Teacher

Young Adult Fiction – January

I decided to read a young adult fiction book for my first read of 2020. When I post about books, I am not really giving a review of the books (that is much more involved). I am just sharing my reading experience with you and my overall thoughts on the book. Book title: We Were Liars Author: E. Lockhart Date Read: January 2-6, 2020 Type of Book: Young Adult Fiction Publication Date: May 2014 Publisher: Dell Publishing Awards (as noted on Goodreads): Georgia Peach Book Award (2015), Pennsylvania Young Readers’ Choice Award Nominee for Young Adults (2016), Rhode Island Teen Book Award Nominee (2016), Milwaukee…

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General

My Goals for the Year 2020

Each year I set goals for myself.  Some would call them resolutions, but the statistical stigma associated with failed resolutions makes me want to avoid that term.  For many years, I have set both personal and professional. Once I have the goal established, I will outline steps I should take to reach that goal.  A lot of times I do it informally. Last year in my planner, I had a page every month where I divided it into 4 sections. Within each section I had a goal for the year. Then I drew web diagrams of what I needed to do in relation to reaching…

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General

Christmas – Time To Put It Away

Christmas is over and a new year is about to begin.  About this time (December 31) I usually start gathering up the Christmas decorations. I try to put them all in one place as much as possible in preparation for returning them to storage.   As I look at our Christmas tree and other decorations, I see a collection of memories more than anything else. Christmas Past I look in holiday magazines and see perfectly trimmed, color-coordinated, Christmas trees.  Growing up, we never had that type of tree. We always had a real, needle dropping, dry but green tree decorated with various ornaments collected by…

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Songs of My Life

Song and Memory – “We’ll Sing in the Sunshine”

A 1964 chart topping hit song written and performed by Gale Garnett. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w9gb9ZEvMs) I don’t remember if I ever heard this song on the radio. Like on the classic station, or oldies, or 60s station on Sirius XM radio.  Maybe the 60s station plays it, but I rarely listen to that one. The time I remember hearing it the most is when I was in 6th grade (1973-74). I played the 45 record on a little cream and red-colored record player that I had in the basement of our home on Belford Ave in Grand Junction, Colorado.   Grand Junction We had lived in the same…

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General, Teacher

Guest Review – Fiction Recommendation

We have a guest review of the book this month. I read the book in October 2018, but the reviewer read it more recently. Enjoy! Book Title: Where’d You Go, Bernadette Author: Maria Semple Publication Date: 2012 Publisher: Little, Brown and Company My interest in this book:   The book was not on my radar until I received a copy in the mail a few years ago. It sat on my shelf for awhile. Guest review:  My friend and former colleague, Katie Stueart, wrote the following book review.  She agreed to let me include the review as part of this blog post. Thank you, Katie!!…

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