Reading Chronicles

      It's so nice when I can read books for pleasure, it's probably my favorite type of reading!  There are  many different reasons people read-for pleasure, educational, professional development, etc. I've often  wondered how people see what they read in a book? Do they see images, colors, or themselves? When  I read, depending on what I am reading, I try my best to create an image in my mind of the words I am  reading. Something about being able to visualize what's written, helps me to solidify the text. I think  that an author who uses imagery, can help the reader experience the text in a more deeper and rich way.  This is accomplished by using text that will appeal to all five senses. I have found that I tend to see the  text in my mind as a movie, that is playing scene by scene. Sometimes I hear my voice as the  characters and othertimes, I hear the voices of people I know as the characters or the narrarator.   ...

  Have you ever thought about your week and investigated your reading sessions? For example, where you read, what you are reading, or what the conditions are when you are reading? When I think about my reading habits, I can easily share the various habits that have helped me make reading a deliberate part of my life.  Currently, books that I am reading are placed inside the bag that I bring with me in my car from the house. I place my book(s) in the outer pocket because I know this is an area that I will always look inside of. Placing whatever book I am reading in this spot, will allow me to see it and "remind" to get my book out; especially if it is a busy day.  I do a lot of driving, so I usually have a book on my e-library checked out, a book or Bible plan I am on in the Bible app, or a podcast series set up that I am listening to. I try to make those drive times (if alone) a time where I can still be "reading" something. Usually, in the car, I prefer to "re...

     Friday nights have become Family Fun Nights  for  our family this school year. We try to do  different  things together as a family and many  times the  kids are given the opportunity to  choose what we  should do. Tonight, we decided  to have a battle  with our X-shot guns! Our oldest  was not that  interested, but that quickly  changed.  We  decided  to do a battle of girls  vs.  boys.      The rules were set: 1. If someone is loading  their  gun, they cannot be shot. 2. You are out once you  get shot 5 times. We set up  our areas, boys choosing where they would post up and  girls choosing where they  would post up. We blasted some music, turned off most of  the lights, and began  the  countdown-  3, 2, 1. For about 20 minutes we "battled" and all you  could hear was laughter, yelling, guns reloading, and th...

      When I think about my middle school years (6th-8th grade) I cannot recall what books I read,  my  English teachers' names, or any projects that I did in English class. I'm not sure if this is because I  have a bad memory or if it is because my literacy experience during those years doesn't offer much  compelling to remember. I have sat and tried to really think back to those years, but nothing about  my literacy journey jumps out. Truth be told, I'm not really sure that I had a literacy journey until I was  in high school. I do think part of the reason is that I did not begin taking learning seriously until  I was older and books were not really part of my home life growing up. It's sad to think about since those were important formative years, but thankfully when I was in high school that changed!     High school is when I began to think about reading outside of the classroom and it began with  personal growth. My d...

     The word that I have chosen for this semester is determined . Merriam-Webster defines  determined  as " having a strong feeling that you are going to do something and that you will not  allow  anyone or  anything to stop you." To be determined does not mean to be stubborn, but rather it  is a  willingness  to  change as needed. To keep an open mind while achieving the clearly defined  goals you  have set for  yourself. I have chosen determined as my word for this semester because this  is the type of  mindset  I have-not just to finish my classes, but to finish well. While I have goals for  my  classes, not just here  at HBU but also my Neuhaus coursework (which I should complete this  spring). I  also want to apply  a  determined  mindset to take  my CALT exam and prepare well in order  to pass.        While determined...

  I've always been stymied by poetry. Not as a reader, but as one who tried to write poetry in the past. I  have felt that my words needed to rhyme or have a distinct rhythm or cadence. However, reading  poetry is a breath of fresh air. It's as if what I am trying to say, but can't, seems so natural to the author.  They have the ability to take thoughts, feelings, and words and put them so eloquently.  A picture book of poetry that I recently read and absolutely loved is "Just  Like Me" by Vanessa Brantley-Newton. The author is a self-taught  illustrator, she's a doll maker and a crafter who studied fashion  illustration and children's book illustration in New York. This book is a  collection of poems filled with mini-stories about different types of girls- girls who love their bodies and girls who don't, country girls, city girls, etc.  The illustrations are bright with Vanessa's signature style of vibrant colors, unique patterns, and f...

    I recently read the sweetest picture book named, "Be Kind" by Pat  Zietlow Miller and illustrated by Jen Hill. This book  falls into the  realistic fiction category. Realistic fiction creates imaginary characters  with situations that depict our world and society. Realistic fiction  portrays characters as coming to understand themselves and others. Be  Kind, helps us look at the question- "what does it mean to be kind?"  When Tanisha spills grape juice all over her new dress, her classmates  contemplate how to make her feel better and what it means to be kind. This lovely and moving story  explores actions a child can do to be kind, and how each act, big or small, can make a difference and  help a friend. The pictures are rich with practical ways we can show kindness to those around us. This  is a great book to discuss what it means to be kind and talk about empathy. I love that the book  acknowledges that it is n...