"You may begin." -David Almond

Pretty sure this quote from The Tightrope Walkers by David Almond is my favorite of my 2015 reading.  It's a big statement because I read some great books this year.  Crossover by Kwame Alexander, The Light of the World by Elizabeth Alexander, All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, and Boys in the Boat by David James Brown, just to name a few.  Yet, I always come back to this little nugget.

What's my favorite part of this quote?  Probably the beginning with some of the best advice (Work hard, work hopefully) for just about any situation.  But I can't ignore those last three words, "You may begin" are so simple and compelling.  Not to mention the middle and the reference to the idea that we are simultaneously connected to the past and the future.  Wow, this is just a doozy of a quote.  As a teacher, I love it.  As a parent, I love it.  As a godmother, I love it.  As a neighbor, as a citizen, as a church-goer, I love it.  And, I must share it with you. Go on, read the book.  Yet, even if you don't, remember the power of giving someone or even yourself, the permission to be part of something much bigger than yourselves.

Keep reading, all.
-amybethstensonkujawski

Micro-blogging...my first attempt. Being Mortal by Atul Gawande

It's time to make the move back to blogging.  That said, four months after adding a third child to the family probably  isn't the best time to make any new moves, but it's MICRO-blogging (or should I say, micro-blogging) so I think it should all work out.

So here's my objective: keep reading and keep blogging and connect both my reading and my blogging to my larger purpose of taking good care of people.  We'll see how it goes.  Here's my first shot at it:

Read this essential book recently.  Being Mortal by Atul Gawande  It's essential because it's about us and the scariest things we all face: aging, watching our loved ones age, dying, and watching our loved ones die.  It's sobering, it's upsetting, and it's real.  Dr. Gawande, a surgeon, is trust-worthy and credible.  He shares the science of medicine as clearly as he describes art of taking care of one another.  He shows us the research behind how knowing what you are afraid of and what you value can add happier, healthier days, weeks, months and years to your life.  

It seems to me we must spend more time reflecting on what are we really afraid of and what are we really moved by much earlier than when we are faced with our mortality.  If reflecting on these questions and answers can give us healthier, happier days at the end of our lives, aren't they more likely to give us more healthier, happier lives as we move along through our years?

So, if questions like "What is your understanding of the situation and its potential outcomes?" and "What are your fears and what are your hopes?" are good ones when faced with serious sickness or injury, I'd suggest they are as important day-to-day.  Let us ask ourselves and those near to us these questions often enough so that we get in touch with our answers and the vulnerability it takes to answer them honestly.  That's my wish for this first micro-blog about what I've been reading and how it connects to my larger work in this moment.

I really can't say enough about this book.  I wish it was essential reading for all.  Keep reading, all. 

-absk

Harry Potter Books 1-3: Winter Break 2010

Harry Potter and friends have been keeping me company this winter break.  The series has swept me up, and all I can hope for is for 2011 to be filled with as much fun, adventure, and wisdom as these books.  I would love to have some students join me on this ride.  The magic, the wizards, the legends will captivate you!

While I had hoped to read the first five books over break, I got sidetracked by some other grown-up books.  Moonlight Mile by one of my favorite authors Dennis Lehane and National Book Award Winner Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann.  But like I said, I don't think middle-schoolers will like these but I do recommend these to my grown-up reading friends.

Keep reading, everyone!
-stenson

*Photo found on wizardingworldpark.com

Not Without Hope by Nick Schulyer

Oh man, what a tragic story.  It's a tragic, true story about four young, strong, athletic, fit guys stranded at sea.  Only one survived.  His memoir is harrowing, chilling, and heart-breaking.  It's a book that will appeal to boys, but it will make all readers appreciate their good fortune, friends, and family.

As I finished the epilogue of the book and put the book down, I considered how lucky I am to be alive and healthy and safe.  The deaths of the three former football players shown below will be a constant reminder of how valuable life is.  Celebrate it with family and friends, and even when life is the darkest, carry one with hope.

Good & Sticky

A great book to teachers, students, parents, ANYONE trying to make a point.

I love the premise, the writing, the ideas, and the details. This non-fiction book gives readers a nicely packaged, easy-to-read-and-understand checklist to help them get their ideas to stick (meaning the ideas will be memorable, understandable, and effective). As readers work their way through the checklist, they meet all sorts of ordinary individuals who did something extraordinary with their messages. The authors pick apart these stories and give detailed analysis of the methods used to make ideas stick. Witty, well-written, astute.

Click here to read more. And here to read more (scroll down a little, or while you wait to get to the book you know you are interested, take a peek at the other ones there...).

Have fun reading, everyone!

-stenson

image can be found at http://socialmediab2b.com/2009/10/b2b-social-media-books/

The 1st 5 Books of Stenson's Summer

Super exciting stuff...

1. I'm 5 for 5 with books this summer. I've been on a roll. Some of them are really just for grown-ups, but the two I'd recommend for kids are The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han (though I don't need to talk it up that much...it's a huge hit that I'm just getting to) and The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley (a book written for all ages, brilliant writing, a fun and feisty protagonist, and an amusing caper).

2. Have you heard of Animoto? Love this free site where you simply upload picutres, pick the music, add some text and submit it all. A funky, original video appears after a few moments. I can't wait to use this in Room 103 with 7th grade readers. Here's a peek at what it can do. *It was my first attempt, so please just humor me. You can watch by clicking on the image above....

1 down, 39 to go.

