We're All Readers as well as Writers - 4 of 31

 It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a kidlit meme hosted by Jen and Kellee at Teach.Mentor.Texts  Head over to find plenty to choose from!  Plus, there is a terrific meme hosted by Sheila at BOOK JOURNEYS that offers more reviews of all kinds of books, adult and children.   Don’t forget to tweet at #IMWAYR 

              And today is March 4th, slice number 4 of 31!  This is the fabulous Slice of Life Writing Challenge where we write every day and link together on the Two Writing Teachers Blog of Ruth Ayres and Stacey Shubitz. 

                   Tweet at #slice2013

          A good reading one for those who need ideas from non-fiction picture books.  Cathy Mere at Reflect and Refine: Building A Learning Community, her friends Mandy Robek at Enjoy and Embrace Learning,and Julie Balen at Write at The Edge have decided to have a non-fiction sharing day like the fabulous 10 for 10 favorite picture book day that occurred last August.  Please be sure to take a look!

               I’ve been reading some fabulous posts that connect us all these past few days, thus my reading week was exceptionally short.  I did read 4 picture books from the library that were recommended on the 10 for 10 sharing, most written by Steve Jenkins & Robin Page.  I also discovered they live in Boulder.  Perhaps I can find a way to have them present at my school?  Thanks to this incredible team, I now know so much more about animals in special circumstances. 

Slicing Connections - And some links

           Tuesday Slice of Life is hosted by Two Writing Teachers, Stacey and Ruth every single Tuesday.  Please join us, and find out about the March Challenge—coming soon!  

If you're on twitter, tweet at #Slice2013!

              The first thing I need to acknowledge is that last week I left out an important thing that happened at the literacy conference I attended a week ago.  I was walking in the lobby, on my way to another session when this person, whom I’ve only seen pictures of, came towards me.  I had to say it, “Is that you, Carol?”  It was! Carol Wilcox, of Carol’s Corner, who wrote last week about a new friend, ME, so nicely.  We spoke for a little while, then had one other time to visit, but that was all for now.  We did discover we live fairly close to one another, and I know we’ll connect some time, but it was just lovely to see Carol in person, to ask about her sons whom I’ve read so much about, and be happy to hear their news, too.  I am looking forward to more!

         More connections are what I want to share about today. 

10 for 10 Non-Fiction Picture Books-My Best!

HURRAH!         

             Cathy Mere at Reflect and Refine: Building A Learning Community, her friends Mandy Robek at Enjoy and Embrace Learning, and Julie Balen at Write at The Edge have decided to have a non-fiction sharing day like the fabulous 10 for 10 favorite picture book day that occurred last August.  Come link up at Cathy's blog and have a look!

               I'm excited to see what everyone has to share, and hope you'll find a book or more than one to love from my ten!

Tweet this at #nf10for10

My Favorite:  Anthology for the Earth, edited by Judy Allen

       This book was published in 1997 and I think I’ve used it for at least 10 years.  I found it first at a library, copied pages, kept renewing, and it finally dawned on me that perhaps I could find it used on Amazon.  (It is still available!)  It is filled with good readings about loving and caring for the earth from many parts of life.  Examples:  from The Diversity of Life, by E.O. Wilson; poems by Joseph Bruchac and Thomas Hardy; from The Log from the Sea of Cortez, by John Steinbeck & Ed Ricketts;  Ovid from “The Teachings of Pythagoras” The Metamorphoses; and from one of my favorite books, The Outermost House, by Henry Beston.  Each piece is illustrated especially for it, from drawings, photographs, and graphics.  I have packed this book on every trip with my students, so we can read from it on our journeys.  It is a beauty.