Last week, I received an e-mail from one of my professors from college. I had e-mailed her asking for recommendations for beginning of the year chapter books. She finally e-mailed back responding with some recommendations and also asking for my school address so she could send me some books for book clubs. I was already thanking her before I received anything. I figured she might have some older books that she might need to clean out of her closet.
Today when I went to the lounge for lunch, I was looking through the packages that came in the mail. I rarely get anything, but love to look anyway. As I was browsing the packages today, there was one for me. I knew I hadn't ordered anything from Amazon and wasn't sure what the box was. As I was opening, I noticed sets of books. This meant sets of books for book clubs. I immediately knew who these were from. Let me restate that I thought my professor was sending me used books she needed to get rid of. Now let me clarify that I received 9 BRAND NEW book SETS (of 4) from Amazon. The receipt was in the box and I could not and cannot get over the fact that she ordered and had these books sent to me. It was something I would never ask anyone to do and she was generous without thought. I knew she was a special lady before she sent me these books, but this reaffirmed my thoughts. I know she did it because she loves me, but more importantly, she did it so my kiddos will have great books to read...considering she was THE READING GURU.
This was one moment in my life when I was touched by overwhelming kindness. I don't know what I'll do in order to demonstrate my appreciation.
P.S. - If you haven't already figured out, I had the best professors in college that anyone could EVER have!!!
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Monday, October 6, 2008
Monday, June 9, 2008
INSPIRATION
If you want some inspirational summer reading, check out these books. They are absolutely fabulous and will be a re-read on my summer list. They offer humor, insight, and advice all at once. I hope to one day write a books that can offer so much to young teachers just like these did for me.
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During student teaching, I had a professor recommend that we all read this book. It looks at the humorous side of teaching and accepting all of the crazy things that you think would NEVER happen to you. I have since recommended it to everyone I know because it's an easy read that allows you to laugh at the author and also yourself when you realize you've done similar things. This book is actually what inspired me to write a blog chronicling my teaching experiences day-by-day. I one day wish to write a similar book and will plenty of stories to choose from the best of the best.
If you have been teaching one year or thirty, I suggest reading this book and in order to help you understand not to take things so seriously and learn from your mistakes.
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This was another book recommended to me by a friend during student teaching. At the time I read this, I related to it a bit, but didn't truly understand what an inspiring man Rafe Esquith is. Now that I've taught 4th grade in a school Rafe would call "The Jungle", I am taking the opportunity to re-read this amazing book. Rafe talks about how much of his life he dedicates to his students because he is what they have. Some of their families barely survive and school is their escape from the harsh realities they face in their neighborhoods. Now that my current teaching position so closely relates to where Rafe worked, I try to think of how he would handle a situation and not to sound cliche, but, "What would Rafe do?" He's done amazing things for many years with a very diverse group of kids who live very rough lives. In my lifetime, I only wish to do similar great things in my neighborhood.
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This is a follow up to Rafe's amazing first book. This book also offers inspiration through Rafe's experiences. He teaches because he cares. He wasn't always supported in his teaching ventures, but I see him as a leader in education. Yes, there are many people who are considered leaders because they shape the way education is, but this man is a leader because he is doing what I am. He's been there and done most things. He makes mistakes, but learns from them for the next time. He "rescues" children from lives of disappointment and failure and gives them an oasis in which to learn and grow, as students and people. Again, I only hope to do the same for my students in the coming years.
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During student teaching, I had a professor recommend that we all read this book. It looks at the humorous side of teaching and accepting all of the crazy things that you think would NEVER happen to you. I have since recommended it to everyone I know because it's an easy read that allows you to laugh at the author and also yourself when you realize you've done similar things. This book is actually what inspired me to write a blog chronicling my teaching experiences day-by-day. I one day wish to write a similar book and will plenty of stories to choose from the best of the best.If you have been teaching one year or thirty, I suggest reading this book and in order to help you understand not to take things so seriously and learn from your mistakes.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This was another book recommended to me by a friend during student teaching. At the time I read this, I related to it a bit, but didn't truly understand what an inspiring man Rafe Esquith is. Now that I've taught 4th grade in a school Rafe would call "The Jungle", I am taking the opportunity to re-read this amazing book. Rafe talks about how much of his life he dedicates to his students because he is what they have. Some of their families barely survive and school is their escape from the harsh realities they face in their neighborhoods. Now that my current teaching position so closely relates to where Rafe worked, I try to think of how he would handle a situation and not to sound cliche, but, "What would Rafe do?" He's done amazing things for many years with a very diverse group of kids who live very rough lives. In my lifetime, I only wish to do similar great things in my neighborhood.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is a follow up to Rafe's amazing first book. This book also offers inspiration through Rafe's experiences. He teaches because he cares. He wasn't always supported in his teaching ventures, but I see him as a leader in education. Yes, there are many people who are considered leaders because they shape the way education is, but this man is a leader because he is doing what I am. He's been there and done most things. He makes mistakes, but learns from them for the next time. He "rescues" children from lives of disappointment and failure and gives them an oasis in which to learn and grow, as students and people. Again, I only hope to do the same for my students in the coming years.
