Freckle Juice

Book #22 Freckle Juice by Judy Blume

Andrew Marcus, a 2nd grader, wants to look like Nicky Lane, a fellow 2nd grader who has freckles. Andrew wants freckles so his mom won't be able to tell if his face is dirty. Sharon, who often tricks Andrew, sells him a secret recipe for Freckle Juice for 50 cents. He drinks the concoction and becomes sick. He then decides to draw freckles on his face with a blue marker. All the kids laugh at him and his teacher gives him a magic freckle remover. Nicky Lane then asks his teacher if he can use the remover also.

This is an extremely quick read (47 pages with pictures)! I don't know if I'm just not into early reader chapter books because they can't really get into a big story or what but I wasn't loving this book. I can see it as something that would be a quick, fun and easy read for 1st or 2nd graders but I'm not into teaching younger grades so I wasn't into it.

A Team + Dave Meeting

I met with my 6th grade team again today. I am so excited for the year to start. We did a little planning. We've decided that we're going to rotate for science and social studies. I'll be teaching heat, light, and sound and Middle Ages & Renaissance to all the 6th graders. I'm glad that I have things I can start planning now! I'm also on Curriculum Committee. I have no idea what that entails but that's what I'm doing. Also, I'll be helping with student council. Wow. It just all seems like so much right now.

My team seems like we're going to get along very well. I can't wait to get to know them better!

Yippee for having a job and a team I like!

Sarah, Plain and Tall

Book #21 Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan

This book takes place in the 1800s. It is about a widowed farmer and his two children (Anna and Caleb). The farmer advertises for a wife and Sarah comes from Maine. She is very homesick and tells the children how much she misses the ocean. One day she goes into town alone and Caleb worries that she will never return. She comes back with colored pencils so she can draw how beautiful Maine is. She tells the children that though she misses Maine, she would miss them more.

I remember reading this book in 3rd grade and hating it. But that's no surprise. I hated everything a teacher gave me to read. So I thought I'd give it another shot. Nope, still hated it. It's well written, it receive a Newbery Medal but it just wasn't a book I was interested in. But don't take that as a reason not to read it. I'm sure there are plenty of people out there who love this book.

Death

Book #20 The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Check out Zusak's website. The Book Thief opens with "It's just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. . ."

The story is set in Germany during WWII. It is the story of a foster girl names Liesel Meminger who lives with her foster father and mother outside of Munich. The book is narrated by Death. With the help of her foster father, Liesel learns to read and begins stealing books whenever she can get her hands on them. She uses these stories to help sustain her family, friends and the Jew hiding in her basement.

I really enjoyed this book though I would not recommend it for elementary aged children. The reading level is quite easy but the topics and language are not something that would be good for most elementary aged children. I would recommend this for 8th grade and up. If you want to learn to swear and insult others in German, this is the book for you.


"People observe the colors of a day only at its beginnings and ends, but to me it's quite clear that a day merges through a multitude of shades and intonations, with each passing moment. A single hour can consist of thousands of different colors. Waxy yellows, cloud-spat blues. Murky darknesses. In my line of work, I make it a point to notice them."

Words to Build a Life Upon

I just read an article for my Writing in the Classroom class. I guess it's a chapter from the book Wondrous Words: Writers and Writing in the Elementary Classroom by Katie Wood Ray not an article. The last paragraph of the chapter blew me away. Here it is:

"I stand in awe at the power our words as teachers can have in students' lives. I am fearful of the strength of one negative word and how it can live with someone forever. But I rejoice at the idea that just a few simple, honest words of support and belief can also stay with someone for a very long time." (p. 298)

Why we love Ashley

Reason #12:

She can pass as a 12-year-old in the right lighting.

My New Team and Do I Look Like a 6th Grader?

I went to plan with my new 6th grade team--fondly referred to as The A Team plus Dave-- because our names are Andrea, Ashley and Amanda and Dave. Crazy right? Anyway, that's not really the part I'm blogging about.

Let's set the scene..I get to the school just as school got out. I walked into Andrea's room, she has all the lights off and is on the phone. I wave to acknowledge that I'm here and she waves back.

There is still one male student in the classroom. He sees me come in and says to Andrea, "Hey, you've got a student here." as he points to me. Andrea very calmly says, "She's not a student, she's a teacher." Male student, "Oh." to Andrea, "You look way young!" to me. I say thank you because I'm a bit paranoid about being 25. Good news...I pass for a 12 year old. Ha.

