What I'm Reading Monday -

Having the financial literacy lessons (well, and end of the term stuff) threw a wrench in my reading this week, but I'll get over it. At least I finished two books this week!

School

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins - Having the financial literacy stuff last week didn't give me much reading time. I'm guessing this week I won't get much further. So I'll actually bring this one home over break so I can get it finished.

Home

The Bone Season - Goal for this week is to get it done because I am getting tired of typing its title.

Finished

The Fallout by SA Bodeen - This is the sequel to The Compound, and I don't want to give too much away about the book - which is why it was a different book talk in class. I liked it just as much as The Compound, and I thought it dealt with "the fallout" from that situation very well. The questions you were left with at the end of the first book do get answered - with a few twists thrown in there. I did realize I do have some issues with her writing style; I think there's some excessive details that I don't really need and slow down my reading flow. But, it still has a good overall story line.

Bossypants by Tina Fey - Tina Fey is hilarious. And smart. And geeky. And kinda my hero. I would say that this is more a collection of essays on her life than a true memoir. It was good, and it didn't take me long to read at all.

What's Next

I have big plans for break - not counting the trip to see family. But, I do plan on reading quite a bit. My Kindle is already loaded so when I go on vacation on Saturday, I am ready. 

What I Know Right Now

I know I'm stressed.

The end of the quarter/semester always does this to me. It puts me on edge. Makes me panic. I don't have enough time - and I worry that I won't get everything done on time.

Those essays are weighing on my mind. They need to get done - and done soon so revisions can be done on them. But when do I find the time?

And that semester test still needs to be written. I've got to get that done so there are actual copies of it for next Wednesday - and so I can make a review sheet.

I know I'm not at panic mode yet, but I also know it can be close. It can happen at any minute.

And, right now, that scares me.


I know I need to keep finding time to workout. But that stresses me out. It's the first thing that goes to the wayside when I get stressed. And, I know that's silly because that's the one easy thing to help reduce stress I also know this would be easier if I didn't have to go to the Y and I could just run outside.

I know that I haven't done much today, but I've done a good job of continously writing in my journal. Now I just need to make sure to condense it and put it on the blog. I know I need to do that more often, but, I'm not good at it is. IT is hard to find time to carve out 10 minutes for that because there are so many other things I could be doing.

I know I'm tired. I know this is my fault because I know I need to go to bed sooner. But when it's time to got to sleep, I'm wide awake. And, I know this adds to my stress.

What I'm Reading Monday - Not much has changed

My reading has dropped off significantly in the past week. It's a little embarrassing. But, that's what happens when I have more grading, watch rather important football games, and have to get ready for Christmas.

School

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins - Again a reread. I barely remember any of this book. The ending ticked me off too much and I blocked the rest of it out.

Home

The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon - I realized why this book has taken me so long to get through. You get a lot of information dumped on you in the beginning without much explanation. Now that I've started using the glossary for all the words (made up for the book), it makes a little more sense. But, it's a lot of work, and I tend to not like books that are a lot of work. I read for enjoyment, not to make my head hurt.

Finished

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins - I liked this better the second time around. I think I wasn't reading as fast because if a book is fast-paced, I tend to read too fast and miss the small details that really bring out a  story. I didn't have to do that this time because I knew what was going to happen. I also thought the movie did a really good job with it and brought out a lot of those other little details.

Next up

I honestly don't know. I have the sequel to The Body of Christopher Creed, but there's several others I've got stacked up in various places I'd like to dig into. Christopher Rice's new book is at the top of that list, and I kinda went on a Kindle buying spree last week. I am a sucker for a book when they mark it down to $2. At least break is coming up soon, so I'll have more time to read. And with two 3-hour plane rides plus airport wait time, I'll have a lot of time.

What I'm Reading Monday - It's been a while

So, it has been three weeks since I've done a reading post. Oops. Probably because I was working on my word count (I didn't even come close to 50K words, but oh well). So, there's going to be plenty of books in this post.

School

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins: This is a reread. I realized when I was at the movie, I forgot most of what happened in the book. So, I started with The Hunger Games, and I'm going to re-read all three. Let's hope that this time I don't get as mad at Mockingjay.

Home

Still plugging away at The Bone Season. And by plugging away, I mean I've been lucky if I've read a chapter a week. I am a slacker.

