The Countdown Begins!

Tonight at midnight Pacific time (October 1) the nominations for the Cybils will open! If you haven’t checked out the website lately, you MUST go visit. There is an awesome new form this year to make nominating titles easier. No more sifting through pages of comments before nominating your choice.  Yay!  Plus, many of [...]

Hot Books in My Middle School Classroom

Now that school is back in session and I am getting to know my new students as readers, it’s time for this year’s first installment of “Hot Books in My Middle School Classroom”.
I have 100 students this year so their reading choices are varied.  It’s been a lot of fun to sit down and talk [...]

The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z. by Kate Messner

I am always looking for that quintessential middle school novel.  You know, the one that isn’t too old or too babyish for my 6th graders.  While plenty of my students love to read YA and are more than prepared for it, I also have many who just want a book about a kid like them. [...]

Creating Lifelong Readers

This week I touched base with a former student whom I taught two years ago.  When I met her, she was a nonreader.  In fact, I think the words, “Reading is boring” came up more than once on her beginning of the year literacy profile.  I worked very hard that year to help her find [...]

National Standards

The Common Core State Standards Initiative released its first draft of college and career readiness standards in Language Arts (and Math). You have a chance to offer your feedback on the proposed common standards  until October 21st.

The Cybils are Coming, The Cybils are Coming!

October 1st marks the beginning of the nomination period for the Cybil Awards!
For those who aren’t familiar with them:

The Cybils Awards, or Children’s and Young Adult Bloggers’ Literary Awards, are a series of book awards given by children’s and young adult book bloggers[1]. Co-founded by Kelly Herold and Anne Boles Levy in 2006[2], the awards were created to address [...]

Nancie Atwell Responds to Choice in Reading Workshop

You must, must, must watch this video.  Nancie Atwell responds to the recent NY Times article regarding Reading Workshop.  I found myself wanting to shout, “Yes, yes, yes! You go, girl!” while Nancie spoke.
This video should be mandatory for all parents, teachers, administrators, and school officials.
http://www.heinemann.com/shared/emails/AtwellChoice.html

BBAW Interview!

Last year I somehow managed to miss all the buzz about Book Blogger Appreciation Week.  I promised myself I would be involved this year so I immediately jumped at the opportunity to participate in the BBAW interviews.
I was able to interview Daphne at Tanzanite’s Shelf and Stuff.  She is so sweet and I already added [...]

Music?

I don’t usually recommend music, but I have to do it tonight.  For anyone out there with kids or who teaches in elementary school- you MUST get this album!  I know a lot of teachers play music in the classroom so I have to share it with you.
The Flannery Brothers Love Songs for Silly Things [...]

Never Forget

(A version of this was originally written on 9/11/03, in my personal journal. It has been edited for this posting. I have reposted it every year since 2003.)

the view I see each year from the beach at home.
I can’t forget. This morning, between classes I was sitting in my car listening to the radio. [...]