Her Royal Spyness Royal Spyness Mystery Series, Book 1 by Rhys Bowen

Her name is Lady Victoria Georgiana Charlotte Eugenie and she is daughter to the Duke of Atholt and Rannoch. She is thirty-fourth in line to the throne, and she has not money.  None.  She has no job, no training, and no prospects.  She can marry Fish-face, or Prince Siegfried of Romania.  Her aunt, the Queen has also offered her the chance to be a lady in waiting in her castle.  But Georgie doesn't want any of that.  She wants to have a career and be self sufficient.  

In order for a young lady with a title to get a job, she has to go undercover.  She creates a cleaning service and some of her clients are London's wealthiest.  They would also recognize her, so she has to be very careful.  

She also discovers some secrets - some secrets that someone wants to keep badly enough that he or she would kill to keep the secret.  She has always been clumsy, but after a series of near misses, she realizes that someone is trying to kill her -and that someone is a member of London's upper crust society.  

Will she find the killer in time?  Can she keep food on her table and a roof over her head in the meantime to survive?  While there is humor in this book, there is also a clear message of how difficult it can be to just keep a roof over your head and survive in hard times.  

Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow

Hope.  That is the message of this book.  Even if you feel like you are totally messed up, or you are in a hole too big to dig out, or you just can't seem to catch a break.  There is hope.  You can get better.  Hope.

Charlie finds herself in a facility because she has harmed herself by cutting into her skin.  This time the cuts were bad enough to nearly kill her.  All of the girls at the facility have something in common:  they either burn or cut their skin, or abuse their bodies with drugs or alcohol.  After a few months in the facility, Charlie's insurance company will no longer pay for her treatment and her mother doesn't want her and her problems back in her home.  She exits the facility with no job, no home, or any place to go. 

Charlie is seventeen years old, and her options are few.  Luckily, Charlie finds friends who understand and support her, and help her realize she is not alone.  They give her hope and strength.
She is not alone.

There are estimations that one in every two hundred girls between thirteen and nineteen will self harm themselves.  There are few statistics on boys, but they also self harm as well.  Self harm is a coping mechanism for people who suffer from depression or mental illness.  Is isn't necessarily a cry for help or a warning that someone is suicidal. 

Kathleen Glasgow was a cutter.  She found her voice and solace in writing.  She strongly suggests that you find your solace and don't ever stop doing it.  Find your tribe and your reason to be. 

"I swear to you, the other side will emerge, slowly but surely.  It's not always sunshine and roses over here, and sometimes the dark can get pretty dark, but it's filled with people who understand, and just enough laughter to get you through the next day.  So:  go."  Kathleen Glasgow 

Be you.  And remember, there is Hope.  Always.

Prince Charles: The Passions and Paradoxes of an Improbable Life by Sally Bedell Smith

Who is the man who would be king?  What is he really like?  Will he ever be king?

Sally Bedell Smith gives us an insider's view of the life of a man who has waited his entire life to be king.  At age 68, he is set to inherit the throne from his mother, Queen Elizabeth II upon her death.  So what's a prince to do until that day?

Prince Charles is like many of us.  He deals with insecurities, overbearing parents, and a feeling that he doesn't know the direction his life should be heading.  Most of us muddle our way through, find our way, and settle into our lives.  Most of us, however, are not the future king of England.

Prince Charles leads a life of opulent luxury, but he also is passionate about agriculture, helping the poor, providing opportunities for underprivileged school children, and architecture.  He has spent his life behind the scenes working to fund his charities so others can benefit from the resources.

Again, like many of us, he has made some terrible mistakes.  His marriage to Diana was not good - right from the start.  His continued affair with Camilla was a royal scandal, and his decision making skills were not always up to par.

What we see as we read about Charles is his human-ness.  How would any of us deal with the daily pressures of royal life?  Would we deal well with always being on? Could we deal with the press prying into every aspect of our daily life?

If you are fascinated by the royal family (and I am), this might be a book you choose to pick up and read.  Bedell Smith is frank and shares a lot of information about the man who waits to be king.

The Others Series - Written in Red, Murder of Crows, and Vision in Silver by Anne Bishop

What did I read in August?  Well, August tends to be one of the busiest months of the year. (May is a close second.)  If you are in education, you know exactly what I am talking about.  However, in my downtime, and there wasn't much of it, but when I did have a chance to read, I picked up the books from the Others series.

Meg is trying to get away.  She isn't sure who she is trying to get away from or where she is going.  She just knows she has to be away from the Controller who keeps Meg and many others girls under his complete control.

Meg somehow ends up at the Lakeside Courtyard which is a series of businesses that are run by the Others.  The Others think of humans as prey, and human law does not apply within the confines of the Courtyard.  If a human ventures into the Courtyard or its lands after hours, a wallet or other identification will be supplied to the police, and the person will be considered missing/dead.

Meg would be in danger as she enters the Courtyard after hours, but for some reason, she doesn't smell like prey.  Meg also has the ability to sense danger, and can foretell the future when she has visions.

Simon doesn't like humans, but he wants to try an experiment with Lakeside Courtyard.  He wants the Others and humans to understand each other a bit more, and learn from each other.  He hires Meg as the Human Liaison in the mail room. Her job is to track and sort packages for the Courtyard.

What Simon soon realizes is there are people looking for Meg.  Very important people are looking for Meg.  People who have a lot of influence and money are looking for Meg.

