Reading + Pinning + Doing (10)

I was having some techinical difficulties...But here it is (a day late)


Reading
To balance Dostoevsky's The Idiot (a dense, slow read), I picked up Why We Get Fat, by Gary Taubes.  I'm not much of a non fiction reader, but I am taken with this book. 

Taubes ideas are somewhat controversial, but Taubes appears to be well-respected in the science community. His thesis generally is that we should cut out/limit as many carbs as possible (carbs drives insulin which drives fat production) including all sugars (yes, even fruits), milk products, breads, beans, rice, etc... He encourages us to eat as many green veggies as possible, along with meats. (This is super simplified btw- his reasoning is much more articulate and based in history and science).

I haven't been able to lose a lot of my baby weight... and have started to be bothered by it more and more.This book deals with the science and history of obesity/fat in the world. In the past, I've blamed a lot of my weight on genetics, and I don't think that's the healthiest mindset (it doesn't really motivate me to change my eating/exercise habits!)

I'm about 50 pages into this book, and I've learned a lot. I'm hoping to become more educated about the science of food, so that I am more knowledgeable about my body and health, etc.. I'm not much into fad diets, or dieting at all, but I realize that I need to try something soon so that I can become more healthy! 

Has anyone out there read this book? If so, what do you think about Taubes' ideas?

With my little one, in heavy circulation this week is... 

To Market, To Market by Anne Miranda (Illustrated by Janet Stevens): This book is lively, and great fun for any preschooler. It starts off with the mother goose rhyme and gives us a literal picture of what it would be like to go pick up a cow, duck, a spring lamb at the store. The illustrations are wonderful- A real hoot! I love it and my daughter asks for it every night. 

 

Pinkalicious by Victoria Kann and Elizabeth Kann: Hmmmm, I don't know if I approve of this book. It's cute, but Pinkalicious loves cupcakes and isn't a fan of green veggies (not a mindset we want to advocate for in our house). But, my daughter loves it. And it is pretty silly that Pinkalicious turns pink! My daughter isn't that into girly things, but maybe this book will do her in.

Potty by Leslie Patricelli: We've had this book for a while. My daughter isn't potty-trained, but we thought that this book would warm her up to the idea (hasn't worked yet). We hadn't read this book for over a month, and when we picked it up this week my daughter started "reading" it. She got all the words spot on on 4-5 pages. My hubby and I were astounded and impressed! This is the first book she has been able to do that with. My little girl is growing up too fast!

Pinning
There are so many great pins out there! Here are some of my favs from the week!

This Alphabet Mat from Teach Beside Me. I would love to make one of these for my little girl! It looks pretty simple.

This Guided Reading Focus Chart by Level from What the Teacher Wants. This is a handy resource for any elementary teacher.

Doing

Staying up too late!! I'm trying to get in bed by 10:30 these days, and it's after 11pm. So goodnight all, have a great week! I'm going to bed!

Have a super week! And please share- I'd love to know what you are Reading, Pinning, Doing??!!

I'm Linking up:

Learning All The Time!!

Mouse Grows, Mouse Learns

Non Fiction Monday: We the People

HAPPY 4th of July! I've ran into People by Peter Spier several times in the last couple of months, so much so that I thought it was a new book! Now, as I write this, I realized that it was written in 1980. I think this is a great book for an elementary-aged student. They'll like reading the facts, but they'll LOVE meandering through the illustrations- they're just lovely, even 30 years later!


If you're a teacher, get this book for your classroom. It could be a wonderful discussion starter. And you're students will enjoy having it around!




If you haven't seen this book, check out some of the book's contents:

From Good Reads:

In this encyclopedic picture book, Spier celebrates humankind in all its diversity-how we are similar and how we are differnt; in what we wear, eat, play, and how we worship. Small vignettes fill each page, illustrating the wonderful variety that exists among peoples of different cultures and races.

I'm linking up:

Scoot on over to Book Muse to see other Non Fiction Monday book choices.







Be Well! Read on!

Non Fiction Monday: Things May Get Sticky!

