31 in 31: Weeks 8 and 9

So these past two weeks have been fully filled with many things. Mostly trying to get summer plans in the works, finalize things at school for the year, and enjoy my time without grad school. I only read one book over these two weeks because I was also reading my many magazines, catching up on blogging reading, and skimming books for next year in second grade. I did however read an awesome children's book, The Clockwork Three. It is a children's historical fiction by Matthew J. Kirby. Kirby actually works for the school system and is around children all the time. I am thinking that is where he got a lot of his inspiration.

It is about three children, whom do know each other, and they are brought together by a extraordinary event. I loved this book, and am planning on purchasing it for my classroom. I think it would be a great chapter a day read aloud in my classroom next year.

31 in 31: Week 6

This week was very busy. I finished my second graduate class for my master's degree in curriculum and instruction. Whooo! I had two papers and a huge project to finish, so I ended up reading Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach over the weekend. It was one of my extension readings for my class, so I decided to read it. (You may wonder why I read so many children's chapter book, graduate school is why) I never read it as a child, and wish I would have. I need to start a list of books to read to my children one day. It will defiantly be on the list! It is a very cute story about a miserable, lonely, little boy, James, who lives with his two mean aunts. One day he loses some magic beans and a giant peach grows. I definantly recommend reading it. It is a very vivid, quick read, and a great children's classic.

I have never seen the movie. I look forward to renting it soon. ***I never watch the movie before reading. When I read, I like to have my own characters from my imagination, haha!

31 in 31: Week 3

My mom travels A LOT, and every now and then she grabs a book to read on the plane and hands it down to me, then I pass it along as well. One of her favorite authors is Mitch Album. You may have heard of his initial book, Tuesdays with Morrie, or Five People You Meet in Heaven. This week I read The Time Keeper by Mitch Album. It was a very quick read. I read it in one setting, and I highly recommend it. It is about beating time, slowing down time, or changing time. Album really opens your mind and heart to living life to the fullest and what you might be missing by wishing your life away.

My favorite quote from the book was, "There is a reason God limits our days. Why? To make each one precious."

31 in 31: Week 2

This week I read Living with Less by Joshua Becker. It was a very quick read on my kindle, but an eye opening one. Becker is a minimalist, meaning (in my definition) he lives with a minimum amount of things. He doesn't go buy a new car when the one he has is just fine, he doesn't buy the new fancy electronics just to have, and he doesn't buy the next big thing to keep up with the "Jones," as the expression says.

He decided to become a minimalist one day when spring cleaning out the garage and his son asked him to play ball. He said "no I have work to do," then he realized he is missing out on life because he has so much STUFF to deal with or that owned him. It is an interesting boom because it opens your eyes to putting your happiness in God and your relationship with others and not on possessions. I am not a minimalist by any means but this book made me open my eyes and look around and think, do I really need this or that? This book actually inspired me to go through all my clothes, our closet, and storage and donate, recycle, or sell things we do not need to get by.