First Graders Rule

Wikimedia Commons

 

I work in a K-8 IB school. There are benefits to having Pre-K through 8th grade in one school. I teach Grades 6, 7, 8. Today we had a treat. We were visited by a first grade class. The students had  created PowerPoint presentations about honey bees. They then presented these to my eighth grade students.  I love this for many reasons. The first graders take this so seriously. The eighth graders learn a lot from the first graders. They are impressed that the first graders know how to cite their sources and create a slide that has a bibliography. We end it with honey tasting. There are advantages to having a husband who is a beekeeper.  I have provided  the three presentations our first graders created. They need to be watched in the order below. See how awesome our first graders are

Hazen's Video

Diego's Video    

Jayceona's Video   

Plans for 2018

This next year promises to be great. I have spent the last week reflecting on how my year went.Last year's school year was very stressful. We had a large turnover, especially in the office/administration side. That was the negative part. On the positive side, in April I learned I had been one of five teachers in our state selected to spend three weeks at the Hermitage Artist Retreat in Manasota Key, Florida. I spent three glorious weeks in a cottage on the beach working on revision of my latest book and starting a new one.  That was the happiest I had been all year.  This school year has been great. However, I signed up for two book challenges besides the one I participate in on Goodreads. I accomplished nothing on either one. I did reach my 150 book goal on Goodreads. It is only because I got behind on reviews of picture books that I was able to reach it. I had started putting weight back on after losing so much for my double knee surgery.  So when I reflect back on last year to make plans for this year I have made some decisions that are all about me.

My Health
My goal for this year is to stick closer to my paleo diet. I had lost so much weight and still have a long way to go. I felt so much better. Before the next school year starts I want to drop 50-70 pounds.  This means not only sticking to my paleo lifestyle, but putting more exercise into my life.

My Reading Life
I was stressed by struggling to read and write this year.  You know you have slacked off when publishers and authors contact you to see if everything is okay.  I am dropping my Goodreads goal from 150 to just 50 books.  I am not officially signing up for any reading challenges. I want reading to be fun again and not feel like a chore.

My Writing Life
I want to spend more time working seriously on my own writing. One thing that has been a hindrance is that I currently have no personal computer of my own. I have been taking my school laptop back and forth from school. This means all of the programs I own for reading and writing have been unavailable to me because so many things are blocked by my district. I can't download anything. In February that will be remedied. We were an "A" school this year and so with part of my bonus money I will be purchasing another laptop.  My goal is to write a minimum of three times a week for a minimum of an hour. I say a minimum because with school teaching and testing things can quickly get out of control.

My Creative Life
I plan to start painting and quilting again. There are a couple of projects that I began a year or more back and just never got back to them. When I stopped doing some of the creative things I loved I became a stressed out cranky person.

My Family Life
A few months back my husband and I started going to "Pop Craft", a gourmet popsicle place, on Saturdays. This was our weekly "date". We need to spend more time together, just us. My mother lives with us so we go very few places.  We have to start making time for US.

My Work Life
This is the one I know I struggle with the most. As a teacher I am always putting my job first. This has led to problems in many areas of my life. I get to work an hour to an hour and a half early. I leave 1 - 2 hours later than others.  I bring work home.  I have gotten better. However, this next year, unless there is a critical deadline for the next day, I must stop bringing work home. That will leave me several hours for the things I listed above.

My Plan
One way I am going to do this is to journal each week. I want to take a look at these areas and see how I did and what I need to improve. That is what I do with my job. If it is important enough for me to do this for my job, then it is even more important and valuable for me to do it in other areas of my life. I need to keep a calendar of my activities like I do for school, or reviews I agree to do. I believe with these things in place at the beginning of 2018 that my life will be better.

If you have any suggestions or would like to share what your plans are for the new year please leave me a comment.

My Dream Reading/Writing Area.

Picture found at: http://www.yellowtrace.com.au/sheds-cabins-retreats/

I was recently was thinking what my dream reading area or reading nook would look like.   I really put some thought into it.  I just returned last weekend from a three-week writing retreat at the Hermitage Artist Retreat. I had a cottage right on the beach. I could sit at my desk and listen to the waves. I could see the Gulf of Mexico from the window. If I looked out my side window across the street I could see the bay. I remembered how relaxed I was while I was there. So when Molly Kay from Arhaus started a conversation with me about books and my dream reading area I was brought back to those weeks.

