Monday, February 17, 2014

A Love of Reading

I've asked students to follow these steps:

Therefore, since my last project was a flop, I will stick to this idea until I DO get inspired. Truly inspired. For I learned from my last project that I won't have anything to show if it's not something I for which I am passionate.

Since setting a Goodreads goal for 2013, I have found that I have gaps in my reading choices. I do not read many adult fiction books anymore, and I don't read a lot of novels (young adult or otherwise) from different countries. I've been reading books that take place in the United States, mostly. I also don't read many mysteries. What DO I read? I am about to find out this year.

So... starting this January, I decided I'd have a goal to keep reading (as is normal), with a twist. I'd read three young adult or children's novels, and then one adult novel, nonfiction or professional book.

The books I've read this year are on Goodreads and also on my Google doc. On this document, I also note which genre each book is.

The places I read about are on this Google doc. At the very least, I can read fiction set in different states, yes?? I tried to read I Am Malala, but abandoned it after 120 pages.

My progress so far...

My favorites so far this year...
     Choice Words by Peter Johnston - for anyone who works with children.
     The Pregnancy Project - for anyone who knows, has known, or might know a teenage mother.
     The Running Dream - for middle school and high school students!

Celia WHO?

It's half a year after I was supposed to finish my last (summer) Genius Hour project.

It's still not done.

There is no final product.

It won't ever be completed... UNLESS... someone else cares more about it than me.

That's what I've learned - You need to CARE about your project, or it won't mean as much to you. If it doesn't mean much to you, you won't learn as much as you could if you were truly dedicated to getting something accomplished, or producing a product.
So what IS my thing?

Photography.  Reading.  Organizing.  Walking.  Biking.  Being with family & friends.

I've come up with a goal for the second half of the school year, so I can share my progress with my students. It is NOT poetry. It is NOT trying to better our school bathrooms with poetry about girls and judging. I'm going with reading... I'll keep reading until I am inspired. And then - only then - will I act on it. If I'm only a tad inspired, I think I'll sit out that project...