Wednesday, August 20, 2014


Blaze a Trail! 

Our school theme this year is “Blaze a Trail” and we kicked it off in the spring with a summer reading challenge.  I have been doing some reading this summer and love it!!!

Some of the titles I would like to share with you are:

Professional books:

The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller
This book has me recharged for teaching reading.  I can’t wait to get the class hooked on some great books!

Teach Like Your Hair’s On Fire by Rafe Esquith
This is a second read of the book.  Revisit a teacher that is very enthusiastic about his craft.

Books for Youth:

Rump by Liesl Shurtliff
This is the story of Rumplestilskin, his journey that lead him to weave gold and his journey to find his “real” name and what it means.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
This story is about Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich, who survives WWII by learning to read with the help of her accordion-playing foster father.  She shares her stolen books with others trying to survive.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
This was a second read as well (in preparation for the Global Read Aloud).  DiCamillo is my favorite author!  I had the pleasure of spending a day with her when she was in Grand Forks for a reading conference.  I was hooked before her visit and was even more so after.  This is the story about true love and being humble.  Edward is on a journey to find both.

Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett
Petra and Calder find themselves at the center of an international art scandal, where no one is spared from suspicion. Can they decipher a crime that has stumped even the FBI?

The rest of the titles I have enjoyed are for young adults and adults only!  It has been a great summer of reading.  I look forward to a great school year and even more good books!  Let's set our compass to success, grab good books, and Blaze a Trail!