A Whole New Mind by Daniel H. Pink

A few summers ago, someone recommended that I read Daniel Pink's A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future.  He writes about six qualities that are important in today's business and educational worlds: design, story, empathy, symphony, play, and meaning.  Despite our race to improve test scores, I intend to keep including these traits in my teaching.

 

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Anxiety and Art

I had a moment this summer when I realized how my fear of what other people think affects everything I do.  I don't think I can begin to describe how every task I do is influenced by other people's expectations (or worse what I think they expect.)

Several weeks ago, I read Seth Godin's post called Anticipation vs. Anxiety.  It caused me to think again how much my teaching is affected by my fears of not reaching perfection.  I don't have time to experience failure in advance. 

I start back to school today, this is a good focus to have.

Quote of the Week and Giveaway

“He who refuses to embrace a unique opportunity loses the prize as surely as if he had failed.” - William James

Fifth in the Middle is having a giveaway because she now has 100 followers.  I offered my 25 Book Reports as one of the prizes.  Diane is giving away a $20 Amazon gift card, a pencil sharpener and several other teacher-authors are giving away products.

 

Teaching First is having a January Freebies Linky Party.

 

What's Under the Bed?

 

What's under the bed?

 

Write a story about how you discover what is under your bed.  You can decide if this is realistic or fantasy.  Think about if the creature is friendly or not.  Remember a story needs a beginning, middle and end, with a problem and solution.

Click here for a printable story plan for What's Under the Bed?

Just posted: Writing Trickster Tales with Intermediate Students

A Trickster Tale is where one character tricks another to get something they both want.  The characters are usually talking animals, and the trickster uses tricks to overcome a lack of strength or speed.

Included in this paid product is a set of teacher directions, a story plan, a rubric for grading, a checklist for self or peer editing, and an original sample story.


 

Five Book Series for Boys

I am linking up with Swimming Into Second to share my favorite books for boys.  My girls read many of these titles, but I am constantly on the look out for books that will interest my boys.  Here are my favorites:

Alvin Ho by Lenore Look -- Alvin is a second grade boy who is afraid of everything

Nathaniel Fludd, Beastologist by R. L. LaFevers -- Nathaniel Fludd discovers his family takes care of mythological creatures.

Dragonbreath by Ursula Vernon -- a mix of graphic novel and text

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney -- I like the books better than the movies.
 
Melvin Beederman Superhero Series by Greg Trine --comic book characters for the elementary set

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No Passengers Beyond This Point by Gennifer Choldenko

This was a very odd book. I was expecting something more like Gennifer Choldenko's Al Capone books.  I wouldn't know what genre to put this in.
The story starts out with a family facing foreclosure.  A single mom sends her three children across the country to live with an uncle while she finishes her school year so she can join them and start a new life.  Something happens on the way and the children end up in a strange town.
I couldn't tell if this was a dream sequence or the author's view of the afterlife.  I would be very cautious who I recommended this book to.
 
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The First Twelve in the Last of '12 Link up

I am participating in Fabulous 4th Grade Froggies Link up for the end of the year.
Here are my first twelve posts of 2012:
1/1/12 Quote of the Week
1/2/12 Mrs. Bauer's Class Rebooted
1/2/12 My Birthday Sale
1/3/12 Groundhog Predictions
1/5/12 Free eBook from SubHub
1/8/12  Quote of the Week
1/9/12 Question of the Week
1/11/12 Blogs I Enjoy Following
1/13/12 20 Days Until Groundhog Day
1/15/12 Quote of the Week
1/16/12 Question of the Week
1/16/12 Innovative Connections:  Get to Know This TPT Teacher