Book Notes: "The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid" by Bill Bryson (rated 4 stars)

The Life and Times of Thunderbolt Kid: A Memoir

by Bill Bryson

Do you know in your heart of hearts that you are from another planet? or that the people who make you breakfast and take you on bizarre roadtrips are not your real parents? Did you have the power to destroy those who wronged you with a single glare? Well, you are not alone. Bill Bryson also knew and did these things, growing up in Des Moines in the 1950s. Bryson takes a hilarious journey through his childhood as well as teaching us a bit of United States history in this thoroughly entertaining memoir.

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Thinking about college & debt

On Friday I was watching 20/20 and they ran a segment that asked college graduates if college was worth it. The people they featured regretted going to college because they still ended up getting jobs outside their field and getting paid $10/hr and being $50,000+ dollars in debt. Then I was reading the paper and LAT ran a column about how this is the best time to apply for college so you can get financial aid.

I graduate from grad school about 3 years ago and for my career, I needed an masters, an MLIS, to move up. Do I wish I was not in debt? Of course! No one wants debt. Was it worth it? Well, I have a fabulous career.

However, I guess, the segment bothered me because it basically said if you are in the bottom 40% of your class, you shouldn't even bother going to college. How many of us in the bottom 40% went and actually found something we were passionate about? discovered something new? Well, I know, I did. I admit, I'm was not the best student but I was a smart kid. But now all this talk about how education not being worth it is really bothering me. Even Suze Orman, who says in one of her books, that education is worth the debt was saying that it wasn't worth it.

If you are in debt for school, do you think it was worth it? do you regret going to school?

Book Review: "The Lost Art of Walking" by Geoff Nicholson (rated 5 stars)

The Lost of Art of Walking

by Geoff Nicholson

I am a walker. When I saw the title of this book, I knew I had to read it. When you think about walking, do you ever think that it’s a dangerous thing? Probably not but then Geoff Nicholson starts off with a story about how he fell while walking and broke his arm. He was walking down the street, not speed walking or anything like that, just walking and he fell and then it happened, snap! a broken arm.
Nicholson takes use on a “walk” through the history and culture of pedestrianism. He writes about walking in Los Angeles, New York and London. He also has chapters on walking with soundtracks, walking in nature and even has sections devoted to specific walkers. I never knew that pedestrianism was actually a sport!
It is a very informative, fun and humourous look at walking. Highly recommended (I should come up with my own rating system…)

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Easing on down the road...

Coming back from winter break, I always tend to feel a off, but today was especially odd. The library was the most desolate it's felt in a long time. I was in the lab for most of the day and each period there would only be a handful of kids or no kids at all in there with me. During a couple of periods no one was there. My office mates were also gone so it was strangely quiet. There is usually a fair amount of talking kids and sometimes adults but it seemed as if everyone needed to ease back into the school day.

Nothing particularly exciting happened today though I did have a pretty good class. We had an activity where the students write a part of each other's story in addition to showing that they understand and can use the skills we are teaching. My friend, Missy, figured that one out and it was super fun though they still had trouble settling down. I have to read their mini stories but I can tell they will be funny.

Today, Ambookgeek commented on how he always gets really good classes because there is something about the types of classes and kids he gets. I think, he's also a great teacher but I also think that for some reason, I get kids who are into the same things and are also very social. Even the "quiet ones" are super social! I have yet to get a group that's mellow. I wonder if that has more to do with my personality and class management skills? I keep thinking and rereading parts of Fred Jones' book and I consciously apply them but I also wonder if it also has to do with the type of personalities drawn to having 6th period odd for the LT7 class.

Children's Book Review: "Inkheart" by Cornelia Funke (rated 5 stars)

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke Hardcover ISBN 0439852706

by Cornelia Funke

This is the first book I finished for 2009 and I am glad for it! This is an amazing book filled with action, fantasy, adventure, thrills and humor. It is a very fun read and would be fun for adults as well as children.

We are introduced to Meggie and her father, Mo, a bookbinder, who on a dark night have an unexpected and unwelcomed visitor by the name of Dustfinger. If Dustfinger is visiting, it cannot be for a good reason. His face is scarred and he carries an awful smelling marten in his backpack. He is also a pyromaniac. Why does Dustfinger show up all of sudden? what does he want? And can he be trusted?

In the wee hours of the morning, Mo rises Meggie and they quickly pack up to leave their home. We learn later that they are always on the move. Who are they running away from?

The book is filled with many more characters, some new and some familiar. Who knew there was such power in reading out loud?

I actually picked this up because I saw the movie was coming out. I am little hesitant about the choice of Brendan Fraser as "Mo." Mo is a bookbinder and has the power to send a person into a story when he reads out loud. I do not see Brendan Fraser as having this power. I am used to him in the "Mummy" or better yet, "Encino Man"! I really do not see myself being taken away by listening to him read. I don't know. I do love the rest of the cast and I think they were well cast. Helen Mirren as "Elinor" will be great though she is supposed to be older, a bit of a hermit and not so fit. I love that Paul Bettany plays "Dustfinger" and Andy Serkis as "Capricorn." (I do love Andy Serkis) I cannot wait to see him play someone so diabolical.

I would definitely read the book. My favorite part about it is that there are quotes before each chapter from some of my favorite childrens' books, like 'Princess Bride" and "Wind in the Willows" and so many others that I have not read in a long long time.

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2009 is here! Happy New Year!

I have been enjoying this winter break a lot more in my 3rd year of teaching. I spent most of it at home in San Diego with my family and have not worried too much about what I will need to do on January 5, when we head back to campus. I have been thinking a lot about privacy and how transparent I need to be to students and colleagues. I am pretty active online but I put my privacy levels to the top most settings because I do not want certain things to be out there. Though, if I learned anything last year, my students will find me anyway.
Are any teachers out there worried about this? I have read a lot of articles about teachers losing jobs or not getting hired because of their online profiles. I am pretty aware of what I put out there but you cannot control what other people put out there. Do you worry about that?
But I also know, I need to be online. I like it. I like my community - it's continually grows. I have learned a lot from the people I meet online. I do have multiple pages on things. One for friends and one for everyone but is that still necessary? I wonder. I constantly have this discussion with friends and colleagues...
But, in order to figure this out, I made a facebook profile. This one is open and anyone can connect with me. But I am still nervous about it. So, there you go. If you have thoughts please share them.