Finished

The Hunger Games: Still liked it on the second read, and it still kept me on the edge of my seat. That's the real sign of a good book. This time, though, I had the movie characters pictured. I don't always like that.

Takedown Twenty by Janet Evanovich: If you can't tell by the title, this is the 20th book in the Stephanie Plum series. Evanovich's books always make me laugh. And this one was one different. I am getting tired of Stephanie not being able to pick between Ranger and Joe. 

The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider

This was the one I did a book talk on with the opening scene of the kid getting decapitated at Disneyland. It really was funny and I highly suggest it.

The Raft by S.A. Bodeen

I did a book talk on this one, too. She wrote The Compound. This one keeps you in the story just as much as The Compound did. However, I noticed that there are some holes in her writing. Nothing huge and nothing that would stop me from reading more of her stuff. But, enough that I noticed.

Soup by Jon Gordon

We read this as a staff book study book. A former student looked at it and said "Knipper, this is not a you book. Are you feeling OK?" It's pretty touchy feely, so I'll leave it at that.

Allegiant by Veronica Roth

I understand why so many people were in an uproar over the ending of this book. However, I felt it really worked and wrapped up the entire series. I get why people were upset, but we don't always get our way or wishes in a series (honestly, I was more upset about Hedwig dying. That still makes me mad). And it definitely wasn't anything that would urge me to send death threats (I didn't even send a strongly worded letter about Hedwig, so death threats are pretty much out of the question for about anything - especially if it is in a book.)

NaNoWriMo - What I Know So Far

We are now more than halfway through NaNoWriMo. Am I up to where I'm supposed to be word countwise? Um, not even close. I may catch up, but I may not. But, I've already learned some things through this process that should help me if I ever choose to do it again.

1. I'm not good at not revising while I write.
It's the editor in me. I want to go back and polish write away. But, in this situation, I know I need to just keep writing (I won't discuss how many times I get "just keep writing, just keep writing, just keep writing" in my head. Thanks Finding Nemo.) I can go back later and polish. This month is just concentrating and getting a word count done.

2. Know your characters!
Usually, I write by the seat of my pants. I got used to it as a reporter because typically you don't have time to make a detailed plan before you write an article - you just write. With this, though, I did have some notes and ideas (although I still don't have an end). But, I didn't really think about my character's motives, thoughts, feelings before I started writing. This has made dialog tough, and it's made coming up with their names even tougher (as of today, most of the character's are just referred to by their relationship to the main character).

3. Don't force writing.
Part of the reason I don't have my word count is that I haven't made myself write every day. I only write when I'm inspired to because if I force myself, it doesn't come out right.

4. Find inspiration, ideas everywhere and anywhere.
Keep your eyes open when you're out and about. You may get some weird idea for a scene -- or even a character. For example, as ridiculous as she was, I owe a very, very drunk girl at the Iowa Wild game a big thanks. Her antics have given me more than 2,000 words for one scene that I didn't know would be in the book but made a great comedic relief scene.

5. Any words are good words.
I may not be happy with what they actually are, but at least I'm writing. I honestly have never written this many words or stuck with a project for this long. So, that makes me really proud and happy. This book may never see the light of day, no one else may read it, and I may never go back through and revise, but it's there. I'll have finished it and written a book. And that's a huge accomplishment in itself.

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? - Two Weeks Worth of Books

I really meant to post last Monday since I was home sick, but when my migraine got so bad I couldn't even talk - I decided I shouldn't try to write a post. So, this week you get two weeks worth of books. 

School

Allegiant by Veronica Roth - Full disclosure: I really can't remember the finer details of the first two books in this series. I am going to have to go back and review them. However, in this one, you do find out more about how the factions started and why they started - as well as what's going on beyond the boundaries. I'm about halfway through, and I don't want to give much away. I'm wondering what the ending will be because I know Roth got death threats (not kidding) about it. And that kinda disgusts me. Things aren't always going to end like you want them to - but that gives you no right to threaten someone else's life. I probably won't book talk this one when I'm finished because I rarely do that with books that aren't the first in the series. But, it should be on the shelf by the end of the week.

Home

I focused on Me Before You at home last week (see blurb below). So, I still haven't touched The Bone Season in a few weeks. I'm not starting another one at home, though, so I will go back to it this week. And honestly, the only reason I started Me Before You was because I was too lazy to go downstairs to grab it and wanted a book to read before I went to sleep.