My dream reading area would be a combination reading/writing room.  I would want as many windows in it as possible.  

Picture found at: https://www.arhaus.com/furniture/living-room-furniture/chairs-and-chaises/

I would want a chair I could curl up in with a book or my Kindle. The arms on this one curl outward just enough I'd probably add a pillow and curl to one side.  I used to think I would love to have a window seat to sit in and read.  However, my dream became bigger.  I want an oversized chair so I can snuggle up or curl up in it.  

Picture found at:  https://www.arhaus.com/furniture/outdoor/outdoor-chaise-lounges/spinnaker-outdoor-56-inch-slipcovered-chaise-in-sail-sailor/

I would also love a chaise lounger for the same reason. Besides, it would be perfect for reading books to the grandkids. 

For dreary days or nighttime, I would like pendant lights over each of my areas. Here are some more hanging lights from Arhaus.

I want the reading area on one side of the room and the writing area on the other side. Of course, I definitely need walls of bookcases.  If you would like to get an idea of what I would like my dream reading/writing place to look like then visit my Pinterest page.  I have a board for it. I’m sure I’ll add more to it as I find other items that would possibly become part of that dream.  You will notice that I am going for kind of a beachy feel. I want it really light in color. I think I would stick with that even if I lived in the woods. I want it to feel open and airy. I want to feel like I am sitting out in nature while I am actually inside.   I want really deep porches around the entire house. I would like to create a reading area out there as well.  Now I need to find a writing table that will fit over the chaise so that I can really relax while I sit back and write.

What about you? Do you have an idea of what you would like your dream reading or writing area to look like?  If so leave a description or a link to pictures that show your dream.

Look What I Found

I've told you before that I thought I had read more books and written reviews on them before I had my surgery. I was right. I had to go in yesterday to meet with my assistant principal. Since I was there I figured I would go to my room and go through some of the things I literally stuffed in my closet my last week of school. I didn't want to leave a mess for my sub to clean up. I figured I would  go in over the summer and clean it out. My physical therapy prevented me from doing that. I am happy to say that while going through a handful of papers that I had put in a folder labeled "sort when I return", that I found these jewels. So here are these reviews for you to check out.

Stereo-Realism/The Hidden World: Motion in Stillness, Stillness in Motion by Milton R. Trice
Genre: Art Book
Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I very seldom give a book three stars, especially if it is a book I requested to review. The reason I gave this book three stars is simple. Although the artist is very knowledgeable about "three dimension sight", his ability to explain it in a simplified manner was lacking. I am not an art student, even though I have taken a couple of basic art classes. I guess, I needed more explanation and guidance than what this book gave me. The book itself is well written. For someone who is a gifted artist, or who "gets this, it would be the perfect book. My three stars is a reflection not of the author's writing ability but of my ability to understand what he was trying to explain. I would therefore recommend this book to those who really are into studying all aspects of art.


Second Chance Friends by Jennifer Scott

Genre: Realistic Fiction, Adult
Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

This is one of those books you will need a box of tissues as you read. This book shows that people who know nothing about each other can become friends and help each other through a tragedy.

One morning three women sitting alone in a diner witness a terrible accident. They witness a school bus plow into the back of a car. They rush outside to help by pulling children from the bus. They go to the car where they find a woman and her husband. They are unable to do anything to save him.  A week later upon a visit to the diner, they see each other and join together to discuss the accident.  They each want to find the woman to see how she is doing. In doing this simple act, they set themselves on a path to help themselves. Each of them are dealing with their own issue. Could it be that the simple act of becoming friends can help them all? This is a great story with great characters. It has a plot that everyone can relate to.

Cool Magic Tricks, You Can Do! by Steve Black
Genre: Miscellaneous
Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

This is a cool book of twelve simple magic tricks any young or older person can do. They are fun and simple. They would be perfect to perform for a young child's birthday party.

Blogging For Profit or Not

Blogging For Money???

