Reading Countess

Today during our gathering session in preparation for teaching the district’s Reading/Writing Workshop for Grades 3-5, I shared with the other two teachers co-teaching with me some sites I have found to be extremely beneficial for my instruction delivery. Goodreads, kidblog, animoto and diigo were new to my partners. Although excited by the prospect of these new tools, they did seem a bit overwhelmed. Although they could clearly see the benefit of utilizing the sites to help tweak their instruction, their worry-filled comments revealed that they felt it would be time consuming. In fact, one of my colleagues joked that her husband would claim that she was “sleeping with her computer.”

I think this is a valid concern, and one I often hear from teachers when I share some of the sites I use for classroom use. There is a steep “learning curve” with anything bright, shiny and new. But an important part about technology is that it can (and should) make like easier for the user. Unfortunately, many people complain that technology actually is more of an enemy than it is a friend in their life. I, myself, have struggled with this very same issue.

Barring the natural and expected time that it takes to learn the ins and outs of new technology, how far will we go in order to make life easier for ourselves? In an attempt to streamline life, are we actually draining our free time? Studies show that despite complaints to the contrary, Americans have more free time than they have ever historically had. However, that “free time” is often literally sucked away by heavy computer usage. Does all of this screen time really improve our lives?

What do you think? Are we helping, or hurting our free time?

 And on a related note…check out this cool site I just discovered! It is perfect for summer vacations when family and friends cannot be with you, or it can be used to  infuse a whimsical technology twist to reading or writing workshop: http://www.fotobabble.com/ …and there I go again…

Related blog post: http://educatech.wordpress.com/2010/06/18/is-the-sacrifice-worth-it/#comments

Today I met with two other teachers, our district’s Language Arts curriculum specialist (K-8) and a consultant for NWP/University of Houston Clear Lake associate dean of the School of Education to begin planning the school district’s reading/writing workshop training for beginning teachers. The official title of the course next week is “Introduction to Reading and Writing Workshops for Grades 3-5.” The course description reads, “The learner will be able to: state the rationale for a workshop approach within a balanced approach to literacy, state the steps of the writing process and rationale for teaching the writing process to students, create custom schedules for his/her Language Arts block, discuss read aloud/think aloud strategies, discuss mini lessons for reading and writing, and discuss student samples from classrooms.”

We are covering reading workshop on day one, writing workshop on day two, and rubrics/grading and technology uses on day three. I am most excited about the last half of the last day (technology), wish the time was more, and hope our sixty participants come away with some ready-to-implement ideas to use starting week one of the new school year. The two other teachers and myself will be hosting break-out sessions sharing the various Web 2.0 tools we used last year, along with the tricks of the trade we learned along the way. I plan on sharing:

Animoto (I learned just today from a colleague who infuses technology every day in her junior high classes that teachers can apply for a free, full access membership)

Wallwishers

Kidblog/my personal blog

Wordle/Tagul

Goodreads

Diigo

What are some words of wisdom I should be sure to impart to the group assembled next Wednesday concerning technology use in the classroom? I would love to hear your thoughts!

Related books:

Engaging the Eye Generation

Because Digital Writing Matters

The Socially Networked Classroom

The Digital Writing Workshop

In my last post, I shared my struggle with balancing an extremely satisfying, but demanding, full time teaching position with an even more satisfying eternal parenthood role. Today, in honor of Father’s Day, I want to acknowledge my supportive husband and loving father of my three boys. We ALL would be adrift without his calm presence, his gentle nature, and his willingness to drop everything to be by our sides.

My husband works remotely. Working from home has provided a stable base for not only our entering kindergartener (whom he shuttled to and from preschool every day and entertained in the afternoons until I returned from school), but to our other two school-aged sons. If one was sick, his more flexible schedule let him pick him up and take him to the doctor. If a lunch was forgotten, or if a volunteer was needed for Junior Achievement, he would step in and save the day. Making hearty breakfasts (what other child do you know eats omelettes, pancakes, or homemade kolaches before school every morning?), starting dinner for me, throwing a load in the wash, and even picking up forgotten items at the grocery store has become the standard operating procedure around our home. His work environment has enabled me to not worry about a lot of issues that many full time working moms have to worry about, simply because I knew that he would be there in a pinch.

