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Monday, May 31, 2021

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 5/31/2021

 

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA! 

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a weekly blog hop I co-host with Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing ReadersThe original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.

It's a great way to share what you're reading and get recommendations. We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up below, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs.

Last Week's Adventures:
I finally finished up some books this week! I listened to You Matter by Matthew Emerzian and Home is Not a Country by Safia Elhillo. I started listening to The Outsiders to help me with a writing project I'm working on. I finished reading My Autobiography of Carson McCullers and also read World of Wonders this weekend. 

This Week's Adventures:

This week I'll listen to more of The Outsiders and either go back to Craft in the Real World or start Aftershocks by Nadia Owusu.


What are you reading this week? 
Link up below and check out other blogs to see what they're reading!
To help build our community and support other bloggers,
we ask that you comment on at least three other blogs before you.
Also, if you tweet about your Monday post, don't forget to use #IMWAYR!


Monday, May 24, 2021

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 5/24/2021

 

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA! 

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a weekly blog hop I co-host with Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing ReadersThe original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.

It's a great way to share what you're reading and get recommendations. We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up below, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs.

Last Week's Adventures:
I finished listening to When Scars Are Scattered. What a sad but beautiful story. And I'm almost done with My Autobiography of Carson McCullers

Last Week's Posts:

Teachers Write will be back for summer 2021! This summer we are focusing on using writing for reflection and renewal. I know I need it! Kate Messner shared all the information on her blog. We're keeping it super simple and as always, you can make it whatever you want it to be! Sign up HERE.

This Week's Adventures:

This is our last full week of school and I am so excited to finish things up and really reflect on the year. What a year it has been! Students this year deserve so much credit for how they have shifted and all they have navigated and how they have endured. Last year I read Cleo Wade's Where to Begin to the 8th graders at the end of the year and I wonder if that might be worth reading to this year's group. I also have some picture books I'd like to read them. It's wild to think the end is near! A big giant hug to those who still have a lot of school year to go. I see you. 

The 7th graders are going to do the cardboard challenge after we watched Caine's Arcade last week so we'll first read What Do You Do With An Idea? I'm so excited! And I'll finally finish up my Carson McCullers book.

What are you reading this week? 
Link up below and check out other blogs to see what they're reading!
To help build our community and support other bloggers,
we ask that you comment on at least three other blogs before you.
Also, if you tweet about your Monday post, don't forget to use #IMWAYR!


Friday, May 21, 2021

Thanks to #MarvelousMaryLee #PoemsforMaryLee

Today I gave a copy of Dave Roman's graphic novel Astronaut Academy to an 8th grader who asked me for any graphic novels I had. It was the first one I found so I handed it to him and went back to my cabinets to see what else I could find. (I didn't unpack my classroom library this year because of the pandemic and this funky electro-ray light they bring in every night and all the stuff they spray...)

As I scanned the shelves, I heard the student's voice ask in astonishment, "Did you meet the author?"

I turned back around and told him, "I did. Actually, he's a friend. Is it signed?"

"It says, 'To Mrs. Vincent's Awesome Students.'" He showed me the title page with a drawing in silver Sharpie. 

A thousand memories flittered through my brain and I smiled. "I've met a lot of authors."

"Really?" He thought for a second. "Wait, so your husband and your kids like to meet athletes and you like to meet authors?"

I nodded, "Yup!"

We discussed how I met authors and which authors I've met and in that moment two things were clear. 

1. This year has been so very different. (I know this...but moments like this, when I get a glimpse of what this year could have been without Covid still hit me like a left hook.) Last year, students knew early on about authors and illustrators I've met. While I've done book talks and connected kids with books, it's such a different energy via zoom than it is to be in a space with kids and with books, to hand a student a book, let alone a stack of books. I have missed this energy so much. 

2. I'm lucky to have met so many wonderful people in my 19-year career as an educator. Not only authors and illustrators whose work I absolutely adore and appreciate, but educators in all types of different positions who have lifted me up, inspired me, motivated me, encouraged me, taught me. I am so grateful for them!

