JOIN THE ELEMENTARY GROUP ON THE ENGLISH COMPANION NING!

We have been part of English Companion NING for a few weeks. No, we really don't know what a NING is but we played on it for a while and now we get it.  (Remember, we didn't know what a blog was for a while either.)  There have been some great conversations going on at the NING and it has grown like crazy since Jim Burke started it. Lots of smart people sharing their thinking. 

We thought it would be nice to have a group that discussed issues specific to elementary. So, we started one! And we started a discussion there about read aloud just because it's what we've been thinking about lately.  

Anyway, we hope you all join us over at English Companion (www.englishcompanion.ning.com). Here's the thing. Don't not join because you don't know what a NING is. We'll all figure it out together. And it is one of those things that you can put as little or as much time into it as you like--when the conversations interest you. Once you get on, you'll probably find 5-6 groups you'll want to join.  Definitely check it out. Then, sign in and find the elementary group and then find others.  Hope to see you there!

2009 Diet Plan

So, last year I committed to daily Boot Camp and did okay for a few months. Summer was hard with the travel and I ended up quitting in October. I am planning on starting again tomorrow although I am thinking up any excuse possible to not get up at 5AM. I found this great new diet from a Twitter friend that I might try instead. What do you think?

Rhyming Dust Bunnies by Jan Thomas

So, of course I will buy any book that Jan Thomas writes from here on out. I loved WHAT WILL FAT CAT SIT ON and I loved THE DOGHOUSE even more. This new 2009 book, is not about the usual characters that Thomas writes about. This new book, RHYMING DUST BUNNIES is about 4 character who are dust bunnies...rhyming dust bunnies. They rhyme.

The illustrations in the book are clearly Jan Thomas's. Bright colors, black borders and great facial expressions. The book is square and easily recognizable as one of Thomas's. And as much as I was hoping for another story about Duck, Cow, Dog and Mouse, I loved reading about these dust bunnies.

First of all, who thinks of these things--dust bunnies as characters. And these dust bunnies are rhyming dust bunnies--well, kind of. Their names are Ed, Ned, Ted and Bob! And they rhyme ALL THE TIME! On each page, the dust bunnies are shouting out words that rhyme but Bob seems to be having trouble--he just isn't rhyming. But, don't worry. We find out at the end the reason for his unrhyming words.

Jan Thomas totally gets young children. She gets their humor. And she understands their needs as readers--she creates great books with pretty sophisticated humor. And she does it with great predictable text so that kids are quickly and easily engaged.

A fun book and another great one for early readers. The kid will be excited to hear this one read aloud and I am sure it will be a popular one in the library.

Great 2008 Read Alouds

I wrote an article for Choice Literacy that was posted there today. 10 of my favorite 2008 novels for reading aloud to middle grade/middle school.  In case you are interested.

Thinking About 21st Century Literacies

We visited imagechef.com today to create the visual that you see to the left. We were thinking that it would be great to tag all of our posts dealing with our thinking about 21st Century Literacies with something that would make it obvious to readers.  We figure that we have lots of threads going on on the blog--lots about books, the Newbery and teaching in general.  But we'll put this visual next to all of the posts that deal specifically with this 21st Century thinking. We imagine that the conversations will become more connected as time goes on, but for now, this is a way for us to organize the threads of our thinking and to highlight these posts for readers.  

For those of you who are also thinking about these issues, please feel free to copy this image and use it on your blog. Or you can put it in your sidebar to indicate that this is an area you are interested in thinking about.  We created it to share so that anyone interested could use it to tag related posts or whatever.  That way, we can connect our thinking between blogs and continue the conversation.

Poetry Friday Roundup Is Here!

Happy New Year!

Leave your link in the comments and I'll round up throughout the day.

I was the earliest early bird of all this week -- I posted on Wednesday about the most amazing gift of poetry ever.

Jules at 7 Impossible Things Before Breakfast treats us to "Burning the Old Year" by Naomi Shihab Nye.

Tricia at The Miss Rumphius Effect has wild bells ("The Way of the Soul" by Alfred Lord Tennyson) ringing in the new year.

John Mutford at The Book Mine Set is wondering whether poetry must only be heard, or whether it's okay if it's read, too.