When I started blogging several years ago it was at my husband's suggestion. He was trying to think of a way to help me help my students. I wanted them to read and write more. They constantly said there weren't any good books out there or they didn't know what to read. He suggested I start writing reviews for the books I pulled from my shelves, or bought and read. I did. Now I give my parents and students my blog URL so that they can find books for anyone. I read and review everything from picture books to adult books. I have been asked by many if I get paid for my reviews. I receive no money for my reviews. I am on occasion given a book by an author or publicist to read and review. Often these books are ARCs (advanced reader copies) and have mistakes. All books I receive are either put on my shelves at school or passed on to others to enjoy. I have not desire to make money from my blog. I believe the moment I start getting paid for my blog then a couple of things will happen.

First thing to happen is that I will need to write to someone else's standards. I want the freedom to write things the way I see fit. I want to be able to write about a book, or a DVD, or a CD if I want.
The second thing to happen is that it will suddenly seem like a job.  I do this because I want to and because I enjoy it. The day I stop enjoying this process is the day I will close down my blog. I still have a mission to read and enjoy books and share that love with others in hopes they will find a book they love.

By having my own blog and doing it my way I can take a break as needed. I recently had major surgery and knew I would have to be gone for a couple of months. I was able to do that because I control my blog.

Now some of you may want to start a blog and make money from it. I can't help you there. However, if you go to this link, you will find a blog that tells you how to make money from your blog. This is a decision you must make for yourself. Either way I do believe blogging is worth it. Go ahead and check out the link and see if "How to Make Money from Your Blog" is for you.

Good luck and have a great day!

Story Prompts that Work by Carly Berg

Genre: Writing

Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

This is a book of 52 writing prompts that can be used in a variety of ways. Some of them can be used for any age, while some are for the more mature audience.  I am going to talk about a couple of my favorites and how I, as a teacher, will use them with my students.

Prompt #3 – Unreliable Narrator  will work well in my classroom. We talk about unreliable narrators when we read a story about a dog who has been sold and really does not understand the true reason why he has been purchased. The situation of an unreliable narrator can make for a very humorous story as the students find out. I feel that I can help them better understand this by having them write a story with an unreliable narrator.

Prompt #6 – Choose a Story #1, #36, and #49  Is a great idea.  You have a first line, then choose a line from Setting, Main Character, and Situation.  The ones listed here may be a bit much for my middle school students but this is a wonderful idea and a wonderful way for me to come up with some writing prompts for them.

Prompt #18 – Twisted Fairy Tale #1 and #46  is something I do with the last unit I teach each year. We talk about fairy tales, fables, myths, legends and other traditional stories. They are required to take the story and tell it from another point of view, change the setting and time period. So they may take the story for Red Riding Hood and tell it from the Wolf’s perspective. It could be set in New York City in present time.

Prompt #19 – Objects  is one I will twist a little. Instead of going around the house and grabbing six objects that will become a list of words in a story. I would take objects and put them in a bag and have students pick from the bag to get their list of words.  This would be especially fun if we are studying a specific genre, for example ‘mysteries’ and they have to write a mystery story using those objects in their story.

Prompt #24 – A Picture is one I use every year. I find a variety of pictures and put them on my board and students may choose one or more to write about.

There are a lot of fun writing prompts here that can be done straight from the book, or you can put your own twist on them. One thing I really liked was that the author wrote example stories so you could get a better idea of what she was talking about. I can foresee this as creating hours and hours of fun writing.

Popular Purple Pencil Sharpener

I received this product in exchange for my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

To say that I love these pencil sharpeners is an understatement. I have shown them to just about everyone I know. When parents came to our "Back to School" night, the kids took their parents to my pencil sharpener to show them how it worked. Then I watched parents pull out something to write with and write down the website. Our night custodian comes in each night and sharpens the pencils he finds in the hallways. He loves my pencil sharpener. The best salesman in our school is one of our parent liaisons.  He came to my room and saw the kids lined up at my desk. He asked about it and I showed him.

Mr. Belvin is trying out my brand new purple pencil sharpener while one of my students uses my ever popular pink pencil sharpener. Students line up with multiple pencils so they don't have to use the sharpeners in the other classrooms.

Mr. Belvin and my student compare
the sharpness of their pencil leads. The number one comment about their lead is that the end is not so pointed that they snap the minute you begin to write. The sharpness seems to last longer than most sharpened pencils.









Mr. Belvin was so impressed with the purple pencil sharpener I thought I'd lost it. He snatched it up and left my room yelling he'd bring it back. He took it around to different rooms to demonstrate it to the teachers. He tried to see the principal and was unable. I however, did see her after an afternoon meeting. I demonstrated it for her and she asked for the information because she would like to buy them for the teachers at our school.

