tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82719858419329475552024-03-12T18:12:53.343-05:00Mama Coop's BlogMrs. Becky Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09397944015210386179noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271985841932947555.post-27927935758193870522010-11-28T20:18:00.002-06:002010-11-28T20:41:44.633-06:00Blog, ignored.My poor blog.<br /><br />I am as bad as my students.<br /><br />All that "time" I was going to have to blog while I wasn't teaching during the day... phooey. That "time" disappeared while I did paperwork, subbed, scanned senior pics, or filled the coffee pot.<br /><br />Then... I forgot the password to the blog. Grrrrr.<br /><br />With some recovered memory, I was able to hack back into the blog.<br /><br />Anyway... I read two books over Turkey Vacation (a.k.a. Vacation that gives teachers the strength to manage the next 14.5 days before Christmas break). <br /><br />#1. <strong><em>Sarah's Key</em> by Tatiana de Rosnay</strong><br /><br />A GREAT read and an excellent accompaniment to "The Book Thief". A study of the German occupation of France and the resulting round-up of French Jews in July, 1942. The book is told in alternating chapters of then and now. During a raid of their home, a little girl locks her brother in a hidden closet, promising to return later and free him. In present-day, an Paris-based American reporter discovers the closet key and her in-laws' connection to the little girl and her brother. <br /><br />I was able to recognize some of the Parisian locations mentioned in the book... that was some fun in the midst of the sad story.<br /><br /><strong>#2. <em>False Victim</em> by Kathie Truitt</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /> False Victim was an intriguing, suspenseful nightmarish story! This story is a fictionalized account of the real-life nightmare the Truitt family experienced while living in the Washington, DC area. Julie Patterson discovers that befriending her neighbor Lynn Hennessy turns into a nightmare with near-deadly consequences. <br /><br />Kathie Truitt is originally from El Dorado Springs. I missed getting to attend her book-signing in Eldo while I was gone this summer, but I found a signed copy of it in the Springfield B/N. You can also order it from their website.<br /><br />Happy Reading!!!Mrs. Becky Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09397944015210386179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271985841932947555.post-84692661139055321192010-09-03T09:40:00.002-05:002010-09-03T09:43:29.201-05:00The Messenger - FinishedI finished "The Messenger". <br /><br />It reminded me of the short story "Button, Button". <br /><br />I plan to buy all of Zusak's books. I've enjoyed his writing style and delivery.Mrs. Becky Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09397944015210386179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271985841932947555.post-42891270751404579802010-09-02T19:47:00.002-05:002010-09-02T19:52:33.505-05:00Still Reading..."The Messenger"... <br /><br />I loved the tie-in to literature with the third card having references to authors. Ed visited the library and searched the shelves for the titles on the card that eventually led him to the next addresses in his message delivery missions.<br /><br />I spent several minutes trying to convince a student to read one of the books that Ed was searching for in the library. I finally put "The Bell Jar" in her hands by explaining that Sylvia Plath met her demise in her kitchen oven. <br /><br />Literary gain knows no boundaries :)Mrs. Becky Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09397944015210386179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271985841932947555.post-5494128408519929742010-08-30T10:44:00.003-05:002010-08-30T10:46:54.842-05:00Currently Reading...."The Messenger"... by the author of the "Book Thief"... Zusak.<br /><br />Zusak's writing is excellent. I am as equally intrigued with the plot of this novel as I was with "The Book Thief".<br /><br />Murder, love, taxi driving, barefoot running and barefoot soccer, a 17 year old dog named The Doorstop... I can't wait to finish the story!Mrs. Becky Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09397944015210386179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271985841932947555.post-71174489094784611622010-08-23T11:34:00.002-05:002010-08-23T11:39:23.240-05:00Currently Reading....The Scarlet Letter.