Favourite Books - Linky Party Fun

My Favourite Books

Jen Runde is holding a linky party on favourite books! That is my weakness – books and magazines. I can’t pass a book store without stopping in and buying at least one book! Costgo is the worst though – I tell myself I will not buy another book. Yeah right! There is always some new book that has been recommended, that looks too good to pass up or has been on my list to read.
Here are some of my favourite books:

1. Childhood Favourites:
My favourite books in childhood were the Anne of Green Gables series. I loved Anne Shirley! I wanted to be a teacher and a writer, just like her.

2. Classroom Favourites:
I love Kate DiCamillo’s books – Because of Winn Dixie, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane and Tale of Desperaux are my all time favourites to read aloud
I always read these to my Grade 3 classes and the children love them.

3. “Reading to my own Children” Favourites:
My favourite book that I read to my children was “Love You Forever” by Robert Munsch. I used to sing the song to my youngest every night. I read every night to my children – it didn’t matter the book, as long as we were snuggled together and enjoying the store.

4. Professional Favourites:
One of my favourites is “Conversations” by Regie Routman. I also like her “Reading Essentials. I turn to “Strategies the Work” by Stephanie Harvey and Anne Goudvis as well as “On Solid Ground” by Taberski for reading comprehension.
I have used “The Daily Five” and “Café” by The Two Sisters for the past 2 years and although I don’t follow them exactly, there are many great things in these books.

5. Guilty Pleasure Favourites
I love the Sue Grafton books – am waiting for the next one eagerly! I also read Kathy Reichs and Debbie Macomber (2 completely different writers!)
Right now I am into reading young adult fiction and have just finished Lois Lowry”s “Gathering Blue” (listed as a companion book to “The Giver”). Really enjoyed it.
I have lists to read and piles of books to read and usually have several on the go.

Right now I am also working through “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron.

What are your favourite books??

Sky Watch Friday

It's that time again to share skies.

Skies have been so interesting this week. Big billowy white clouds or masses of cloud, rather than the blue seen recently.

Be sure to check out skies from around the world at Sky Watch Friday.

Secrets

Shh! I have a secret to tell you! Connie over at Dirty Footprints Studio is having an awesome giveaway! In honour of her 1 year anniversary, she is giving away some fantastic items! You will just have to check it out here to enter!

Connie is asking people to share journaling secrets. As a fairly new journaller, one 2 part secret is to:

1.always have a stash of quotes, pictures and papers on hand

2. and have a number of backgrounds done in your journal

so that when the mood hits - you are ready to journal.

I am always writing quotes on slips of paper. I have started creating small pieces of art with my favourite quotes.

Be sure to visit Connie's website for a great giveaway (and lots of journal secrets!)
And check out her new revised course: 21 Secrets!

Wishcasting Wednesday

Today Jamie Ridler has asked a very interesting question for "Wishcasting Wednesday:

What do you wish to make progress on?

The wishes the past few weeks have focused me on what I want to achieve this summer. This question turns that around a bit. I really want to make progress in a number of areas:

health - we have started swimming this week at our local outdoor pool. I can't believe how out of shape I am/ It will take a few weeks to get back the ability to swim lengths. But I will see progress if I keep going. I am determined to go back to school in September fitter and at least another 10 pounds lighter.

art/creativity - I am trying to create every day in July. There are so many challenges to take part in and they are pushing me to make art everyday. I am also taking part in a group working through "the Artist's Way". I hope I will see progress in the discipline of working every day and a development of skills.

clutter/organization - I am determined to make progress in downsizing both my teaching materials and books and in the house in general. I am starting to make progress in my backroom aka art studio. By the end of July I want to be creating upstairs!

As Jamie says:

"You can be a maker of magic and a tender of wishes. It’s easy. Answer the wish prompt above on your blog . Support wishes by visiting other participants. It’s that simple. There is great power in wishing together."

Education Monday

Monday is usually a non-blogging- posting day for me. As I have been exploring teaching sites, I have been excited by the sharing of ideas from so many teachers. So Ii thought I would start responding to some of the linky parties on Mondays.

For the first one:

Read Alouds for the first week of school:

Usually the first books I read are picture books that focus on feelings, following rules and getting along. Here are some of my favourites that I have used:

"Miss Nelson is Missing" by Harry G. Allard








(Great way to compare classrooms and encourage thinking about what classroom children want/need. Usually our first Venn diagram)

"First Day Jitters" by Julie Danneberg

"Wemberly Worried" by Kevin Henkes

"Have You Filled a Bucket Today?" by Carol McCloud

I use this book and concept throughout the year. The website (click the title) gives lots of resources)

"Mr. Peabody's Apples" by Madonna

"How I spent My Summer Vacation" by Mark Teague


(Great for exaggeration and a fun writing activity)

"The Memory Stone" by Anne Louise Mac Donald

(I actually let each child chose a stone I have purchased and they write about a summer memory, using the stone to trigger a memory)

My first chapter book read aloud is "Donovan's Word Jar" by DeGross. This leads into our creating our wonderful words chart which we add to all year.

Be sure to check out the other great read alouds here.

Sunday Wrap-Up: Summer of Colour, Calendar, ATCs

With the end of school, I have been able to spend more time with art and photography. There are so many challenges and projects I want to take part in this month and all summer for that matter.

The Artist's Way

I am taking part in a reading/sharing of "The Artist's Way". For the next 2 weeks we will be focusing on Chapter 1. (see Happy Snappy for more info).

Morning pages are sporadic still, but I hope to start new routines with the first full week of my holidays tomorrow.

My artist date this past week has been giving myself more time with creating art. We also visited a nursery and I had such fun photographing gorgeous flowers.

Summer of Colour - Yellow

This past week the colour yellow was the focus at "Twinkle Twinkle".

I did the usual colour collage, but with the colour paint strips, instead of adding just white to each row, I added different colours to create new colours. Lots of fun.

I also did a small painting from a sunflower photo I had taken. I am going to do a whole series of these this summer.

Calendar Challenge

I finally completed the July calendar for the challenge at the Kathryn Wheel . I used a lot of yellow!

ATCs

With the postal strike over, I had to quickly finish ATCs for several swaps.

 

Zentangles

Book backgrounds

Photography

As usual, skies and flowers predominated this week:

Have a wonderful week! Happy Independence Day!

Shadow Shot Sunday

Yesterday was Canada Day and we saw fireworks last night - fantastic display in Ottawa! Over 300,000 people were on hand there to see the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Will and Kate did not disappoint!

We went to a local nursery in the afternoon and I took my camera as I knew the flowers would be gorgeous - and they were. I also got some shadows!

(Couldn't resist this shadow!)

Be sure to check out the wonderful shadow-chasers at Hey Harriet!, that super fun meme hosted by Tracy.