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Category Archives: Random Musings
What’s in a Name?
At the end of June, the American Library Association’s (ALA) Board of the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) voted to change the name of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award to the Children’s Literature Legacy Award. This decision caused a lot of fervor and uproar in the reading community.
Posted in Random Musings
Tagged as: ALA, ALSC, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Litte House on the Prairie, Prairie Fires, Wilder Award
Why Johnny Won’t Read
It’s been a busy four months since I last posted, and for that Dear Readers, I am sorry. The last week of August added a new title to my name: Professor. It also added a rich, new dimension to my life that I never expected. It has also kept me quite busy. Between my seventh and eighth graders and my first and second-year graduate students, I find myself fully immersed in literacy. And I love it!
I’ve been reading a lot during these months. And yes, I have failed to even post to my “What I’m Currently Reading” page.
Posted in Guys Read, Random Musings
Tagged as: Choosing Books, Class Library, covers, NCTE, YA Lit, YA Literature
Testy
This week my school is mired in state tests. It’s a tough week for teachers and students. So for obvious reasons I needed to share the following exchange:
I was signing out my test materials this morning when a colleague/friend/parent said to me, “You’re the reason my eighth grader goes to bed with a book every night.”
And as I carted my test supplies back to my room, I realizes that it just doesn’t matter what the tests show since the tests don’t measure a love of reading or a desire to be a lifelong reader. If my students have (re)discovered a love of reading than not only am I an effective teacher, but they are advanced-proficient in my book.
Posted in Random Musings, Uncategorized
Tagged as: Lifelong Reader, YA Lit, YA Literature, young adult lit, young adult literature
Should I Cover Up My Opinion?
As many of you know, I have pages on my blog, which get updated regularly – even if my blog doesn’t. One of the pages is a listing of my reviews of YA books. These reviews in their simplest form are simply one reader’s thoughts about a book. I recently finished and reviewed Cover-up by John Feinstein. I didn’t like the book. There were many reasons why I didn’t like it. This is my opinion and my opinion only. I gave the book one star. After I finished reviewing the book on Goodreads, the review posted to my Twitter account and the blog. And I went about my day.
I didn’t think twice about the review as I had seemingly more important things on my mind (like getting much needed highlights in my hair and what book I was going to read next). Later that day, I popped open my laptop cover to check in with my various social networking sites and maybe play some Angry Birds. Imagine my surprise when I had a response to my review. Who knew that people actually paid attention? However, that wasn’t as shocking as what followed.
Posted in Random Musings, Reluctant Reader
Tagged as: book reviews, John Feinstein, YA Lit, YA Literature, young adult lit, young adult literature
Book Blizzard
In a bizarre twist of fate two things are happening: 1)I’m writing a mid-week blog post & 2)I’m having a problem controlling the books I’m starting. Does this mean that the East Coast might finally be getting some snow? Is it a sign the world is going to end in 2012? I don’t know. Nor do I care. I declare the Reading Funk officially over! (for now)