Boring Books Galore

Here are the books recommended for grades 6-8 for the newly proposed COMMON STANDARDS:

"Little Women," Louisa May Alcott
"The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," Mark Twain
"A Wrinkle in Time," Madeleine L'Engle
"The Dark Is Rising," Susan Cooper
"Dragonwings," Laurence Yep
"Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry," Mildred D. Taylor
"The People Could Fly," Virginia Hamilton
"The Tale of the Mandarin Ducks," Katherine Paterson
"Eleven," Sandra Cisneros
"Black Ships Before Troy: The Story of the Iliad," Rosemary Sutcliff

Does that list sound as terrible to you as it does to me? Imagine for an 11 year old. I don't think that all of these books are horrible but perhaps (i mean definitely) not the best choices. Why is good ya lit continuing to be written when "the classics" are still the only things allowed in the curriculum. I am s SHSU grad and now teach 5th grade Reading. We started out the school year with The Lightning Thief. My kids devoured it and now any book I start they have faith that it will be great because Rick Riordon's novel captured them from the start. Honestly, is not one of the biggest blessings we can give our students the love of reading? We have ample silent reading time with self selected books in my classroom because not only are the classics generally not relatable to my low SES kids but teaching a student how to read the blurb and self select a book is one of the strongest tools you can equip them with. Let's put some books in the curriculum like Rules, Al Capone Does My Shirts, Esperanza Rising or The Invention of Hugo Cabret... books were historical events and relatable emotions meet to form conversations about books that will linger in students' minds and leave them wanting more.

Stepping off soap box now...
Happy Spring Break!

here is the truth

As many of you know (and by many I mean Kim, Kelly, Becky and Annalee), Chris and I had the best dog ever! Her name was Zoe and although she was only with us for a few weeks, she was a part of our family and became a part of others' too. She was sweet and laid back and so pretty. Our sweet Zoe was the perfect dog.

I write the previous because although it seems like a whirlwind, Chris and I just adopted a new puppy. It's a bittersweet feeling. The continuous deja vus are hard and not as exciting as the first time. They are bittersweet and constant reminders of the newness and excited feeling we had mere weeks ago with Zoe in hand. However, we are so excited to have KATE and can't wait to love on her and be frustrated by her and have her be a part of our family.

I'll make sure Kate knows that she had a great big sister.

one

one. great. year!

W to the I to the TT, WITT!

Happy belated birthday to my favorite little man!

1/4 of the way finished already!

I am in complete amazement that this school year is already 1/4 completed! This job that I wanted so much and yet feared so much has become my routine and continuously a consuming portion of my life.

Through the paper cuts while grading 8 million papers to the tearful revelations of my students' lives and the joyous laughs we've shared together, I could not have fathomed what this year would truly look like. I have been pleasantly surprised and continue to be so. I am in full understanding that this is where God has placed me and although some days I ask why, I know that this is His will for me and am delighted to be His follower.

I now wonder (from the other side :)) how many of my teachers were believers. How many of them secretly whispered prayers for strength throughout the day? Prayers of patience?

It has been an astounding journey so far and I can't wait to see what comes next. Please keep me and my students in your prayers as we trudge through the last two months before our deserved and much needed break. Thanks!

Two of my sweet girls!

Ms. Cooper eating some pie.

The countdown to the silent auction winners.

My principal, completely pie-ed in the face by his son.

Autumn's UP!

Those of you who really know me know that I love the rain the most!

Well, Autumn in Houston, yes I do know I'm stretching that words' meaning, is also my favorite season. I think mostly because it reminds me of only good things...

Thanksgiving

when Chris and I met

my wedding

rainy days and scarves

super cute rain boots

pumpkin bread

cinnamon sticks

family together

and delicious food.

Here is our house all spruced up for Autumn!

Date Night!

Last night, Chris and I went to go see Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs and splurged a little to see it in IMAX 3D and it was AWESOME!

I will admit that Chris was a little embarrassing to sit next to because he was laughing and clapping throughout however, I understood because the movie was wonderful and hilarious. And who doesn't look embarrassingly goofy in those glasses anyway?

I think everyone is aware of my love for books and so I will say that although this movie adaption is quite different than the book, it had to be and was just so so good.