 Several of the parents have told me they are ordering one for their child for Christmas. I can think of nothing better for a Christmas gift. I love the way they are heavy duty and durable. I like that if the sharpener ever gets dull I can replace it for just a few dollars. I especially like the fact that I can change it my self.  I rewarded Mr. Belvin for his great job of promoting this sharpener by purchasing one for him and his children. I will continue to promote this sharpener. I do not get paid for this. I don't need to. You may think that is crazy, but I believe in this product that much. I would recommend everyone get this sharpener. It comes in many colors. However, This new purple one is something to be very passionate about.

THE BEST PENCIL SHARPENER YOU WILL EVER USE

 Recently I was on Pinterest looking at classroom supplies when I came across the strangest looking pencil sharpener.  Fascinated by its looks and curious as to why it looked that way I clicked on the link for Classroom Friendly Supplies.  I watched a video that showed how to use the pencil sharpener.  That video explained why the pencil sharpener looked so strange. The front pulls out. There are two knobs on the top. When you squeeze the knobs together you open the first hole where you stick the pencil through. The pencil then goes into the hole in the sharpener. The first hole has tiny teeth that hold the pencil in place.  Why is this important? Simply because that leaves the pencil holding hand free.  You can place your free hand on top of the pencil sharpener or you can use the small bar that allows you to attach it to the edge of any surface. The magic happens when you sharpen the pencil. One thing I've always hated about electric pencil sharpeners is that students often stand there shoving the pencil in, removing it, looking at it, then  repeating that step over and over again.  With this pencil sharpener you begin to sharpen the pencil and watch the part you had pulled out in the front, slowly move in as the pencil sharpened.  You can't over-sharpen the pencil. That is where the magic comes in. The hand crank will begin to turn super easy when the pencil is sharpened enough.

My husband hates when I sit down to write because I interrupt him, (his desk is opposite mine), by constantly sharpening  my pencils with our electric sharpener. I can't write if the pencils are not real sharp. I prefer writing with pencils over pens. I just love the feel of the graphite grabbing the paper. I feel I have more control.  So, it wasn't enough for me to use this wonderful tool. I needed to test it out with some kids.  My grandson Jacob and granddaughter Haylee spent the night with us and I had Haylee try it out. She's going into fourth grade and has her own desk in her room. I was thinking this would be an awesome gift for her. She cranked away and then got her pencils out of her writing portfolio she keeps at my house and sharpened every single one.  Jacob wanted to try it. He is almost 5.  So, I demonstrated it for him and then told him what to do step by step.  He sharpened the rest of my pencils. It was easy and he thought it was fun.  My son came the next weekend and I showed it to him.  As a former draftsman he knows the importance of sharp pencils. He had so much fun, he called his wife in to see this wonder. He kept breaking pencil leads so he could sharpen them. Then he broke two more and had his wife sharpen  them. You know it is a cool item when your grown children tell you they want them for their children for Christmas.  I plan on spending quite a bit of money buying several of them this year. I will definitely need one in my house to replace the electric pencil sharpener I will place in my husbands work shed. I think they will make great gifts to the 3 new teachers in my department this year.

You have got to go to www.classroomfriendlysupplies.com and check them out.
Read through her site.  This pencil sharpener was created by a teacher. Watch the videos she has. Part of every sale goes to several different charities. Please check out that page as well. I guarantee you that you won't find a better pencil sharpener for your classroom or office.

Believe and Know by Cathy Bryant

Genre: Christian Devotional

Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Whether you are looking for a Bible study to help you guide others, or a Bible study to help you seek answers you may have, Cathy Bryant has provided that in this Bible study guide. She states that this book is for Truth-seekers and so it is.  She also speaks to the two types of people who will read this book. The first is the type who believes first and just wants confirmation and the second is those who feel a need to understand before they can believe.  Both will get out of this book what they put into it. It is my prayer that you spend time with this book and the scriptures. You may not yet know what you want out of this book. Read and pray and be assured God will open your eyes and show you what you need.

Cathy has stated as has the scriptures that unbelief keeps us from a right relationship with God.  In Mark chapter 9 verses 14-29 we read about Jesus’ disciples trying to cast the demon out of a young boy. When they could not the father was very frustrated.  He came to Jesus who witnessed the demon possession of the boy and removed the demon. The father was confused by why his disciples could not deliver his son.  It was because of their unbelief.  When Jesus told him that belief was needed the father responded that he believed and then asked the most important thing ever, “help my unbelief.”  We who are Christians are quick to say we believe, until hardships arise.  Then we are quick to criticize and accuse God of ignoring us.  Maybe the real issue is we are having difficulty believing and need to ask God to help us with our unbelief.  After all we are human.

Another thing that came out was in this quote found in the Kindle version section 15.3/82: “It is the same for our non-believing friends and loved ones. We must lay aside the holier-than-thou attitude that demands they believe like we do Instead we must love them unconditionally, pray for them persistently, and treat them with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15)”.  How often do we act or talk down to non-Christians or those who have fallen away as if we are so much better and holier than they are? If you say, ‘I never have’ then you are lying to yourself.  We’ve all done this.  It is a big turn off and will push people away instead of bring them in.

I recognize this in myself when recently I learned a very good friend of mine, with whom I’d shared a strong Christian friendship, had married.  The problem for me with this was that she married another woman. I wanted to pray for her because I knew that this relationship was wrong.  I could not simply because at that point I had the attitude that I didn’t understand (and I don’t) how this could have happened to a Christian.  That wasn’t where my problem with prayer was.  What came next was an issue with pride. I assumed it happened because I was a better Christian.  Oh how God will slap us down when we become so holier-than-thou. 

Cathy also asks us to look for evidence of God’s supreme existence and more.  Cathy talked about those who don’t believe in God. She made a valid point that if she is wrong then she’s no worse off for believing is something that didn’t exist whereas, the other way around, the non-believer proven wrong is doomed to spiritual death.

I asked a very good Mormon friend who was raised Southern Baptist a question one day. She was talking with me about not believing in the rapture. She told me her parents prayed for her constantly because they felt she was wrong.  I asked her what would happen if the rapture I believe in happened and she was left behind. Her response was that she would pray that she would live long enough to repent.  I’ve heard the same thing from a Jewish friend whose daughter became a Christian. She believes we Christians have set up a very nice religion.  I asked her the same question I’d asked my Mormon friend and her response was the same.

I would encourage you to get and read this book.  Study it.  Use it to help you reach out to those who don’t know the Lord.  If you are one of my followers who don’t believe in Christ then get and read this book to prove me wrong.  This is what one of my Messianic Jewish friends did. He studied the Christian Bible to prove a friend wrong and found God in doing so.

.  I have recently added an “Inspirational” Genre to my classroom and will place a copy of this on my school shelves for those who wish to delve deeper into their beliefs. I will highly recommend this book to everyone I meet

Mastercraft Coloring Book for Grown-Ups

Genre: Coloring Book
Source:  I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

When I was asked to review this book I jumped on it.  I am always looking for adult coloring pages to help me relax.  I have a folder of individual coloring sheets I have found online to download. When I clicked on the link to look at this book I was surprised to see it was an ebook.  My first concern was how I was supposed to color the book.  The end of the book has a link to download the PDF version. I did that and immediately picked out four pictures to color.  These pictures are fun and whimsical as you can see from the cover above. I printed a whimsical cat, owl, a fun beachy type picture and a picture with mushrooms and leaves that reminded me of something from the 70s.  I enjoyed coloring the pictures.  The other thing I like about this book is that at times my granddaughter wants to color pictures like this. She's never been one to color Disney type pictures.  I know that this is something she would want to color as well.  I definitely will recommend this book. If I have a favorite picture all I have to do is print it over again.

Two Unique Items

Two very unique items.  I received them in exchange for my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

The Children's Pack of Frames by Bryan Canniff

From Good Reads:
This is a pack of pre-printed frames for children's art. Just draw, crayon, or paint in the frames and you have a framed masterpiece to hang or give to Grandma. London artist Emma Rios created the bold decorative frames.