What do these people want with Meg?  What will happen to Meg if they get to her?  What does it mean for the universe if Meg is captured?

This series takes a look at the world from the view of the animals and nature that inhabit it.  Humans have been know to wreak havoc on the natural balance, so their control must be limited. However, humans are a hearty breed, and they are always pushing back.

This book is very different from other fantasy books I have read.  It is yet another lesson on what happens if we humans are not good stewards in our world.  

The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck

The title caught my eye.  The cover pulled me in closer.  I was with a group of students at Barnes and Noble, and I had to have this book.  There was just something about it that drew me to it.  I made sure it made it to the purchase basket. I have now finished the book, and it has been one of the most powerful, thought-provoking books I have ever read.

When Hitler came to power, Germany was rebuilding after a devastating end to the first world war.  Hitler promised to give them their country back, and give them good jobs.  He told the Germans that the Jews were rich businessmen who were making huge profits from Germany's troubled economy.

His solution?  He was going to send them back where they came from.  Where was this?  Many thought they were being sent back to Poland or Romania. Some thought maybe they were being sent to Israel.  Hitler had mentioned all Jews and immigrants were going to be sent to Madagascar to build their own country.  He also convinced the German people that the Polish and Slavic peoples belonged to a lower race and these people were essentially criminals.

Albrecht, Connie, Marianne, and a few others realize what Hitler really is. “For so long Marianne and Albrecht and many of their friends had known Hitler was a lunatic, a leader whose lowbrow appeal to people's most selfish, self-pitying emotions and ignorance was an embarrassment for their country.” Hitler was a danger to all of Germany, and the German people were too blind to see what was happening.  They were too busy in their own lives to care.  The churches were behind Hitler's theories because the leaders believed his words.

An assassination plot is crafted, and the men bring Marianne in on their plot for one reason:  if the plot fails, then she will be the one to keep the women and children safe.  Marianne knows this plot is extremely risky, but she also believes this is the only hope for their country.  

If you know history, then you know the assassination plot failed.  The men who were part of the plot were murdered in horrendous ways, and their wives and children were sent to work camps.  Marianne is able to get free, and then she starts her quest to find the wives and children of those men who were part of the assassination plot.  

This book kept me awake at night. There are so many parallels that I find increasingly troubling. Every day I see something in the news that reminds me of the words in this book.  When our youth are part of a political tirade, when a former leader is booed at a national gathering, and when the leaders of that group are smiling and clapping in the background.  I am sure you can think of more examples to add.

It is said that history always repeats itself, and I can remember from the time I could first read asking myself and others the question, "If we know about history and the mistakes we made the first time, why do we allow this to happen again?"  I ask all of you the same question today.

The Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutkoski

Arin thinks he is over Kestrel, but he is lying to himself. He thinks she has betrayed him and her words of love were false.   He has been told that Kestrel has married a prince from another country, and they are honeymooning in some faraway land.  Little does he know that Kestrel has been sent to a work/concentration camp because her father found out that she was in love with Arin, and was sympathetic to his country's cause.

War is eminent, and both Arin and Kestrel realize the need to fight the Emperor and his quest for land and power.  Kestrel must first escape from the work camp, and she cannot do that without strength.  Her daily rations are tainted with drugs that keep her from thinking clearly.  Will Arin find out about the lies he has been told before it is too late for Kestrel?  Will they ever be together again?

This book is a Young Adult Fantasy and is the final book in a trilogy called the Winner's Trilogy.  There is an element of romance, action, danger, and good versus evil.

Start with Book 1 (of course) and learn about how Arin and Kestrel meet when she purchases him at the slave auction.  Follow their adventures until the final battle.

Moonglow by Michael Chabon

Michael Chabon traveled across the country to California to help take care of his ailing grandfather.  The year was 1989, and while his grandfather was lucid, Michael listened to this grandfather tell the secrets of his life.  While his grandfather slept, Mike tried to put together the pieces of the story.

Those mostly one-sided conversations covered his early life, the time he spent in prison, World War II, his involvement with the Space Program, and life in a Florida retirement community.  Mike finds that there was so much more to this grandfather than he ever imagined, and he also discovers the answer to many unanswered questions about his family.

This novel is based on Chabon's real life history,  Sam is a man of many talents whose personality is one that the reader takes a while to discover.  His is a life full of discoveries, yet is also filled with extreme sadness.

One of my favorite parts of the book was the hunt for the python.  I highly recommend this book -especially for those who love the era of the 30's and 40's.

"We seemed to float right through the air

Heavenly songs seemed to come from everywhere

And now when there's moonglow, way up in the blue
I'll always remember, that moonglow gave me you."   

Moonglow by Tony Bennett

Truly, Madly, Guilty by Liane Moriarty

Why won't it stop raining?  It has been raining for weeks.  Friends Erica and Clementine have been at odds since THAT weekend.  Why can't anyone talk about it?  And why is it still raining?

It was the weekend that Vid and Tiffany decided to have a barbecue.  No one really wanted to go, but Erica and Clementine decided it might be fun, so they invited their husbands to go along.  But something happened at that barbecue, and no one wants to talk about it.  The six adults who were there aren't sure how things went wrong.  But they do know that things did go horribly, horribly wrong.

