Skip to main content

Money Well Spent


I am often asked where do I get the books I give to my students to read. Sometimes they are given to me, but more often than not, I buy them. If I am lucky, I find good books at yard sales and secondhand stores. Book fairs are also another resource. My collection is quite extensive. Unfortunately, that collection is 1800 miles away. I couldn’t wait to figure out how to get them into the hands of my students. I had to find a way to pair them up with the perfect book. Amazon filled that need. Over $100 later, the box arrived.

I brought the books into school today. Books bought with specific students in mind. Books on cutting, suicide, steroids, racial relationships, girl fights, and jail. Books written by Tupac, Alicia Keyes, Walter Dean Myers. Books that barely made it out of the box before students were asking for them. Students not mine approaching me asking to borrow a book. Before I knew it, all of the new books found themselves resting in the hands of students. My heart began to sing when I saw two of my students reading books at lunch! When given the opportunity to go outside and play football, many students turned it down to continue reading.

My classroom is being remodeled. My students and I are creating a ‘Book Nook.’ We are designing it together. Slowly adding books to a classroom library. I am redesigning the structure of my teaching. My 8th grade class will be run as a reading/writing workshop. I am not sure yet what it will look like, but I know it will be something incredible. 

Comments

  1. AnonymousFebruary 10, 2011 at 10:12 PM

    Mrs.Victor!
    I'm soooo glad that you're teaching your current students to read and write just like you taught me!,,and I have to say I am VERY THANKFUL for that. I am now addicted to reading and it's pretty much thanks to you! I remember how you made us read and do the weekly writing. At first it wasn't that much fun,but after a while it was such a good way to write down my feelings and it just helped me so much!
    Now,that I'm back in Mexico every time I go to El Paso,TX I get as many books as possible,,and read them all on the way here and it's not that far away(3 hours),which means my reading has improved! My dad has a limit of money I get to spend on books since I could easily spend $100.
    But anyways I just wanted to thank you for everything you taught me when I was there! You were such a great teacher and one of the best! Keep up the good work,as always and NEVER stop telling your students how important it is to read and write!
    Take care,
    Paola(:

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

WABDR: Section 1

Section 1  We end at the beginning  Does it feel like this trip will never end? Epic adventures tend to last a bit longer than just an average one. So….on with our tale.  We got our bikes all packed up and continued over White Pass. The first time we went over it, it was a cloudy day. Thus, the visibility of the mountains was not much. I was expecting the same on our return trip to Packwood. Therefore, it took my breath away when I saw the mountain off in the distance for the first time. The beauty was so overwhelming, I teared up.    I continued to watch the mountain until I could see it no more. Soon we were in Packwood. Back where we started. After a quick breakfast at the local coffee shop, we were on our way. I may have taken a few minutes to ride the big bike first… Not too long though, because someone was ready to get moving.  Jennifer had some friends that were camping at Walupt Lake, which is right on the trail for Sectio...
Post a Comment
Read more

An Easter Lesson

I decided that this break I was going to stay home and spend the week doing things I have not done or haven't done in awhile. It all began Thursday night with Ballroom Dancing, which will continue on Monday and Thursday with lessons. Saturday, I bought a couple of new outfits. Today brought both something I hadn't done in awhile and something new. Today, I went to church which was pretty cool in itself. I went with someone I just met the day before. (I am sure that is no surprise to any of you who know me.) We made plans to meet up at church. It was different from any church I had been in before. The chairs were set up "in the round." There was no piano or organ to accompany our singing. People were in and out throughout the 90 minute service. No surprise, the place was packed. The service was your typical protestant service, minus the organ, of course. It had been awhile since my friend had been to church. Many in the congregation flocked to him at the end to gi...
Post a Comment
Read more

Epic Adventure: Riding the Washington BDR

PROLOGUE “Hey Mandie, let’s ride the TAT (TransAmerican Trail)  on dual sports bikes next year!” my sister, Jennifer, suggested. “Sure!” I was quick to agree. She lives on the West coast, I live on the East. Any chance to spend together, I was going to take it. This is a good place for me to mention I had no idea what a dual sports bike was. She has been riding a variety of motorcycles for about 40 years. Me? Me and my 750 Shadow, Layla, had put on about 40,000 miles in the five years I have been riding. She puts on that kind of mileage in a month. A few months later, Jennifer decided the Washington BDR (Backcountry Discovery Route) would be a better fit as it was shorter and a bit easier. I was cool with it. I was in it to spend time with my sister. It was no big deal to me where we did it. Over the next few months, she purchased a bike for the both of us and outfitted it for our epic adventure. And then she practiced every weekend until I arrived. I would tell p...
2 comments
Read more