Douglas Florian at Florian Cafe gives us a sneak peek, "Baryonyx," from his newest book DINOTHESAURUS, which will be out in March.

Gregory K. at GottaBook shares a New Year's poem, "Resolutions," about...guess what?!?!

TAKE A BREAK FROM POETRY: GO WATCH THIS VIDEO -- 2008 IN THREE WORDS

Lorie Ann Grover at On Point has an original haiku, written to thank a friend for her care and time.

At Readertotz, Lori Ann Grover shares "The Golden An" from Sesame Street. Check it out and see if you understan'!

At The Drift Record, Julie has an original sonnet, "A Sonnet for the New Year," and her favorite quote by a poet in 2008, taken from a September interview of Billy Collins.

Laura at Author Amok was inspired by a New Year's Eve drum line, which reminded her of "The Drum" by Nikki Giovanni.

Janet at Across the Page has a birthday poem for her mother, "A Fable," by Louise Gluck.

At laurasalas, Laura has a poem that will ring true for dog and cat owners alike -- "The (Almost) Perfect Host" by Linda Ashman.

Also at laurasalas, check out the 15 Words or Less poems for this week, inspired by a photo of a chain.

TAKE A BREAK FROM POETRY -- ENJOY SOME AMAZING FIREWORKS!

Celebrities wish London Happy New Year on behalf of LG @ Yahoo! Video

Cloudscome at a wrung sponge is in the mood for Rumi today.

Andrea at Just One More Book! has a podcast review of a rhyming book for toddlers, MY PUP.

Stacey at Two Writing Teachers has a delicious photo and a text message poem to go with it.

Ruth at There is no such thing as a God-forsaken town has a poem to go with her word for the year: look.

Welcome to Lulu at Lulu's Library! For her first Poetry Friday she shares some Robert Frost and her dream that goes with it.

Sara Lewis Holmes at Read Write Believe shares an original, "The Bones of January."

TAKE A BREAK FROM POETRY AND MEDITATE ON THE PASSAGE OF TIME.

One year in 40 seconds - www.ptbdirect.com !!! @ Yahoo! Video

Bookworm at The Bookworm's Booklist is thinking about fresh starts with "My Year Book" by G. Welker.

Bill Varner at The Stenhouse Blog has a poem about fathers and sons this week, "Proud Son of an Honor Roll Student" by Timothy Cook.

Little Willow at Bildungsroman shares a bit of "Hope for the Hopeless" by A Fine Frenzy.

David at Writing Workshop shares two originals today, "Winter Sun" on his website, and another that is steaming up the comments here.

shelburns at Write for a Reader has a New Year poem, "Life I am the New Year," in which the blank book of a new year theme continues from "My Year Book" at The Bookworm's List.

MsMac at Check it Out reminds us to hold onto our dreams in the new year.

TAKE A BREAK FROM POETRY AND WATCH JIB JAB'S 2008 YEAR IN REVIEW.

Linda at Write Time found a perfect poem from Robert Service to share today.

Kelly at Kelly Polark has an original poem this week.

One of The Write Sisters, Mur, has some advice for improving the quality of your life.

Tiel Aisha Ansari at Knocking from Inside has an original villanelle today, "Holiday Debris."

Jennifer Knoblock at Ink for Lit found a poem that speaks to her about writing poems.

Karen Edmisten forgoes the ease of Billy Collins for some (surprisingly satisfying) T.S. Eliot. Good advice, Atticus! Great post, Karen!

At The Poetry University of Kelly Fineman this week, we have "Jabberwocky," by Lewis Carroll, complete with discussion and a performance by the Muppets.

Tadmack at Finding Wonderland shares a fabulous poem for the new year that will remind you to live in the moment.

Susan at Susan Writes gives us another poem to tack to the wall above our desks and remind us to live in the moment.

Sylvia Vardell at Poetry for Children gives us a glimpse into the future with a list of 2009 poetry books that are scheduled for publication, and she has a birthday poem for Jean Little.

Jill at Jill Corcoran Books writes, "in my post of EVEN MORE WRITING TIPS I have included Marilyn Singer's fantastic compilation of Authors, Editors and other Book People's answers to the question: WHAT MAKES A GOOD POEM."

Jennie at Biblio File is in with a song about Julian of Norwich.