But because he had an amazing work-life balance, I began to veer in the opposite direction. I found myself working entirely too much for too long each day/night, and when I was at home, I wasn’t fully present. My boys, who would before come to me for every little thing, were instead going to my husband. If they felt sick, they crawled into his lap. If they were crying, he would be the one they sought out. Towards the end of this school year, I felt as if I was the parent who made sure everything was in place: lunches were made, clothes were washed and folded, homework was completed, and after school activities were attended. But I was not the one who was being sought after for love. And that was my wake up call.

Holding a mirror in front of myself is not pleasant. But in order for change to occur, a little discomfort must accompany that growth. Or as my grandfather would say often, “If you want to make an omelette, you have to crack a few eggs.” Do I want to continue in this vein? No. I have thoroughly enjoyed my youngest son crawling into my lap and twirling my hair as we read a book together this summer. What will my work/life look like come this fall? You’ll have to stay tuned to see.

As for today, on Father’s Day, I celebrate and acknowledge my long-suffering but ever faithful husband. He is the backbone of our family. Now if he’ll ever let me take that title back…

What does an old Johnny Carson reference have to do with today’s post, you wonder? Think back to 1980′s The Shining, with Jack Nicholson…

I have a personality that tends to go to extremes. Okay, I am more than  a bit extreme sometimes. Alright, if my feet were put to the fire, I would admit (begrudgingly, of course), that I can go over the top. My family, and my husband in particular, would vehemently agree. I can’t help it. As Popeye says, “I yam what I yam.”

This seemingly charming little quirk  has a tendency of rearing its ugly head in the most inconvenient of ways. For instance, as a high school student, I really struggled with staying organized. Because my organization was rather lackluster, my grades eventually suffered. I was determined to rectify this bad habit when I entered college. As a college student financially responsible for my own education, I took organization to the extreme. My notes, notebooks, textbooks and binders were impeccably ordered and notated. Admittedly, it took countless hours before and after class to make sure that I was at the top of my game and ready for class. Sure, my bookbag was Office Depot’s dream example of college preparedness, but the time I spent slaving away at the visual presentation of my classwork could have been better spent studying, relaxing, or hanging out with my friends.

I was a nursing extremist when I became a mother. The current parenting literature stated over and over again that “good” mothers nursed their babies. Well, alright then! I could do that. In fact, I nursed despite horrific medical conditions (both for me and for my children throughout the years). I nursed even when my milk supply was scant due to medication interfering. In retrospect, I chose to nurse through difficult circumstances as a stubborn statement to my own mother. Thankfully, most of my nursing experiences with my children were, in fact, a beautiful bonding time for us. And thankfully, I finally learned with my last child that I could stop earlier than the standard one year mark and the world would still continue spinning. Unfortunately, I didn’t learn to supplement with bottles or formula, and my health suffered sometimes.

These are just two times in my life when I was so doggedly determined to do “what is right” that I have actually done “what is wrong.” The list could go on and on… And now, with two weeks of blessed summer vacation now behind me, I have had the time to now reflect and see that this destructive pattern is happening yet again. I now see myself for what I am. I am a workaholic. I am a hard working, nose-to-the-grindstone, dedicated, caring,  professional educator. It sounds great on paper. But in actuality, this does not translate well in real life. My family would agree that when I am not working, I am talking about work, thinking about work, reading about work, or writing about work. “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.”

Where has this working to the extreme gotten me, I wonder? Sure, my students and parents might be appreciative of all my efforts. But is my family? Do my children, my husband and even I deserve a workaholic Mom/wife? At the end of the day, I owe it to my kids (my kids, not the 94 I have on loan for nine and a half months out of the year), to be a more well- rounded person. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis once said, “If you bungle raising your children, I don’t think whatever else you do well matters very much.”

I am wondering how I will work this startling wake-up call into my everyday life. And I am hoping, no, praying, that I am not too late in my realization.

Do you have words of wisdom about how to live a well-balanced life? Can a working Mom “have it all?” How do you push the OFF button at work? I would love to hear your thoughts…

For further reading: http://zenhabits.net/workaholic/

” Hi. My name is Reading Countess and I have a reading problem.” This is something that I might be forced to say if my ever-growing list of books to-be-read (TBR) doesn’t stop…and soon! But that truly is a conundrum for real readers. If we are to live active literate lives, then new titles pop up on an every day basis. In fact, I am thankful that I keep my lists of books virtually on Goodreads, otherwise my bookshelves would literally be leaning and falling down!