40. Forty. Cuarenta. 4-0. The number of books my 7th graders and I are going to try to read this year. It's about 1 a week (though I told one family it there were more than 40 weeks in the school year...oops!). It's a goal that is worth shooting for. A goal that depends entirely on effort, good choices, and good books.

Since I'm going to reach for the goal of 40 books this year too, I made sure I had a good book for this three-day weekend. I know it may be a little of a head start, but I'm counting the book I finished this weekend.

It's not a book I'd necessarily recommend to my students, but since it's the first book of the year for me, it's worth mentioning. Stalking Susan by Julie Kramer. Easy-cheesy crime novel. Kinda spooky though so I only read it when my husband was around and in the daytime hours. I've recently rediscovered mysteries, so I loved this holiday book (holiday book=easy read). I really liked that the setting (where it takes place) is in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.

Anyway, 1 down 39 to go. Here's to a really fun challenge and sharing it with my students!

My inspiration for this goal comes from Donalynn Miller and her extraordinary book The Book Whisperer; this is a book every teacher, parent, educator should read.

The Reading Workshop Classroom

photo by Herb Swanson of the NY Times


I've always admired the work of Nancie Atwell, a visionary reading teacher and specialist. Recently, a colleague sent me an article about her classroom and how it is inspiring a new generation of reading teachers and reading classrooms. It's really a powerful movement.

Getting caught up in the rush and chaos of the start of a new year is easy to do. Even so, I always aspire to have a classroom where students of all reading levels are comfortable with who they are as independent readers, where students are choosing their own books and enjoying their time reading them, where all of come together as a community of readers. It is in Nancie's ideals where my work is grounded. Kids, parents, all readers, take a peek at the article and at the slide show accompanying it to see just what we are shooting for in Room 103. Here's to reading. Here's to kids. Here's to the start of another great year!

Keep reading!
-stenson

Free Photos

Copyright rules and formatting trouble always leave me wondering how to add images to my blog and podcasts. I never have the right answers for my students when they add images to their work. However, this Technology Kit 2.0 promises to deliver us from our troubles. Among other tools, there is a list of sites where one can find free photo. Most helpful, don't you think?

Check it out!

Thanks to the National Council of Teachers of English (more evidence that English teachers save the world in too many ways to count)!

-Stenson

Podcast=Learning

There is a big, important debate going on around us about whether or not technology is helping or hurting the education of kids today. There are substantial arguments on both sides of the debate. However, in this post, I would like to try to identify a few ways in which technology can support learning, thinking, and literacy. Starting with iTunes and podcasts.

Podcasts are a great way to listen to a story, learn about a subject, or further one's understanding about a concept.

Here's my example for Art class: MOMA's collection of works of art that provide new perspectives about color.

The collection can be viewed online by going here.

Then, one could listen to the podcasts describing the significance and meaning behind each piece of art in the collection by grabbing one of Stenson's iPods.

Go to Playlists on the iPod menu, select ColorChart- MoMA.

Or Science class?!? Click here for the transcript and background information about an hour-long podcast about the rush to go green. Go to American RadioWorks under podcasts, and choose the one titled Green Rush. Interested in a local podcast about the weather, try this.


Maybe it's World History class, and you'd like to learn about Nelson Mandela. Click here for the transcript, and on the iPod go to Podcast>American RadioWorks>Mandela.

For literature or English class, there's a podcast and transcript on urban teens and Shakespeare. It can be found on Stenson's iPods under podcasts, American RadioWorks, and then Urban Shakespeare. Or some simple booktalks to highlight books for kids and teens.

For Health class, there's a podcast and transcript on teens living with HIV or the effects of mental illness on families, particularly siblings (this one's not downloaded to Stenson's iPods either).

So as not to leave anyone out, recently I've discovered podcasts for little kids (one full of tongue twisters to help identify and practice phonemes AND one with stories told aloud). World language podcasts are everywhere (here's an example regarding French). There are several on grammar and vocabulary and math and music or to celebrate diversity in music, try this one. Podcasts are even available for the use in physical education class and business class.


Those of you hooked, please check out this informational video about podcasts, iTunes U, and how YOU can make listening to podcasts and iPods an educational AND entertaining activity!

See you at iTunes U!
-Stenson

Mash-Up

I can hardly believe I forgot to pass this along...it's a PROFESSIONAL blog about teens and reading. The women knows everything there is to know about reading and teens. She's smart, with it, and she knows her stuff. Believe by seeing it.

The Mashup Blog .

I'm a fearless follower of the blog, and I hope to see you there too!

Pass it along!
Stenson

Summer Reading!

Hey all.

Some of my faithful ol' readers showed up this week, so I thought it's a good time for a new post.

I have to admit, I've read LESS this summer than ever before. But that because I'm taking a bunch of classes at Hamline University (on how to read kids read...very fun!) and I've been helping Ms. Sbrocco get ready for her wedding (which took place last Saturday. What a lovely evening).

Anyway, I have read a few good books, but the ones for adults. So, I'll save you the boredom by not telling you about those (However, those of you with gardening parents: tell them about Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. They'll love, love, love it).

Here's something I got in my email inbox in the summer. Peruse the website and see if there are any good books on here. Maybe you've already read some, maybe you need to get warmed up for school next month...maybe you are just curious. Whatever the case, look over the list and let me know what you reading-minds think!


The website: Summer 2008 Reading Ideas

Looking forward to seeing you soon (online that is...high school! here you go!)

Take good care, all.
...and keep reading!
Stenson