Finished

Fellowship of the Ring by JRR Tolkien: Like I said earlier, I wanted to reread this because the first time I read it, I didn't have the time to really pay attention to it like it deserves. I am glad I did reread it, but I still have some issues with Tolkien. He is an excellent writer and does an amazing job of creating worlds. But, I just don't like his writing style. It gets too bogged down with all that creating. But, this is still a great story. It will be a little bit before I tackle Two Towers though. There's a lot of walking in that one - although my retelling of it is hilarious.

Going Bovine by Libba Bray - This book cracked me up. Cameron has to go on a journey to save the world while he is dying from mad cow disease. It is a trippy book (a goth punk fairy who has pink hair and combat boots is all you need to know that it is trippy) but it is funny and entertaining. I'll do a book talk on this one next week.

Me Before You by JoJo Moyes - This was not a light read at all. Louisa Clark is 26 and still lives at home and has no real career for the future. She takes a job as a caretaker for a quadriplegic - Will - but soon realizes that her job means more to his parents than her just making sure he has someone to talk to. Will has made a very serious decision about his life, and they want Louisa to try to change his mind. This doesn't end like you expect it, and it made me tear up. But, this was probably one of the best books I read this year. 

Chupacabra by Roland Smith - This series is still good. There's one more left in it, so it will be interesting to see how he concludes it. I won't tell more about it from my last post because I don't want to give anything away. But, if you like Roland Smith, you'll still like this.

Tried - and dropped

King Dork - I read this for one 10-minute read in Strategic Reading. I couldn't get into it, and I kinda wanted to poke my eyes out while I was reading it. There's too many other books out there I want to read, so it went back on the shelf. I probably won't book talk this one because I wouldn't be able to say many nice things about it.

Up Next

At school - The Raft by SA Bodeen (she wrote The Compound)

At home - The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

NaNoWriMo - Taking the Plunge

One of my goals for this quarter was to post on the blog more and to write more with you guys. But that was before I decided to do NaNoWriMo - the challenge to write a novel or at least 50,000 words of a novel during the month of November.

I'm not sure what crazy has overtaken me on this. It's not like I've never thought about writing a book ... That is one thing on my bucket list. But in a month? And during the school year? That's super crazy. 

So, I have been writing more during quick write time, but I haven't been good about posting. And in the next month, I'm going to be posting even less. I have a feeling I'll be using quick write time to get some extra words in. But, I most likely won't post anything I write during this time. I don't even want to give you the plot because I don't want to feel like I've completely locked myself in. I could see myself occasionally posting some excerpts but never the entire thing. 

I will be writing with you - just not what you're writing about. And I will post my progress as the month goes on. Then, on December 1, I'll give you a rundown of how it went, what I learned and if I reached my goal.

What I'm Reading Monday - The piles are getting out of control again.

I was doing good about keeping the number of books I had going down ... and then I got bored with stuff at home. Oops. It's still better than some weeks.

Home

The Bone Season by Samanthan Shannon - Haven't read any more of this. I don't think I even physically touched it. Oops.

The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien - This is what I focused on last week. I am almost done with The Fellowship of the Ring (the first book within the big book). The only other time I read this series was in college, and I think I do appreciate it more now. I have more time to enjoy it, and Tolkien does take time.

School

This was where I fell down and went boom on my limiting books idea. Blame conferences because I'd get bored, start a new book, and then stick it in my bag to take home. 

Chupacabra by Roland Smith - This is the third book in his Cryptid Hunters series. It's been a while since I'd read the other two, so I couldn't fully remember where it left off. Luckily, he put in character and plot summaries at the front for the synopsis. I really planned on finishing this one this weekend, but it didn't leave my bag, which didn't leave my car. Right now, you've got the good guys trying to rescue their friend from the bad guys - who is the grandfather of their friend. 

Going Bovine by Libba Bray - Not too far into this one. But, it's about a kid who gets mad cow disease.

A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park - This one is really short and is a dual narrative. One narrative takes place in 1985 and the other in 2008. It follow the issues in Sudan and centers around water and war. It is based on a true story.

Finished

Eye of Minds by James Dashner - There was a big twist at the end of this one. I'll eventually do a book talk on it.

