Harry Potter Re-Read Challenge, It's Monday, what are you reading? July 23, 2014

Monday! What are you Reading is a meme began by Sheila at Book Journeys as a way to share what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and what is in store for the upcoming week. It's also a great chance to see what others are reading. I first learned about it from Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki of Unleashing Readers and have become a regular linked up blog. Thanks #PLN

My son is way above me as a reader, reading mostly classical history non-fiction. Our dinner conversations frequently center around the Roman empire and battle strategies. I love learning but I have trouble keeping up with who was whom in the classical world. I listen carefully and try to ask questions that will provoke a response letting him speak at length about his passion. I understand how important it is as a reader to be able to regurgitate the material and to express your thoughts and opinions. This is one of the reasons I take part in a Twitter #virtualbookclub. I look forward to this monthly exchange of thoughts and opinions based on middle grade books. I just don't know many adults in my daily life who like to chat about kids books like I do. I am a firm believer in reading the books I recommend to children so I read a LOT of kid's books at all levels.

 Harry Potter Reading Challenge

ANYWAYS...I challenged my son and his cousin to join me in re-reading the Harry Potter series. I have gotten lazy about reading them every July (my birthday gift to Harry) and have fallen back on watching the movies on ABC Family. The trouble is, the movies leave out some of my favorite parts and I want to remember those parts. We started this past weekend. My son is already on H.P. and the Order of the Phoenix. I am on H. P. and the Chamber of Secrets and having to listen to it on audio book at work and using my print copy at home. I am a big audio book fan.

Re-reading Harry Potter has been so much fun. We quiz each other on the tiniest details. Here are a few quiz questions we have posed.

• Which day and month were James and Lilly Potter murdered by Voldemort?
• How many Sickles are there to a Galleon?
• What does it cost to send a message by owl?
• What was the number on the Gringott's vault that contained the Sorcerer's Stone?

  J. K. Rowling did an excellent job of describing the settings and making the wizard world's food sound so delicious. Kids love detailed descriptions of unusual food in books. I spent years wishing I could eat Turkish Delight after reading The Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe. We are both enjoying our re-read.

Has it been a while since you read Harry Potter? Why not join us? Give it a go and let me know in the comments section.

Well, other than a lot of barcodes that I have been deleting out of my library catalog, I have  pretty much been sticking to Harry Potter.

How has your reading week been going?

My Must Read List for 2014 #IMWAYR January 6, 2014

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme began by Sheila at Book Journeys as a way to share what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and what is in store for the upcoming week. It's also a great chance to see what others are reading. I first learned about it at Teach Mentor Texts. 

'Tis the season to wipe the slate and start a new reading list for 2014. So many exciting titles are coming out in 2014 and so many more that I never found time to read in 2013. This is the marvelous thing about a new year-it's a fresh start and opportunities abound.

I decided to plunge into a few reading challenges and promise myself to do a better job of keeping track of all that I read and updating My Reading Life Door monthly to motivate my student readers. 

First off, I accepted Alyson Beecher's challenge at Kid Lit Frenzy to read non-fiction titles this year and blog about my progress in quarterly posts. This is easy to manage since we only need to do quarterly updates on our progress. I like it!

#MustReadin2014 Challenge

Carrie Gelson of There is a Book For That posted an Twitter invitation to join a reading challenge that she and Maria Selke from Maria’s Melange are hosting. I already have a never ending TBR pile so I decided to join in and set up a Goodreads shelf called #MustReadin2014. I really enjoy reading along with others-a perfect example of why I love host and take part in book clubs. They are a fun way to chat with other folks who enjoy talking about kids books. (Button created by Linda Baie from Teacher Dance).

My Goodreads #MustReadin2014 List
These are a few of the books that I will be reading this year for the #MustReadin2014 Challenge.
I am taking advantage of Pic Monkey to help me get today's blog post up so I can get back to bed and nurse a bad cough.

Here's the #virtualbookclub 2014 Reading List! 1st chat 1/20/14!

Be sure to join us for some great book conversations with fellow bookie folks. 

What I Read This Summer 2013 Reading Challenge

This week I issued a Summer Read Challenge to my entire school asking that they keep a reading log of the books they are reading this summer and then create a poster or creative project to be displayed in a highly visible location when the new school year begins. Here is my letter:

Dear ECDC Family, 

One of my professional goals for 2013-2014  is to redefine how I “Walk the Walk, Talk the Talk” as a way to motivate students in their path to becoming life-long learners and readers. I am issuing a Summer Reading Challenge to all ECDC Staff and Teachers to keep a log of “What I Read This Summer” and then create your own version of a What I Read This Summer door, poster, or creative project.

·        Cha-Ching! All ECDC participants who create and post their “What I Read This Summer” project, in a highly visible location for all students to see, will receive a $20 Gift Certificate to use at the ECDC Book Fair in October.

I can visualize Valerie’s long list of Nursing textbooks that she will be plowing through this summer that can serve to inspire a student wanting to become a nurse one day. Something so simple can prove to be a spark that ignites a flame within a student.

Nurse Valerie’s What I Read This Summer 2013

1. A Nurse’s Guide to Boogers, Lice, and Wee Wee Accidents by Iwetta May Pants

2. The School Nurse from The Black Lagoon by Mike Thaler (real book)

3. The Thick Encyclopedia of All Things School Nurses Should Know by O. Verload

How Can I Become an Advocate for Reading?

We have all seen mountains of research that indicate students are more likely to become readers when they have good reading role models. This article offers good examples of how to be a reading role model. Consider joining CCIRA-Corpus Christi International Reading Association for 2013-2014. I have the membership forms. Everyone is welcome to join us. We are working with CCISD to offer PLX credit hours for some of our meeting. Our membership consists of teachers, librarians, literacy coaches, principals, ITAs, and retired teachers.

Articles for Families as Reading Role Models:

Raising a Life Long Reader PBS Parents

Scholastic: Be A Reading Role Model

Here is my 2012 Summer Reads door as an example. 

I hope you accept my Reading Challenge for 2013! Happy Reading!