Saturday, December 22, 2012

Fall Into Reading Challenge Wrap-Up


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
When Verdell Comes to Visit - Clayton J. Liotta
I Thought I Saw a Dragon Late Last Night - Clayton J. Liotta
Up A Tree With Chicken Soup -Clayton J. Liotta
The House at 25 Clearview Drive - Clayton J. Liotta
Molly, by Golly! - Dianne Ochiltree
The Dog Show - Sally O. Lee
'CAT'ASTROPHE' - Kathy Johnson
The Amazing Adventure of Paddy Platypus - Tom de Paolo
Quest for Good Manners - Karen LeFranc


Middle Grade/Young Adult/Adult Books
The Wind of Life: Vita - Oliver Neubert
The Chest of Visions:  Secrets of Caperston - Tim Ferguson
When the Lights Go Out - Max Elliot Anderson
The Scarecrow - Max Anderson
River Rampage - Max Elliot Anderson
The Golden Scarab - S.W. Lothian
The Cursed Nile - S.W.Lothian
A Long Walk to Water - Linda Sue Park
The One and Only Ivan - Katherine Applegate
The Upside of Ordinary - Susan Lubner
Stealing Kevin's Heart - M. Scott Carter
Thompson Twins Las Vegas Adventure - Lesa Hammond
The  Land of Whoo - Ryan O'Brien
Pieces of Me - Darlene Ryan
Legend of the White Eagle - Barbara Hay
The Prisoner of Snowflake Falls -John Lekich
Just Breeze - Beverly Stowe McClure
Losing Elizabeth - Tanya J. Peterson
I Want to Fly - Allel Kheroufi
Curse of the Shamra - Barry Hoffman
Katia - Bruce Judisch
Latitudes - Anthony Caplan
Demoneater - Royce Buckingham
Demonocity - Royce Buckingham
Escape to Mars - Greg Krehbiel

Added to List
Demonkeeper - Royce Buckingham
Poppy and the Stranger - Eli Jay
Ella The Pink Elephant - Doris Rueger
Morris the Village Voice - Doris Rueger
Captain Jack's Treasure - Max Elliot Anderson
When the Lights Go Out - Max Elliot Anderson

4 comments:

  1. Sorry to hear you haven't been well.
    Happy Holidays, Sandra, and I hope that 2013 is great year for you.

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  2. Wow, looks like you've done well. I see you read multiples by the same author. I tend to do that too.

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  3. Wow, sounds like you have a TON going on! Impressed that you're still carving out an hour to keep reading.

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  4. Thanks 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.

    I 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.

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