Reading Roundup | February

I didn't really read a lot this month...it really just flew by! But, I did get two down. I am ....still....working on Better Than Before and I am rushing to try and finish A Man Called Ore by tonight for Bon's (in real life) book club. I just downloaded the e-book Sunday night and have been trying to get as much done as I could to be able to be a part of the conversation tomorrow night.

The Time Machine by H.G. Wells (Bendon Junior Classics version)

Target is amazing! Every so often, they will have 4-5 of these Bendon Junior Classics in their dollar section. Yah. You heard me. 4th-6th grade reading level classical novels for $1 EACH! This was a perfect way for me to build up my "classroom library" for junior high students! These novels are condensed and adapted and have pictures on every page. It made for a very easy read and easy to understand.

I have never read The Time Machine before, but remember a tiny bit about the old Wishbone episode of it. It was so exciting. I loved reading it and ate it up. The main character, the time traveler, travels far into the distant future where humans have devolved into two different species: a peaceful, naive, child-like species and an ape-like demonic underground species. The time traveler gets stuck in the future and has to figure out why the two species are different and what secrets they hold. After reading this young version, I'd love to read the real novel and even see a video adaptation of it.

Hope Unfolding: Grace Filled Truth for the Momma's Heart by Becky Thompson

** I received this book from Blogging for Books  in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was an amazing book and I desperately needed it. Thompson goes through many of her life experiences of life plans not going how she wanted, feelings of loneliness of being a SAHM, and exasperation of being a mom. But, she does so through the eyes of grace, showing that we are never alone and that God has a plan for us and is with us during every moment of our lives. It was very uplifting.

I even had a friend who is now nearing the end of her pregnancy with her third son. She will have three under 4. She has experienced a lot of these feelings, including diagnosed depression and PPD. So, I decided to mail her this book, in hopes that she can find light and hope as much as I did through this book. I think every Christian SAHM should read this book!

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A Month of Confidence--Job and Hobbies

Welcome to the third week of A Month of Confidence!

Last week, we focused on our relationships. It was a tough one for me. Not with Rhys, who is the apple of my eye, but with my husband. The dynamic of our relationship has been different since Rhys was born, and I wanted to make sure it was a good dynamic. It's hard to keep a pre-baby relationship when you are both working and have to take care of a child.

I was up more in the morning when Justin kissed me as he left (however, that is Rhys's doing, as he has been waking up at 6:30 more often than 7 last week). I did pretty good with only doing school work when Rhys was asleep, although I did blog some and do social media while he played independently (but I played a lot with him as well). About half the time we ate at the table, but we always ate together. About half the time, I took care of Rhys in the middle of the night--it's hard to remember that goal when you are still 95% asleep. I wasn't able to leave little notes for Justin. It's a bit hard when he gets up and leaves before I do, comes home before I do, and goes to bed with me.

This week, we're going to focus on confidence in work and hobbies.

<center> <a href=" http://www.themorrelltale.com/2014/11/a-month-of-confidence-job-and-hobbies.html " target="_blank"><img alt="A Month of Confidence" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUBgZJipqRG44iZInK5MPNGiLpgJ1yBJV1AoqtyPeQmTIdE1SD4BUdbhY054GjpVdG9E9pA-GoQ4WmgRb2cc59eCbm-Zjt9gEBw5OZsSGCO0eSGVOA964_gD6gxuMGFhR5Qc0G1K5CnC0/s1600/month+of+confidence+work+and+hobby.jpg"/></a></center>

As a part-time working mom, I have to balance my work load with my son. Sometimes, that means I don't get as much done with work as I'd like to, and I scramble during my prep to get things ready for my students. It also means sometimes my hobbies, like working out, reading, blogging, writing, and video-gaming is put on hold. But, with all things, there is balance that can happen. 

But, there are always small things you can do to make sure you can be the best you at your job and have some down-time dedicated for your hobbies.

Here is my plan for the Week of Job and Hobbies:

- While Rhys is taking his morning nap, I will make sure to get everything ready and packed up for work and his babysitter, that way, from 10:00-10:40, I can be on social media.

- I will make sure I read 30 minutes a day. I can't be on social media until I do so.

- I will learn how to schedule tweets, instagrams, facebook posts this week.

- I will do my school work as soon as I come home and let Justin have some time with Rhys.

- I will not do school work past 9pm.

- I will take one day to play videogames with Justin after Rhys goes to bed.

I suggest that you also keep a confidence journal. I am, and each day I will have 3 lists:

1) Drops of Awesome--little things I did or accomplished
2) Little Moments--I have a quote in my living room that says, "Enjoy the little things in life, for someday they will be the big things."
3) Grateful List--small blessings

Sunday, November 23: Confidence in house and home
Sunday, November 30: Reflection on a Month of Confidence

Check out this lovely lady!

Baby Book Essentials

I'm an avid reader, not just of fiction, but non-fiction as well. I typically like to read history, but since I've become a mom, I've been reading a lot about parenting babies.

My friend, Brooke, gave birth to a beautiful baby girl about a week before I did and did a post about what she considers to be great baby books everyone should read. I wanted to do one of my own.

The What To Expect series is very, very useful. It's almost like an encyclopedia of knowledge. Anything and just about everything is mentioned in these books. They're organized in two different ways: the first is month by month, and the second is an almost topical organization. When I was pregnant, I loved reading week by week to see how Rhys was developing. If I wasn't feeling well, I could look up why or what to do to fix it. I also felt pretty knowledgeable about my labor and delivery, but not about my bleeding. Now, I like to read the milestones for each month so I have an idea of what Rhys can possibly achieve. For any other questions I have, I just look it up in the index.

This was a very useful book. I recommend reading it before your baby is born, then reading it again during the first week. It helped me to feel a little more confident with breastfeeding and also gave useful information about storing pumped milk and how/when to pump if you are a full-time worker or a part-time worker.