Clementine and Erica cannot sleep, and when they do finally close their eyes, their nightmares won't allow them the rest they need.  Clementine would like to find a cellist's job, and Erica would like to be able to have a child.

This book is about relationships, friendships, unspoken thoughts, and the pressures of parenting.  Being an adult is not an easy thing, but coupled with the pressures of job security, job hunting, and a high pressure job, things can get out of hand very quickly.

This book is set in Australia, and while it did rain a lot, it was also fun to learn a little bit more about the culture.  Grab this book and head to the beach!

The Kept Woman by Karin Slaughter

Marcus Rippy is a star athlete.  He brings in millions of dollars in revenue for his team, and he is at a career high.  Marcus has also been accused of rape.  Will Trent, the lead detective in the case, would like nothing more than a conviction, but his witnesses keep disappearing, or are unable to testify.  Will also finds out that his ex-wife may be involved in this case, as well as some corrupt cops.  Now there is a body in the warehouse and it looks like Angie, Will's ex-wife, might have been at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Mysteries are my favorite reading material, and this mystery kept me guessing throughout.  There are plot twists and turns as Will, Sarah, and Faith try to figure out just who was found in that warehouse. The ending isn't predictable, so jump in for a great crime story!

The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Choskhi

Maya grew up in a harem, and her mother died when she was very young.  All of her life she has heard that her horoscope predicted she would attract death and destruction to a marriage.  So Maya is content to remain single and happy.  She enjoys life around the palace and climbing to the rafters so she can listen to her father the Raja conduct business in his palace.

Then comes the day that her father says war is coming, and there is nothing he can do to stop it.  He is forcing her to marry a prince from another country.  Her father tells her that it is her choice who she marries, but she doesn't really want to marry a man that she doesn't know or love.  However, she will do her duty to help save the country she loves so dearly.  Maya soon realizes that what she learned in the rafters of her father's palace will help her govern in the new life she is about to lead. 

There is Indian folklore, mythology, reincarnation, and Otherworldly realms in this story. There are fantastical creatures, and many, many lives woven into one.  I enjoyed learning about the folklore and legends of another culture and country.  

Take the time to read The Star-Touched Queen. 

The One by Kiera Cass

The One is the third book in the Selection series.  America Singer is still in the running to be queen and married to Prince Maxon. There are six girls left, and one of them will be chosen to help rule the country.

There is a lot of unrest in the country.  There are uprisings in the North and the South, and sometimes intruders break into the palace, wreak havoc, and sometimes kill before they are stopped.  There are those who would choose to kill the king and his family, along with the ladies who were final choices to be Maxon's wife.

America also isn't sure she loves Maxon enough to become his wife.  She loves him, she thinks, but she also knows that the job comes with the marriage.  She also knows there needs to be sweeping changes in the country, but she knows the current administration will not allow these changes to take place.

There is also Aspen.  Aspen, the king's guard who is America's first love.  Aspen, the king's guard who is also assigned to guard America.  Who does America really love, and was she ever in love with Aspen?

These books are quick reads, and even though there are times I would like to shake America, I did enjoy the escape to another kingdom.  

The Fate of the Tearling by Erica Johansen

I honestly didn't want it to end. I didn't want it to end because I really felt like the author had an important message for all of us, and I wanted to make sure I didn't miss a thing.  I devoured the first two books, and I have been impatiently waiting for the third and final book in the series. The Fate of the Tearling is the third book in the Tearling series.

 William Tear has found an opening to another world - a better world where there will be no walls, hunger, controlling religion, or violence.  He and several thousand chosen people sail to the new world to begin a new life without technology and the modern conveniences we are used to.  Fast forward to Kelsea, the Raleigh queen who must try to save the Tear kingdom and everything that William tried to create.

The story opens with Kelsea in the clutches of the evil Red Queen.  The Red Queen also has the powerful sapphires that were part of Kelsea's power.  Kelsea's kingdom is rapidly crumbling, and she feels powerless to save herself or her kingdom.

I dreamed about this book, and at one point, I was trying to figure out a solution for Kelsea in my sleep.  In my waking hours, I thought a lot about what the author was trying to tell me as a reader.  Here is one of the quotes that made me stop and re-read the passage at least twice. "Entire countries would close their borders and build walls to keep out phantom threats. Can you imagine?" Sadly, I can imagine and realize that this is my reality.  

The author also speaks about organized religion and how we have somehow lost the true meaning of what church is meant to be.  Too often our churches spew hatred and tell people what and how to think.  "Sometimes I think: if they want to walk around armed and build fences and let a church tell them what to do, let them wallow in it. They can build their own town of closed thinking, and live there, and find out later what a sh**** place it really is." 

Will Good win over Evil?  Can one person save the kingdom from the darkness of humanity? Take the time to read the Tearling series, but also take the time to delve deeper into the author's message.    

Creating an Environment Where Student Needs Drive Professional Development

Sylvia Duckworth, Lee Araoz

When I first started my teaching career, I often thought of Professional Development trainings as a waste of time.  We were often given some time out of the classroom to attend various conferences to bring back ideas to share with our colleagues.  Oftentimes, those professional development trainings didn't always measure up because what I learned about didn't always translate well into the classroom.  Sometimes, frankly, they were a colossal waste of my time.

I have provided professional development to the high school staff for many years.  Usually I would see a need, and then I would make sure that I was available to provide training during the school day and one day after school.  Many times this PD was necessary because our district had purchased something new, and our teachers needed training.