<br /><br />I've got to be honest... I'm struggling with it. <br /><br />BUT, it is better than my first reading of the novel. <br /><br />I am reading "TSL" on my Nook. I get a brief satisfaction of clicking the button to advance the page after I've plowed my way down the screen, returned to the stanzas I didn't comprehend, and then re-reading the entire passage again. :P<br /><br />Trish and I are looking for "exciting" ways to introduce the novel... so far, no luck.<br /><br />Any suggestions???Mrs. Becky Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09397944015210386179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271985841932947555.post-42518601485634525742010-08-22T11:15:00.002-05:002010-08-22T11:30:23.853-05:00Spooner... Done. Eat, Pray, Love... DoneI finished the two books that I was reading. <br /><br />Spooner... I think Spooner and I just did not mesh. I waded through that story with no sense of enjoyment, only curiosity. I can't say that I got any personal enjoyment or reward from reading the entire saga of Spooner's life.<br /><br />Eat, Pray, Love... I had tried to read EPL when it was first published and could not. Maybe because I'm older or maybe b/c I traveled to the first locale of the book, I immersed myself into the story this time. <br /><br />I enjoyed Gilbert's adventures in Italy. I could certainly relate to eating gelato for each meal! :) I also found I could relate to her meditation experiences in India from the last five years I've spent on a table doing my BEST therapies. And finally, when the old medicine man in Indonesia tells Gilbert that her shakras are aligned and all is well, I knew exactly what that feels like... complete bliss! (I attempt to reach that stage each week... some weeks are better than others :P)<br /><br />Would I ever had the faith (patience? courage?) to leave all that is familiar and travel/live abroad for an entire year? <br /><br />What I do know is that everything happens for a reason. I did not read this book until I was older, had traveled to Europe, and had spent 5 years working on aligning my mind/body/spirit. The book and Gilbert's experiences mean more to me now than they would have back in 2006.<br /><br />Still haven't decided whether to go and watch the movie...Mrs. Becky Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09397944015210386179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271985841932947555.post-24878862042502063992010-08-19T11:29:00.001-05:002010-08-19T11:30:22.323-05:00Almost There!!!I am ALMOST done with Eat, Pray, Love!<br /><br />I just have this little thing called work in my way of reading the ending!<br /><br />arrrgggghhh...Mrs. Becky Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09397944015210386179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271985841932947555.post-79908771574865024972010-08-13T21:15:00.002-05:002010-08-13T21:31:41.789-05:00Eat, Pray, Love / Spooner / junior textbookYes, I am simultaneously reading all three of these.<br /><br />Spooner and I go to sleep together. Liz Gilbert takes me to a foreign location while I'm waiting for something to begin... like another committee meeting. The junior textbook is being read while feverishly figuring out what I'm teaching for the next nine months.<br /><br /><ul><li>(Sidenote... I have a student teacher this semester. Trish will start on the 16th and greet the students with me the next day. She will be with us until December.)<img class="gl_list_bullet" border="0" alt="Bulleted List" src="http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif" /></li></ul>This reading schedule reminds me of my English-major, undergrad days . I would have one novel in progress for Dr. Morgan, another for Dr. Couch, and yet another for one of my social studies courses.<br /><br />I once wandered into the PE department and visited my Uncle Max. He suggested I use the scales to weigh my backpack. That semester I was carrying 35 pounds worth of books across the MSSC campus, including that mammoth "Complete Works of Shakespeare". (I couldn't WAIT to turn that one back in to the rental compound!)<br /><br />Anyway, I digress.<br /><br />Christy asked me if I was going to see the movie "Eat, Pray, Love". We discussed that we are afraid the movie will damage the images in our minds that we developed as we read about Liz and the people she met while in Italy, India and Indonesia. We agreed that the scenery from Italy would make us homesick for the beautiful country we left 6 weeks ago.