My Thoughts:

I actually received two sets of these to review in exchange for an honest review.  The first set had a coating on them.  What we discovered was when my grandchildren used water based markers they tended to smear.  For my four year old grandson this turned into a beautiful watercolor look within the frame.  That is because his arm kept going over the wet marker.  His sister used crayons on it successfully.  With the second set those same watercolor markers worked great and were vibrant. My granddaughter made a birthday card/gift for her grandfather out of one of them. I have mine hanging on my wall.  She spent several hours making gifts to take with her when she visits her dad who has just returned from deployment. She made one not only for him, but for her brothers and step-mom. She said she liked that she didn't have to find a frame for it because it was done.  These are great for kids of all ages. I've had grand kids ages 4 to 9 create on these and they had a blast.  I am so thrilled I was allowed to review them.

Imagination Will Take You Everywhere (Doodle Art Alley Books volume 1 by Samantha Snyder

From Goodreads:
Explore the Magic of Doodle Art.

Imagination Will Take You Everywhere shares 50 doodle art images of inspiring sayings, quotes, and words printed on one side of the page for all ages to color.

Quotes from famous authors include Emily Dickinson, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Benjamin Franklin, John Keats, Abraham Lincoln, Eleanor Roosevelt, William Shakespeare, and more. The book also includes sayings and words from Be Kind, Courage, and Dream Big to Enjoy the Journey, Faith, and Hope.Each doodle art image has been carefully selected to provide plenty of enjoyment, inspiration, and relaxation .

My Thoughts:
I've been doing a lot of doodling and coloring of doodles and mandalas.  When given the opportunity to try out this doodle book and review it, I responded with a resounding YES PLEASE!  In this day and age our stress levels are higher.  We can't always get out and do things that will reduce our stress level. For me, when I would come home late from work, have to fix dinner then deal with my mother who now lives with us, I was not always able to go out and do something to reduce my stress levels from the day.  However, I could sit and relax while doodling and coloring, while making sure my mom was safe and sound.  The difference between what I had been coloring and what this book is all about is simple.  I'd been coloring pictures, or creating my own doodles.  Yes I have three journals of doodles. I opened this book and realized there was an inspirational saying on each and every page.  The drawings are incorporated around the words.  I tried colored pencils, twist up crayons, regular crayons, permanent markers and water color markers.  All of them work quite well. I have not tried my water color pencils yet.  The key word there is yet.  It will be coming, I'm just not sure when.  I really loved the inspirational sayings. Not only do you calm down and relax while coloring, but you get inspired by the quotes.  Definitely recommending this to all of my friends who color like me. 

Draw in Perspective By this Weekend by Liron Yankonsky

Genre: Informational, Art

Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I’ve always had an issue with perspective. Tht may be because no onne has ever taught me. The author shows step by step how to do this. The pictures, instructions and explanations make it easy to learn. There are a lot of examples. The only art class I’ve ever taken was for elementary art. It never covered shading or light source. However, the one project we had to do, my professor pointed out, in front of my fellow classmates, my perspective and light source were wrong but didn’t explain why, or how to fix it.  I was well aware that the picture was wrong but couldn’t figure out on my own why.

Since I’ve found this book and his method was so helpful I am willing to check out his other books. We need more people willing to take what some of us consider to be so difficult and point out ways we can understand it and realize that with practice it is not all that difficult.

Visit my websites:

VeganShape.co.il - An Israeli website aimed at vegan athletes and bodybuilders.

Lironyan.com - My personal blog.

Kindness Wins by Galit Breen

Genre: Non-Fiction, Informational, Teens and Adults

Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I originally agreed to read and review this book because it sounded like something I needed on my school shelves.  I had no idea how right I would be.  This book was written after two major events in

 the author's life.  The first event involved an article she had written for The Huffington Post. She suddenly found herself a victim of cyberbullying.  The second event was her daughter wanting to post things to social media.  Because of her previous experience she realized how important it was to teach her daughter social responsibility on social media.   This review came at a most opportune time in my school year.  We recently had a group of kids making negative comments to each other through something as simple as clapping.  Clapping toward a person was the same thing as calling them a very negative name.  When I spoke to each of my classes and explained that this was a form of bullying and would not be tolerated and that administration had been alerted to this form of bullying it stopped, or so I thought.  Two days later a young lady asked to show me her Instagram. She was upset by the next level these students had taken the clapping.  They were told to mention the name of the person and to send the clap on through to their followers to gather claps.  She was very disturbed by this.  For this reason I am glad I read the book this weekend.