Which brings me to a celebration of one particular individual who I'm so glad has been part of my journey. The #MarvelousMaryLee Hahn! After 37 years of teaching, Mary Lee is retiring. When I think of Mary Lee, I think of someone who is calm and kind but also fierce and tell-it-like-it-is person. 
All of us are conglomerate rocks. We're made up of the people and places and experiences that have been part of our lives. Knowing Mary Lee means I'm more steadfast in keeping humanity in teaching. When there is pressure pushing in from all directions, I go back to taking care of kids as humans who are part of our community, growing them as readers and writers - yes -  but most importantly, as engaged, thoughtful citizens of this world we inhabit together. 

At a retreat two years ago, Mary Lee told me about different word games she shared with students, which they loved and why.  She made time for kids to play these games and I could tell how much she loved spending time with her students. I'm a huge fan of teambuilding games and love the idea of bringing word games into the classroom. I visited various Goodwills to look for board games to play with students and I'll forever think of Mary Lee when we play them (post-Covid). 

Thank you, Mary Lee for being absolutely you! You've helped me be braver to be me!




Monday, May 17, 2021

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 5/17/2021

 

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA! 

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a weekly blog hop I co-host with Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing ReadersThe original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.

It's a great way to share what you're reading and get recommendations. We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up below, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs.

Last Week's Adventures:
I'm still reading My Auto-biography of Carson McCullers and Craft in the Real World. I started listened to When Stars Are Scattered by Omar Mohamed and Victoria Jamieson and City Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert.

This Week's Adventures:

I'll keep on reading My Auto-biography of Carson McCullers and Craft in the Real World and listening to When Stars Are Scattered and City Girls.


What are you reading this week? 
Link up below and check out other blogs to see what they're reading!
To help build our community and support other bloggers,
we ask that you comment on at least three other blogs before you.
Also, if you tweet about your Monday post, don't forget to use #IMWAYR!


Monday, May 10, 2021

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 5/10/2021

 

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA! 

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a weekly blog hop I co-host with Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing ReadersThe original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.

It's a great way to share what you're reading and get recommendations. We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up below, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs.

Last Week's Adventures:
I'm thoroughly enjoying My Auto-biography of Carson McCullers and I am also reading Craft in the Real World. I'm still reading We Are Not Free and listened to Just Be You by Mallika Chopra. 

This Week's Adventures:

I'll still be reading My Auto-biography of Carson McCullers and Craft in the Real World and I also have World of Wonders to read.  

What are you reading this week? 
Link up below and check out other blogs to see what they're reading!
To help build our community and support other bloggers,
we ask that you comment on at least three other blogs before you.
Also, if you tweet about your Monday post, don't forget to use #IMWAYR!


Monday, May 3, 2021

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 05/03/2021

 

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA! 

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a weekly blog hop I co-host with Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing ReadersThe original IMWAYR, with an adult literature focus, was started by Sheila at Book Journeys and is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.

It's a great way to share what you're reading and get recommendations. We encourage you to write your own post sharing what you’re reading, link up below, leave a comment, and support other IMWAYR bloggers by visiting and commenting on at least three of the other linked blogs.

Last Week's Adventures:
This week I finished rereading Where to Begin by Cleo Wade and read more of My Autobiography of Carson McCullers and We Are Not Free. I've also been going through Second Sight and Magic Words by Cheryl B. Klein.

This Week's Adventures:

This week I'm going to continue reading We Are Not Free and My Autobiography of Carson McCullers.
 
AND I'm thrilled to be moderating a fantastic panel of award-winning creators tonight for NCTE's Build Your Stack Event. I adore these phenomenal people and am so excited to share space with them. AND you can join us too! Here's the lineup: Traci Chee, Gordon C. James, Carole Lindstrom, Daniel Nayeri, Mitali Perkins, and Janet S. Wong. 
More information and sign up HERE.

What are you reading this week? 
Link up below and check out other blogs to see what they're reading!
To help build our community and support other bloggers,
we ask that you comment on at least three other blogs before you.
Also, if you tweet about your Monday post, don't forget to use #IMWAYR!