Books, Books, and more Books

I have been reading and reading. So want to share some great titles to add to your collection or for your kids to read in class.

The Shadows We Know by Heart by Jennifer Park

This book is a mystery and romance all rolled into a big myth of the East Texas Woods. Are the Sasquatches real? Why does Dad only have one rule? Don't Go in the Woods? Leah longs to escape a home life filled with grief of her missing brother. When she escapes into the woods and finds a boy who can't remember his past and has difficulty speaking. But he is living with the Sasquatches and she knows if she is not careful someone will find them and then who knows. So she must be careful, but she also must find out what this boy knows or remembers. But who else is watching?

The Stacks of reading continue. Next book I really loved this summer was Blooming at the Texas Sunrise Motel by Kimberly Willis Holt. "Soulful and Satisfying"- Kirkus Review and I have to agree. Holt just speaks to your soul when you read this story, sure bad things happen to great people but how we deal with those things builds us into incredible people. This one has it all, a tragic event, coping with loss, and dealing with crazy family members and even a slight romance with some humor. It is one of those books you want to say... "Just Read It"!

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Break Out Your Reading Skills!

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I saw a Tweet today linked to a blog that gave a teacher 4 reasons how technology can help with classroom management. ( I'm trying to find it again to give credit). But I thought about how my students react to having the Chromebooks in their classrooms. I have watched this happen in my own class, but when you hand a student a computer, iPad, or tech device, you send a message to this child. “You are worth it.” My campus is a title one district, some students deal with survival more than any student should. But to some, by having their own device, it sends the message you believe in them. They know you want them to be successful, and you can help them learn needed skills for today's world. It sends the message, you can be professional, you can learn, grow and we care. This is why students armed with technology are suddenly more engaged, they feel valued. A valued child can then grow confident and safe making learning easier. Less behavior problems happen wh...

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