Today I picked up a box of books sent to me by a friend who is a publisher’s representative. There are so many books that I cannot wait to jump into!  Now my only problem is to decide which titles on my TBR must be ignored for a little longer so that I can tend to the new ones quietly calling my name.  Delighted by the many surprises tucked away in the box, I thought perhaps by listing them on my blog, that I might add some of the the titles onto other TBR lists…YOURS!

Please click on the title to read a brief blurb from Goodreads. If you are a member of the site, you can then easily add it to your own shelf if you choose. Please do leave a comment about any titles that pique your interest!

The Elf Realm: The Low Road by Daniel Kirk

The Elf Realm: The High Road by Daniel Kirk

Living Hell by Catherine Jinks

Happy Birthday Sophie Hartley by Stephanie Greene

The Yggyssey: How Iggy Wondered What Happened To All the Ghosts, Found Out where They Went and Went There by Daniel Pinkwater

Goal: Glory Days by Robert Rigby

Ghost Huntress: The Guidance by Marley Gibson

A Wizard of Mars by Diane Duane

The Reformed Vampire Support Group by Catherine Jinks

The Hard Kind of Promise by Gina Willner-Pardo

The Birthday Ball by Lois Lowry

Age 14 by Geer Spillebeen

Mary Mae and the Gospel Truth by Sandra Dutton

The Day of the Pelican by Katherine Paterson

Far From Gringo Land by Edward Myers

The Education of Bet by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

The Cowgirl Way: Hats Off to America’s Women of the West by Holly George-Warren

Paper Daughter by Jeanett Ingold

The Sisters: Marcia’s Madness by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Ragtag by Karl Wolf-Morgenlander

Max Quigley: Technically NOT a Bully by James Roy

Donalyn Miller, author of one of my favorite books touting the importance of book choice in school, has issued a summer challenge. “The-Book-a-Day Challenge” is now in full swing and I find myself reveling in reading various genres of interest. Picture books, middle grade readers, books on the craft of teaching writing, and adult fare are on deck for me during the next two and a half months.Creating a separate shelf on Goodreads entitled “summer reading 2010″ has made it easier for me to keep track of this time period. So far, I have logged a surprising nineteen! My only problem with this challenge is that I keep adding book after book to my burgeoning TBR pile. Just today, Fuse #8 posted summer front runners for the coveted Newbery and Caldecott Awards. So I ask you…will you join Miller’s challenge this summer?

Social networking is growing by leaps and bounds. When used appropriately, sites such as Facebook and twitter can be excellent tools for discovery and for connecting with friends (both old and new) across the globe. But with a younger audience dipping their toe into the medium, I have come to realize that like most things in life, the skills necessary to navigate these sites must be explicitly taught to young charges.

Young members of these sites are not savvy (yet) about the benefits and pitfalls of proper etiquette and use. Too much information shared, rude comments, or even bullying behavior are but some of the issues popping up. Comments posted remain on record with the sites, and can adversely affect young members in the future. Job applications, college entrances and scholarships can be in jeopardy if good citizenship on social networking sites are not maintained.

 Sad reminders about the repurcussions of the misuse of social networking sites in the news remind the public about the dangers that can befall unsuspecting families. Just this winter, Phoebe Prince, a freshman new to her high school from Ireland, ended her own life after enduring taunts and bullying online. While this is an extreme case, it does show the gravity of the situation facing our community. Tools to teach young members socially responsible behavior while online must be utilized in order to equip our youth.

I am pleased that the district I work for has seen a need for education in this area and has responded. Just a few weeks ago, the district released an educational clip that parents and educators can share with the youth of our area in regards to responsible behavior on social networking sites. Please click here to read the release.

Last night I saw firsthand the abuse young members can pile on one another. While checking my oldest son’s Facebook account to make sure he was posting appropriately, I noticed one of his “friends” had posted a seemingly innocuous statement about the actress Megan Fox. After declaring his devotion to the beautiful actress, kids began posting derrogatory comments about the original poster. Racial and religious slurs began to fly not only about him, but comments were directed to all kids posting back and forth. Over thirty comments degenerated in all by the time the post caught my attention (my son, thankfully, was not a participant in this outrageous behavior).

