Penny from Heaven

I recently decided that I am going to read (or attempt to read) all of the Newbery Award and Newbery Honor books. Not just for 2008, but for 2007, 2006, 2005...all the way to the beginning. I decided to start with 2008 because the first book that won the award, frankly, did not sound that appealing.

The beginning is 1922! Yikes! I know this is a great task, but I believe I will experience so many great types of stories and that excites me. The Newbery acknowledges great children's literature (not to be confused with the Caldecott Award for illustrations).

I know I should have started sooner in the summer because this fall I will be so busy. But, I will make time to read whether at night or on the weekends. So far I have read: Elijah of Buxton, The Wednesday Wars, and Feathers. The best one (in my beginner's opinion) out of these three is Elijah of Buxton. This book takes place during the slavery era in Canada and it will have you laughing at many points, pondering at others, and even crying toward the end. It is very well done. Christopher Paul Curtis is such an amazing writer, and he is from Michigan! The other two books take place in middle schools during the 1960's and 1970's and are also very good.

So three books down, many, many, many to go. It is going to be a fun literary journey. Let me now of any you have read and your opinion on them.

Enjoy the Labor Day weekend! (Currently I am reading Penny from Heaven.)

Dreams of Sharpened Colored Pencils

Days of sand between our toes, tank tops, and extra amounts of ice cream are quickly saying good-bye. Some may say ‘bummer’ but I say HOORAY! The smells of new crayons, sounds of early morning school buses and sights of smiling faces in new back-to-school clothes excite me, school is here! Let the first bell ring! Bring out the colorful arrays of brightly colored construction paper!

This year, September 3rd is the magical day. What makes it even more magical is that the time has come (after 17 years) for me to be on the opposite side of the desk. I am no longer a student, I am a teacher! (Yet I am still complete with my smiling face and new back-to-school clothes.) I will have 20 moldable minds within my reach, waiting for my instruction. I hope to show them what they need to succeed in life, as well as how to become a person of character and good judgment. I hope to help them realize the world for what it is and how they (each and every one of them) can make a positive difference in it. I hope to help their optimism, innocence and enthusiasm thrive. I also pray that each one of them will grow up knowing the love and grace of their Creator, who knows each and every hair on their heads.

But, the funny thing about being a teacher is that you never stop being a student. Besides all of the obvious things like homework, taking notes, staying organized, being on time, and being prepared, there is one, maybe not-so-obvious idea, in which we will learn something new everyday. And, not just at a PD Day or a conference, but within the very classroom that we teach. We will learn something significant everyday, whether it is how we can improve ourselves, our lessons, our classroom, or how the simple story from a child’s life can change how we look at everything in the world.

This year I am not an “official” teacher, but a student-teacher. I will be in a Kindergarten classroom for eight weeks, and then a second grade classroom for eight weeks. I will graduate on December 13th, and then I can find where I belong in the world of education. Pray for me, wish me luck, whatever your fancy. I ’ll let you know the view from the other side.