Reading Conference Wonders

There is nothing like the excitement of hearing what others are doing to get kids reading.  Two and a half days of inspiring, fascinating, creative people have me revved up and ready to get back to school and try out some of the ideas I heard during the Virginia State Reading Association conference this week in Richmond.  I was lucky enough to meet Jeff Kinney!!! 
         Yes, this really is Jeff Kinney's hand signing a book for Highland Park Elementary!

Wow!  I met Jarrett Krosoczka!!

I got to hear how the lunch lady was created WHILE eating breakfast with Donalyn Miller!

And I finally heard how Batman REALLY came to be from author Marc Tyler Nobleman.

The entire conference reinforced my passion for reading and getting kids to open a book.
Reading is Life.

It's Monday!  What am I reading?

In the kid world...

1.  Smek for President by Adam Rex

J Lo is one of my absolute favorite characters.  I am listening to this one and adore the voices the narrator uses for this version.  I have been a huge Adam Rex fan, and at the National Book Festival a few years ago in DC he mentioned the movie version of Smek Day would be coming.  So excited to see it's almost here!

2.  Just starting Edison's Alley by Neil Shusterman and Eric Elfman.  Can't wait to dig in to this tonight.  I very much enjoyed Tesla's Attic so excited to read the sequel.

3.  My lunch time read this week is The Girl From Felony Bay by J. E. Thompson.  I am loving the wonderfully strong Abby Force!  The book is fast paced and difficult to put down when lunch time is over.

4.  And as I am wrapping up a six day snow day run by finally getting back to work tomorrow (still a 2 hour delay!) I also got some adult reading in this week.  LOVE this book!  Jojo Moyes is amazing!

Well that's my line up for the week!   Can't wait to stop tomorrow and get Mark of the Thief!  I have waited rather impatiently for this one.  The False Prince trilogy blew me away!  

What I have been reading this week..

Well on this cold and snowy week it is about time that I renew my vow (and New Year's resolution!) to write in my blog.  I happened upon the What are You Reading? question on Teach Mentor Texts and thought this is an easy way to get back at it.  It has been a snow week for us in my school district so I have had an unexpected week off... and I have put it to good use!

Here is what I have read so far:




1.  Ruby Goldberg's Bright Idea by Anna Humphrey (loved it!)

2.  Nest by Esther Ehrlich (deep!)

  3.  All the Answers by Kate Messner (woohoo!!) 

4. Unstoppable Octobia May by Sharon Flake (interesting... )

5.  Jack:  The True Story of Jack and the Beanstalk by Liesel Shurtliff (Yeah!)
 

6.  The Compass of Dreams (Enchanted Emporium book #2) by Pierdomenico Baccalario (love a good magical adventure!)

7.  Masterminds by Gordon Korman (not finished yet... but LOVING it!  Great adventure!)

For professional development (and a class I am taking) I am reading The Digital Writing Workshop by Troy Hicks.
 And for adult reading I am reading Four Years in Paradise by Osa Johnson.
 (A bit old fashioned in her thinking... but enjoying the overall story).

Gotta love a good snow day for getting some reading done!
Thanks to M Shelton for the snowman picture....