Shocked and disappointed, I felt that I had to comment on the misuse of the site. Although I feared sounding matronly, I felt strongly enough to state: my disappointment in their actions, the dangers surrounding cyber-bullying, and long-range ramifications of their words. The original poster immediately messaged me his apologies and even removed the offensive strand from his page (although the conversation is forever archived by Facebook…)

Shielded by a computer screen, the youth of today feel compelled to say (write) anything without fear of repercussions. Calling upon the three rules in my own classroom that I employ when students interact with one another (is it true, kind, or necessary?),  I reminded the participants of the offensive behavior in my diatribe last night what they should consider before posting.

Perhaps it was not my business to say anything. But doesn’t it take a village to raise a child?

For today’s post, I have included Share a Story, Shape a Future’s blog post from yesterday. I am so pleased to have had a small hand in placing more books into the minds and hearts of more eager readers! Thanks again, RIF!

 

Isn’t this just a great image? I get so excited just thinking about all the enjoyment these books will bring to the kids at Morton Ranch Elementary.

As you may remember, Tess Alfonsin (better known as the Reading Countess) won a set of the RIF Multicultural books for Morton Ranch Elementary in Katy, Texas. She very kindly sent us a picture of the display. Here is why she chose Morton Ranch over her own school …

This school struggles to put books in the hands of their readers. It is a Title 1 school, and as such, money for books is at the low end of priorities for many families whose children attend the school. The dedicated staff and instructional leaders are inspirations to not only me, but to their student population. The school’s phrase is: “a school worthy of your children.”


Very cool! Congratulations Morton Ranch … and thank you again Carol Rasco and Reading is Fundamental! 

My middle son is looping with his classmates and teacher next year. Stepping into third grade next year with the same teacher and kids whom he has grown to know and love will undoubtedly serve him well. In an attempt to stoke the fires of friendship even during the long summer months, I offered to host three book clubs with his classmates. Looking at the recommended reading list for readers entering third grade in my district, I selected three books I felt would cover a wide range of interests and invited his class to participate in our summer book clubs. The first club is to be held this coming Monday, and I have had a difficult time locating a copy of the book. The public library has been completely checked out for weeks, and the local bookstores haven’t had it in stock, either. Luckily, one of my favorite indie bookstores, The Blue Willow Bookshop, had several in stock thanks to hosting an author visit a few months ago.

I arranged to pick up my son’s new book club book just in time to have him participate, along with his younger brother, in “Camp Blue Willow.” This year’s theme is science experiments. In years past, the store has hosted an hour long weekly study about international foods and how kids lived during ancient times. My boys loved participating in the five hands-on science experiments for over an hour while I scored an autographed copy of local author Justin Cronin’s The Passage.

Visit your local indie bookstore! Who knows? Perhaps you, too, can locate a hard-to-find title, find an autographed copy of a bestseller, and educate your youngsters all in one trip.

The titles my son’s classmates will be reading/discussing/completing short but highly-educational activities facilitated by a thoughtful and talented mom this summer

June: The Scrambled States of America: Talent Show (informational text, picture book)

July: Summer According to Humphrey (fantasy, adventure)

August: Judy Moody, Book 1 (realistic fiction, series)

    Tess Alfonsin

subject:

lots of books!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

message:

I was just going to ask you to make a top ten shelf for this year. You have soooooooooooooooo many books and it would be easier for me than to look through them all. (even though I want to.)

you said to Jenna: What…you can’t look through 700 books? I can list the top ten books that I read this year that were great. Good idea!

******************************************************************************************************************************************

 Hailey B. said,

you said to Hailey:
I REALLY liked it. It was the last read aloud I did with Ben. It’s got a good “so what…” I think it is good for kids in JH because of the message.

Hailey said to you: ok I will read it over the summeryou said to Hailey: I think Cami read it early in the year and really liked it. You might ask her. It might be a required read in one of the classes at (local junior high school). ****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

Sarah D. said,

Thank you so, so much, Tess. I’ve had many nice hello notes from your students while you were reading “Wild Things,” and I love thinking of them clapping at the end. I’m so glad the last bit about Wil and the Japanese book gave you a good opening. I hadn’t even thought of that! I’ll be happy let you know what they say and look forward to reading your blog. During your reading (which must have been wonderful; I’m sorry I missed it), I had one great back-and-forth with Alejandro R, reprinted below. Thank you so much for everything. Warmest regards,