Now that I have moved to the position of Technology Integration Specialist, I have many more schools to cover and a greater need to provide professional development that enhances the curriculum and allows greater creativity for students.

Lee Araoz and Sylvia Duckworth created a template that provides some ideas or guidelines for Instructional Coaches.   As a trainer, I feel like I do most of the items listed on the template.  However, I think that one must always be aware of the importance of all facets of the job.  Of the eight choices, I am drawn to "creating an environment where student needs drive professional development."

There are a myriad of apps, extensions, add -ons, software etc. for teachers, students, administrators, and well, everyone.  There are new things all of the time, and it is impossible to keep up with the rapidly changing technology.  Part of the job of a coach or tech specialist is to sort through and find the best that might work for our students and staff.

Our job is to help our teachers and staff have the best resources available to ensure that our students are able to reach levels of learning that redefine and modify their class work.  Some of the technology that is available may not be promoting student- centered learning.  Some of us may be using technology just for technology's sake.

It is very easy to substitute and augment because that is what we know.  Many of us are familiar with the lecture type classroom  because that is what was modeled for us.  I know many of our teachers who feel a bit uncomfortable with technology so they will augment, but moving beyond that aspect is a bit frightening.  They see technology as something they should use, but they have no idea how to implement it properly in their classrooms.

Our job is to help those who are a bit tentative about moving to redefinition and modification.  I see this as a circle- which, of course, is never ending. When we become more comfortable with making our classrooms more student centered, then our students be able to use the tools that are available in ways that might not have been thought of before.  Teachers will be able to see the results and decide the next steps in the process.

In essence, the importance of our professional development training is not the tool itself, but how we can encourage the teacher to reach a little bit farther, or try something just a little bit different in the classroom.  We should offer to be there for support - and see where the students lead us.

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

Cora was born into slavery on a plantation in Georgia.  Life is difficult, but things aren't any easier when Cora's mother Mabel escapes the yoke of slavery and leaves her young daughter behind.  Cora must endure backbreaking work in the field and the cruelty of the overseer.  She must listen to the overseer touting Bible verses suggesting that slavery is biblical because it is in the Good Book.  She must try to escape the notice of men, but once she comes of age, that becomes an impossibility.  The plantation owner has noticed her, and grabs her breast while the slaves are lined up for inspection.  She is already marked as a slave, but now she is marked as a woman who will be visited nightly by the owner of the plantation.  She knows she has no choice in the matter unless she tries to escape.  

Caesar, who is another slave on the plantation, had approached Cora with the idea of escape a few weeks before.  Her own mother had been successful, and the slave catchers had never found her, so maybe the same luck would be with Cora.  Cora knew the risks of capture - a long, slow tortuous death.  Cora also knows that death is better than being raped repeated by the cruel owner, Randall.  

Caesar and Cora make their bid to freedom via the Underground Railroad.  The Railroad was not known to be as far south as Georgia, but there were those individuals who risked their lives to fight for those who were enslaved.  Thus begins the story of Cora and those she meets along her journey to freedom.  

This book was difficult for me to read.  I saw so many parallels between that time period and today.  
One of the things that has most saddened me after the events of the last year is the deep-seeded racism that pervades our society.  I had no idea that so many people had so much hatred in their hearts toward other human beings. “The whites came to this land for a fresh start and to escape the tyranny of their masters, just as the freemen had fled theirs. But the ideals they held up for themselves, they denied others"(Whitehead).  

Until recently, history books never told the entire story.  I never knew about the Japanese internment until I met someone whose family was interned in Washington state WHILE he was working as an interpreter to fight against our enemy at the time.  Did our history books tell us how we gained land in the west?  Or how we built most of the railroads, the nation's Capitol building, and even the White House?  The United States has a tarnished history in its greatness.  
     “And America, too, is a delusion, the grandest one of all. The white race believes--believes with all its heart--that it is their right to take the land. To kill Indians. Make war. Enslave their brothers. This nation shouldn't exist, if there is any justice in the world, for its foundations are murder, theft, and cruelty. Yet here we are" (Whitehead).

And here we are indeed.  How can we as a nation move toward unity, civility, and a love for each other?  We won't get there by continuing to harbor racism in our hearts.  We won't get there if we believe that we must hate those who are different.  We certainly will not get there if we continue to excuse behaviors that are clearly racist in nature.  It is our responsibility to start our own underground railroad and help those who feel enslaved by a toxic cultural attitude.  

This book will force you to see what most history books didn't tell you.  Many people gave their lives so that others would have freedom. There are still those who fight for equal rights and racial equality. Those people represent the essence of our Constitution.  Our country is known as "the land of the free."  We all have the responsibility to make sure it remains so.  

The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald

Sara is a book lover.  Sometimes she can read for many, many hours and never have any idea what is going on in the world around her.  Sara works in a bookstore in Sweden, and she has a pen pal friendship with Amy, who lives in Broken Wheel, Iowa.  The two exchange letters and books for over two years until Amy convinces Sara to make the trip to Iowa to meet her and the residents of Broken Wheel.

Sara makes the long trip across the pond for a holiday.  Yet, Sara knows that something odd is going on when Amy doesn't arrive to pick her up from Hope, Iowa where she and Amy agreed to meet.  Sara makes her way to Broken Wheel only to discover that Amy has passed away the week before Sara arrived.  Sara's visa is set, and her departure date is October 31- several months away.  What should she do?

