Goodreads Goal

You may remember that I am a member and a lover of the website Goodreads.  You can read about that post here.  You may also remember that I told you that Goodreads has a yearly challenge where you can pledge to read a certain number of books.  You may also also remember that I failed to meet my goal of 52 books in the year 2013 (seriously think I had half, either way, I've blocked it out of my memory already).

I doesn't seem that I am a very fast learner, because here I am again this year with the same goal.  I am even going to put the Goodreads widget back on my sidebar (shame made me take it down before).  It may help keep me on track!

If you are a Goodreads member, look me up and be my Goodreads friend!  I don't belong to many groups, and have never written a review yet, but I love to look at the feeds and see what everyone is reading.

Wish me luck!

Sahara Special

I love this new linky I just found from another blog I stalk read.  The linky is called Must-Read Monday from Amanda's blog Teaching Madness.

I know that I have shared with you that I really love books on tape.  I borrow them from my local library and then download through my phone through a wonderful app called Overdrive.  Many of your local libraries use some sort of media console for their audio and e-books.  

So, the book that I finished recently was called Sahara Special by Esme Raji Codell.  It was a Rebeca Caudill Nominee here in Illinois in 2006.

It is a wonderful book about a teacher who has made a huge difference in an inner city girl's life as she is going through the separation/divorce of her parents.  It is a very touching book that has you rooting for the main character Sahara every step of the way.  There are a few choice words in the book, so you would want to read it with mature upper elementary or middle school students.  I think that this would be a great book for character study.  The characters, major and minor, behave in some unexpected ways that would be great for analyzing the motivations behind their actions.

Thanks Amanda for providing us book lovers with ways to talk about what we are reading!

Upcoming Blog Hop

So, my New Year's guidelines about blogging at least once a week went south real quick didn't it?!  That is why I call them guidelines and not resolutions.  I have been able to follow some of my other New Year's Guidelines, but blogging once a week is soooo tricky!

However, I do have a couple of big things coming up.  February is my birthday month.  My actual birthday is on the 9th.  I believe with my whole heart that you should celebrate your birthday for an entire month, and not just one day.  I plan to celebrate with my blogging friends and followers, so look for some fun and freebies early in February.

Secondly, I am fortunate enough to participate in another blog hop starting tomorrow!  Here are all the details.

Each blogger will share why they love literacy so much and share a favorite book of theirs with a freebie.  You can start your hop at:

From there, you get to hop from one blog to the next collecting great teaching techniques and some fabulous freebies.

See you all soon!

Storybook Saturday

I have seen other blogs link up to Paula's Place with her Storybook Saturday link up, but have never posted there.  I love picture books and the way you can use them to teach reading strategies.  So, this linky party is a great find if you are looking for some great picture books and how to use them!

I am sharing an oldie, but goodie.  Not too many people seem to know about this one.

The book is written by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault and illustrated by Ted Rand.  Okay, maybe I love this book so much because I grew up riding horses and yes have even been to a rodeo.  I may love it because of my background.  I promise you, read it and you will love it too!

The story is about a child and father talking right before the father is about to ride one of the meanest, toughest bulls there is:  White Dynamite!  The child is so nervous while the father is riding that the child chants about places to keep it calm.  I won't give away the ending because it is precious (and great for talking about stereotypes)!

The language is a great tool to teach the students.  The book has a sort of poetic feel to it as you read it.  You can't help but almost sing the words.  You can also talk about the contrast between the child and the father and how they speak and relate to each other, great for character study.  By golly, you can also even teach geography with the book as the child chants about all the places and locations!

On another note, don't forget about our upcoming blog hop!

Join 28 reading and literacy specialists as they post some fabulous freebies.  Collect your clues as you hop from blog to blog for your chance to win some great prizes!  Look tomorrow at who is participating in our hop!  Don't miss out!

Illinois Book Awards

I am a creature of many habits.  One of my better habits is reading.  I seem to read just about anything.  I read anything and everything from picture books to books made for grown ups.  (Yes, this includes the 50 shades trilogy ashamed to say).

The one year I did a stint as a school librarian led me to a wealth of new authors and titles that I had never heard of or read before.  The start of my bedside reading that year was with award winners.  In Illinois, the Illinois School Library Media Association nominates books at different grade levels for awards.