Clay Alejandro R wrote: Hi Mrs. Carmichael! It’s an honor to have you on my friends list. I am reading your book, Wild Things, and I love it. It is amazing how you creatively expressed life in a foster kid’s life. I can’t wait to finish it. Clay Carmichael replied: Hi and thank you, Alejandro, I’m so happy you’re liking it. Where is your class in the book? What’s going on? Alejandro R wrote: Right now, Will is coming into the picture. Zoe is reading to him and she is trying to figure out what to think of Will. Alejandro R wrote: Hi again Mrs.Carmichael! We read aloud from your book, Wild Things again today. We are on the part where Zoe jumps on the mayor. The last thing she hears is Henry shouting “ZOE NO!!!!!!!!”. That kept my whole class and I dying to hear more. Also, can i ask you a question? How do you deal with writers block? Message me back whenever you can. Clay Carmichael replied: My biggest problem is not really writer’s block, though perhaps my problem is related to it. My biggest problem is distraction. I allow other things to keep me or distract me from writing. Today, I didn’t allow myself to be distracted and I got a lot of work done on the first five chapters of my new book, a young adult novel. Some days, my husband, who is a metal sculptor very like Henry, needs my help. (www.mikeroig.com) Other days I make school visits. I love doing both, but even so, on those days I don’t get any writing done. I’m a one-woman office. If I don’t get to write or revise, the book doesn’t get written! Occasionally, I don’t know what comes next in the story and I just have to try different things until I figure it out. I try to write everyday, whether the writing is going well or not. If I do that, sooner or later the book gets written. The cure for most writing problems is –tah dah!–Writing! Alejandro R wrote: I understand. Sometimes, we are writing in school and people are whispering, so I get curious and listen. Then, I lose like ten minutes of writing time! How long did it take you to write Wild Things? Clay Carmichael replied: Getting curious and listening are good things for a writer to do. I get some of my best dialog that way. Ironic, isn’t it? Some distractions will serve the writing better than others, and often you won’t know which ones will contribute to the work and which ones won’t until much later on. You might think you’ve wasted a whole day doing nothing, but a year later you might put something that happened that day into a story, so it wasn’t wasted after all. I do, though, get a lot of creative ideas from listening and paying attention. Remember when Henry says, “Metal is a cursed medium”? I stole that line right out of my husband’s mouth. He said something good yesterday, too, that I’m going to put into my new book. “Wild Things” took five years from start to finish, though I think only half that time was my doing. The rest is the publishing industry and process. Publishing moves like a giant tortoise. I’m hoping the new book comes out much much faster, so readers like you won’t have gray hair by the time it’s published. -Clay

 

Amber P. said: “ We just finished the book today and I really liked the ending. The reason I liked the ending is becase you give us an idea of how Zoe’s,Henrey’s,and other characters future can be. Zoe was really closed off to people and was really independent. Henrey is kind of like Zoe too. Until they start living with each other. When they start learning about each other they open up and trust each other.Ireally liked this book and gve it two thumbs up!! Keep writing!“

 

Cami wrote to Clay:  My class and I just finished your book Wild Things! It was so good and I think it was one of the best books that Mrs.Alfonsin has ever read to us!!!! I really liked how you put your voice into the book it made it very interesting. Also the characters personalities really stood out!!! They were so wild and crazy!! Ps: I know you are busy being an author and all that crazy stuff, but when you get a chance please message me back I would love to hear more about you and what kind of genres you like to read!!! Thank you so much,  Cami A.

Clay wrote to Cami:

Hey Cami, Thanks so much for writing and for loving my book. I love almost genre, but what I look for in any book are good characters, a great story and good writing in the service of that story. I read both books for kids and for grown-ups and I want the same excellence in any book, no matter who it’s for. I hope you have a wonderful summer and a read hammock full of books! -Clay

Cami A wrote to Clay,

I hope you have a wonderful summer as well!!! And i will Try my very hardest to read a ton of books over the summer!!! Also what book are you working on right now?If you are even working on one! 

-Cami A.

Kelly G said: “ I loved the ending. I also think it’s amazing that Will was Zoe’s brother. I adore how it ending with you having to think about what Will’s doing. He obviously is now starting a journey of his own out into the world. You know that Will left behind all that he knows and loves for a new world. He took the book without even being able to read it. I loved it! Clay Carmichael is a fantastic writer. I love The Wild Things!