She decides to stay for a time and get to know the town that Amy described in her letters. She meets the people Amy loved, and she meets the man that Amy wanted to marry but couldn't because of the color of his skin.  Sara knew about John because Amy had written about him in her letters.  The following is an excerpt from one of Amy's letters.

"It’s funny, the way we talk about terrorism nowadays as though only Muslims and Arabs threaten our society. I’m afraid my understanding of terrorism was shaped long before September 11. It was the fear, the arbitrariness, the violence that affected people indiscriminately—even those who said they didn’t want to get involved or had no intention of fighting against segregation. For me, terrorism is still the image of white men, people active in society, standing over the charcoaled, lynched body of a black man and looking pleased with their work."  

When I read those words, I had chills. Bivard's words hit me to the core.  Our history is not pretty, and we have to make sure we are intolerant of this mindset. We are seeing an increase of hate crimes and many are complacent.  Our country is better than this, and we must stand up and speak out for those who cannot.  We must!

As Sara becomes more comfortable in her surroundings, she gains self-confidence and purpose while visiting Iowa.  She sees beauty where others might see a tired old town surrounded by corn.  She steps out of her comfort zone and decides to change her life.

"It was funny, she thought, how often we stuck to the safe path in life, pulling on blinders and keeping our eyes to the ground, doing our best not to look at the fantastic view. Without seeing the heights we had reached, the opportunities actually awaiting us out there; without realizing we should just jump and fly, at least for a moment."

The town realizes that they need Sara as much as Sara needs them.  They realize they are a community, and they need to take care of each other.  This is a lesson for all of us from a very gifted Swedish writer.  One more thing:  Sara says there is a book for everyone - and there is.  Look for it.  Find it.  Love it.  Let it change your life.

Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris

What if you met the man of your dreams one day in a park?  He is attractive, successful, and best of all, he loves your sister and understands her special needs.  But how well do you know him?

Grace and Jack seem to be the perfect couple.  They live in a beautiful home, entertain their friends, and travel to Thailand often on holiday.  However, what is life really like inside those four walls?  Why are their bars on the windows?  How is it that Grace can remain so slim?

 What do we really know about our friends and acquaintances and the life they lead in the privacy of their own homes?  Are they happy, or are they the victims of emotional, physical, or verbal abuse?

This books brings an important topic to the forefront.  How many of our sisters and brothers are subject to abuse?  Was it so subtle at first that they didn't realize what was happening, and suddenly they were in too deep to get out?  Was their boyfriend or girlfriend so concerned about them that they checked on their location several times a day?  Was that "concern" really controlling behavior and an effort to physically and mentally manage them?

I have seen several instances of abuse throughout my life.  I have suspected at least one of my friends was the victim of physical abuse.  When I tried to broach the subject, she retreated, I believe, because she was fearful of the outcome if she spoke out against her husband.

I have known several women who have been the victim of emotional and verbal abuse.  They are made to believe that if they had only done a better job of being a wife, or had made a better effort at making their husband happy, then they wouldn't deserve the punishment they received.

Abuse is insidious, and Grace was the victim.  If you too are a victim, there is help available.  Get out of the relationship and get the help you need.  Be aware of the signs that signal a potentially abusive relationship.

If you suspect that someone is a victim of abuse, reach out.  Yes, my friend did retreat from me because she knew that what I suspected was true, but she eventually found the strength to leave her husband.  It wasn't easy, and she and her children struggled for several years, but she did get back on her feet. She did find the strength to stay away from him and create a new life for her and her children.

There are people and agencies who care and will help.

Technology: Learning Distraction or Learning Aid?

A lot of things have changed since I entered the education field over thirty years ago.  When a new educational thought or process was introduced, I often heard some of the older teachers make this comment: "If we ignore this, it will go away in a year or so, then there will be some other new thing that takes its place."  I had to admit that this was often the case.  We would have a change of administration, and the focus would be on something else, and away we would go on a new journey.

Enter technology and the computer age...no longer can educators say that this will end of going away. Technology will not be going anywhere anytime soon. Technology is here to stay.  There are those holdouts who refuse to use technology in their classrooms, but these teachers are not the norm, thankfully.

Students are growing up with access to many devices, and they are comfortable using this technology.  How can teachers use this knowledge to enhance learning while monitoring the time spent doing everything BUT their assignments and meaningful work?

First of all, and most importantly, teachers cannot sit at their desks and lecture from their chairs.  Teachers need to be actively moving about the room and seeing what their students are doing.  If teachers are aware of the activities going on in the room, then students are more likely to stay on task with their assignments.

Students need to feel that the work assigned is meaningful - at least somewhat.  I say "at least somewhat" because we all know that students do not always see the long term benefit of practicing their vocabulary or knowing their chemistry elements.  However, if the teacher makes it clear that the work done in his or her class is important and meaningful, then students will be more apt to take an interest in their work.  If the teacher doesn't care, the students won't care either.

Finally, I think it is very important to listen to what the students have to say.  There are moments of true genius when a student might give me an idea of how better to teach my class.  With that feedback, I can create more meaningful assignments so we can all can benefit.  When students have a buy in, they also take ownership and responsibility in the class.  They often police each other, issues are stopped before they escalate into more than something small.