This book has taught me a parent of grown children and a teacher several things.  First I need to make sure I check and double check my own responses.  I need to take time to address my students on the issue of social responsibility on social media.  I've seen several of them on Facebook and I have had private conversations about what they are posting.  It seems that I should just assume that not all parents are going to teach their children and I will do so. This week is our last week before Spring Break and end of the quarter.  I am going to dedicate one of those days to this lesson.

Lessons can be taken straight from her table of contents.  We must always remember that there is someone on the other side of the screen.  One of the most important things she talked about was not talking about someone's body.  That means good or bad.  My favorite was Chapter 6, "If You Wouldn't Say It or Show It to Your Mama, Keep It Offline". This is the one I am going to start my class with.  I need to remind my students that "The Internet Isn't Permanent, But It Is Public and It Is Loud" (Chapter 8).  Students don't think about this at all. Chapter's 9 and 10 are the other two that I find so important to discuss with my students.  Chapter 9 is called "Just Because You See It, Doesn't Mean It's Yours".  Kids seem to have a real problem, as do some adults, understanding this. Finally, Chapter 10 teaches that we are responsible for every word we write online.  Just because we post something as anonymous doesn't mean we aren't responsible.  I guess I've always figured if I was ashamed to put my name to it then I didn't need to post it.  

This is a book that all parents and teachers should read and share with their kids.  It is probably one of the most valuable books around.  It teaches lessons that not only kids but adults need to know as well.

About the Author

Galit Breen was a classroom and reading teacher for ten years. She has a master's degree in education and a bachelor's degree in human development. In 2009, she launched a career as a freelance writer entrenched in social media. Since then, her work has been featured in various online magazines including Brain, Child, The Huffington Post, TIME, and xoJane. Breen lives in Minnesota with her husband, three children, and a ridiculously spoiled miniature golden doodle. You can learn more about Galit by visiting:

Blog:  http://TheseLittleWaves.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/galitbreen

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/GalitBreen

Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/galitbreen/

Instagram:  https://instagram.com/galitbreen/

Google +:  https://plus.google.com/app/basic/101326805216591048482

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5769668.Galit_Breen?from

Chinese Turkestan: A Photographic Journey Through an Ancient Civilization by Ryan Pyle

Genre: Photographic Journal

Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Ryan Pyle is well known around the world through his writing for newspapers and magazines and his wonderful photographs. In his book Chinese Turkestan he is able to capture the everyday life of the Chinese people, and give us a look at what few would ever be able to see.

There is a raw beauty as you look at the old buildings in contrast to the new construction.  There is a lot of construction as old buildings are torn down to make better, earthquake resistant buildings.  When looking at these photographs you often feel as if you have traveled back in time.  There are horse drawn carts alongside old cars. There are large markets everywhere.  Many in the markets sell items they have learned to make from previous generations, such as knives and other metalwork pieces.  The people are predominantly Muslim.  There are mosques everywhere.  A lot of their customs are things we no longer allow in the United States, such as cock fights.  This look at old and new gives us the impression that time runs slower there.  As busy and bustling as things are, looking at the pictures creates the illusion that everything these people have not made a lot of forward progress.  It is as if they are stuck in a simpler time, however it still seems as hectic as today.

This is a wonderful book.  As I looked at the photographs I kept wondering what the people in them were thinking.  I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would definitely read more by this author.

Links to his work:

Book Title: Chinese Turkestan (on Amazon)

Link : Click Here

YouTube Video of Images

LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgqXLEjN74M

Annenberg Centre for Photography Lecture (Los Angeles)

LINK: http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/54072887

BBC World Interview - Ryan Pyle on Chinese Turkestan

LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHtL5fqv-zM

HiFi HD Television Interview - Ryan Pyle on Chinese Turkestan

LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnZ10qV-Rt0

Trivia For Adults by Joe Hewitt

Genre:  Puzzles and Games

I really enjoyed thisbook.  The trivia lover in your life will too.The author has created 620 questions, which is enough for several games.  This is a way to have some good clean fun.  If you are like me it is a way to learn some unknown facts that are quite interesting. I enjoyed just reading this through for the information.  I have a friend who loves to sit with friends and play trivia games so this is definitely a recommendation for them.  I was also thinking that this would make the perfect gift for that trivia lover you know.
I received a copy from the author in exchange for my honest reivew.

