Connected from the Start - Kathy Cassidy

I have a class blog.

One of the teachers I worked with in Dar

got me hooked on classroom blogging.

I love it.

This year,

I really got into it.

But I wanted ways to get my students more involved.

I wanted them to feel ownership.

I wanted it to be their blog.

Our school makes student portfolios.

I'm also keen to make digital portfolios 

for my students.

But am unsure how to get started.

Then I read this book.

Not only do I have more blogging ideas,

I have ideas of different ways to connect

my students to the world.

To use the world to foster

their learning.

Cassidy is a teacher, herself.

She shows ways she uses the internet,

videos,

Skype,

Twitter

and blogging

to facilitate her students learning.

I'm actually excited about the new school year. 

No More "I'm Done" - Jennifer Jacobson

I'm spending part of my summer

re-thinking the way my classroom works.

I'm not saying it's wrong

what I do.

I just want to make it better.

And helping my students

become better writers

is one of my goals.

I loved this book. 

It took things I knew

but sometimes have forgotten.

It broke things down

back to basics

and reminded me

that keeping it simple

is the way to go.

My Writer's Workshop

lacked fun last year.

I've already got some fun coloured paper

to get my year started.

Jacobson tells you her system

and provides some sample mini-lessons.

What I loved the most

were introductions to some great picture books

that I had forgotten about

or never heard of.

The Big Apple

For years,

I've driven from Ottawa to Toronto

and Toronto to Ottawa.

And on the way,

we pass the Big Apple. 

Would you believe, 

I've never been there!

On the way to the cottage,

Scott's dad thought we could stop there for lunch.

He thought Ethan would enjoy it.

Ethan's mum also had a great time.

How far is it to Lusaka?

Ethan wanted a picture that made him look like
he was holding up the apple. 

These signs crack me up!

If you're ever in Colborne,

you have to go there!

Outlander - Diana Gabaldon

A few weeks ago, 

a mate of mine

posted a lovely picture of

Sam Heughan

with the comment that he's

unofficially,

been signed to play

Jamie Fraser.

Jamie who?

Exactly my thoughts.

Then I was told he was a character

from Diana Gabaldon's

Outlander series.

So, of course,

I had to read the book.

Let me say, 

I am very thankful I read this while at the cottage,

because it is 

long!

Claire Randal

is a former nurse,

living in 1945.

She is reunited with her husband,

after 6 months apart,

due to the war,

and they are enjoying a second honeymoon.

One day she is shown some

ancient stone circles.

Her husband is fascinated 

as he heard there is a covent

that gathers there.

So they go one morning to watch.

Claire sees a plant she's interested it.

Frank, her husband,

wants her to see if there's any signs

of a fire.

As she walks around the stones,

she hears screaming.

She then finds herself

an "outlander"

in war torn Scotland

in 1743!

Is she a witch?

Is she an English spy?

Claire is confused and wants to go back home.

And then she meets Jamie Fraser.

Circumstances force her to marry him.

But she grows to care and love him.

Will she find her way back to her time and Frank?

Or will Jamie be the one to capture her heart?

Writer's Workshop - Currently

It's been awhile, and time to get back to joining MamaKat, and her Writer's Workshop.

Reading:

Rethinking Homework - As I start to think about the new school year, I'm rethinking the way I give homework and what I should or should not do.

Listening to:

Does the lul of the washing machine count? 

We're back from the cottage and I've got laundry to do.

Thinking about:

Summer classes have begun. 

I really should be studying.

 I'm thinking about studying. 

But am currently busy blogging! 

Watching:

Nothing.

At the moment.

Although I do have a video to watch for one of my classes.

 I guess I should do that. 

But then that takes me back to the whole thinking about issue.

Bummed out on:

I would say vacation coming to an end

except going back to Lusaka means being back with Scott.

But Ethan and I are loving it here this summer.

Bummed about leaving and heading for the cold

that awaits us in Lusaka.

Loving:

Have you seen my new shoe collection?

Am loving them!!!

The Happiness Project - Week 19

This weekend,

my cousin, his wife and son,

invited Ethan and I

to join them downtown

for some

salsa!

Ethan had a blast.

We listened to music,

watched some salsa,

met a Smurf,

and got some face painting.

Happiness is a fabulous day

in downtown Toronto.

City of Bones - Cassandra Clare

Everywhere I look,

this book is sitting on display

at some bookshop.

I can take a hint.

It's meant for me to read.

And I'm ever-so-glad

I did.

Clary Fray is a teenager

living in Brooklyn

with her single mom

and hanging out with her best friend,

Simon.

Normal teen,

right?

Well, 

one night Clary and Simon head off

to a club,

where Clary sees 3 other teens

kill another.

Only thing is,

no one else sees them.

And thus begins

Clary's introduction to the Shadowhunters.

They are not so bad,

they kill demons.

Soon after discovering the Shadowhunters,

Clary's mother is kidnapped.

With the help of her new friends,

Alec, Jace and Isabelle,

they learn that Clary's mom has been kidnapped

because she had hidden the Mortal Cup.

Clary must now figure out

how to save her mom,

keep the Mortal Cup away from evil

and keep her friendship with Simon.

And you thought she was an average

teenager.