Yes, technology can be a distraction.  I have to focus on writing my blog rather than checking out the latest tweets.  It takes discipline, and that is something that requires some maturity as well.  If we set the example early, we make it easier for our students as they navigate the world beyond high school.

The Lost Girls by Heather Young

Justine loves Patrick, at least she thinks she does.  He calls her every day, at least several times a day.

He makes her feel like she is needed, and he plans fun outings for her girls. But there is something smothering about Patrick as well. Justine gets a phone call from a lawyer who is managing her aunt's estate in Minnesota, and Justine finds out that she is the sole heir of her aunt's estate.  

She met her Aunt Lucy when she was a small child, but she remembers the house and the lake where her aunt lived.  She has happy memories of the place, and that is enough incentive to uproot her girls and make the move to Minnesota.  She leaves Patrick a note telling him that his dinner is thawing in the fridge, and takes off from San Diego to travel to the Midwest.  

She remembers parts of the visit from her childhood, and one of the things she remembers is that her aunt and her aunt's sister (her grandmother) had a sister, Emily, who disappeared on the last day of summer many, many years before.  Emily vanished into the woods, and she was never seen or heard from again.  The family never left their summer home in case Emily returned.  

Justine enters a house full of secrets and finds that there is much she doesn't know about her aunt, her grandmother, her mother, and the neighbors. She has a limited income, and has no idea how to live in such a frigid environment.  Her children are trying to settle into a new school, and Justine is just trying to survive.  

Family secrets, love, forgiveness, and the complexities of different personalities are interwoven throughout the book.  What are the secrets that the house holds?  What does Lucy know that she shared in her journal? 

 I loved this book.  It was difficult to put down.  I will definitely read more from this author.  

The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena

I certainly didn't see that coming!
I have mentioned before that I love a good mystery.  One thing that I dislike about some mysteries is knowing the outcome of the "whodunnit" before I have read half the book.  Not so with this book!  There are so many twists and turns that I had no idea who the culprit might be.

Anne and Marco are at a dinner party with their next door neighbors and friends, Cynthia and Graham.  Cynthia doesn't like children, so Anne and Marco have to hire a babysitter to care for Cora, their six month old daughter while the couples have dinner together.

At the last moment, the babysitter cannot work that evening, so the couple has to make a difficult decision.  They know that Cynthia doesn't like children, so they decide to leave the baby in their home alone.  Since the dinner party is right next door, and their home is a duplex, they know that they can check on their daughter often.

Anne and Marco decide to check on Cora every half hour while they are attending the dinner party.  They will take turns, and they will time it so Anne can nurse Cora when she needs. The couple checks on the baby every half hour. Both Anne and Marco have been drinking quite a lot, and realize their judgement has been affected.  It's getting late, and Anne wants to go home.  Marco is happy hanging out with the neighbors. Anne knows that Cora hasn't been checked since 12:30 and it is now going on 1:30.  Marco senses that she needs to go home, so the couple says their goodbyes and walks next door to their home.

Suddenly Anne realizes that the front door is open.  She knows she shut it when she checked Cora at midnight.  Marco checked Cora at 12:30, but she maintains that he used the back door as an entrance and exit.  The couple rushes upstairs and find that their daughter is not in her crib, nor is she anywhere in their home.  She has disappeared.

The police are called, and thus starts the twists and turns of a very complicated case.  This book will suck you in and not let you go.  I really had several suspects - and the ending!  Wow!

The Selection by Kiera Cass

America Singer lives in a time of Caste systems.  She is a Five, so she can work for a living as a musician to bring food to the family.  Nevertheless, there is never enough.  Her boyfriend, Aspen, is a Six, so he is a servant to all others.  She knows that they can never have the permission of her family to be together, and if they choose to be together, America will be a Six the rest of her life.  She is, however, in love and willing to do what she needs to do with stay with Aspen.

Then the Selection happens....women all over the country are asked to come to the office, turn in paperwork, and have their picture taken so the Prince and his family can choose his bride.  He will choose 35 women as part of the selection, and one of those women will rule with him as queen.

America never dreams that she will be chosen, but she is, and she and 34 other women are flown to the capital to compete in the Selection contest.  Aspen tells America to go through the process because she is compensated handsomely for her time, and her family desperately needs the money.  She leaves for the contest feeling betrayed and angry.

It never occurs to America that she might actually like Maxon, the crown prince.  America also finds out there is much, much more to being royalty than she ever expected.  This is book #1 in the Selection series.  Bachelorettes, get ready to compete for your prince!

Remains of Innocence by J.A Jance #16

When in Tucson, read about Tucson, right?  Remains of Innocence is the second book I read while I was visiting Tucson.  There were many landmarks that were mentioned that I either visited myself, or I had heard of.  While I was there, snow fell on Mount Lemmon, and the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum is also a popular place to visit.

Liza Machett grew up very poor.  She didn't have enough food to eat, but her teachers notice her need, and they help find her jobs within the school that ensure she always has breakfast and lunch.  Her life in Great Barrington, MA, is stressful and complicated. Her mother is a hoarder and only concerned with saving money.  Her brother, Guy, went to medical school on a scholarship, and is working as a medical examiner in Bisbee, Arizona.