<br /><br />I hope Jake develops a love of reading. I didn't think I would get Tyler to that point, but he enjoys a good book and he likes to read. (Shhhh... don't tell him I said that in my blog!)Mrs. Becky Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09397944015210386179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271985841932947555.post-31644748850511757422010-08-03T19:48:00.002-05:002010-08-03T20:00:12.793-05:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ppWN9KHC8Aqj_sNm1__xRByRWgDHda1GYacbglC4uJQXGVj2U_QlUO2qjVbFjNSHNiEirfQ3gZ2zbZ7EoYUFzi290t4AUf0YBeVLCWpbSta9jKIL9XvAfO3PxNPgE6FV6xVniQTXZ8R0/s1600/spooner.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 178px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 280px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501350728975898722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ppWN9KHC8Aqj_sNm1__xRByRWgDHda1GYacbglC4uJQXGVj2U_QlUO2qjVbFjNSHNiEirfQ3gZ2zbZ7EoYUFzi290t4AUf0YBeVLCWpbSta9jKIL9XvAfO3PxNPgE6FV6xVniQTXZ8R0/s320/spooner.jpg" /></a> I'm reading "Spooner" by Pete Dexter. <br /><br />Mr. Dexter's prose reminds me of Faulkner's... by the time I finally find the punctuation at the end of the sentence, I have no idea what the context of the sentence was in the first place.<br /><br />The only thing keeping me going is that I am now too involved in Spooner's life and I have to find out the rest of his story.<br /><br />This is on the list that we are using for the junior AR reading. It is suppposed to be classic American literature. I'm having a hard time putting it on the same list as "To Kill A Mockingbird".Mrs. Becky Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09397944015210386179noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271985841932947555.post-85001386695496729572010-08-01T22:03:00.004-05:002010-08-01T22:15:40.102-05:00Getting ready...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguqFQpqhg5WForBNp3Ab1qwjqBVJwRvGpHIgC483BcQbGvRWcJwlhwidQLw8CSK89y5i-pW0N9kPpAjRuDV_jmoPainrGGSijo4TjSeL4dm4aNeoCWzlWX3XcLzuEO6kTotQiY6ukF5dMi/s1600/classroom+end.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500644477112908818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguqFQpqhg5WForBNp3Ab1qwjqBVJwRvGpHIgC483BcQbGvRWcJwlhwidQLw8CSK89y5i-pW0N9kPpAjRuDV_jmoPainrGGSijo4TjSeL4dm4aNeoCWzlWX3XcLzuEO6kTotQiY6ukF5dMi/s320/classroom+end.jpg" /></a><br /><br />My room, with the exception of the closet, is ready for the school year.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I walked into that room today and got that "anticipatory" feeling!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I dusted, arranged my personal pictures, put up my diploma frames, put up all the visual aids, arranged the furniture, removed the covers from the SmartBoard equipment, got the computer in working order, and straightened my desk.<br /><br />I have to tackle that closet and the AR books when I return. <br /><br />Ten more years until retirement...eleven if I stay until Jake graduates... and I think I can make it!Mrs. Becky Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09397944015210386179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271985841932947555.post-65965230898457928402010-07-26T22:12:00.003-05:002010-07-26T22:54:48.328-05:00Completion of "The Book Thief"Spoiler Alert! Details of book are discussed...<br /><br />I finished reading "The Book Thief". When I finished, I was wishing it had been available for me to read at the same time I was first exposed to "The Diary of Anne Frank" as a young reader.<br /><br />When I was grown, I found it difficult to teach Anne's diary and the history of WWII/Nazi Germany because the only thing I have in common with Anne is that I once was a teenage girl. I have never...<br /><br />...been a Jew wearing a yellow star<br />...been persecuted for my religious beliefs<br />...had my family members taken from me<br />...experienced war<br />...been shut in a small space for several months.<br /><br />But in "The Book Thief", there were so many characters... a reader had many choices to identify with throughout the course of the novel.<br /><br />In "The Book Thief", the stories we know of Nazi Germany during WWII are presented by a narrator that we don't often see.<br /><br />Death is the narrator of "The Book Thief". With Death as an all-knowing narrator, the characters of Liesel, her Papa, her Mama, Rudy and Max are given more depth than if the story had been written in first person from Liesel's (the book thief) view.<br /><br />My favorite part of the story was Max's creation of "The Word Shaker" for Liesel. Zusak's (author) explanation about Hitler's words and Liesel's words, and how Hitler's words were designed for evil and persecution, while Liesel's were meant for sorrow and healing was powerful. Zusak made me stop and think about Hitler's words and the destruction he caused with words... just a combination of words.