Self Help Group

I am thinking of starting a new group at school. Teachers and students alike would be welcome. The Twilight group. We are just such a mess! Half of fifth grade is reading it and there are a couple teachers who are just about where I am as far as being insane.

Today I finished a really long read aloud to my kids. They were five minutes late to lunch because they wouldn't let me stop and we were so close to the end of the book. I had read it last summer after our social studies coordinator had given them out. It's about a young girl living in Missouri during the start of the Civil War. The kids were totally hooked, as I started it to kick off our historical fiction unit. You can learn more about it by clicking on the link.
A Voice From the Border
While it was from a girl's perspective, there was plenty of guns and battles to keep the boys interested too.

The most wonderful part had to be the intimacy our class shared as we read/heard. We all would gasp or suck in air loud at the same points of the story. It was so funny! And at points, I would stop and ask how they were feeling about the book. Several commented "It's why I came to school today!" and that made us all laugh. I also asked them if they would have every chosen the book (after I read them the summary). All of them admitted they wouldn't have. So I would like to think that this has opened a new door for them.

I absolutely LOVE historical fiction and Avi (the author) seems to do it best. I think I have read all those books. Yet, I failed American History in high school. Yes. It's time I owned up to that scandal.

I had American History as a requirement my junior year. I passed the second semester, but not the first. It was first hour and just SO boring! So when I failed, I had to change my report card. Not once. I had to do it for two years.

That may sound impossible, but let me continue.

So, all second semester, I had to change the grade from first semester because it still showed up on my report card. And what grade did I give myself? Well, a B of course. It matched closest to the letter F. The were computer print outs and a bit of smudging made it look exactly real.

Over the summer my parents received something in the mail about me having to meet the requirement of American History. (I hadn't planned on something like this coming!) I quickly explained it away, saying I was chosen to be in an ADVANCED class of American History. Of course my parents believed me because I always got A's and B's. I had recently just written a speech and won a bond for writing about war and American society. They had no reason NOT to believe me.

So, Senior year comes and here I am in a class with juniors, retaking a semester that I had failed. And what did I do at report card time? Well, the grade actually was a B (because the teacher was OUTSTANDING), but the course listing was MOD AM HIST. (You would think I would have gotten an A since I was actually repeating but it just goes to show how much I DIDN'T get out of the first class.)

I changed it to ADV AM HIST. This was a bit trickier but my report cards always seemed to get wet or sweaty or something, and of course they were highly smudged. And of course, I had to do it the whole year because the first semester was included on the second semester report card.

Okay. I feel way better now. And my mom already knows the story, so it's okay if she reads it. :) The whole thing was just so unfair - I should have never failed in the first place if I had had a good teacher. I don't care how early it was. And I can say this because I strive NOT to be THAT teacher.

I think my kids are in to history. I LOVE math and writing. And I adore science, although it isn't my greatest subject. Reading, well, what isn't there to like.

Yes, I am a teacher and yes, I failed a class in high school. Oh well. Thank goodness I didn't let affect my life.

Addiction

Geez. I am a mess. I can't think about anything besides these books.

There has been an upside to them that I hadn't expected or planned on. They are incredibly - hmm - romantic. (Don't want Weena to say TMI :) Magical.

I refuse to go on and on about them - I am sure no one wants to hear it. I don't even want to hear it.

So let's see. . .
Ah, It's Thursday. THAT has me a bit down. I am past the halfway mark on spring break. I always get so wrapped up in being at home over the long breaks. I have to force myself to go out. And I LOVE my job. I can't even imagine what going back to work must feel like for people who are less than thrilled with their job. And there are a few positives to going back for me. 21 to be exact. :) Probably way more than regular people with regular jobs.

And all in all, I would have to say I am a work-a-holic (another addiction). (I just wish school would start around 11am rather than 8 :) That is probably the worst thing about my job - but I can live with that.

I guess I am feeling rather lucky and content at the same time. Except I am not funny now. Other people make me see humor in life. (Unless of course I do something stupid, which actually occurs fairly often, just not this week:) So for all of you looking for a good laugh, I guess you will just have to wait until - no that's not true. Something rolling on the floor funny happened last night.