Monday, May 12, 2008
What truly excites me...
It's that time of year when the book fair rolls through again to supply students with those fun reads for the summer and I have to say that it is probably one of my favorite weeks of school. I truly enjoy browsing the carts and tables on a daily basis just in case I missed something the day before. I love looking at all the books I would own if I didn't have to pay rent. I love looking at books that I know my class loves, but I would never buy for my classroom (come on--Naruto? Hannah Montana? What educational purpose does she serve? She only distracts my kids from doing their math work.) I also enjoy looking for books for my soon-to-be baby nephew, younger cousins, and even my parents. Books are great for all ages and while I hated reading as a child, I have come to love it more than eating ice cream. I still enjoy my ice cream every once in a while, but reading is now something I get to do on a daily basis...and this time, I get to pick the books.
When I was a kid, we used a reading program called Accelerated Reader. It basically determined your reading grade based on how many books you read, how many points the book was worth, but overall, how many points you
earned on the test for that book. I didn't enjoy reading the books my teachers wanted me to. I loved R.L. Stein's Fear Street series and according to my teachers, "These are no where close to your reading level. You need to find something more appropriate." I don't want to! I can read these faster than those other books because I truly enjoy what I'm reading. I don't think I won that disagreement with my elementary school teachers, but I do remember reading those books until 8th grade (keep in mind my teachers claimed they were a 4th grade reading level). I just looked on Amazon in order to get a picture for this blog and saw some of the book titles. There is no way they are at a 4th grade level...they include cheating, college weekends, all night parties, secret admirers, etc. I guess when I look back, these books were no more ridiculous than Hannah Montana or High School Musical, but these definitely had more of a story line with a problem and solution. Too bad they aren't selling these at our book fair!
The joy of being a teacher and having a book fair come to your school is that the kids in your class are supposed to buy you books that you have requested. Unfortunately because I work at a school where there are more working class parents, teachers don't usually get many of the books they request. I however, still requested lots of books that I would love to have in my classroom in the hopes that I get get at least one of them bought for me. Even one book would make my day. If I don't get the books by the end of the week, I am willing to go buy many of them as long as I don't use my A/C for the rest of the month, I'll be able to afford them and possibly more. Oh, the joys of teaching...needing so many materials and not having the money to buy all of them...too bad this will be an ongoing problem for the next 30 years!
When I was a kid, we used a reading program called Accelerated Reader. It basically determined your reading grade based on how many books you read, how many points the book was worth, but overall, how many points you
earned on the test for that book. I didn't enjoy reading the books my teachers wanted me to. I loved R.L. Stein's Fear Street series and according to my teachers, "These are no where close to your reading level. You need to find something more appropriate." I don't want to! I can read these faster than those other books because I truly enjoy what I'm reading. I don't think I won that disagreement with my elementary school teachers, but I do remember reading those books until 8th grade (keep in mind my teachers claimed they were a 4th grade reading level). I just looked on Amazon in order to get a picture for this blog and saw some of the book titles. There is no way they are at a 4th grade level...they include cheating, college weekends, all night parties, secret admirers, etc. I guess when I look back, these books were no more ridiculous than Hannah Montana or High School Musical, but these definitely had more of a story line with a problem and solution. Too bad they aren't selling these at our book fair!The joy of being a teacher and having a book fair come to your school is that the kids in your class are supposed to buy you books that you have requested. Unfortunately because I work at a school where there are more working class parents, teachers don't usually get many of the books they request. I however, still requested lots of books that I would love to have in my classroom in the hopes that I get get at least one of them bought for me. Even one book would make my day. If I don't get the books by the end of the week, I am willing to go buy many of them as long as I don't use my A/C for the rest of the month, I'll be able to afford them and possibly more. Oh, the joys of teaching...needing so many materials and not having the money to buy all of them...too bad this will be an ongoing problem for the next 30 years!
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