What Did You Read Last Night?

Time to Share Plans

2007-09-26T14:19:00.000-05:00

My year is off to a busy start. The Caught Reading pictures on the window in the library are beginning to multiply and create interest. It's been really tempting to just coast along and enjoy what has already been accomplished. But if we want this year to be as special as last year, planning is essential and the Kudzu Committee will be meeting in the next few days. I can hardly wait to see what develops next.

Article about Kathryn Tucker Windham

2007-08-26T07:31:00.000-05:00

This morning I read an article in the Birmingham News by John Archibald about Kathryn Tucker Windham. KTW was our kick-off speaker when we first began our WDYRLN? reading program last school year. She is a genuine treasure. Archibald's article was very well written with a charming mix of Kathryn's stories and quotes from Judith Spivery, a local teacher. Take time to read this story, you'll love it.

WDYRLN? Ballpoint Pens

2007-08-25T08:11:00.000-05:00

To keep reading in front of our students throughout the day, the freshmen are getting ballpoint pens with the inscription "What Did You Read Last Night?" It just a little reminder but added to others, I hope it will impact our students reading, not just for now but for their whole life.

Freshmen Share WDYRLN?

2007-08-23T07:26:00.000-05:00

As part of freshman orientation this year, I asked small groups of students, "What did you read last night?". Their faces lit up and even those who sheepishly ducked their heads and mumbled, "Nothing." listened while their classmates quickly spoke up to tell about their reading. Of course, these were my favorite moments of the day.

Bulletin Board

2007-08-18T08:07:00.000-05:00

Since we're starting a new school year, I thought our students would be interested in seeing pictures of our new faculty, teachers and nurse, and hearing about what they like to read. My aide snapped pictures and we picked the new folks' brain about their favorite books/authors. I heard of new titles that I'll be looking forward to reading, maybe the students will be likewise inspired. I live in hope....

New Year

2007-08-15T22:07:00.000-05:00

What a rousing start to our new year doing WDYRLN? As part of Institute, Cindy sang her wonderful, marvelous, glorious song and received a standing "O". Sesame Street is missing out. Her song would be perfect in building a love of reading in young children. Maybe someday......

Kudzu Meeting

2007-07-26T08:44:00.000-05:00

Well, the Dynamic Kudzu Committee met yesterday to plan for this school year. I think everyone agrees that the WDYRLN reading program is well worth the effort and should be continued. Members shared lots of wonderful, compelling memories from the past year. News of WDYRLN is being spread. While on vacation in Hawaii, one member's husband got an author to autograph a book and also told to author about our reading program. How cool is that.

Planning meeting

2007-07-14T08:07:00.000-05:00

Time to stir up the brain cells. The Dynamic Kudzu Reading Committee will be meeting in a couple of weeks to brainstorm ideas for this school year. I can't wait to hear what the other members want to do this year. Everything I see and hear leads me to believe this is the right direction for us to go. We MUST share our love of reading with our students. Their lives will be richer for it.

Workshop

2007-07-11T09:50:00.000-05:00

Well, yesterday Cindy and I presented our workshop on WDYRLN. I thought it went well and really got a kick out of sharing what we have done this year and how it went. As usual, the highlight for me was when Cindy sang the song she wrote for the program. It never fails to touch and delight me. Maybe one day we'll be hearing it on a program for children. It is really special and if the right person with the right connections hears it, I'm sure it would really take off.

WDYRLN Presentation

2007-06-28T08:33:00.000-05:00

I've begun creating a PowerPoint about our reading program for presentation at a NATE workshop. This is helpful in getting my thoughts organized, so that I don't get caught up in the moment and skip over some basic information. Our program has given us so many great opportunities to promote reading this year and I don't want to omit anything that might spark a desire to promote reading among other teachers in other sytems. It has also given me a chance to reflect on what has been most effective and what we probably won't want to do again. This is a good exercise for me since the Kudzu Committe (our reading committee) will be meeting later this summer to plan for next school year.

Book on CDs

2007-06-25T15:00:00.000-05:00

Although I've read The World is Flat, I've been listening to it on CDs to reinforce my memory since it's so complex and because it's a REALLY long book. I think every teacher I've seen this summer has mentioned something about what they've read in the book, whether they've finished (or are just starting), and something they've learned. It's impossible for me to look at a newspaper or magazine without thinking, "This is another example of the flat world." I've really enjoyed the experience and hope most of our teachers feel the same way once they've finished the book and have a chance to reflect on what they've read.

Grant for Fun Books

2007-06-20T18:18:00.000-05:00

Today I prepared a grant that will hopefully let me buy more of the books our students have been requesting. I want to get students reading, so buying more stuff they like is a delight. Taking time to write grants is well worth the effort because when I ask, "What Did You Read Last Night?", I don't want to hear, "There's nothing I like to read here."

New Student

2007-06-19T09:16:00.000-05:00

A father and his son, a rising freshman who hopes to come to Cullman High next year, came to visit our school yesterday. I had a chance to tell them about our WDYRLN reading program. The son is a READER! He told his father that our library had "lots better stuff" than the school he is attending. That was music to my ears. I'm really making an effort to select books that will keep students reading through their high school year for pleasure as well as to help them with research. Reading is life-changing. We need to help our students grab hold of this lifeline to their future.

Seeking New Focus for 2007-2008

2007-06-18T09:41:00.000-05:00

Our WDYRLN reading program celebrated Alabama authors last year. Recently the idea of focusing on local Cullman authors, such as Dr. Sylvia Morris, was tossed out. I know Dr. Morris and she is a character. That makes her a fun suggestion as a speaker, but in addition to that she loves history, young people and poetry. I believe she and others would be interested in being part of our program. Does anyone else have ideas on where we need to go in the new school year? It's "kudzu" time. Let the ideas flow.

Summer Reading for Teachers

2007-06-15T14:13:00.000-05:00

I've just finished The World Is Flat, the book provided by Dr. Harris for Cullman City teachers to read this summer. I could almost literally feel my mind expanding as I considered new ideas as I read. This is such a powerful book that I feel anyone who wants to be truly literate will need to be familiar with The World Is Flat. On a daily basis, I see something in the news, in a book I'm reading, or a commercial I'm watching that echoes ideas that I first considered while reading this book. What a wonderful gift.