What I'm Reading Monday - Ok, it's really Tuesday...

I'm one day late on posting this. Blame not having students yesterday. When Monday is a no student day, I get thrown off and forget to do things (like post this list or update my Wiki...). This week I decided I was going to get books finished that I had started a while ago. I've got two at home that I've been reading forever; one I finally finished. The other one is still gathering dust (literally); I'm not sure if I'll ever finish that one.

Home

The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon - This takes place in the future in London and is in an alternate reality. There was an event during Victorian England (end of the 19th century) that veered what we know as history off its real course. Paige is the main character and is a clairvoyant (she can walk through people's dreams). Everything is tightly monitored by the Scion (the government), but Paige is captured, arrested, and whisked off to Oxford - which has been in quarantine or off-limits for almost two centuries. That's as far as I've gotten in it.

Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkein - I need to reread these, and I decided that I'd start them today. I don't know how long I'll stick with it, though.

School

The Eye of Minds by James Dashner (the guy who wrote the Maze Runner series) - I've just started this book, so I don't have much of an opinion on it. It takes place in a future where almost everyone is in a virtual reality game. From what I can tell, there's a guy who is trying to control people inside of it, and there's a government agency trying to fight it.

Finished

Fire & Ash by Jonathan Maberry - This was a good ending to the Rot & Ruin series (I've got all of them if you're interested). There were some points that were confusing, and I didn't think everything was well explained. But, I still enjoyed reading the series.

I, Q #4: The Alamo by Roland Smith - I started this series this spring and was immediately hooked. I had to read them back to back because each one left off with a cliffhanger. However, I wasn't as sucked into this one. I think it had just been too long, and I had forgotten some of the things that had happened to Q and Angela after they had been sucked into a plot to help capture terrorists. It was nice because there was a refresher on the characters and the plot up until now. I still like this series, but I think I may wait to read the next one until the entire series is finished.

Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult - I started this one a long time ago. It's one of the Iowa High School book award nominees, but I'm not going to book talk it nor will I put it on my shelves. Now, I know this seems somewhat hypocritical because you know my feelings on banning books. But, I really don't feel comfortable having this one in my classroom. I'm not telling you that you can't read it, but I also don't think it is quite age appropriate for 14 to 15 year olds. This wasn't one of my favorites of hers, either. I'm not going to go into details about it - if you want to know more, check it out on Amazon.

Oh, Hannah

I would never say that any of these things that have happened to Hannah aren't horrible - especially when you add them together. But, I don't think she went about trying to solve them or get over them in the right way. Actually, I don't think she even tried to solve them at all. Instead, she chose to just let them fester inside of her, which made everything worse.

I really don't think she did a good job of advocating for herself or trying to get help. Yes, she went to Mr. Porter, but was he the best choice? Why didn't she try other teachers? The one from peer communications probably would have been a much better choice. She really seemed like she wanted to help her students. I don't think Mr. Porter felt the same way.

She also shouldn't have given up after only talking to her parents once. It is understandable that they were caught up in their own problems. But she was their only child. She needed to make them see that she really needed them. It's like I tell you guys all the time - I'm not a mind reader; I can't help you if you don't make it clear you need help. Sometimes, you have to really "scream" to be heard - and I'm not convinced Hannah did that.

I'm not fully blaming Hannah. It's obvious she was struggling with some serious issues, and that can cloud your thinking and judgment. But, I don't think she also truly tried to get help.

Like Dumbledore said: Help is always there for those who ask. (OK, that's paraphrased, but you get my gist). And, I'm not so convinced Hannah really asked.

2nd Quarter Goals

Overall, I'm happy with what I did first quarter. I always think I have room to improve, but I didn't have major concerns.

Here are my goals for next quarter, though:

1. Write more often with you guys.
         I did a good job of this last year, but this year I haven't done as well. I need to step it up.
2. Post on the blog more.
   This basically goes along with No. 1. The more I write, the more I will post. Logically, anyway.
3. Keep up with at least three book talks per week.
   Not as worried about this because this is pretty much a habit.
4. Give better comments on your writing.
   I never feel like I do a good enough job of this. But I'll keep working on it.

What I'm Reading Monday - Quick turnaround

Not much has changed since my last post since it was only three days ago, but I do want to get back on track with posting what I'm reading on Monday - so I didn't want to skip again.

