Wednesday, June 27, 2012

What I'm Reading Wednesday

Welcome to What I'm Reading Wednesday. Each Wednesday I will share with you what I am reading. I am also planning a "What Are You Reading This Summer" Linky Party and will post it here as soon as I figure out how to set ti all up!!! Let's get started, shall we?

I have a confession to make...I am a bit of a book wh@re!! I love books..I collect them by the dozens...and I am not one to run down a free book. I love my Kindle but there is just nothing like the feel of a good book in your hands. Now that summer is here...I am in full on reading mode. I start collecting books for my summer reading extravaganza around spring break each year..but I have been known to start my summer reading pile as early as Christmas. As we teachers know, there never seems to be enough time to read for pleasure during the school year, so summer is so sweet because we have more time to polish off a book or 50!! I also have a little bit of a problem with reading multiple books at a time...usually I am reading one for professional development, one or two for pleasure, and one that I plan on using in my classroom during literature circles, read alouds or to place in my classroom library. So let me tell you what I am reading right now..
 1. RIGOR is Not a Four-Letter Word by Barbara R. Blackburn. I picked this up back in the spring after our school went through an academic audit. Rigor is a big buzz word in education right now and I have to admit, with my struggling learners, I have difficulty infusing my lessons with rigor when I am working so hard to bring them up to grade level. I am about a third of the way through this book and I have already found some great ideas I can implement  when we return to school in the fall. It has really made me take a look at my lessons through the lens of my students and look for ways to make my instruction more interesting and challenging for them.

2. There's a Boy In the Girls' Bathroom by Louis Sachar. I am a huge Louis Sachar fan! I have tons of his books in my classroom and always do several book studies, authors studies and literature circles using his books each year. This is not a new book and I have several copies of it in my classroom but I have to admit, it is one I have not read yet.  I kept meaning to, but  never got around to it. This past year, several of my boys read it and actually recommended it to each other (rare in my classroom--from the boys!). So as I was packing up my room for the summer, I came across one of my classroom copies that  one of my students had left in his desk. I tossed it in my bag and added it to my summer reading list. The main character Bradley reminds me of a few of my little friends I have taught over the years so I can totally relate to some of the situations in the book and now that I have read it (or almost)..I will definitely be recommending it to a few little friends next year and for years to come.  Sachar is the master of creating character who just don't fit in for some reason, and let's face it, we all have one or two of those kids each year, and its night to find characters they can relate to!

3."THE" Books (trilogy) by E.L. James. You know which ones I am referring to!!  I know, I know...everyone and their sister is reading it. I bought into all the hype. It is not your mama's beach book!! I picked up the first book for my 9 hour bus ride to Washington, DC for my son's 5th grade trip. I think I blushed all the way from South Carolina to Virginia as I read it on the bus. It definitely got me a few raised eyebrows from other Moms on the bus (I chalked it up to envy, lol). I am currently on Book 2, and have Book Three waiting in the wings. A girl's gotta have a little mindless fluff to read at the pool!

So What are you reading this summer...feel free to comment below.

14 comments:

  1. Great blog! And I LOVE that you ready 50 shades on a field trip! : ) They were definitely jealous! I haven't read them yet but they are on my "to do list" this summer! Finishing up a few Janet Evonovich books I didn't get to this winter...she makes me laugh!

    Gad you found my blog so I could find yours! lI am your newest follower!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Michelle and following me! The 50 Shades books are definitely my guilty pleasure. I have not read any Janet Evonovich books but a friends of mine does and she has been trying to get me to read them for a while. I have been trying to get more of my teacher friends into blogging so I will send more folks your way.

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  2. Thanks Heidi. I am gathering my list of other blogs to award it to and will post it tonite.

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  3. I am your newest follower. I teach kindergarten, but have daughters (triplets) who are going to be in fifth grade. Your blog is cute!
    Jennifer
    kindertrips

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    1. Thanks Jennifer! Wow! Triplets! Does the school separate them into different classes or are they together? This upcoming school year will be my first year in 5th...I am looping up with my 4th grade class from last year. It is going to be an adventure. Thanks for following me!!

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  4. Hey Patti,
    Thanks for stopping by my blog. I am reading Daily 5 and Cafe. I need to find a fun book.
    Michele

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    1. Michele- Thanks YOU for stopping by! You should check out the Shades of Grey books...my summer stack is pretty full and I will be sharing what I am reading for fun throughout the summer!

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  5. I am the SAME way!!! I love, love, love having books! I have piles of "to reads" and I still buy books...and now on my ipad I have books that I haven't read...too many books too little time!!

    I can't wait for the linky party!!

    ThirdGradeIsAHoot

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  6. Heather- Thanks for stopping by! I think my "to read" pile is getting out of control! It has taken over the coffee table an spilled over onto the floor. I am getting my new iPad next month and looking forward to loading lots more onto that one!! Some women hoard shoes, I hoard books!!

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  7. I love reading books too! I usually have a personal book going and a professional book too. I am rereading The Book Whisperer and starting The Next Step in Guided Reading by Jan Richardson. I am your newest follower!
    Lori
    Conversations in Literacy

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    1. Lori- Thanks for stopping by. I read the Book Whisperer last summer but plan on re-reading it later this summer. I was able to use a few things I read about in my class last year an it really made a difference with some of my little friends who were struggling in reading!

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  8. You have a great list! I quit 50 Shades half-way through the second book because it disgusted me that it was so much like Twilight. However, after recently finding out that it was originally written as Fan Fiction and was indeed about Bella and Edward, I am feeling a little softer in my heart towards it and may finish the series. I just hated the feeling that I was reading a rip-off novel.

    I am reading Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and am loving it! I am also reading Igniting a Passion for Reading by Steven Layne.

    Heather
    Peacocks and Penguins - 4th Grade

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Heather! I am a little embarrassed to say I have not read any of the Twilight books. I saw one of the movies with a friend and she told me I needed to read them because the movies don't do the books justice. How is Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter? I was looking at it at Barnes and Noble the other day..looks very interesting.

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  9. Hi Patti! I replied on my blog, but then I wasn't sure if you would see it, so I coped it here too.

    Thanks for visiting Fiction Friday! Extra Credit is on our Battle of the Books list this year too! I love your idea for a lesson plan around this book. There is so much you can do with this story. Please share whatever you come up with!! I'm thinking about reading this book aloud at the beginning of the year. Interested in being classroom pen pals?

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