Summer Dreams

I finally came to the decision that I had to drop my July MEd. class. I'm super bummed about it because it was with one of my favorite professors and I know I would learn a lot with her.

But alas, being hired at a year-round school has squashed my dreams of spending every summer hour improving my teaching abilities. Instead, I now have to spend July soaking up the sun and sleeping in (at least until mid-July when orientation starts).

Dreams from last night:

I had a dream that I was at Bear Lake. I know there were a few people there with me but I'm not sure who they were any more. The only person I remember is a very blond toddler. The beach was rocks then sand then water. We began playing in the sand and the toddler was playing in the shallow water right by the edge of the sand. As we were playing on the sand we noticed the tide was coming in really fast (do all bodies of water have tides or just the ocean? I don't know but in my dream Bear Lake had a tide). The water soon came all the way up to the rock part of the beach (there is no more sand, it's all under water). We're all trying to figure out why the tide came in so fast as we see the toddler walking back to where he was playing before, which is now under water. He quickly slips under the water to the bottom and we can see him because the water is crystal clear. He's struggling to get to the top but is unable to. We all swim out to get him and I grab him and pull him to the surface.

What does that mean? I was so scared for that baby!

Whales on Stilts!

Book #19 Whales on Stilts by M.T. Anderson

"On Career Day Lily visited her dad's work with him and discovered that he worked for a mad scientist who wanted to rule the earth through destruction and desolation." This is a very different book. The writing is quite outlandish with a hint of the author making fun of himself and other mystery adventure writers. This blog also reviews books and has one on this book. I'm a bit lazy and pressed for time so I'll just let you read that one. I haven't read through the blog thoroughly but it's worth a look.

One of my favorite parts of this book is at the end of the book. It's entitled A Guide for Reading and Thinking: Questions for Further Study. The author states they hired Child Learning Specialist to help write these questions. Here are some of my favorite:

1. Who chose this book?
2. Can I hit him or her in the stomach?
8. Which whale book with a character named Lily and another one named Jasper is your favorite?
9. Oh, really?
15. Anchovies. Why?

Father's Day

What?!? Today is Father's Day and you still don't have a gift? All is not lost. I have a great idea for you and you won't have to fight the crowds at Brookstone or Sears. All you need to do is go to your local Target.

I know you've all been waiting with utmost anticipation since you read this post to see what this stellar Father's Day gift is. Wait no longer, here it is folks...

It's the Tampon Toupee. Visit this site for instructions. So, if you still have not bought a gift for your father, all is not lost! This is a great gift for all dads, not just bald ones. Think of the hair style versatility you would give the special man in your life with this wonderful creation. And because it's hand-made, he'll know you really care.

Goodbye Old Friend

Today was my last day at The Children's Center.

It was a bittersweet ending. I have loved this job but some things went on that made it difficult to work with one person in particular.

I did get to work with my good friend Karla and she made it such a nice night.

My little buddy asked me why I have to go. It broke my heart.

It is nice to know that I have the weekends (and every other day of the week) free until I begin teaching but I will miss seeing these kiddos every Saturday.

I wish them and the center all the luck in the future and I can only hope that I did my part to help them.

Why we love Ashley

Reason #92:

She often speaks in a British accent when talking to herself.

Becoming Independently Wealthy

Great Idea #49:

Buy a mountain.

Build a house at the base of the mountain.

Create fun mountain resort on top of mountain.

Place a wishing well at resort on top of mountain.

Make wishing well hole go from top of mountain through your chimney.

Bingo! Your house rains money. You are rich!

Perpetual

Book # 18 Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt

Great book! I don't know what to say about it more than that though. The story is about Winnie Foster, her interactions with the Tuck family, and deciding whether or not she should drink from the spring and become immortal. Winnie reminds me a little bit of Bella in the Twilight series (just the basic premise--mortal or immortal? What would you choose?) Here is a Scholastic site with teacher resources and a pretty good summary. The resources aren't great (I think any decent teacher could come up with these things in 1 minute but it gives a starting point if you're not as amazing as me and my school buddies)

"The sweet earth opened out its wide four corners to her like the petals of a flower ready to be picked, and it shimmered with light and possibility till she was dizzy with it." (p. 45)

"The way I see it, it's no good hiding yourself away, like Pa and lots of other people. And it's no good just thinking of your own pleasure, either. People got to do something useful if they're going to take up space in the world." (p. 86)