School

Still working through Fire & Ash, but it is a long one so that's not too surprising. I think my next book will be the new series from James Dashner - who wrote The Maze Runner. 

Home

I finally started Covet by Tracey Garvis Graves. Tracey is a good friend of mine, so I've heard about this book for ages - long before it was even going to be published. This is written as a multiple narrative between a wife, husband and a police officer the wife becomes interested in. The husband, Chris, has had a rough year; he loses his job, which results in him becoming depressed. This ends up with the wife, Claire, feeling lonely once he does get a job that requires him to travel almost all week. Because of this, she starts a flirtation with Daniel, a police officer who showed interest in her after he pulled her over. 

Next up at home: The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon. This one was recommended to me by my husband's youngest cousin and LewElla R. Although, this might change because Christopher Rice's book, which comes out tomorrow, looks really good, too.

Finished

I finally finished The Silence of Boneventure Arrow by Rita Leganski. I can't say I was that excited about it. It was interesting, but I thought it had a lot of holes in the plot and a lot of unanswered questions. 

Friday Reads - A bit delayed from Monday

Since I was home sick Monday, I didn't get to do my normal what I was reading post. I had every intention of writing one from home that day, and then I felt so crappy, I just didn't have the energy to do anything but sit like a lump. So, I just moved it to a Friday Reads post instead. And here's my list (and finally, it's a bit smaller).

Home

The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow by  Rita Leganski: I'm still not sure about this one. Bonaventure is now 6 and dealing with issues at school because he doesn't talk. But, he is also the only one who can see his father, who was murdered before he was born. It's different, but I'm not sure I like it still.

School

Fire & Ash by Jonathan Mayberry: This is the last in the Rot & Ruin series. Even though these books are thick, they are a quick read. It's going to be interesting to see what happens with the Reapers, especially when the last chapter I read ended with them finding a way to kill everyone.

Finished

For the Win by Cory Doctorow - Doing a book talk on, so you can hear about it in class.

Juliet by Anne Fortier - I started this because I went to go see Romeo and Juliet on Broadway (and got some good ideas on new ways to talk to you guys about it because of how they staged it and the information they provided at the play) because I thought it was fitting. It's kinda like  a Dan Brown book. Guiletta finds out she is a desendant of THE Juliet. The book weaves in  a mystery of how she has to stop the curse and tells the original story of Romeo and Juliet (yes, there are historical characters that the play was based off). I'll actually book talk this one while we're reading the play in February. 

My Best Race. 

It's Monday, What Are You Reading - The slacker edition

Just go back to last Monday's post. Nothing has changed. I didn't finish any books last week, and  I didn't start any new ones. This is VERY odd for me.

Next week I promise to have different books.

Why I Cannot Be Replaced

• Who would harass the freshmen?
• My friends would miss out on book recommendations.
• No one would get my chocolate chip cookies or sugar cookies anymore (and I've been told both are some of the best).
• My husband goes a little nutty without me for a few days - I'd hate to see what would happen if I was never coming back.
• The world would lose a little humor from my airheadedness, stubbornness, and general cluelessness.

What I'm Reading - A Slightly Smaller List

At school:

I'm just getting ready to start For The Win by Cory Doctrow. I haven't even opened it yet, so I can't give any info about it.

At home:
Same list as last week - and I haven't touched any of those three except for the race book. Tomorrow, I'll start Covet by my friend, Tracey Garvis-Graves.

So, I guess the title is a bit of a lie because I'll actually be reading more books by the end of the day tomorrow.

What I finished last week:

All of these I'll be doing book talks on, so I'm not going to give much info on here about them.
Escape from Camp 14
Across the Universe by Beth Revis
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Students' Voices

It isn't easy to hand over the reins to other people. Especially when we, as adults, don't think that teens/kids know what they're talking about. How could they? They don't have life experiences or general life wisdom.

But, they aren't complete idiots. They know what works for them, which is why I think students should have some say in their education.

I'm not saying they should sit down and tell teachers what they need to do or write the curriculum on their own, but it doesn't hurt to hear what they have to add. Sometimes, it could be more helpful than a bunch of "oldsters" hanging out for a day determining the next 180 days for 14-year-olds.

