Where Have I Been?

Sorry it's been so long since my last post. It's be an unbelievably busy last couple of weeks trying to get ready for school to begin. 

I went to a conference earlier this week sponsored by The American Reading company. They will be sponsoring our school this year which is super exciting! Andrea Givens was one of the speakers and she was absolutely amazing. She talked a lot about the CCSS and what we need to do to make "little experts" out of our students. I'm looking forward to learning more from her and the rest of the staff this year. Here's a link to their website in case you are interested in reading more about them. They are very accessible people. Not to mention if you'd like to partner with them, name Mary H Wright as a referral school and we can get free books (shameless plug!)

The American Reading Company

I met with Candace, my partner in crime this year to set schedules and work out kinks before our newbies arrive. One of the things I still need to work on are creative center ideas. I'll spend the rest of summer vacation surfing the web to look for some good ideas.

Another thing I'm really excited about is this new book I am reading: The Art of Teaching Reading by Lucy Calkins. If you have never read this book you have to get up right now and go to Amazon and buy it! I'll even give you the link to make it easier!

The Art of Teaching Reading by Lucy Calkins

It is for my Celebrating Reading class, and I can NOT put it down. It's a pretty thick book but Calkins does a fabulous job of making it accessible and it truly is an easy read. I've finished the first section and I have a couple nuggets of truth to share with you.
1. Reading can be a form of therapy for students.
2. Reading is a lifestyle, not just something you do in life.