	Kelly wrote to Clay:  I’m into realistic fiction and fanasty books. Do have any recomendations for me? I need some.  -Kelly
	Kelly wrote to Clay:  Are you writing more books? If so: What are/is the title(s)? Plus, when do they come out to BOOKSTORES?
	Kelly wrote to Clay:  The Wild Things is now my favorite book! I loved it!!!!!!!!

Clay wrote to Kelly:

Yes, I am writing a new book, for teens, but I am only on Chapter Six. The main character is a 17-year-old boy and it has some great dogs. I don’t know when it will come out–I have to finish it first! A few recommendations: One Crazy Summer by Rita Garcia-Williams (realistic, historical/I think it might win the Newbery this year!) The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd (realistic, mystery) Happenstance Found by P.W. Cantanese (fantasy) Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos by R. L. LaFevers (fantasy, series) Happy reading! -Clay

 6/1/10
Clay,
I just finished reading your book wild things. To tell you the truth i didn’t know muck about you and your writing, but now i know that you are an amazing writer/author and i will continue reading your books. On to your book, I love how in wild things you made the story have to point of views from feline and human points. The way you wrote the story is undescribable and your grammar is so detailed you can’t even imagine. Every time my teacher read the book aloud i could hear the voices of the characters, and i could see the plot right on the inside of my dark eye lids. Everything about the book was more than great. Out of one hundred stars i would truly rate this book one hundred stars. I could keep going on about what i liked about the book(the whole thing), but that would take days. Every single day i would dread putting the book down. It took us many months to read because of our busy schedule, but we never abandoned it. I love how Zoe is so independent and brave in the story. I had two views on how the cabin looked like so i thought i’d ask you on how you meant to write it. This letter could keep going on and on but i’m going to cut it short. Here’s what i meant about this whole letter, you book is at the top of my list and will be for a long, long time. Although i never got to meet you i am still hoping i will.
Bye!

Tess,

I think your example is absolutely pivotal, crucial for all of these students.  

There are students who will never be avid readers, no matter what you or I do to encourage them.

But the students who have it in them to be readers, and aren’t encouraged, to me that’s a tragedy. Even creating a competent reader is no small thing!

My parents’ house was filled with books. My grandparents’ house, next door, actually had a library. Some in my family read literature, some read potboilers, some the daily newspaper or magazines, but everybody read, and it was a given that I read, too. So many kids don’t have at-home reading role models these days, though, and it’s up to lifelong, dedicated readers like you to provide it. 

My father used to say that if you could read, you could do anything. Okay, so it didn’t follow that because he could read he could cook, but I think that’s only because he wasn’t inclined to be a cook. The opportunity–the doorway–was there for him though, if he’d had the desire.

To me, that’s the important thing.

 

Best of luck to you and if I get more message-reviews (you can see more of your students’ public reviews on the Wild Things Goodreads page), I’ll forward them to you. 

-Clay

*****************************************************************************************************************************************************

What better way to encourage a reader than to connect with an author? Thank you, again, Clay Carmichael! I look forward to reading many more of your books!

Love,
Riley

	Maberly A. said: “I reeeaaally like this book! Every time Mrs.Alfonsin stops because we have to switch, I alway’s wish I would add more time and keep on reading. ”

Tess Alfonsin
to:	Clay Carmichael
subject:	Finished read aloud
message:	Clay,We finished reading your amazing book, Wild Things, today in my four blocks. I encouraged my kids to contact you regarding their impressions of the book. I just wanted to give you notice should some of them do so (I wouldn’t expect many since we have two days of school left and their thoughts are on graduation and the pool…) I do want to share with you that ALL of my classes literally clapped at the end. I don’t think I have had that reaction from a read aloud-ever. I always ask them to rate it on their hands (1-10) and your book rated 9-10 (they can be picky, too). I loved the ending message at the end with Wil. “He’s one of us.” It led me into our discussion about reading during the summer, and whether THEY were readers. Will they read if I am not checking on them, I asked them? So thank you for opening that door for me. Wild Things was a superb book to end the year on. Thanks again for being open to accepting my students on Goodreads. I plan to write about this at some point in the coming week on my blog. IF some of my kids do contact you in the next week or so, will you please let me know what they say? Thanks again, Tess