The Repurposed and Upcycled Life - Michelle Rayburn

The Repurposed and Upcycled Life Blog Tour
 

 

 

About the Book

Life is frustrating sometimes. It can be hard and ugly. Hurt, frustration and regret can make everything seem hopeless. But, God has a plan for everything in our lives. He offers unconditional love and grace, despite our imperfections. He offers hope where we see only despair. 

Discover the repurposed and upcycled life. This is a life where no experience is wasted. Like the best trash-to-treasure decorating project, it's alife where God repurposes our juky experiences. It's where he upcycles---turns hopeless situations into something so much better than we ever imagined---when we let him work with the trash. When we surrender to his leading, god demonstrates his creativity in revealing how our greatest disappointments, mistakes, and painful experiences can be priceless treasures.

Through humor and stories, Michelle Rayburn addresses how to unpack emotional baggage and let go of the past. Readers will learn how to confront perfectionism and negative attitudes, change perspective on circumstances, and let go of regret and shame. It's an opportunity to learn how to build positive healthy relationships, and dream big and live with purpose. Through inspiration from God's Word and examples from everyday life, readers will discover the joy–filled, hope–rich way of viewing their past, present, and future.



 

My Thoughts
The title of this came at just the right time.  We were going through things in our house to see what we could get rid of and what we could recycle or repurpose.  This book does the same thing with events in our life.  The whole gist of this is that when you look at your life and things you are holding onto you need to  ask yourself if you need to continue to hold on to it. Is it important? Chances are it is not. Can you use it to change things in your life to improve things?  I have always seen myself as a fairly positive person.  However, there are areas in my life that when I bring them back up, turn into something very negative.  I had to ask myself if it was doing good or harm in my life?  I had to give myself permission to let go of it.  It definitely was not something God wanted me to hold on to.  It is like holding on to a grudge.   God has so much more for us.  This book is full of ways to help you do just that.  If there is one book you need to read this year it is this book.  I will recommend it to all of my readers and my family and friends.

ABOUT MICHELLE

Michelle wants to help you connect the dots between faith, creativity, and everyday life and discover the joy of finding God in the most unexpected places. Years ago, she left her career as a registered nurse to raise her family, and along the way, she discovered her true passion for writing, speaking, and singing.

Michelle has written more than 100 articles for publication, and this is her debut book. Her writing has also appeared in Christian Communicator, Focus on the Family, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Vista, Queen of the Castle Magazine, and more. She has also written several Bible studies for ChristianBibleStudies.com, and does freelance editing and copy writing.

New Release for Susan kaye Quinn

NEW RELEASE

Second Daughter (The Dharian Affairs #2)     Assassins, skyships, and royal intrigue... Kindle, Kobo, AllRomance   Second Daughter is the second book in The Dharian Affairs trilogy (Third Daughter, Second Daughter, First Daughter). This steampunk-goes-to-Bollywood (Bollypunk!) romance takes place in an east-Indian-flavored alternate world filled with skyships, assassins, royal romance and intrigue.

Reviews of the first book, Third Daughter:

"The author fuses carriages, steam trains, airships and clockwork with the rich eastern culture that underlies Bollywood storytelling..." - Cherie Reich

"The political intrigue, the steampunk gadgets, and the beautiful costumes kept me in wonderment." - Tony Benson

“Third Daughter is vividly breathtaking. Quinn delivers royal intrigue, exotic locations, and sweeping romance. Not to be missed!” - Pavarti Tyler, author of Shadow on the Wall

  ON SALE - 99cents until 7/21 Third Daughter (The Dharian Affairs #1)

Kindle, Nook, Kobo, iTunes, AllRomance (also available in print) The Third Daughter of the Queen wants her birthday to arrive so she'll be free to marry for love, but rumors of a new flying weapon may force her to accept a barbarian prince's proposal for a peace-brokering marriage. Desperate to marry the charming courtesan she loves, Aniri agrees to the prince's proposal as a subterfuge in order to spy on him, find the weapon, and hopefully avoid both war and an arranged marriage to a man she does not love.

NEW

Both books now have a map!

Download the map free here

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Thank you so much for helping me get this book out in the world! Win paperback copy of Third Daughter  $10 Amazon Gift Card

check out the gorgeous formatting of the print book!

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