Erin at Miss Erin has a New Year haiku for us...by Billy Collins! Why did I not know that he wrote haiku?

Cuileann at the holly and the ivy has a stunning portion of the poem "Käthe Kollwitz" by Muriel Rukeyser. I love this line: "and death holding my lifetime between great hands." Go read the poem, then go to Wickipedia and read about the life and work of Käthe Kollwitz.

Kim at Page After Page ends our New Year Edition of Poetry Friday with "The First Snowfall,"
by James Russell Lowell.

Thank you all for your submissions and your New Year greetings and wishes. I had fun creating the round up and I hope you had as much fun reading and viewing. Cheers!

Wait! Wait! Don't go yet! There's one more. Teach People Not Books did not ask to be rounded up, but I'm going to anyway. If you don't yet read this blog (on the learn) of a very smart (brains AND fashion) first year high school teacher, then you need to. She's in with an ode to Walt Whitman by Neruda.

This just in...Suzanne at Adventures in Daily Living is sharing "The Collector" by Luci Shaw.

An article to begin your 2009 Thinking on 21st Century Literacies

Finally catching up on some blog reading. I found a great article by Will Richardson called "World Without Walls: Learning Well With Others: How to Teach When Learning is Everywhere." at Edutopia. It is a great essay on our roles and the significance of this moment in time for us, as educators. No easy answers of course, but some smart things to think about and some great links. A good way to begin my 2009 thinking about what this all means for the classroom.

Cybils

Finalists Have Been Announced!

Something to Look Forward To In 2009

THE ELECTRIC COMPANY is coming back to PBS in January. We saw a sneak peek at NCTE this year and I just shared some of the preview clips with my 9 year olds. Looks like a fun, updated version. And it was fun to see some of the same routines (Do you remember, "HEY, YOU GUYS!?"). If you want to see what it's all about, I found some preview clips on the site here.

Babbling About New Year's Resolutions/Reading Goals

After reading Mary Lee's reading stats, I am sure you can see how lucky I feel to have her as friend and colleague! I remember years ago when she told me about reading 52 children's books a year. I somehow misunderstood and thought she said 26 so I committed to that! She was also the reason that I started to keep track of my reading and the reason that I blog. Thanks, Mary Lee!

Somehow, I stopped keeping a reading log this summer. I am not sure how it happened or what happened but I just stopped tracking my reading. I guess I figured that I blogged about almost every book I read so it seemed redundant. But, at the end of the year, I hate not having a record. I hate not being able to look back to see what kind of reader I was in 2008. Which months were great reading months? What were some patterns over the year, etc? It is something I like to do at the end of a year--thinking back to how I've changed as a reader by looking at a blog. But somewhere this year, logging my reading seemed like another job so I took a break. I think I've probably read about 45 children's novels, a ton of picture books and almost no adult novels--1-2 maybe.

I feel like 2008 was a great year for reading. So many great children's books that I've read. So many new ones that I am looking forward to. Not sure where my reading life will go in 2009, but I hope to keep up my log again as I am really missing that piece today.

During this time of year, I am usually at the bookstore buying a new Self-Help book. A new diet plan, a way to clean the house in 7 days, some plan for looking younger. And every year, I am sure that it will be the thing that helps me to be more efficient. This year, I looked at the self-help book table and sadly enough, I have most of the books they were marketing!? I knew them all quite well and had tried many of them during a recent January Resolution stage. So, I decided that there will be no goals for 2009! No New Year's Resolutions at all. No reading goals. No new diet plan. No new exercise plan. No plans to organize my house. I have come to terms that balance in my life means balance over the course of the year. Some months I read a lot. Some months I don't. Some days I eat really healthy. Some days I don't. Some weeks I am a workaholic. Some weeks I relax more. Sometimes my house is really clean. Sometimes it is a mess. Sometimes I go too long without seeing good friends and sometimes I spend lots of time with them.. And, some years, I am better at keeping track of my reading than other years! I think the biggest thing I've realized this year is that I like the way that this balance happens even if it feels chaotic. I am better at enjoying whatever mode I am. I am happy enjoying what comes my way in 2009 without giving myself the pressure of reading a certain amount of books, losing a certain amount of weight, attending boot camp every day, etc. I hope to do all of those things but without the pressure of a resolution!

I am giving myself the gift of a year without resolutions!