We were playing Rockband :) (addiction #99?) I am the permanent drummer now and hubby is the guitar player. About halfway through the song, the dog gone sound/stereo receiver turned off. We kept playing. The banging noises I was making to try to stay with the notes on the screen was absolutely hilarious. I sounded like a monkey with a pair of sticks beating around. Anyway, it was funny enough to have hubby CRYING! I guess I am capable of doing dumb things anywhere :)

Staying Up all Night :)

Maybe in support of yesterday's post, or because of yesterday's post, or because it was just so darn good I couldn't stop, I stayed up all night long. I finally took a short nap today from about 12:30 to 2.

So what kept me up? I started reading New Moon.

I had read Twilight over winter break. It didn't do a whole lot for me. It was okay. The end was really good though.

But this? This was amazing. The tension in the book was amazing. The love story was amazing. And then there is the whole vampire part.

I have always wanted to be a vampire as they are portrayed in the movies. Be forever young. Be beautiful. Have tons of money. And live forever. We were huge fans of The Kindred tv show. My current license plate is even "Ventrue." (yes, really. Imagine trying to explain that one to the kids at school)

So last night at 11 I was actually tired and thought I would read a bit before I went to bed. I finished the book around 7:30 this morning. I just could not even stop. And with it being spring break, that's OK :) It was delicious to stay up all night. I heard the birds waking up outside the window. I saw the light grow through the window. Sometimes it's just fun to do that. Gives you a new perspective about the day.

After checking at the library on line (totally a hopeless case) I just got back from the bookstore. It is rare that I will splurge and pay full price for a book. But I bought both Eclipse and Breaking Dawn. (The last time I paid full price for two hardback books was when Stephen King came out with the last book in the Gunslinger series. I bought it and the one before it) I do tend to like serieses (sp?).

So now I am faced with these two glorious books. I'm weird in that I like to savor books that I know I am going to love. Save them for just the right time. I love really long books in the summer. Ones that stay with you for awhile. Yet at the same time, I can't even stand the wait! Maybe I will start the next one around Friday. Or today. I just want to see the story through.

I've already decided I don't want to see the movie. The people just look so much better in my head. (Besides, I tend to forget their age, as I am much older, and imagine them older. But Edward's what, 150? so what's age?)

I have to say this is a very relaxing spring break - but I did get all my notes done for my National Board entry 3 today so it's not like I am totally wasting my time ;)

I'll let you all know if I start growing fangs :)

Favorite Books

Sorry, not a funny post this time. Although it does have its moments.

I have been thinking about doing a book post. The idea started when the librarian at school sent out an all school email asking for everyone's favorite book so she could make it into a list for the kids and summer reading suggestions. I thought I would make my own list of books in different categories. Unfortunately, I am not so good with remembering authors.

Keep in mind, I own all my favorites. Especially when you get to the end of the list.

Picture Books - "Happy Birthday to You" and "Oh, The Places You Will Go" both by Dr. Seuss, "The Mysteries of Harris Burdick" and "The Story of May" (The 2 Dr. Seuss books hold very special places in my heart. The both have written letters to me in them from my mom. The first one was when I was 5. The second is from when I graduated and was 30. No, not from high school)

Children's Books - "The Giver", "Charlotte's Web", "The Lightning Thief"

Favorite Young Adult series - "Among the Hidden" et all

Long Books for the summer that you read till the last 100 pages and then put down a bit because you don't ever want them to end - "Pillars of the Earth", "Scarlett"

Books that made me cry like a baby - "The Education of Little Tree", "Stone Fox" (don't even bother to put mascara on)

Best Series - The Gunslinger series by Stephen King, The Xanth series by Piers Anthony, and the Hobbit/Rings Series by Tolkein (The Xanth series is most amazing because of all the puns and plays on words.)

Most Informative Book I ever read - "My Backyard" by Douglas Waitley

Best Teaching Book - "The First Days of School" by Wong and "Educating Esme" (I read parts of the first days of school every year before I go back)

Most Inspiring Book - "Writing Toward Home" and all the Ralph Fletcher writing series

Best Love books - all the ones by Leo Buscaglia

Most Used Books - "The PDR Family Guide", "Home Remedies for Dogs and Cats", "Reef Fish Identification Guide"

Best Scuba Adventures - all the "Dirk Pitt" novels by Clive Cussler

Book Guaranteed to make me fall asleep every time - "The Wonders of Algae" and any book I currently have to read for a class

Yes, I have a book about algae. What on earth does that say about me???

So you have to share your guaranteed "sleeper" book. I am starting to get close to the end of the algae book.