Jacquie Leighton
Sun, 30 Aug 2009 14:52:33 -0700
Have an awesome year! Jacquie On Aug 30, 2009, at 4:35 PM, Kim Wagner wrote:
Hi Everyone!Well, I devoured *The Book Whisperer* as did my colleagues in 7th and 8th grade language arts. We are attempting to implement some of her ideas thisyear. We will be: -encouraging our students to read 30 books this year -inviting outside readers to read aloud to students-attempting to create a culture of being "nuts" about books--I have a huge tree (with squirrels) that students will place leaves on as they completeeach of their books-allowing students 10 minutes of uninterrupted reading time at the beginningof each language arts class -reading ourselves for those 10 minutes-consuming vast numbers of middle school novels so we can put the "rightbook" into the right hands at the right time (my goal is 50)By the way, I just read the most *wonderful* book in search of terrific titles for my students. It is called *Leo and the Lesser Lion* by Sandra Forrester. It takes place in Depression-era Alabama. The main character is a spunky girl named Mary Bayliss Pettigrew. Near the beginning of the novelher beloved older brother, Leo, drowns. Bayliss breaks her back in theaccident. While she recovers she decides she must have been saved for a special purpose and decides to become a nun (much to everyone's dismay, including her teachers at Sacred Heart). She and her family try to deal with their grief while taking on two little girls from a local (overcrowded)orphanage.My description makes it sound depressing, but really, most of the book is not. Forrester's writing pulls you right in and brings Bayliss' world tolife. Best, Kim 6th grade language artsOn Fri, Aug 28, 2009 at 7:30 PM, Bill Ivey <bivey01...@gmail.com> wrote:Hi!With some of us started back in classes, and others (including me) getting ready to start, I can't help wanting to hold on to parts of summer break.So- I'm wondering what all you did this summer that was meaningful to you.For me, it's two main things. I spent a great deal of time down in Chatham, Virginia, my "second home" where my wife has housing at her school andwhichI have grown to love, and my friends have said I'm becoming southern. I think in this case, they mean slowing down a bit, taking my time, focusingmore on being in the moment and making connections with people and myenvironment rather than rushing through something in order to get to thenext. I would love to keep that perspective going through the year.The other thing I want to mention was a more traditionally professional development kind of activity, reading a book entitled "The Female Brain." Teaching at an all-girls school, I knew a fair amount of what the book hadto say about female-brain wiring and its effect on relationships andlearning, but I only knew bits about the post-natal effect of hormones on wiring and on behaviors. It was illuminating, and helps me not only in myteaching but also in my social justice work. How about the rest of you? Take care, Bill Ivey Stoneleigh-Burnham School _______________________________________________ The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org. Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive_______________________________________________ The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.orgTo unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org .Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive
_______________________________________________ The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org. Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive