Once again, I left the testing center, went to my car, cried...and then called everyone to tell them I was officially, totally, and completely done!!!! It felt great. Amy and Kathy and Maddy met me for Cheesecake Factory to celebrate. It is an amazing feeling to know that I just did everything I could. I still have to wait until November, maybe even December, for my results. Until then I'm going to try my best not to think about it!!!!