Liza's mother moves to hospice, and Liza finds that her mother is anything but poor.  She finds large bills in every magazine in the house - and there are stacks of them.  She also realizes after a series of murders, that the money's history is steeped in something sinister.

This is another Joanna Brady mystery.  The bulk of the plot moves from Great Barrington to Bisbee, with points in between.  Who are the killers?  How many are there?  Can Sheriff Joanna Brady figure out who or what is behind the killings?  This is book #16 in the Joanna Brady mysteries.  Joanna is the sheriff of Bisbee, Arizona, and she has come into her own as the first female sheriff the town has ever seen.

If you love the area of Tucson, Bisbee, Douglas, and the surrounding areas, you will love reading about the lives of the special people in Joanna's world.

Skeleton Canyon by J.A. Jance

Briana O'Brien is a popular cheerleader at Bisbee High School.  However, one night at a football game against Douglas, her life changes forever.  The star running back from Douglas take a hard hit at the sideline where she is cheering.  She hears the bone crack, and sees the pain in the player's eyes.

She realizes at that moment that she knows this player.  They spent time together at a theater camp a summer or two ago, and they were cast as Romeo and Juliet in the camp's play.  She makes the decision to go to the hospital with him, disregarding her friends and her coach's warning that if she walks away, she will be kicked off the team.  She walks.

Fast forward to a year later as she and her boyfriend, who is of Mexican descent, are hiding their very serious relationship.  They spend weekends camping in Skeleton Canyon - and their parents and guardians are none the wiser.  This particular weekend, however, Nacio cannot get to their camping spot until the next morning.  Bree decides to go ahead and camp the night, then meet up with him the next morning.  She doesn't stay alive that long.

Joanna Brady is still trying to find her way after the unexpected death of her husband, Andy.  She is the sheriff of Bisbee, and is still trying to get her staff to respect her and her decisions.  When Bree, a popular cheerleader, is reported missing, Joanna finds that the missing girl's case falls within her jursidiction.

Joanna finds she has to deal with sexism, racism, and a ring of smugglers.  This book is one in a series of books written by J.A. Jance.  The books take place near Bisbee, Arizona.  This was a perfect read for me as I spent four days in the Tucson area.  There were so many familiar landmarks.

You don't have to visit Arizona to read this one!

Leaders are Made, Not Born.

What is a leader?  What makes a leader a good leader?  Who determines who is a good leader, and who is not?  While perusing quotes about leadership, I came across a quote by John C. Maxwell.  Before I join forces in thought with Mr. Maxwell, I want to know a little more about him. Thank you, Google!  I find that John Calvin Maxwell is an American author, pastor, and a motivational speaker.   He has written quite a few books on leadership.  One book is entitled, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. 

I was drawn to this quote because this is one of my primary beliefs of being a leader.  Leaders need to experience the same responsibilities that the people they lead experience.  When I first was hired to be a media specialist at my high school, I found myself the "boss" of two aides.  I had been the "boss" of students for 24 years, but being the boss of adults is a different story altogether.  

One of my aides once told me that I was a great boss, and one of the reasons was that I pitched in and did whatever was needed to be done.  There was not a job that was above me or beneath me.  We all worked together as a team.  

Now that I have transitioned to Technology Integration Specialist, the words of this quote ring very true.  I want to be approachable, yet knowledgeable enough to be a good resource.  Staff need to know that I too use the very things that I introduce and believe to be useful.  

Good leaders are always looking to learn new things and find ways to become better leaders. Taking training classes, meeting colleagues who do the same things, and following people via social media are all good ways to see what is happening in other districts.  I believe it is important to learn as much as possible, and one of my goals whenever I take a new class is to help me become a better leader, but also to help others to lead as well.  

Always and foremost, a good leader sees strengths in her team, and then allows them to become better leaders themselves.  I am a firm believer in letting people take an active role if they are comfortable with that.  One of the things I am looking for in this course is to find the best way to gently encourage people to set forward and share what they know and use.  

There have been many leaders throughout history, some famous, but many others are infamous.  Being a strong leader isn't easy, but I am willing to put forth the effort and become the best I can be.  

The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith

I love a good mystery.  Far too often, I have the "mystery" solved before the book is long over.  I have figured out the "killer" and all too often, I lose interest before the book is completed.

This was not the case with The Silkworm.  The "culprit" was free from Scotland Yard (and my knowledge) until the last two chapters of the book.  With Robert Galbraith, I would expect nothing less.

Writer Owen Quine is missing.  He has disappeared before for short periods of time, but his wife knows that this time something is different, so she hires the services of Cormoran Strike.  Strike is a veteran who now runs his own detective agency, with the help of his assistant, Robin.

Quine has just written a scathing book about his colleagues, and the narrative is full of unflattering portrayals which create brutal enemies within the world of publishing.  Are these enemies angry enough to commit murder?  Someone is angry enough to kill. Strike and Robin start the search for the missing Owen Quine, and enter a world of twists, turns, and they find that things that are not always what they seem.

Strike and Robin search for clues during one of the worst snowstorms London has seen in several years.  The cold, driving snow and the dark clouds surrounding the city are the perfect setting in the search for a cold-blooded killer.

Cormoran Strike's character is gritty, intelligent, yet vulnerable.  His assistant, Robin, is highly intelligent and is interested in surveillance work as a career.

This book is the second in the series.  The first book in the series is The Cuckoo's Calling, and it is also well worth your time.  I think you will be a big fan of Cormoran Strike - just like I am.

