It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? 4/6

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? –From Picture Books to YA is a weekly meme started by Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee at Unleashing Readers. This is a chance for bloggers to recap their week of reading and share their plans for the next reading adventures they will take. Visit the host blogs for a list of great blogs participating in this meme and a whole bunch of titles to add to your to-read lists.

I was again not feeling all that well this week so I spent a lot of time watching HGTV shows on Netflix. I don’t know why I tend to want to see this type of show when not feeling well, but I do. Since I was in some pain, I have been taking some medication that makes me feel completely out of it, so brain work did not really fit in. I am seeing my neurologist today and I hope that he will have some solutions for me. That being said, I am officially on Spring Break this week! Woo-Hoo!!!
Books I Finished This Week:
The Red Pencil is a novel-in-verse by Andrea Davis Pinkney. It tells the story of Amira, a young girl who craves learning to read and write, but lives too far away from the nearest school. Then, when war arrives at her village, she and her family find themselves walking to the refugee camp. The story is told from Amira’s perspective and would be a good way for middle grade students to understand what happens in other places in the world. I think it would be good to have a literature circle read this one while other groups read Home of the Brave and The Long Walk to Water. There could be some great discussions about how people in Africa work to survive.  
I loved Fish in a Tree. I had read a lot about it from other teachers and librarians and I am just as much in love with this book as others.  I think it would be an excellent read aloud to pair with Thank You, Mr. Faulkner at the beginning of the year, while discussing perseverance and a growth mindset. I hope I am a teacher like Mr. Daniels, who helps the students to see their own strengths. 
Books I am Currently Reading:
I am still listening to/reading Outlander. It is a fun read. I have also been reading some magazines this week. 
What’s Next?
I have Ensnared and The Mime Order from the library. I also have 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea which I got interested in while I was reading All the Light We Cannot See. It is a classic that I have never read, so I am curious to see if I will like it. I also have a stack of middle grade titles that I would like to get through. Unfortunately, I had to leave school in the middle of the day on Wednesday, and I was super medicated and unable to drive on Thursday, so I really didn’t get to pack up my things to bring home for break. I am hoping I can get into my classroom at some point this week to be able to grab some of the books I want to have here. 
What are you reading this week? I would love to hear form you in the comments!

Author: Andrea

I am an instructional technology coach in a middle school in Milwaukee, WI. I have been teaching for over 20 years in many grade levels ranging from first through eighth grade. I am a lifelong book nerd.

4 thoughts on “It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? 4/6”

  1. Wow, Andrea, I'm surprised you even posted, am sorry you aren't feeling good, & hope some good solution comes fast. I need to read The Red Pencil, & pass it on to students. I loved Fish In A Tree too, a wonderful story. Hugs to you!

  2. in spite of not feeling well, you still got some reading of great books in. I'm impressed. I know what you mean about needing to watch tv when you are not feeling well. Just being stressed out makes me want to watch those bbc mysteries.

  3. I tend to watch TV when I'm not feeling well too. Wish I felt more like reading then, as it would be a great time to get some quality reading done. But my brain says no. Hope you're feeling better soon. Red Pencil has really stuck with me. I had mixed feelings about Fish in a Tree, but it's been very popular in my Children's Lit class this semester and I think it's an important one to read and share with students. I love the idea of pairing with Thank You Mr Falkner.

  4. Hi Andrea, I hope that you feel better during Spring Break – it sucks to be sick during the holidays. Looks like you have your reading cut out for you too, which is exciting. I've been meaning to read The Red Pencil but its thickness is quite daunting for me – I hope to pick it up at some point.

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