Noticings on a Cold Winter Morning

As I awake before my family members on a cold, winter morning, I notice...

darkness lingers longer in the morning,

a blanket of snow continues to cover our yard,

our family room is filled with evidence of living,

our cat is sitting on the step waiting patiently to play,

the clock is ticking away the time,

blankets provide warmth,

I am surrounded by words with books, notebooks, and my tablet by my side,

a pink castle is waiting to be filled with dreams,

my morning cup of coffee is comforting,

a young voice calls out, "Mommy!", and

new opportunities are waiting to be embraced!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It has been another great reading week with books that I would highly recommend.  This week I read and enjoyed...

Good to Great Teaching by Mary Howard



Almost Home by Joan Bauer



Small as an Elephant by Jennifer Richard Jacobson



Dewey There's a Cat in the Library by Vicki Myron and Bret Witter



There's No Day Like a Snow Day by Jane O'Connor



A Perfect Day by Carin Berger



Kel Gilligan's Daredevil Stunt Show by Michael Buckley



I am currently rereading...
Choice Words by Peter Johnston



I am also reading...
The World According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney



Next up...
In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson by Bette Lord

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

 

This week I read and loved...

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore by William Joyce



I also I read and enjoyed...

Tribes by Seth Godin



Jeremy Benders vs. the Cupcake Cadets by Eric Luper

 

Who Has These Feet? by Laura Hulbert



Mr. Zinger's Hat by Cary Fagan



C.R. Mudgeon by Leslie Muir



Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin



I am now reading...

Small as an Elephant by Jennifer Richard Jacobson



Good to Great Teaching by Mary Howard



Next up...

Almost Home by Joan Bauer

Out of the Mouths of Babes

While eating lunch the other day, I spilled some tomato sauce on my light gray sweatshirt.  My four year old daughter looked at me and matter of factly stated,

"Don't worry, Mom.  Use Oxiclean.  It gets the tough stains out."  

Then she shrugged her shoulders and walked away.  My jaw hit the ground and I thought to myself, "I have to turn that TV off!"

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

 

This week I read and enjoyed...

See You At Harry's by Jo Knowles



The Junk Yard Wonders by Patricia Polacco



Cardboard by Doug Tennapel



How Children Succeed by Paul Tough



I am currently reading...

Every Soul a Star by Wendy Maas



Next up...

Jeremy Benders vs. the Cupcake Cadets by Eric Luper

 

Reading Goals

I have been reading a lot about the importance of setting reading goals for yourself and your students.  I have decided to make public my reading goals to see if it helps with embracing my goals this year.  My reading goals are...

1.  Read at least 200 books this year and keep track on Goodreads

2.  Read at least 20 professional books and dig deep into them

3.  Read at least 10 Newberry books


I have also decided to set reading goals with my daughters.  As I hope to return to the classroom next year, I do not currently have students to set goals with so I thought it would be good practice with my daughters.  My nine year old set a goal to read 10 books this month.  She has set this goal but now needs help with building stamina to achieve it.  I will research strategies to help her attain this month's goal.  I also want to help my first grader set reading goals.  She has struggled with learning to read but is beginning to take off.  I know if I ask her, she really wants to read chapter books.  I also know the importance of immersing struggling readers with just right books.  I find it very difficult to find just right books for her at the library. She has fallen in love with Danny books but they are too expensive for us to buy as our budget for books has decreased.  I will continue to research just right books for her level.  Finally, I am not sure how to set reading goals with my four year old. She loves books.  Any ideas?  I hope that by setting goals with my daughters I can help nurture their love of reading and books. I love this picture I came across on Twitter the other day...