I’m sitting on my couch, balling my eyes out…I just finished The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. Wow, talk about a powerful piece of fiction. To be honest, for the last two weeks I have struggled with writing, fought against it, and generally just gave in to my writer’s block. That is in part because I was busy camping, spending precious time with my friends and family in Minnesota before heading back down to the land of air conditioning and sweat (Texas). Then I was overtaken by summer. By the sheer delight of getting up in the morning and reading my way through breakfast, lunch and sometimes dinner. But after finishing The Book Thief, suddenly I was ready again, to write. So, I didn’t hold true to my resolution to blog everyday, but I’m OK with that.
My "To Read" pile
So, what has this teacher been up to? I already shared that I’ve been reading my little heart out. I scoured my favorite reading blogs (Check them out here and here) , and made a long list of books I want to read this summer and headed to my local library. On top of that, my dad gave me a bunch of books he has read and recommends. Growing up, I never would have called my dad a reader, but wow, did we talk books this summer! He gave me Drive by Daniel H. Pink and How We Decide by Jonah Lehrer, and I’m excited to read them and be able to discuss them with dad–and he showed me his “To Read” stack of books and it was bigger than mine, who would have thunk!?
My “To Read” books have three piles: We have my Fiction Pile from the library, my Recommendation Pile from Dad, and there is one more pile: my Teacher Pile. This pile includes Write Beside Them by Penny Kittle. I went to her workshop on Wednesday, and WOW, it was awesome! It was exactly what I needed as I plan my own Writer’s Workshop (More about that workshop soon!). I also finished my two books about Reading and Writing workshop and ordered three more from Amazon and borrowed a few from friends:
- Revisiting the Writing Workshop
- Revisiting the Reading Workshop
- by Marybeth Alley and Barbra Orehovec
- Around the Reading Workshop in 180 Days
- By Frank Serafini
- The Daily 5
- The Cafe Book
- By Gail Boushey and Joan Moser
So this nerdy teacher will be reading, writing, running, cooking, and relaxing, because it’s SUMMER!
Have you read any of Lucy Calkin’s books about Writer’s Workshop? My district adopted her books as part of our writing curriculum a couple of years ago. At first look I was completely overwhelmed by all of the writing and thought how in the world can I translate this into my own lessons. After two years though I see a love of writing in my fourth graders that I didn’t see before and I love getting to know them more through their writing. I think it has even helped with my writing. I just thought I would share my two cents since you seem on the verge of this Writer’s Workshop business. Enjoy!
Melissa–I haven’t read anything by Lucy Calkins, but I keep coming across her name in everything I read so I have added one of her books to my Amazon wishlist! I’m glad to hear someone say they were overwhelmed when they began, but that it has been successful! I am very excited to see how this goes! If you have any more two cents about Writer’s Workshop or tips for getting started, please pass them along! Thanks.
Amy
Oops it is Lucy Calkins. (my summertime brain didn’t catch that in time)