Month: September 2010

Reading

Reading on the edge

sashikaufman

This is not a post about banned books week.  Although I do find the idea of banning books to be pretty abhorrent.  No, it’s about reading on the edge of your comfort or interest zone and the surprises that can be found there.

I recently finished The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly.  I picked it up because of a favorable staff review at my local bookstore.  I don’t normally buy books this way.  Usually if I’m not sure about an author I’ll go to the library first.  Anyway, it turned out to be more of a fantasy meets gothic fairytale than I expected.  (I don’t read adult fantasy books, though occasionally I dabble in the realm of fantasy YA.)   I don’t know if I can say I liked it, but I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.  It was certainly engaging and fun to read something so different from what I normally enjoy.

Read anything lately that took you out of your comfort zone?  Was it something you’d recommend?

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School, Writing

Writing about writing

sashikaufman

I’m trying to get back into blogging at least once a week.  I thought I would start off with some quotes and words of wisdom I keep posted in my classroom regarding writing.

I love to read and I love to teach reading.  I love to write but I don’t love teaching writing.  Why not?  I’m not sure.  Maybe a post for another time.

In the mean time, the first mini-poster I share with my writing students at the beginning of the year says; “I will not hate what I write.”  I got this from my Dad who has been working on a novel for over ten years.  He uses it as a mantra and a reminder to write and not judge.  I tell my students this early because I want to teach them to put away their inner critic while they’re brain-storming or drafting.  If they don’t, they’ll never get anything on paper.  “First drafts are supposed to suck,” I tell them.  (Yes, yes, I use the word suck to seem edgy and cool.  It doesn’t really work.)

Got a favorite quote or mantra about writing?

Nature, School

Long time, no blog

sashikaufman

I could offer excuses, but I won’t bother.  None of them are interesting or original.

I’m back at work in the past few days, and trying to achieve some sort of balance between my mothering world and my working world.  So far, so good.  Even though it feels hard and overwhelming at times, it also feels right.  Teaching is always a good source of blog material.  I asked my students on an introductory questionnaire, if they could have any super power what would it be?

Me: So what did you write down for your super power?

Student: Migrating!

Me: (impressed) Really?  Wow, cool choice!  Yeah you could just flap your arms and fly south!

Student: (annoyed) No, not migrating, mind-reading!

Time to get my ears checked.