At the end of every unit, my students do a reflection on their writing. One of the questions I include on this is "What could I have done differently as your teacher to help you be more successful in this unit?" (And saying "Not make me do it" is clearly stated as not being an option for an answer.). This simple question has helped me frequently since I've added it in. Being an "expert" or having done the unit so often, there are things I overlook. Things that I take for granted because they are obvious to me or done so often, I don't think it needs to be taught. That question and answers clue me in to what I've missed. I've also been given ideas on teaching techniques that could help some kids that are different from my normal style. This feedback is a great gauge for me to determine what I'm doing is effective.

So, while some of the suggestions may be off the wall, some of them are helpful. And, I'll continue asking for your input.

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? - Too much right now!

I've got several books going right now. I'm having a hard time getting excited about anything right now.

At school:

Escape from Camp 14 by Blaine Harden: This is about a man who was born in a North Korean political prisoner camp and managed to escape. He's the only person to have done this successfully. The book details his accounts of the horrors that go on in these camps (even though North Korea denies they even exist). I've just started this one, so I don't have much to say about it yet.


At home:
Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult: Zoe and her husband have tried for years to have a baby, but they've been unsuccessful. After another miscarriage, Zoe is ready to try in vitro again, but her husband refuses and ends up asking for a divorce. I followed the story up to this point, and then it gets a little different. I stopped reading it because it just wasn't holding my interest. I'll end up finishing it, though.

The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow  by Rita Leganski: Just started this one, so I don't have much about it yet. I got it on my Kindle because it was an Amazon daily deal - a book for only $3! Bonaventure is a mute child - so he doesn't speak at all. But, he has amazing hearing abilities. Right now, he's still in the womb, but it follows him and discusses what he can hear and how he reacts to it.

My Best Race: 50 Runners and the Finish Line They'll Never Forget by Chris Cooper: Even though is a collection about runners and their races, this has more to do with overcoming any challenge. This one I'm just reading when I have a few minutes because it is easy to pick up and read one race.

Stressing Out

Usually I am very organized when it comes to trips. I start a list of things I need to take about two weeks out, and I even start piling things up around then to pack. I don't have to worry too much about shampoo, soap, etc., because I have all of those in travel sizes in my "go bag."

I leave for California for four days on Friday. I have none of this done.

I don't know much of what we're doing except running a 10K Saturday, the half on Sunday and then a family reunion after that.

I don't even know where we are eating (which is a MAJOR thing for me; I usually know down to the minute when it comes to food).

However, I do have my sub notes ready, and that never happens until the day before. So that's a little odd.

I am a little sad because I won't be bringing Dutch letters to the reunion (my family is originally from Pella) because it was insanely expensive to ship them out there. But, it's not like we ever have a shortage of food (we are a family of food lovers; I'm one of the few lucky ones in the family though who can eat and eat and eat and not gain weight. There is some bitterness about this).

At least, I don't have much going on any night after school this week, so I will have plenty of time to get this all done. I'm just not used to waiting until the last minute.

Buckle up!

The beginning of a new year holds so much promise. Of course, most of us usually come in with a mix of nerves and excitement or even dread. Yes, even your teachers still feel that way each and every first year of school believe it or not.

Even though I dread having to get up early every day, and it takes me a while to get used to not being able to do things when I want and only getting 20 minutes to eat lunch, once I get into the swing of things, I love my job.

As dorky as it sounds, it is really cool to see all my students grow and change throughout their freshman year. You come in all scared and quiet and leave a little more confident. Don't get me wrong, you are still a little idiotic (I claim - from personal experience and observation, as well as confirmation from others that everyone is really a moron until they are 25, so don't take that personally). But you know a little more about yourself and you can understand Shakespeare (trust me on that - you won't leave my classroom until you can I'm mean like that because I assure you that it makes you a better person).

I do dislike that I can only remember about 10 of your names for the first week. I do learn them but it does take longer than I'd like. And, it also stinks because I don't know you as a person. So the year is really a journey as we get to know each other. And other teachers should be jealous because thanks to all the writing you do in here ( it's OK, you can go ahead and groan), I get to know more about you than they do. Don't worry ... I don't share any of that with any one unless you tell me to or give me permission. You have to trust me to give me the best writing you can, and I won't do anything to damage or jeopardize that.