<br /><br />Another point that me think was when Death narrated that he had picked up Hitler's soul and carried it away, pointing out that when Death arrived, Hitler was no different than anyone else and his words could not save him.<br /><br />Zusak did an amazing job with this story. I wish I had read it when it was first published.<br /><br />Does anyone else think Liesel possibly married Max???<br /><br />Excellent book and thanks to Tracy for pointing it to my attention.Mrs. Becky Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09397944015210386179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271985841932947555.post-68159022337611548372010-07-24T22:06:00.003-05:002010-07-24T22:10:31.115-05:00The Book ThiefI am currently reading "The Book Thief". Have any of my followers read it???<br /><br />I know Tracy B. picked it up about the time that the banned book at Stockton hit the news.<br /><br />I'm not sure what age I would hand "The Book Thief"... there are some writing techniques at work that need a little bit of reading experience to understand (flashback, foreshadowing, and several literary devices at work by the author).<br /><br />It's a great story... I can see it being used in units that would include teaching Anne Frank's story.<br /><br />Off to read!Mrs. Becky Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09397944015210386179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271985841932947555.post-60820573348863159042010-07-21T22:12:00.002-05:002010-07-21T22:14:58.587-05:00Nook UpdateI took my Nook on an emergency run to Barnes and Noble today. A nice guy named Nigel worked on it (kind of a CPR for Nooks) but failed to resuscitate my Nook.<br /><br />I have to call B and N and request a replacement.<br /><br />At least I can say this wasn't my fault :)Mrs. Becky Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09397944015210386179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271985841932947555.post-68895994621467708242010-07-20T17:20:00.002-05:002010-07-20T17:35:09.195-05:00The HelpI finished reading "The Help" by Kathryn Sockett. <br /><br /><a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Help/Kathryn-Stockett/e/9781440697661/?itm=1&USRI=the+help+by+kathryn+stockett">http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Help/Kathryn-Stockett/e/9781440697661/?itm=1&USRI=the+help+by+kathryn+stockett</a><br /><br />The B and N synopsis doesn't do the book justice. I agree with the one reviewer who said that you just land in this seemingly on-going story. It starts with one of the "help" narrating her side of the story and it just keeps running. The story alternates between three narrators, two colored maids and the white girl who wants to write a novel about the relationships between the maids and their white, female bosses. The alternating narration is not a problem -- Sockett tells the story in chronological order, just in different voice. <br /><br />It's difficult to discuss my favorite / not favorite parts of this book without giving the plotline away. I will say that just as quick as you jump into the novel, you will jump back out.<br /><br />I discovered this book during our trip to Europe. I think 3 women read the novel in the duration of the time. I knew it had to be good, so I borrowed it electronically from Karen. <br /><br />After a few issues with my Nook, I still managed to read it on my itouch. 464 pages on the itouch screen... LOL LOL LOL... my optometrist will not be happy with me since I didn't wear my bifocals!<br /><br />Thank you Karen!!! Great book!Mrs. Becky Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09397944015210386179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271985841932947555.post-22213845405869429502010-07-19T18:50:00.002-05:002010-07-19T19:05:17.139-05:00The Girls From AmesIf you are female and you know me, you must read this book! Shoot, if you're MALE and know me, you must read this book!