May 12th, 2009 · Comments Off on Two Poems for Tuesday · Poetry
From our friends at the Portland Reading Council:
———–
Booktime
by Avis Harley
So many places to read a book-
bedroom
living room
kitchen nook
classroom
lunchroom
library
hall
bus stop
treetop
hilltop
mall
backyard
garden
patio
park
under
the sheets
in flash-lit
dark
teahouse
treehouse
subway
train
attic
camper
trailer
plane
seaside
lakeside
by a brook
Where do you like to read your book?
——–
Skateboarder
by Sara Holbrook
Wood pusher.
Curb jumper.
Helmet head.
I could be
sittin’ safe inside, instead
wrist guards,
kneepads,
scuffed-up jeans,
driveway tricks,
and half-pipe dreams.
Softened knees,
duck, jump, drop,
kick-it, big spin.
Hope! Believe.
Grabbing air,
ollie, slide.
Each rail, each ramp
a high-risk ride.
Practicing
first light ’til late.
Foot pumper.
Stair bumber.
Born to skate.
May 7th, 2009 · Comments Off on QOTD · Quote of the Day
“Outside of a dog, a good book is man’s best friend. Inside of a dog, it’s too dark to read.”
— Groucho Marx
“Wherever a man may happen to turn, whatever a man may undertake, he will always end up by returning to the path which nature has marked out for him.” — Goethe
I am sad to tell you that my grandma passed away on Wednesday evening. I really appreciate the good thoughts and energy so many people were sending out to her, and I know she appreciated it, too. Thank you for that.
best,
Ms. Nancy
“…do not grasp at the stars, but do life’s plain, common work as it comes, certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things in life.”
— Robert Louis Stevenson
A teacher friend of mine gave me a book list — it’s titled “The Best Books for Reluctant Readers,” but I think it should just be called “The Best Books.” The list is geared for middle- and high school students. Here is the first installment, and I’ll list more in future blog posts.
Happy Earth Day to you on this beautiful Wednesday morning. And happy reading!
Best,
Ms. Nancy
DIVERSITY
“Dare, Truth or Promise,” by Paula Boock
“The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” by Stephen Chbosky
“On the Run,” by Michael Coleman
“Deliver Us From Evil,” M.E. Kerr (one of my top favorite authors — NR)
“Define ‘Normal,'” by Julie Anne Peters
“Luna: A Novel,” by Julie Anne Peters
“Stuck in Neutral,” by Terry Trueman
“Chandra’s Secrets,” by Allan Stratton
April 21st, 2009 · Comments Off on QOTD · Quote of the Day
“When you have only two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one, and a lily with the other.”
— Chinese proverb
PS — Did I already mention that it’s National TV Turn-off Week? Now go read.
— Ms. Nancy
April 12th through 18th, 2009, is National Library Week. Celebrate!
You can find out more right here.
In addition… April is School Library Media Month and National Poetry Month.
Woot!
Best,
Ms. Nancy
April 13th, 2009 · Comments Off on Do-Re-Mi · Movies & Pop Culture
Sweet. Happy Monday!
Best,
Ms. Nancy
Books and recipes — two of my favorite things.
Happy Thursday to you.
— Ms. Nancy
Not Yo’ Mama’s Banana Pudding
(from Paula Deen)
- Prep Time:
- 30 min
- Level:
- Easy
- Serves:
- 12 servings
Ingredients
- 2 bags Pepperidge Farm Chessmen cookies
- 6 to 8 bananas, sliced
- 2 cups milk
- 1 (5-ounce) box instant French vanilla pudding
- 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
- 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 (12-ounce) container frozen whipped topping thawed, or equal amount sweetened whipped cream
Directions
Line the bottom of a 13 by 9 by 2-inch dish with 1 bag of cookies and layer bananas on top.
In a bowl, combine the milk and pudding mix and blend well using a handheld electric mixer. Using another bowl, combine the cream cheese and condensed milk together and mix until smooth. Fold the whipped topping into the cream cheese mixture. Add the cream cheese mixture to the pudding mixture and stir until well blended. Pour the mixture over the cookies and bananas and cover with the remaining cookies. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
April 8th, 2009 · Comments Off on Poem of the Day: “Pirate Story,” by Robert Louis Stevenson · Poetry
Pirate Story
“Three of us afloat in the meadow by the swing,
Three of us abroad in the basket on the lea.
Winds are in the air, they are blowing in the spring,
And waves are on the meadow like the waves there are at sea.
Where shall we adventure, to-day that we’re afloat,
Wary of the weather and steering by a star?
Shall it be to Africa, a-steering of the boat,
To Providence, or Babylon or off to Malabar?
Hi! but here’s a squadron a-rowing on the sea–
Cattle on the meadow a-charging with a roar!
Quick, and we’ll escape them, they’re as mad as they can be,
The wicket is the harbour and the garden is the shore.”
— Robert Louis Stevenson
(You will find more of his children’s poetry here.)
April 7th, 2009 · Comments Off on Shel Silverstein · Author! Author!
How about a little Shel to lively up your afternoon? His website is a lot of fun, with games, ideas for teachers and parents, a list of his books and other goodies, too.
Happy Tuesday!
— Ms. Nancy