So buckle up, keep your hands inside the vehicle at all times, and enjoy the ride! (Although be forewarned there may be some big detours with sharp corners, lots of ups and downs, and different routes for different people.)

My Main Goal

FYI: I do not like having to be mean and cranky and super strict. I don't like adding new rules and regulations in the middle of the year.

But ...

One of my main jobs is to keep you safe. Or at least make you feel safe.

I've told you all many times throughout the year that as soon as you enter the door, I want you to feel like you're in a safe place. The only thing I want you to have to worry about in here is your -grade - not that someone is going to be rude to you, post something online about you, or - worst case - physically hurt you. Right now, you may not feel safe being in the halls, and that just means that I need to work even harder to make sure my room is a safe place for you.

So, I have to use some new rules. I'm sorry. But, I'd rather you feel safe for those 43 minutes than just ignore the issue.

Poems

Today during your quick writes, I actually wrote a poem for almost every period (until  my head starting hurting so much that thinking didn't help it).  None of them are titled, and the last one is still a work in progress ... I just couldn't get the last stanzas where I wanted them and didn't think I fully finished it.

Head pounding
   it won't stop
Have to keep going
   but just want to sleep
Taken some Tylenol
   No relief
Have drank plenty of water
   Still no relief
Tried some caffeine
   A little better
Still a dull throb
   Right behind the eye
Just want it to stop
   Want to not cringe
Light makes it worse
    Makes me squinty
Movement adds pain
    Sometimes makes me dizzy
Just hoping there's no sick
    It helps - but ick
Head pounding
    Please stop

**********
Darkness never ends
It builds and builds
but never decreases
You're stuck in it
and can't escape
No matter how hard you fight

You don't want
to give in
to its pull.
But its impossible not
to fall into the hole
So, you just tumble down.

The abyss eats at you.
Drowns your soul.
But this never spits you out
It keeps eating
because it has to take it all

***********

It keeps piling on
It never stops
It's not just figuratively
There's stacks and stacks
all around

Many of them
One of me
It doesn't work
Help would be nice
It will never come

Prioritizing takes more time -
time away from the piles
Time I could be lowering them
Instead they just
grow
and grow
and grow

Their growth is:
overwhelming
Scary
Never ending

One day I fear
it will all collapse
and bury me.
No worries then.
Except --
A scary end.

**********

Everything seems brighter
     clearer
     happier
Moods have changed
     improved
     grown
You can see growth
     flowers
     grass
Smells return
     fresh
     *??????
Not everything improves
     nose
     eyes
Pollen flies around
     runny
     scratchy

Is Love at First Sight Possible?

If I had been asked this question when I was your age, I would have told you that you needed to lay off the Froot Loops because there was no way such a thing could ever happen. For full disclosure, though, I am one of the least romantic people alive. I have never been mushy, and in fact, I swore up and down that I wasn't going to get married until I met my husband.

That event, though, probably changed my mind.

I met Jeremy while working at the paper in Pensacola. He was the "web guy," and I was on the copy desk. The first time I actually talked to him, I didn't like him. He had the nerve to correct my grammar in a cutline, which I had been lazy about because I hadn't read through what the photog had written yet (later, this became an even bigger strike against him when I found out he hates their/there/they're, but I'm digressing). But, a few weeks later, my stance changed.

We hung out a few times, and after the first time, I realized that there was something special about him. We clicked right away, and I knew that he was going to have a place in my life forever.

So, while it wasn't really love at first site, I do think that when you meet the one - you'll know rather quickly. And usually it will happen when you least expect it.

The Times They Are a Changin'

As an English teacher, most people would probably assume that I would automatically say that textese is bad. But as with anything in this world, I don't think it is a black/white issue. In other words, I have mixed feelings about it.

What it boils down to is that I think there is a time and place for textese. An email to your boss and a text to your BFF are two very different things .You naturally (and it's usually done subconsciously) talk differently to me than you would one fo your friends in the hallway. So, it would be natural to write differently to the two groups. So, I have no problem with textese if it is used in the correct manner. Putting it in a resume or a formal paper (unless it is a paper discussing textese obviously_ may not be the best thing. But using it in a short story while describing texts from teens or to talk to your friend? That's OK (that being said - I never use it in texts or Tweets, but that's the copy editor coming out in me).

English changes. The world changes. People change. It's just the way it is. It always has. English is a living, breathing creature and it should be OK (and welcomed and encouraged) for it to change, have new uses, and have new words added t0 it. Having it change helps ensure that our language is current.

Change is not bad - change is good.

To Be Scared or Not to Be Scared

As today goes on, I hear the groans and fear about having to read Shakespeare and delve into Romeo and Juliet. But, it's really not as hard as you think. Yes, it will take some getting used to, and it won't be a walk in the park. But, you will get it. I'm not going to let you leave without getting it. I will hold your hand through this process and will break it down for you. I'm not going to let you flounder through it on your own. When we finish - you may not like it still (which is perfectly OK) - but you will have conquered it.

I'll give full disclosure - I LOVE Shakespeare. Enough so, that my best friend and I waited for stand by tickets to go see Shakespeare in the Park in Central Park for 90 minutes. I've seen, listened and read enough of them that they aren't hard for me to understand anymore (yes, at one point, Shakespeare was as easy to read for me as Russian would be). So, I get really excited for this unit. I love teaching it, and I love it when I see you guys start to get it.

I take away something new from this play every year. Shakespeare's writing is so complex and intriguing, it's almost impossible to get everything he's included in a first read. Not only that, but there's at least once during this unit that you guys bring up something that I haven't thought of or realized about the play. That's the beauty of schema and personal experiences; we all bring new ideas to the table, which gives us new insight into what we are hearing/reading. So, with any luck, this play will always keep changing for me.

Going back to being scared - you aren't the only one. Believe it or not, when I started teaching this two years ao, I was scared to death. How was I going to make it relevant/interesting/exciting? What if I missed stuff? What if I didn't explain it well enough? But, once I started teaching it, I realized those were all silly thoughts. I did fine with it. Not as well as I would have liked to, but I keep making improvements every year. I notice what I leave out and listen to what you guys need/are confused with. It's still not perfect, but with your help, I get better. Just like with my help, you'll get this!

Costuming fun

I think dress-up days are a good idea. I always liked homecoming week when I was in high school and usually participated with them. Now, there were some days that I thought were stupid and refused to participate - but that was just because I was a moody teenager that had to go against the grain sometimes.

Now, as a teacher, I still like them. I try my best to go along with them - although sometimes I have a hard time coming up with an idea.

PJ day is my absolute favorite day of all. It quite frankly could be my favorite day of the year. It's fantastic to be able to come in flannel pants and a T-shirt AND get to wear my slippers. (This year, it's a little less than exciting because since I've been sick the past week, I'm wearing exactly what I've worn since last Tuesday night. But, it also made it nice to re-enter the world of the living this week.).

So, yes, I've got an outfit planned for every day this week. Except thrift store day. I don't feel like going to one, and I don't have anything at home that would work. Sadly, if I had been in high school, I could have worn almost anything in my closet and it would have worked for that day.

One of my favorite homecoming years was the year we did different decades. Each class was in charge of a different decade (50s, 60s, 70s and 80s). Our hall decorations and float ideas all centered around that era. And, each day was one of those years. It wasn't as crazy or out there as some of the years, but it was still a lot of fun (and again, easy from my closet of thrifted clothes.)

High school is the only time you'll get to do things like this - so take advantage of it!

Need story ideas?

So today's post isn't so much of my writing, but instead it's a guide for you guys to help you come up with ideas for your story.

Here's some places to go:
*Google "story starters"
*any daydreams
*rewrite your favorite story/book/movie
*take your characters from a favorite story/book/movie and put them in a different situation
*add a chapter/scene to your favorite book/story/movie
*take an experience you've had and fictionalize it
*write a story around your favorite video game

My goals for second semester

Here are a few of my goals for this semester (in no particular order):

1. Be more involved with what you guys are reading.
       A. Keep better track of it.
       B. Talk to you more about your books.

2. Write more.
        A. Make sure to share it with you guys more - especially what I struggled with while writing it.
        B. Post more on this blog!

3. Give more feedback about your writing.
     A. Talk more during the writing process and move away from commenting on the rough drafts.
     B. More face-to-face talks about it.

4. Talk more about what I'm reading.
     A. Document what I'm reading in the classroom while I'm reading the book instead of putting up the title when I'm done.

5. Provide opportunities for you to have conversations with each other about what you're reading.