A part of me is sad that this reading challenge is over.
My original list consisted of nine picture books, and twenty-five
middle grade, young adult, adult books.
I managed to read all nine of the picture books, and ten of the other
books. I completed six books that were
not on my list. That was a grand total
of twenty-five books I read for the challenge.
I am disappointed only in the fact that I didn’t have more time to
read. Reading has always been my
escape. This year at school I have
mentored two teachers, I am team leader, testing coordinator and on a
curriculum design team. This meant I was
out of the classroom for trainings, or to work in collaboration with others to
design a new curriculum. This put me
behind in grading, which took up my evenings.
I would normally be able to pick up reading time over Thanksgiving. However, we learned over Thanksgiving week we
were going to have to move. So we spent
that week babysitting grand kids and looking for a place to move. We’ve not found a place as of yet. The final week of the challenge I got
sick. My husband popped into the
bedroom, looked at me and stated, “I know you must be really sick, you aren’t
even reading”. He was right. I could barely lift my head off of the
pillow.
Before you think this is just a negative post let me add the good side
to this. I, and twenty-four of my
students participated in NaNoWriMo this year. Because of this, I was given permission to teach the NaNoWriMo
curriculum in my classes next year.
Was it worth spending more time writing than reading? Yes it was.
I finished the very, very rough
draft of a book I’ve spent three years researching. Two of my students completed their book and
the school is going to place a copy in the school library. They are actually creating a section for
student authors.
My students participated in the reading challenge and most of them not
only met their goals, but exceeded them.
They are looking forward to the Spring Reading Challenge. They are excited about it because for every
book they read and review they get a ticket to place in a drawing for
books. They are more excited by the fact
that a lot of those books are autographed.
So if we have any authors of middle grade/young adult books out there
that would like to donate an autographed book, please feel free to contact me
for a donation. I have place my original
list below. I have two weeks of
Christmas break. Yes I will still be
packing to move and looking for a place.
I have decided that I am allowing myself a minimum of an hour a day for
reading. Maybe I’ll be able to get to
some of the other books on this list by the time I must return to school.
I hope all of you had a successful time of this challenge. I think any time we read we have succeeded.
Picture Books
Middle Grade/Young
Adult/Adult Books
The Chest of Visions: Secrets of
Caperston - Tim Ferguson
The Golden Scarab - S.W. Lothian
The Cursed Nile - S.W.Lothian
The Upside of Ordinary - Susan Lubner
Stealing Kevin's Heart - M. Scott Carter
Thompson Twins Las Vegas Adventure - Lesa
Hammond
Pieces of Me - Darlene Ryan
Legend of the White Eagle - Barbara Hay
The Prisoner of Snowflake Falls -John
Lekich
Losing Elizabeth - Tanya J. Peterson
I Want to Fly - Allel Kheroufi
Curse of the Shamra - Barry Hoffman
Katia - Bruce Judisch
Latitudes - Anthony Caplan
Escape to Mars - Greg Krehbiel
Added to List
Sorry to hear you haven't been well.
ReplyDeleteHappy Holidays, Sandra, and I hope that 2013 is great year for you.
Wow, looks like you've done well. I see you read multiples by the same author. I tend to do that too.
ReplyDeleteWow, sounds like you have a TON going on! Impressed that you're still carving out an hour to keep reading.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the Holiday wishes. I send them back to all of you. Today I sat with my six year old grand daughter and we read one half of her first Junie B. Jones book. She has another one under the tree. She has asked that we take at least two trips to the library over break. She wants one with both her and her 2 year old brother so he can have his first library experience and she wants one with just the two of us so that we can read a while and then pick out books. Awesome.
ReplyDeleteI do like to read multiple books by the same author. I have some I need to finish over break. Still praying for a place to move. Place we are renting went into foreclosure for the second time since we have lived here. We've rented a storage unit and are packing and storing things we can do without temporarily. My husband has left my boxes of books because he said he know the minute he takes them I'll send him to get one. lol Rest up this holiday season and keep reading.