The Monarch book award has been in existence since 2005.  20 books are nominated for children in grades K-3.  Click the link below and it will take you to this year's list.

For older children there is the Rebecca Caudill book award.  Rebecca Caudill was an author from Illinois.  This award is for kids in grades 4-8.  It started in 1988.  The link will take you to this year's list.  Previous winners have been Frindle, The Hunger Games, and Matilda.

The Bluestem book award started in 2011.  This is the newest award.  There seemed to be a big difference between the books that were chosen for the Monarch (mostly picture books) and the Caudill award (mostly upper elementary and middle school).  Sooooo, the Bluestem award was started.

Lastly, there is the Abraham Lincoln Book Award.  It is for high school readers, so no links, but I had to give it a mention.

I try to read as many of these as I can.  I may be blogging about them from time to time if they are good and have some really good reading strategies or lessons that might go good with them.  I will also add them to my books page and link the books to the blog post.

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Theme Freebie #2

It is soooo hot here in the Midwest.  I feel like one big puddle!  My daughters and I went to the local bowling alley where they had a special for two hours of bowling, a pizza, drink and shoe rental for $9.99.  We met some of her friends and had a blast!  Then we came home and read for about an hour.  My kind of day!

I was thinking what else I could spruce up my classroom with, now that I know my theme.  Here are some guided reading text level signs that I made for my room.  If you haven't guessed it already, I am a huge Irene Fountas and Gay Su Pinnell fan.  The work that they have put into their guided reading levels is amazing!

Here you go!  Click the picture to get your free signs!

Happy Thursday everyone!

Goodreads

Have you ever heard of the website Goodreads?  It is a great website that combines the elements of your home bookshelf and Facebook.  I have been a member for about a year and a half.  The organizational control freak in me loves keeping track of all of the books that I have read.  Every member creates their own shelves and names for their shelves.  I have one shelf that I have called "Embarrassed by."  (This mostly includes my listening to Danielle Steel books on the way to and from work).

The other nice thing that the website offers is groups.  There are thousands of different groups you can join to talk about books.  Or you can just look at the group and see what books they have read.  If you have a certain reading appetite, they have a group for you!

You can connect with others that you know who are also members of the site.  I have mine set up so it automatically connects me with my Facebook friends.  You can see each others bookshelves and recommend books to each other.  I love it!

One of the things I did in January was to sign up for their 2013 Reading Challenge.  I pledged that I would read 52 books this year.  I figured I could handle a book a week.  As you can see, I am a little behind schedule, but I have every faith that I can do it!!

Look at the widgets on the sidebar of my blog.  The site also makes an app that works with your Apple or Android products.  Check it out and let me know what you think!  (I like it better than Shelfari - tons)!

For the Love of Reading

You may think that because I am a reading specialist, I have to love to read, right?  Well, you are partly correct.  I have been a reader my entire life.  I love everything about books:  the way they smell (especially library ones), the different sizes, the texture of the pages, and yes even the way my Nook shows my progress on how far along I am with my current read.

I started this section because I want to start a discussion of books.  Eventually (when I get more of a handle on this blog thing), I would love to start up a linky party for others to share their favorites.  But for right now, this will have to do.

If you are anything like me, you have a book list a mile long and not enough time in the world to read what you want to read.  My husband and I are currently in Maui and I brought about seven books (I have currently read 1 and 1/2).  I have been doing other things here, though!

Okay, but enough about Hawaii (if there is such a thing).  Onto the focus of this new section of my blog.  I am currently reading a great book.

                                                      

My 9-year old recommended this book to me with about 10 others that I just HAD to take on vacation (no our children did not come with us this time).  I then asked if I could just take one, which one would you suggest?  This is what she packed in my luggage.  I have to say I'm loving it!  It will tug at your heart, and I've already cried twice and I am only half way through!

It is about a young girl who is brilliant, yet no one knows because she has Cerebral Palsy.  She can not communicate and express what she wants to say.  The story is told from her point of view, and the difference between the narration and the one to two word phrases that she can point to will make you think about putting yourself in her shoes.  What would life be like?

It is quite good so far, and I am already anticipating the ending and have my box of tissues ready.  Have any of you read this book yet?  It was up for an award here in Illinois.  What do ya think?