<br /><br /><a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Girls-from-Ames/Jeffrey-Zaslow/e/9781592405329/?itm=1&USRI=the+girls+from+ames+a+story+of+women+and+a+forty+year">http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Girls-from-Ames/Jeffrey-Zaslow/e/9781592405329/?itm=1&USRI=the+girls+from+ames+a+story+of+women+and+a+forty+year</a><br /><br />I read this while we were at St. John's. <br /><br />It's the story of 11 girls that met in infancy / childhood / elementary school in Ames, Iowa, and who have maintained their friendship for 40+ years. The book was written by Jeffrey Zaslow, who co-authored Randy Pausch's "The Last Lecture". <br /><br />I could relate to the storyline since some of my best friends were made before I turned six. I could also relate to the Ames girls' insistence that their friendship was based largely on their common histories... and already knowing all about the others' pasts :)<br /><br />We are starting a new book club of sorts at school next year. This book will probably be the first one the girls read/discuss together. (I didn't hear of any boys wanting to join but they are certainly welcome! The co-sponsor (Rentel) will probably welcome the male company :)Mrs. Becky Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09397944015210386179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271985841932947555.post-17344721894885377542010-07-19T16:13:00.002-05:002010-07-19T16:20:47.471-05:00Sad news...My Nook has developed some problems and the nice Nook Man was unable to solve them for me.<br /><br />I can access my BN library on my itouch and computer, but the Nook says it's just not going to happen anymore. :(<br /><br />So... the dilemma... what to do? Get BandN to honor the warranty? It's not like I dropped it and this happened... get another? IDK. Decisions, decisions.<br /><br />I am currently reading "The Help" by Kathryn Sockett. Excellent! It was an e-load thru bn.com from my new friend Karen. We discovered that not only did we have matching Nikes, we had matching Nooks :)<br /><br />Still love reading, but not looking forward to reading the American Lit. textbook... better get started on that... new class to teach. Yikes!Mrs. Becky Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09397944015210386179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271985841932947555.post-69867464901448466362010-06-05T10:25:00.003-05:002010-06-05T10:31:29.334-05:00Nook titles for European VacationThanks to the gift cards from Barnes and Noble, I loaded up my Nook for the European vacation! My downloads:<br /><br />Olive Kitteridge - STROUT<br />The Sweethearts' Knitting Club - WILDE<br />Saving CeeCee Honeycutt - HOFFMAN<br />Just One of the Guys - HIGGINS<br />The Cinderella Deal - CRUSIE<br />The School of Essential Ingredients - BAUERMEISTER<br />The Last Time I Saw You - BERG<br />The Girls from Ames - ZASLOW<br />The Scent of Rain and Lightning - PICKARD<br /><br />Lots to read and enjoy!!! Let me know if you have read any of these and what you thought!Mrs. Becky Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09397944015210386179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271985841932947555.post-35246525142642629962010-05-26T15:46:00.003-05:002010-05-26T16:05:32.568-05:00SCHOOL'S OUT!Wow! May just FLEW by me!<br /><br />English 1 students did some creative writing using the illustrations from the book "The Mysteries of Harris Burdick" by Chris Allsburg (he also wrote "Jumanji"). Some good creativity from that exercise... Scott always comes up with something fun to do. We also took the End-of-Course exams required by the state. (God Bless DESE.) For the first time in all my years of teaching, we had a DESE person there during testing to watch us proctor/administer the test. The kids/adults did great and we were praised by Mrs. DESE Lady for our testing procedures/environment. <br /><br />English 3 students got senior-itis and we coasted through the rest of the year discussing advertising/culture/"fluff" in advertising/etc... They seemed to enjoy that unit... at least they didn't complain a lot. :)<br /><br />My summer reading has included thus far:<br />"Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" Berendt<br /><a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Midnight-in-the-Garden-of-Good-and-Evil/John-Berendt/e/9780307538376/?itm=2&USRI=midnight+in+the+garden+of+good+and+evil">http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Midnight-in-the-Garden-of-Good-and-Evil/John-Berendt/e/9780307538376/?itm=2&USRI=midnight+in+the+garden+of+good+and+evil</a><br /><br />"Deliver us From Normal" - Klise<br /><a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Deliver-Us-from-Normal/Kate-Klise/e/9780439523226/?itm=19&USRI=kate+klise">http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Deliver-Us-from-Normal/Kate-Klise/e/9780439523226/?itm=19&USRI=kate+klise</a><br /><br />"Far From Normal" - Klise<br /><a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Far-From-Normal/Kate-Klise/e/9780439794473/?itm=16&USRI=kate+klise">http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Far-From-Normal/Kate-Klise/e/9780439794473/?itm=16&USRI=kate+klise</a><br /><br /><br />The first is definitely for older readers and the second two are for middle school and up.