TWELVE DAYS OF BOOKS -2016

It's that time of year!  This is the third installment of the TWELVE BOOKS OF CHRISTMAS.  Typically this post comes on a bit earlier during the twelve days after Christmas, but the Parker household has been full of activity this season.  We all want to wish you the very best of seasons.  May the new year be full of happiness, cheer, and love.

And now for the countdown.....

1.  The Obsession by Nora Roberts.  Naomi Bowes knows what it is like to learn about family secrets.  Her father had plenty of secrets until Naomi stumbled upon them.  Now she has another name, and is living far away from those nightmares - or is she?  This book was recommended by Andrea Hess.  The book had her hooked from page one...

2.  The Righteous Mind:  Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt.  

"This book is about why it’s so hard for us to get along. We are indeed all stuck here for a while, so let’s at least do what we can to understand why we are so easily divided into hostile groups, . . Politics and religion are both expressions of our underlying moral psychology, and an understanding of that psychology can help to bring people together...."  The author is a psychologist and studies Morals.  This book explains why everyone does not have the same opinion on, well, most things.  This book was recommended by my former student, Kelly Castetter, who found it helped understand human nature during an especially difficult election year.  

3.  Dark Places by Gillian Flynn.  Some of you may have read Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.  If you have, you know the book contains dark subject matter.  Dark Places is no different.  Libby Day was seven when her sisters and her mother were murdered.  Libby testifies that her brother Ben is the killer.  Many years later, a group approaches Libby to get more information about the famous crime.  Libby agrees to become involved - for a fee- and she finds out more than she bargained for.  This was recommended by Shea Rafferty, a former student and colleague.  

4.  Kathy Griffin's Celebrity Run Ins:  My A-Z Index, by Kathy Griffin.  Who doesn't like gossip?  If you don't, then this book is not for you.  If you love to hear stories about Hollywood types and their lives, then you will love this book.  Kathy Griffin is a comedienne and is known for her standup comedy.  This book was recommended by Michael Weaver, who states that the stories are true, and Griffin is a riot.  

5.  The Traveler's Gift by Andy Andrews.  David Ponder is down on his luck.  He has been given the opportunity to visit several people from history and learn lessons from them. He realizes these are Seven Decisions for Success.  If your life needs a boost, then this book might be beneficial to you.  This was recommended by my former (across the street) neighbor, Elizabeth Carlson.  

6.  Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah.  Friends are so important in our lives.  As we go through our school years, we especially are impacted by those friendships.  Sometimes those friendships shape who we are, and who we become.  Sometimes those friendships last for a lifetime.  Tully and Kate meet in 8th grade, and they become fast friends.  This book spans their three decade friendship and explores how we are hurt and heal one another.  This book was recommended by a high school friend, Ellen Paris.  

7.  But What if We're Wrong?  Thinking About the Present As If It Were the Past by Chuck Klosterman.  In the words of my former student, Donna Bailey, "This book attempts to view the current times through the lens of someone a few hundred years in the future.  It's full of thought experiments that challenge a number of "commonly accepted" views (ie how long until team sports die out? Who will be remembered as the greatest author/musician/TV personality of our era? What scientific truth that we "know" to be true now will be proven false?) These lines of thinking touch on a number of philosophical questions as well, which one might recognize in other forms.  The book is a thoughtful read without being overly intellectual and difficult to read."  It's on my reading list.  

8.  Ready Player One by Ernest Cline.  Life is much easier for Wade if he stays in the virtual world of gaming.  Wade studies puzzles.  The creator of the puzzles offers fame and power to anyone who can unlock their clues.  However, there are others who want to unlock the secrets, and they are willing to kill for the knowledge.  This book was recommended by a high school friend, Mecheal Boen.  This book is also on the Rosie list.  

9.  The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells by Andrew Sean Greer.  Greta's twin brother has died, and she and her long time lover have broken up.  To help her deal with the depression, she undergoes a radical treatment which ends up transporting her to the years 1918 and 1941.  She sees how each of her lives differs, and realizes that she has some control over the outcome.  What will her choice be?  

This book was recommended by a high school friend who is still one of my great friends, Sue Folley.  

10.  The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt.  Theo Decker becomes an orphan at thirteen, and he is taken in by a wealthy family.  He ends up clinging to one item that reminds him of his mother, a small painting.  I have heard from many people that this isn't an easy book to read.  It was recommended by a friend, Pat Clark, and this is what she had to say about it.  "A bit troubling, and I sometimes considered not finishing, but glad I did." 

Are you up to the challenge?

11.  A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman.  Ove is a curmudgeon.  He dislikes all of his neighbors and doesn't understand why people can't follow routines and have strict principles.  When the new neighbors move in, Ove learns to open his heart and mind and make changes within himself.  This book is another recommendation by Pat Clark. 

12.  The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender.  "This story uses fantasy to help the reader understand coming of age, see the sadness and secrets within a family, and learn to embrace what makes a person different."  This book was recommended by Sadie May Moulton who is a former student.  

Do you have more than twelve days for your Christmas?

Here are three more books recommended by former student, Brittany Adkins.  

The Light of the Fireflies by Paul Pen.

The Ghosts of Tullybrae House by Veronica Bale

Butterfly Garden  by Dot Hutchinson

Happy New Year and Happy Reading!