One of Justin's friends bought this book for us. It's kind of a very watered down, infographic version of What to Expect. But, they act as if the baby is a machine and this is the compilation of instructions, diagrams, and blueprints. It's hilarious. I believe that it was created for dads. There is also a Toddler Owner's Manual that I will read when Rhys gets to that age.

I actually liked this book. It had some good point. I know there's a lot of negativity towards it, but I believe the point was to suggest a good idea and make it your own. You know, the "spirit of the law" rather than the "letter of the law." For more on my thoughts about BabyWise, check out this post.

I've always wanted a baby journal, and this is perfect. It's super cute and very funny. There is also specific parts that Dads fill out, which I love that they include him in the journaling. However, this blog also acts as a baby journal, so I don't think I'll glue in pictures in the book. But, it's nice to have both a public baby journal and a private one as well.

I have a few books that I am going to start reading:

The sequel to The Baby Owner's Manual. I'm sure it'll be just as hilarious.

I've always been curious about baby signing. I think it'd be interesting and fun to learn this as a family. If it works, wonderful! If Justin and I don't really stick to the program or get lazy about it, oh well. But, it'll be fun to see Rhys learn and grow at such an early age by learning some sign language.

What other baby books do you recommend?

Cry of the Icemark Book Review

Yaay! I finally finished my first book of the summer.
I had actually stolen this book from my younger sister about 4 years ago, read the first 10 pages, then never finished it. It's been on my shelf ever since then and taunting me, so I finally decided to read it.
And, there is a reason this easy, 400 page YA fantasy-adventure took two and half weeks to finish!

Via

Cry of the Icemark by Stuart Hill is about Thirrin, Freer Strong-in-the-Arm Lindenshield, the 14-year-old crown princess of the cold, snowy, war-like country of Icemark (think Viking culture in the Scandinavian Peninsula). To the north, is the Land of Ghosts, ruled by the Vampire King and Queen, sworn enemies of the Icemark. Werewolf bands roam the lands, as well. To the south, is the dangerous, rational, technicological, ever-growing empire of Polypontia (think like if the Roman Empire had access to muskets and cannons). The Polypontian Empire invades Icemark and kills the king in battle. It is now up to Thirrin to create alliances with the White Witches, Vampires, Snow Leopards, Tree-folk, and WereWolves to save her small kingdom.

It is a very interesting premise, and I like how Hill pulls Scandinavian myth, Roman history, and even the myth of the Amazon warriors into this novel. However, I had to drag myself through the novel because Hill cannot write to save his life! It felt like a teenager was writing this book. The protagonist is barely 14, yet has the attitude, knowledge, and stamina of at least a 17 year old. A lot of the dialogue was forced, characters didn't stay true to themselves, events were very predictable. It really was the dialogue that killed me. Oh, my, gosh!

The last 150 pages of the 470 page novel focused on the final battle. But, there were only two fronts: Icemark and Polypontia. Now, I know that Tolkein (Lord of the Rings) and Robert Jordan (Wheel of Time) spends just as much time on battles, but they break up their bands so there are numerous, numerous characters at different parts of the battle that the author focuses on. Hill writes the battle with almost an omniscient third-person, so it's as if we are watching the battle from a distance rather than being in the battle.

There is a sequel, as it is a series, but it takes place 17 years later and focuses on Thirrin and her husband, Oskan, whom she meets in the first book, and their 5 children. (And the romance between the 14 and 15 year old children is almost non-existent in the first book!) I'm not going to read it. I'm glad I'm done with the book and can finally return it to my sister. If she doesn't want it, it's going on my classroom's bookshelf. Who knows? Maybe my 7th and 8th graders will enjoy it more than I did.

I give it 1.5 out of 5 stars!

Getting Personal With Anne Frank

To finish up the year, my 7th graders read Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl.

I had never actually read her diary--while I was in Jr. High, I only read the play. So, it was interesting to read her actual thoughts, and one thing became clear to me--she was a very typical 12-14 year old girl! She was a little arrogant and sometimes, even a brat! But, she was still very reflective and loved to learn. She also really opened our eyes about the world of the Jew during WWII.

I was expecting my students to feel impressed and enlivened by Anne Frank's diary and inspired to write their own, just as I had seen on the movie Freedom Writers. Well, I was mistaken. These 7th graders are from stable families with stable backgrounds, not kids in the slums of Long Beach. CA who fight abuse, poverty, gangs, violence, drugs, and other drama in their life. It didn't hit hard and home for them, even thought they were learning about WWII at the same time in history. In fact, many didn't like Anne at all, for the same reasons as I stated. But, that could just be a reflection of themselves, since they are the same age Anne was when she started her diary ;) Then again, Anne got pretty personal with some details of her life, like having her first period. Whether you are a boy or a girl at the age of 12-13, that's something you really don't like reading or discussing, and they told me that!

I had my students my students write their own little diaries, to try and relate to Anne better. We wrote in our journals every Friday and the prompts related to what we had read in Anne's diary each week.

Journal Entry #1

Give your journal a name.

Describe yourself. Describe your family. Describe your house. Describe your friends.

Describe your school. How do you feel about school?

What was your last birthday like?

Have you ever had to move? What was it like?

Journal Entry #2

What is your relationship like with the members of your family? Why? Do you wish it was different? How?

Describe a time when you were scared. What happened? When? Where? Who? What? Why? How? How did you feel? What was the result?

Journal Entry #3

Although you are not hiding out from Nazis and are allowed outside, there is still something you are probably yearning for freedom—summer. Why are you excited for summer?

What are your thoughts and feelings on prejudice and war?

Have you ever had a dream that you remember vividly? How has it affected you? