Tag Archives: books

It’s Monday, What Are You Reading, Yo?

Amy Rasmussen, Books, Readers Workshop March 11, 2013 1 Comment

Mon Reading Button PB to YAI’ve had this book sitting on my shelf for some time now. The red’s been calling to me. The scrawl on the front cover, meant to look like some rotten student wrote on my book, says:  “Baby the first thing I need to know from you is do you believe I killed my father?”

 

Today I while searching for book trailers to show my kids on Friday, I came across this Audiobook excerpt. Take the time to listen. You’ll feel the chill, too, and you’ll think VOICE. Oh, my, gosh, what a great way to get my students to think about voice.

 

I am forever searching for books that will engage my reluctant readers, especially my boys. Maybe part of the problem with getting them to give a book a try is because they cannot hear the narrator’s voice. I doubt–for those of us who are readers–we think about that much, but imagine you struggle with fluency. Your reading is slow and laborious, so the meaning gets muddied. Honestly, I haven’t thought about that much. I need to do a better job at helping my struggling kiddos understand that the voice in the book can be as real as someone reading in their ear.

So, it’s Monday, and I want to read this book before I get it into a student’s hand. I’m reading:  UPSTATE by Kalisha Buckhanon. Do you know of other titles that might appeal to my reluctant boy readers?

It’s Monday. What are You Reading? – Spring Break on the Horizon

Books, Heather Cato March 4, 2013 1 Comment

Mon Reading Button PB to YA

A critical role all teachers should play for their students is one of a book guide. Students desperately need adults in their life who will talk about, promote, and encourage them to further develop their reading skills.  – Yes, I am aware that I said ALL teachers. I don’t care if you teach math or music, you can still talk about books! This week, the week before spring break is a critical time for book guides. Before you send your students  on a week long retreat from all sound educational reasoning, take a minute and encourage them to make a plan to squeeze some time in for reading over spring break.

Books I read (or am still reading):

Into the Wildinto the wild

So, I’m still reading this book. Yes, I know it is just over 200 pages and I should have finished it already. The way I see it, I’m just trying to savor every moment… 🙂

Books I’m reading (going to try to actually read) this week:

just one day

out of the easy

divergent

It’s Monday. What are You Reading, Love?

Amy Rasmussen, Books, Readers Workshop February 11, 2013 Comments: 2

582396_10100174944782984_1347535788_n

When my children were young, I started a tradition during the week of Valentine’s Day, and we celebrated LOVE WEEK. The children got new books that centered on loving thoughts and themes. They got little treats that were meant to remind them to Be Sweet. They delighted at the pink milk and the pink mashed potatoes and the pink everything foods we ate.

Now, my children are all grown. The last of my seven turned 18 last October. I can hardly stand it. It really is true: they grow up so fast. I am learning to deal.

While I am dealing, I am focusing my mothering on being grand– the grandmother of one tiny little girl named Linden.

So, what am I reading during the week of love? Books on love that are perfect for this Little Miss.

11134463

273718

380710

 

 756247

It’s Monday! What are you Reading?

Amy Rasmussen, Books, Pedagogy, Readers Workshop June 11, 2012 Leave a comment

 

See this? These are the books I brought home to read this summer. The crate is full of YA literature, mostly early releases I picked up in the exhibit hall at ALAN in May. I probably left there with 100 books. I think I’ve read one. I also have a tall stack of ORCA Soundings, short edgy books for reluctant and slow readers, in that crate somewhere. I’ve read two so far, and yep, they are edgy. I think my hostile readers will love them.

I know if I want to get my students to read, I have to be a reader. But this is not how I want to spend my summer. I want to read me books:  mystery, adventure, romance…you know, reader candy, books that I devour quite simply for the sweetness of the story.

I do not think there is enough time in my summer days to do both.

In the bag on the right are my book resources for curriculum writing. There’s a whole shelf in my classroom empty because I may need these trusty friends. I am spearheading re-writing 9th grade curriculum to more effectively meet student needs as EOC/STAAR tests threaten to destroy us. (Okay, that’s over-statement, but still…our scores this spring were dismal.)  A favorite? I’ve become a disciple of Jeff Anderson and praise his book 10 Things Every Writer Should Know every chance I get. I’ll be using some of his ideas to coach teachers into conducting writer’s workshop with more fidelity. An ELA goal across my district.

See that book in the bag on the left–Instructional Coaching? That’s the title of my new job–Instructional Coach, and I’m reading it because I need to!  I am excited for the opportunity, and change always makes me eager to learn. I will be teaching two sections of English I on my home campus, and then I will be coaching English I teachers on my campus and the other three high schools in the district in the afternoons. I love that I get to keep working with students, and I love that I get to work with teachers. It’s a perfect marriage, and I think I’ll love it.

So much to read, so little time to read it. So occasionally I’ll claim to be a part of #bookaday, and I just signed up today for #summerthrowdown, although I won’t be too much help to Team Teacher. However, I will be reading. Every day I will be reading.

And I will read those YA books because I can read all the pedagogy books in the world, but if I can’t get my students to read…all the strategies in my toolbox won’t help a thing.