It’s the most exciting time of the year for #kidlit readers — the ALA Youth Media Awards, including Newbery and Caldecott, will be announced on Monday, January 25th, and I AM READY! Honestly, with the 2020 pandemic and virtual school, I wasn’t able to share books with students like I had in previous years, andContinue reading “My Final Newbery and Caldecott Predictions, 2020”
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IMWAYR: In the Wild Light
Cash Pruitt is a hard-working 17-year-old from Sawyer, Tennessee, who has a hard past. Now living with his grandparents, Cash mows lawns, attends Sawyer High School, and hangs out with his best friend, Delaney Doyle. The two share heartbreaks (Cash’s mom died of an opioid addiction and Delaney’s mom is headed down the same path)Continue reading “IMWAYR: In the Wild Light”
IMWAYR: InDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY and FALL BREAk
NerdCampMI – another year of fabulous fun!
“What is Nerd Camp?” Wow! Fun-filled, exhausting days of learning, reading books, writing, meeting #kidlit authors in real life, reuniting with like-minded people, and visiting with fellow campers until the wee hours of the morning. #NerdCampJr was awesome this year, and those 3rd graders were amazing! THANK YOU to Alaina Sharp, Colby Sharp and familyContinue reading “NerdCampMI – another year of fabulous fun!”
Sunday Snippet: A Bit of Thinking
Maintaining the Motivation – Last week students at my middle school were lucky to hear author Sarah Aronson talk about her writing process and share information about her upcoming picture book biography, Just Like Rube Goldberg. I went home that night with renewed interest in researching and reading…and writing. Four days later,Continue reading “Sunday Snippet: A Bit of Thinking”
IMWAYR: Do Over!
Do Over! (Sometimes we need a “Reset” button.) I had a plan for last week’s reading that has turned into the plan for this week’s reading. I have Trevor Noah’s Born a Crime (2016) on my desk, and I still want to read On the Come Up by Angie Thomas (2019). There are new children’s booksContinue reading “IMWAYR: Do Over!”
Graphic Novels are Books, Too! by Stacey DeCotis
Originally posted on Nerdy Book Club:
Oh if I could count the times I’ve heard adults say that graphic novels are “too easy” or “not challenging enough” or “they don’t count as books”… My 5th grade students this year are devouring graphic novels! Until I started reading them last year, I never understood why (I…
#NF10for10: Annual February Nonfiction Picture Books List
It’s February 10th, and that means the annual #nf10for10 (Nonfiction 10 for 10) book lists are posted today. Thanks to our hosts: Cathy Mere (Reflect and Refine) and Mandy Robeck (Enjoy and Embrace Learning). I enjoy challenging myself to come up with meaningful lists to share with other readers. As we prepare for standardized testingContinue reading “#NF10for10: Annual February Nonfiction Picture Books List”
Book Review: How I Became a Spy by Deborah Hopkinson
I think it would be cool, but I’ve never had the spirit or the smarts to be a spy, so when I read the advanced reader copy of Deborah Hopkinson’s newest book, How I Became I Spy: A Mystery of WWII London (coming February 12th, 2019), I felt that I had reached a new goal whileContinue reading “Book Review: How I Became a Spy by Deborah Hopkinson”
IMWAYR: I-Love-To-Read February!
I’m still finishing my 2018 reading, as promised. On Saturday, I started Marshfield Memories: More Stories About Growing Up, by Ralph Fletcher. I love Ralph’s writing, and I’m happy to visit Marshfield again through his words. February at school is Black History Month, and I spent the day preparing a display for my students. ThereContinue reading “IMWAYR: I-Love-To-Read February!”
Reading Teacher Writes 