<br /><br />Happy Summer!!!!Mrs. Becky Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09397944015210386179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271985841932947555.post-8573784271731293332010-04-27T12:12:00.003-05:002010-04-27T12:15:20.059-05:00I've been listening to student presentations. I've watched a goat have its hooves cleaned and trimmed, guitar and xylophone instruction, how to make/decorate cupcakes, how to make paper flowers, a frozen pizza, Ramen noodles, how to say the FFA Creed, how to prepare your puppy for show, how to make toast, cinnamon toast, how to give a manicure, and how to prepare and eat puppy chow.<br /><br />Quite a week!!!Mrs. Becky Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09397944015210386179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271985841932947555.post-23693647235276474662010-04-24T19:08:00.005-05:002010-04-24T19:46:01.379-05:00Back in the Ballgame... so to speakI've been ill for 6 weeks with fluid on my inner-ear. I managed to find something so physically (and mentally!) debillitating that it would keep me from my love of reading. So, having lost 6 weeks of magazines, newspapers, and books, I am frantically reading everything and anything!!!<br /><br />The freshmen were guided through those weeks of my "here today, gone tomorrow" lessons of "The Scarlet Ibis" and "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty". My poor sub had to handle the Ibis, but I got to take them thru the reading of Walter :) I love that story!<br /><br />The seniors/juniors also had to manage their work solo. They worked on poetry from Dickinson, Teasdale, Bates, and Frost. Their last story was "The Ransom of Red Chief" by O. Henry. They liked that one... I think they can relate closely to Red Chief :)<br /><br />Check out our wikispace... you can see how we were able to work together with me at home and them at school:<br /><a href="http://coopereldoenglish.wikispaces.com/">http://coopereldoenglish.wikispaces.com/</a><a href="http://www.coopereldoenglish.wikispaces.com/"></a><br /><br /><br />So... what I'm reading... <strong>Our educational neighbors, the Stockton (MO) Board of Education, banned the book "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" by SHERMAN ALEXIE from their curriculum. </strong><br /><br />My immediate response to this news was to buy a copy of the book and read it today from cover-to-cover.<br /><br /><a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Absolutely-True-Diary-of-a-Part-Time-Indian/Sherman-Alexie/e/9780316013697/?itm=1&USRI=sherman+alexie">http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Absolutely-True-Diary-of-a-Part-Time-Indian/Sherman-Alexie/e/9780316013697/?itm=1&USRI=sherman+alexie</a><br /><br />My conclusion? An excellent book! <br />Would I teach it in the classroom? (Would I make every kid responsible for its content?) No. Would I recommend it to any high school age reader? Yes. <br />Will I put my copy in our AR library? Yes, absolutely. <br />Are there themes of sexual content in the book? Yes.<br />Will these shock a high-school reader? Generally no.<br />Will the discussion of drinking/the effects of drinking be familiar to teenagers? Unfortunately.<br />Is the idea that you can overcome any obstacle something teens should read? YES!<br />Will I be reading any further books by the author? Yes! <br /><br />We have another of his novels in our senior novels curriculum... "The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven". I may have to go break into Scott's room and steal one out to read tomorrow!<br /><br /><a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Lone-Ranger-and-Tonto-Fistfight-in-Heaven/Sherman-Alexie/e/9780802141675/?itm=3&USRI=sherman+alexie">http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Lone-Ranger-and-Tonto-Fistfight-in-Heaven/Sherman-Alexie/e/9780802141675/?itm=3&USRI=sherman+alexie</a><br /><br />I also read a whopper of a novel "White Crosses" by Larry Watson. It was recommended on a list that we used to purchase a "classic" college prep book list for our college-bound juniors (I am teaching that next year... new job assignment). Very unusual book... I have my dad reading it now b/c I was intrigued and disturbed by it. One of the few books I've read where I could have eliminated the entire center section and still gotten the exposition, climax and resolution. Of course, I was on medication while I managed to read it... maybe that's why it read "funny" to me. :)<br /><br /><a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/White-Crosses/Larry-Watson/e/9780671567736/?itm=4&USRI=white+crosses">http://search.barnesandnoble.com/White-Crosses/Larry-Watson/e/9780671567736/?itm=4&USRI=white+crosses</a> <br /><br />Thanks for being patient during my absence from the book blog! Love, B.Mrs. Becky Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09397944015210386179noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271985841932947555.post-23916747079760491092010-03-05T14:52:00.002-06:002010-03-05T14:55:16.017-06:00What They Are Reading - 7th Hour!!!First Shot - Sorrells<br />Snakehead - Horowitz<br />Buffalo Bill - Goodman<br />Winter Kill and Savage Run - both by CJ Box<br />Missouri Homestead - Tedrow<br />Pretty Little Liars - Shepard<br />Lightning Thief - Riordan<br />Keeping the Moon - Dessen<br />Dylan - HarrisonMrs. Becky Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09397944015210386179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271985841932947555.post-36006186808376288452010-03-05T10:06:00.002-06:002010-03-05T10:10:46.323-06:00What They Are Reading - 3rd Hour!Carnivorous Carnvial - Lemony Snicket<br />Marked - PC Cast<br />Goodbye Doesn't Mean Forever - L. McDaniel<br />Foxman - Paulsen<br />Dial L for Loser - Harrison<br />Twelve Mighty Orphans - Dent<br />Claire - Harrison<br />Nineteen Minutes - Piccoult<br />Someone Like You - Dessen<br />Knights of the Hill Country - Tharp<br />The Notebook - SparksMrs. Becky Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09397944015210386179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271985841932947555.post-2785703207696555652010-03-05T09:16:00.002-06:002010-03-05T09:19:36.432-06:00What They Are Reading - 2nd Hour!Perfect You - E. Scott<br />Glass - Hopkins<br />Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd<br />Just Another Day of My Insanely Real Life - B. Dee<br />There's Before and Then There's After - K. Harmel<br />That Summer - S. Dessen<br />The Lightning Thief - R. Riordan<br /><br />and then there's Nick.Mrs. Becky Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09397944015210386179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271985841932947555.post-88609499093801769542010-03-03T20:56:00.003-06:002010-03-03T21:05:24.161-06:00Cranberry Flats, by LisaMy college roommate and I have reconnected thanks to Facebook and we discovered that, along with a lot of other things we share in common, we both love to blog.<br /><br />Lisa's blog is right over there in the sidebar. Click on "Cranberry Flats" and enjoy Lisa's blogs on anything and everything :)<br /><br />Lisa worries that I will "red-pen" her blog but she does a great job and her voice bolts out of her blogs. I can literally "hear" her while I read her entries. (We nerds that get paid to do that kind of thing work very hard to get a writer to put forth their own voice and not imitate others in their writing.)<br /><br />Lisa is doing such a great job that I plan to use her as an example of "adult writers" who are writing for FUN (What, writing is fun??? you betcha!) by sharing her blog with my students.<br /><br />While I often remember my year at on that college campus as being horrible in term of race relations and on-campus rape issues, CMSU should receive credit for giving me a wonderful "blind-date" roommate for my first year of college. Love ya Lisa!!!Mrs. Becky Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09397944015210386179noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8271985841932947555.post-17302820442263502692010-03-03T20:36:00.002-06:002010-03-03T20:55:47.019-06:00WE DID IT!!!The freshmen and I finished reading Romeo and Juliet today!!! What an accomplishment!<br /><br />I reminded them that 6 weeks ago, they thought we'd never finish. :) Not only did we finish, I think most of them enjoyed the story. (Though they might not admit that!) <br /><br />Their reading improved greatly as we moved through the five acts. They began to read with a great deal of fluency and I actually enjoyed listening to them ! <br /><br />My teaching assignment for next year does not include freshmen. That will be the first year of my teaching career that I will not be teaching R and J to a freshmen. I almost cried at the thought of that today as we finished 7th hour. I didn't realize how much of a part that R and J have been of my career. <br /><br />Thanks R, J, and Bill Shakespeare for providing me with some memorable teaching moments.Mrs. Becky Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09397944015210386179noreply@blogger.com0