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.