Resolve to Read

 As an educator, I recognize the importance of reading, not just for myself but for our children.  After all, studies have shown that reading builds both vocabulary and cognitive thinking skills. Also, children who are poor readers when they enter 3rd grade, are more likely to drop out of high school. (read more about that here)

Years ago, I made a resolution, not to make resolutions.  In 2014, I've decided to change that.  It's amazing how easy it is to sit down and share a book with a child, but how often we just can't find the extra few minutes to do it.

This year I ask everyone to take a few minutes to read to a child.

 For those of you who need other avenues to help promote literacy, check out Barbara Bush's Foundation for Family Literacy website.  You can also follow the Foundation's Twitter feed here.

Happy New Year!

The worst of all injustices is to fail to teach kids how to read.

— Barbara Bush Fndn (@BarbaraBushFdt) December 31, 2013

What should I read this summer?

Has this ever happened to you?  You read and read, and suddenly you become a picky reader.

I feel like I'm there.  I mean, I want something to read, just can't find anything that sounds appetizing.  

 My must-read for this summer was Dan Brown's Inferno.  I've read it twice now.  I admit it was great the first time, good the second.  I also had some professional reading that I had to take care.  Thankfully, that is now out of the way.  So, what's next?

I'm looking for suggestions, so if you've read something, or know of something coming out soon, please let me know.

Recent Reads:

Ask The Passengers by A.S. King

One of the reasons I knew I'd love this book is because I can relate to wondering about passengers in planes.  There were times when I would lay on my back and watch the planes overhead wondering where they were going.  I'd think about the passengers and make up little stories about where they were going.  

Astrid takes this a step further when she starts asking the passengers questions. Sending them her love and good will, many times the passengers seem to benefit from this unknown gesture.  For Astrid, the need to send her love is strong as she is hiding a secret.  She is gay.

Unable to seek the advice of a Type-A mother or a pot-smoking father, Astrid turns to her own methods to give her love to strangers who can accept it but not control it. 

This is a great book.  While this book is centered around a gay character, the book is more about accepting who you are and realizing how to help others love you unconditionally.  Astrid is a well rounded character with a depth of emotions and thoughts, I really felt like she was a person and not a black and write description on my E-reader.  I related with how Astrid wanted to share her good thoughts and love with strangers because of the fear of the unknown.  This is what makes this book outstanding.


Writing Projects:

Hopefully I can let you guys know soon about my most recent writing project.  Barbi (one of my besties and my cowriter) and I are focusing on getting representation right now.

Have an amazing 4th of July!

Doris

Stupid Fast is Stupid Awesome!

One year I had a class of all boys.  Seriously, I wondered if I'd made the counselor mad at me, but 32 7th grade boys filled my 3rd period class.

Even my aide that year was a boy.

If I had read Stupid Fast that year would have gone so much smoother.  Actually, rearing my three boys would have gone smoother if I'd had read it first.  (the link will take you to the Kindle version which is under $2.)

This is an incredibly funny book about change.  What change you might wonder?  Well, if you are or have ever been a middle school boy, or the teacher of middle school boys, you know!!  I loved this book, and really wished I'd have had it to read to the class out loud. 

If you are a teacher and want to contact the author his website is here.  Geoff Herbach is also a writing teacher and appears to be very open to contact from teachers and classes. 


My Goodreads review is below if you want to read it .... 

Stupid Fast by Geoff Herbach

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Wish I'd have had this book the year I taught a class of all boys. Fun book for all kids, does a great job dealing with the awkwardness of change while portraying real kids in a real way. All students will love this highly engaging book. Really great for reluctant readers and a MUST to read aloud just for the class laughs!



View all my reviews


Happy Reading!

Doris