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

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

Novels in verse, like this one, are like many, many little and beautiful stories that add up to one giant wonderful story.  This one, Jacqueline Woodson's newest release, is so powerful I had to read many parts of it out-loud to the Kujawski boys. And very often when I did, the tallest one, Barney, recognized the sweetness of the story too.

Non-fiction, historical non-fiction, memoir, novel in verse...so many aspects of this book.  The writers in every kid would benefit from reading this book.  Teachers in every LA/R classroom will benefit from sharing pieces of this book with their students.  This book is so simple and so powerful. Jacqueline Woodson is brilliant.

Born in 1963 and raised by all the important people in her life (mom, dad, grandmother, grandfather) in Ohio, in the South, and in Brooklyn, Ms. Woodson tells us the tales of her adventures.  She shares secrets about her questions and her insecurities, and she shares her confidence in friendship, family, and faith. There are lines from old music, poems quoted and copied, favorite games and pop culture divulged- it's a book that is as playful as it is powerful.

I want kids of color to get their hands on this book.  But I need kids not of color to get their hands on this book too. It's just that #weneeddiversebooks for so many reasons.  For empathy, for knowledge, for sharing of the struggles.

Yet, still, we could simply read beyond the brown in this story of a little girl dreaming, and we'd have a marvelous story of a writer-in-bloom.  Kids who grow-up dreaming of becoming writers and story-tellers need to get their hands on this book.



This is one of those books I'm so thankful exists.  It makes this world one in which I'm capable of raising kids.  Because they are all ours, all of them.

SAMS kids and families, you are welcome to my copy!  Any time.  You'll find it either in my office or Ms. Mohr's classroom.

-absk

War of the Whales by Joshua Horwitz

What you would do if you came across a 5,000 pound whale stranded on the beach?  How would you go about saving the big guy?  You'd need to find a marine biologist like Ken Balcomb to help you out. Mr. Balcomb is one of the protagonists of a new book- War of the Whales. It is a non-fiction tale about a mass stranding of whales in the Bahamas in 2000 that sparked a complicated, lengthy, and sensitive battle between researchers and conservationists and the United States Navy and ended up in the United States Supreme Court.

Scientist Balcomb partners up with conservation lawyer Joel Reynolds to uncover what role the U.S. Navy played in the tragic event that killed many whales. The whales were driven out of their underwater habitats by high-intensity sounds coming from a submarine surveillance system the Navy was testing out.  Readers learn how difficult and demanding it can be to be champions of marine wildlife, and they discover the great lengths the U.S. Navy goes to while keeping our national defense  in top shape.

The book is definitely a challenge book for middle-schoolers, but the right readers will rejoice in all details of marine wildlife biology, U.S. Navy tactics, and legal trials of our country's justice system.

In full disclosure, it was even a challenge book for me.  The Tall Guy had to help me get through some parts.  But the story will stick with me.  I'm struck by the tension we must face between taking care of ourselves and taking care of our planet.  We are all one, and what we do to each other (even the whales), we do onto ourselves...War of the Whales is a great reminder of this ever-present struggle.

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.

No Impact Man by Colin Beaven

Are you the type of person who tries? Colin Beaven is. He sets out to live, with his wife, daughter, and dog, in NYC, for one year without creating a environmental footprint. Then, he writes a book about the experiement.

They stop making trash, they stop using any transportation that is not self-propelled, they only eat food grown/made with ingredients from within a 250 mile radius, and they turn off the electricity.

He doesn't do it to self-promote. He doesn't do it to be a martyr. He doesn't do it to be a over-acheiveing environmentalist. He does it because he doesn't know what else to do, but try.



As a story, it works. And, in my opinion, it works well as an experiment too. Ultimately, he asks questions that go beyond what's good for the climate, and he begins to ask questions about what is good for us? And, he means what is really good for our quality of life and our happiness levels.

As non-fiction goes, this book will be enjoyed by mature kids and grown-ups in their lives. I'm really sad I didn't read it with someone I love. I'm going to sign off and start lobbying the Tall Guy to read it.

No Impact Man by Colin Beaven can also be sampled at this site, the No Impact Blog.

Keep reading, everyone!
-stenson

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/

Loving Libraries.

Here's to you, Ms. Noreen, Ms. Thurk, and Ms. Lang, the three talented women who make it happen at the OGM Media Center.

Your media center is filled with so many good books organized in a way in which we can find for what we are looking (unless a pesky middle-school student of staff has screwed it all up!). There are 45 computers that you let us jump on and off; not to mention the comfortable chairs for us to use while we do our scholarly work. Your hard work in the media center makes our reading lives richer and more satisfying. Thanks for putting up with us, keep the media center a sacred place in our school, for nurturing the readers in all of us.

I thought of you three when I read this story. Hope you all enjoy!


picture from StoryCorps and NPR.org

Keep reading everyone. Visit a library today!
-Stenson

p.s. Don't get ideas about stealing books, kids. There is nothing wrong with reading- be proud of the books you read. Everyone's doing it. The 7th graders this year have already read close to 1,000 books. Way to go, Huskies!

Farewell, Teacher Man.

-photo from trashotron.com

I would have loved to have a teacher like Frank McCourt. I had good teachers, but this guy told a story like Picasso painted. He was one of the best. Plus, I fondly remember lying next to the proud-to-be Tall Guy while he giggled as he read the last of the three auto-biographies Teacher Man. I hope we left this world smiling; Mr. McCourt died on Sunday, July 20 at the young age of 78. He will be missed.

Read on.
-Stenson

Who is Puckett?

She is one of my best friends; she's my old lady black dog. I love her like I love breathing.

Here's a picture of Pucky just hanging around. She's a constant presence, keeping the whole family company. But apparently, while Pucky is lounging around enjoying city life with her family, there are some amazing dogs working hard.

Take these Dogs on Deployment for example. Dogs are defending peace and justice in Afghanistan. My heart goes out to the soldiers who work with the dogs, and the all the military men and women who are safer because of the work of these dogs.

Click here to listen or to read about these dogs are their masters.

Here's to Lode and Leddy. May they return home safely and quickly with their soldiers by their sides.

Keep reading (online newspapers count!)
-Stenson

"I want to be thoroughly used up when I die."

My DA kids are reading the book Three Cups of Tea. The geography and the people, the story and the spirit of this book are each extraordinary.

The man behind this true story, Greg Mortenson, is a true American hero who school by school is promoting peace and justice in an impoverished land; but he is not alone. Jahan, the first young girl from her village to be educated, has just as much courage as Greg. Haji Ali, a village leader, holds himself with wisdom and patience unfamiliar to the Western world. Jean Hornei and his wife Jennifer Bergman give so generously, it's not surprising that the title of this post comes from Jennifer's necklace inscription.

There are several versions of this book. Anyone up for a challenge should try the original, but there are a few other versions depending on who is reading the book. For more information, please go to this website.

I urge you to read this book. It will reach right through you and grab you by the spine. In my experience, that's always been a sign of a good book.

Peace,
-Stenson

We Are the Ship

I love baseball. I love good writing. I love this book. Have you heard about it? It's popping up everywhere--most recently at the Young Adult Book Awards where it was honored and celebrated.

This is what Phil Taylor of Sports Illustrated said about the book:

The artist finds beauty even where there seems to be none, and in that way Kadir Nelson and the men of the Negro leagues are soul mates. Negro leagues baseball (1920-47) was an exquisite flower grown from poisonous soil -- the ugly racial attitudes of 20th-century America -- and nurtured by men who refused to allow the ignorance that barred them from the major leagues to extinguish their passion for the game. Nelson, some 60 years later, saw the dignity in that passion and has honored it with a book of oil paintings, We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball, depicting Negro leagues stars and game scenes, some of which grace these pages.

So it's a Young Adult book, but it's written like a children's book because of the intense illustrations. You'll pour over the pictures and the voice of the characters. Amazing book. Enjoy.

-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

The pile on my nightstand.

Have you ever been tempted to fake sick and stay in bed and read? Those of you who are reading during math class, science class, health class...I know you know that feeling! Don't worry, Mr. Knoss, I'd never do that, but it sure would help with that pile of books on my nightstand!

On the list of books Stenson is looking forward to reading soon:

1. Orphelia by ?? Maddy M gave it to me, it's based on Shakespeare's Hamlet, and it looks like a book to get lost inside of.

2. What Would Martin Say by Clarence Jones (non-fiction about Martin Luther King Jr. written by close friend and personal lawyer)

3. Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard (I ran into one of my favorite college professors, and she's the one who first introduced me to Ms. Dillard. This is not a book I would recommend to most 8th graders because there isn't really a plot. It's a narrative created with brilliant language, written, I think, to call careful attention to how glorious Nature is.

4. Dog Years by Mark Doty (Everyone knows my best friend--besides Ms. Sbrocco--is my loyal, lovely black lab Puckett. I can't pass up a book about dogs and the gifts they bring this planet).

5. There are also three poetry books in my stack of books. I don't really understand poetry very well....but much like I preach to my student...reading (poetry too) is like anything else; you have to practice it.


6. Playing for Pizza by John Grisham (those of you who love a suspense or mystery would love Grisham's books. However, this novel of his isn't a mystery or thriller, but I've always been a fan of his, so I'd like to read this one too).

Anyway, tell me what you are reading or what is on your list of "Books to Read Soon".

Can't wait to hear the titles. Can't wait to jump back into that pile on my nightstand.

Here's to those never-ending lists of books we can't wait to get our hands on!
Stenson

I, too, Sing America!

If you haven't heard this poem, I suggest checking out the book of poetry by the same name. This line, I, Too, Sing America, is a poem by Langston Hughes. The poem is an emotional poem about the African-American experience. But the book by the same name is a collection of poems written by some of the greatest African-American poets and authors of our country's time. It's a book of poems you would have fun reading aloud to yourself. The rhythms and the colors and the emotions will send shivers down your spine. So will the illustrations that accompany the poems.

It's important to honor Black History Month in our classrooms, and one of the best ways I know how is to showcase books written by and about the African American experience.

Here is the link to I, Too, Sing America

Authors who Inspire Me (especially during Black History Month)

Sharon Draper (author of Cooper Sun, Forged by Fire, November Blues, and many more!)

Maya Angelou (author of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings)


Christopher Paul Curtis (author of Bud Not Buddy)

Walter Dean Myers (author of Monster)

Tupac Shakur (especially The Rose that Grew from Concrete--our custodian Claude told me about this book...it's really powerful)

Read one or two or all of these authors soon. You'll be a different person at the end of some of these books; they are that gripping, and they are robust.

So, during Black History month...here's to all the mighty African-American writers who have deserve to be celebrated and read in every classroom, it every school, by every teacher, child, and parent.

Share your thoughts!
And keep reading!
Stenson


P.S. While finding websites to link to this page (you can click on the authors names to find more information), I found this Sharon Draper quote from Copper Sun: "Freedom is a delicate idea--like a pretty leaf in the air--it's hard to catch, and may not be what you thought when you get it." That's poetry.