Break :)

I'm currently relaxing with that little stinker of a cat, pictured at the top of my blog. I'm also checking Mashable, where I've so far found this: An article on the importance of technology in education in Haiti.
I recommend checking it, and other articles out!

It's Kind of a Funny Story

I just finished this book, and didn't have the opportunity to post along the way of reading it. You see, I worked an eight and a half hour shift on Thanksgiving Day, and because my job is almost devoid of any actual responsibility, I read the entirety of the novel in one sitting (it's 444 pages).  It's a realistic fiction work, and is was actually turned into a movie. I read through it very quickly. All of a sudden I was 200 pages in and didn't know how I got there. It's a page turner, not in the sense that it's suspenseful, but that the main character, Craig's story is so easy to relate to that you just keep reading because you're rooting for him. He has some neurotic tendencies, but beyond that, he is just experiencing teen angst. Vizzini uses colorful language for the inner monologue of Craig, which is often describing the enormous amounts of stress he feels as a teenager. All I could do was say "Yes! That's exactly how it feels!" It was definitely a good novel...not outstanding, but good, and moreso interesting, in that it's not a classic teen boy-meets-girl type novel, but instead deals with more serious issues than that. Because it is told from the perspective of a boy entering high school, I would definitely recommend this to a student of a similar age.

My Progress in this Class...

First, I think it is important to say that I really enjoy this class! It's also one of the few required classes that I can actually envision myself applying directly to my own classroom someday. The variety of literature, the mini-lessons- it all contributes to an effectively run classroom. I am currently on my fourth independent reading book (Fahrenheit 451), my blog is being well kept (I think), my conference paper is lacking (basically nonexistant), and my Nicenet posts are nowhere to be found. Super! That last bit is mainly because I still don't know the Nicenet password. I plan on really buckling down on my project and reading over Thanksgiving break. That's my plan. Also, I have another mini-lesson in mind, but I'm going to keep looking for other resources to share. The stress of the semster is really beginning to weight heavily on me, but that happens every semester... So even if I have to forfeit sleep for a week, I promise I'll get it all done!

Conference Proposal

I did my first conference proposal a few weeks ago... and didn't make any progress on it. I actually decided today that I wanted to do a totally new topic. So, I rewrote it, and I like it, so far! However, this is really the only progress I have made on my Conference Paper. The difference is, I actually really like my new subject: cultural diversity in the classroom! I'm focusing on the appreciation of differing lifestyles and why they should be tolerated and accepted, as opposed to negatively targeted. I also now have a much better, more complete picture of what this project is supposed to look like... I'm actually looking forward to getting feedback on my proposal so that I can continue developing what I believe to be a very important lesson!

Three books down!

I just finished reading my third book, entitled The Trouble With Jeremy Chance. It's historical fiction, and I actually really enjoyed it (historical fiction isn't normally my cup of tea). The main character, Jeremy is twelve years old, and won my heart within the first chapter. The story follows his journey from Derry, New Hampshire to Boston, Massachusetts, where he is going to meet his brother who is coming back from World War I. It's a classic coming-of-age story, and a very quick read. I definitely recommend this book! The language is interesting to read, as the characters use interesting phrases, often utilizing metaphors and similes. Jeremy is effective in explaining what life is like for him to the reader, while staying in context. It's a very easy and very enjoyable read!

Two books down...

I just finished Crash Boom Love, by Juan Felipe Herrera. I unintentionally got carried away with the post on my independent reading page, so please refer to that for my thoughts on that wonderful read!


I also just started reading The Trouble With Jeremy Chance: A Novel of the Freat Molasses Flood, by George Harrar. Milkweed offers a nice review of it. I'm barely 40 pages in (It's only 143), but I so far find it very clever. The main character, Jeremy Chance is an endearing 12 year old boy, living during World War I. The picture of life back then is painted clearly and easily, as the story line progresses. It's an easy read and I'm enjoying it so far!


On a completely different note, I found this story on CNN.com today: A woman's employment is compromised based on a Facebook post!

Time to go work on my proposal...

The End.

I just finished Brave Girl Eating...it's hard to really say anything without giving too much away. The conclusion of the book is almost anticlimactic. That was my initial thought. However, I didn't feel as though it didn't finish, or wasn't worth it, or anything of the sort. The end being anticlimactic drove home the point that the battle against anorexia never really ends. There really was no other way to finish the book. Kitty couldn't just all of a sudden be recovered completely. There's not a definitive happy-ending moment. I don't want to give too much away but I definitely recommend this book!

This is how I'm feeling today.

I can't wait until break!

Brave Girl Eating, take 4.

Harriet Brown employs so many powerful ways of writing into her book. There is not one way that she writes every chapter; they differ in perspective, almost. Several chapters are informational. She is the mother doing her research on her child's illness, and her findings are shocking, and open the reader's eyes to the facts that accompany anorexia nervosa. Most sufferers of this disease never fully recover. Anorexia has one of the highest mortality rates accompanying a mental disorder, with the rate being measured as high as 20%. It affects mainly women in developed countries, beginning usually around age 17.
Brown really delves into her creative writing in the chapters in which she emotionally confides to the reader. Her pain is clear and deep, and often brings me to tears. She feels helpless, confused, and tired, but at the same time, incredibly resilient. Brown also tells the stories of day to day life, and how they differ with how things used to be, and how they differ from the life of a family not suffering from this illness... that's another point. It's not just Brown's daughter Kitty suffering- it is the entire family. Suddenly their conversations revolve around food and calorie intake. The story changes with their lives, reflecting the ups and downs that Kitty experiences in fighting this disease. Brown refers frequently to a "demon" present within Kitty. Sometimes Kitty is unwilling to be helped, and turns against her parents in fits of rage. The tons of these scenes is scary and emphasize how volatile Kitty's condition can be. The "demon" will show up out of the blue and take over Kitty's willpower to recover. It is the part of the illness that Harriet despises most, because she cannot even recognize her own daughter when the demon is spitting words of hate in her direction.

I haven't had much free reading time lately, but the images that Harriet creates, and the emotions she conveys have stayed with me, and I'll definitely be picking the book up again, as soon as possible.

So far...

As I've been reading, I've mainly been trying to keep in mind that someday I will be the teacher, not the student, and essentially the training for that began with college. While I am still a student obviously, I am studying to become a teacher...it's actually kind of a tricky thing- learning how to teach...trying to do two complementary actions at the same time, playing both essential roles. On numerous accounts, I read things or see things that I instantly want to incorporate into a classroom. Out of the blue inspiration. It's hard to remember though, when I am immersed in a book for a class, as a student. I am struggling to stay within a teacher perspective, and I sometimes willingly let myself slip, so that I am reading something, purely for the enjoyment, and not with the intention of creating an assignment based on it afterward... however, there is always a point where I must snap back to reality and see how I can benefit from whatever I was reading, and how I can encourage others to benefit from it also.

In light of recent events...

Check this out

Mashable  is a super interesting website, with the latest news regarding technology, social networking, the media, business, etc. I recommend checking it out! I've found several articles I'd like to read already, and I opened the web page, maybe 10 minutes ago. Many of the articles are relevant to the things we discuss in this class!