I found Pop! The Invention of Bubble Gum at the library this week. This is a super fun, yet informative non fiction book to share with any elementary-aged student. The illustrations are simple, colorful, and engaging. The book is written at about a end of 1st- beginning of 2nd grade level, so young or struggling readers would be able to decode this book easily. However, I think, since so many of us love bubble gum, the book would be engaging for upper elementary students as well (for a quick read). I can see this being used as a non fiction read aloud for K-2, or available for kids to read independently. This book would work for well a teaching unit on inventors/inventions.

Since I work with struggling readers, I always like to find non fiction text that these lower readers can read on their own, find engaging, and that will teach them something new.


From Good Reads:
Gum has been around for centuries. The ancient Greeks chewed sap from mastic trees. The American Indians chewed spruce resin. Men in top hats and women in puffy dresses chewed gum to cure things like stomachaches. Gum wasn't that exciting. But what if gum chewers could blow bubbles while chewing it? In the late 1920s a factory in Philadelphia was working on a top secret project. Month after month the workers experimented with different ingredients and formulas. And month after month all they had to show for their hard work was a big sticky mess. Would there be no bubble gum? Sometimes the best inventions come from the most unexpected places...Full of fun historical facts, Pop! is the true story of how bubble gum was invented.

Hardcover, 40 pages

Published May 4th 2010 by Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books (first published 2010)

I'm linking up:
The Nonfiction Monday Round-up on June 27, 2011 is at Wendie’s Wanderings.

Be Well! Read on!

On My Nightstand: In the Garden of Beasts

I've been reading In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson.  I'm 18 or 19% into the Kindle version. Nonfiction always seems to take me a while to read. It's fairly interesting so far. Has anyone else read this book?


What's on your nightstand?

Reconnecting to Community Literacy, Part 2

I visited Harbor House again this week to read aloud to a group of K-1 students. The visit was brief (I had to get to a celebration for my hubby, who finished his masters in composition this week-woot woot for him!), but the read aloud time with the kids was just lovely!

The book I read this week was Pierre the Penguin by Jean Marzollo, Illustrated by Laura Regan. I found it at my public library last week, and I'm so glad I did- I love it, my toddler loves it, and the K-1 students couldn't get enough of it today! They asked me if I could read it again to them next week- oh they're such sweeties!

I choose this book at the libray because it is a true story about a penguin that lives at the California Academy of Sciences, a fabulous museum in San Francisco that houses an entire colony of African Penguins.

Before I read the book to the little wigglers I asked them what they knew about penguins. I was impressed with their collective store of background knowledge- especially because this is a diverse group of youngsters, a few can't speak English yet.

This is what the kids knew (or thought they knew) about penguins:

• They waddle (I was especially impressed that a 1st grader used the word waddle, so I asked her to demonstrate a waddle for all to see)
• They live in the north pole with santa
• They like to live where it's very cold- in the ice
• They like to stand on ice. (I think she said icee, but I helped her out)
• They slide on their bellies and swim in the water (hmmm, reminds me of the cover picture)

This book instantly intrigued these little ones because it begins by dealing with their assumptions about penguins- these penguins don't like ice, but like it warmer.

In the book, Pam, an aquatic biologist, helps to problem solve when Pierre began losing his feathers. She makes a penguin-sized wetsuit, so that Pierre can swim in the cold water with his fellow penguins.

The book is short and informative, and it rhymes all the way through. I love the way the book is playful, but educational at the same time. There is also a Q and A section with Pam the Biologist at the end. It is simply cute! Your K-2 aged little people will love Pierre and especially his custom-made wetsuit.

And if you live in the Bay Area and know the California Academy of Sciences- you must check out this book.

See Part 1 of Reconnecting to Community Literacy here.

I'm linking this post up to Facts First! Nonfiction Monday:

Nonfiction Monday is a blogging celebration of nonfiction books for kids. We invite you to join us. For more information and a schedule, stop by the new Nonfiction Monday blog to see who is hosting each week.

This week’s post is at Great Kids Books.

Read on!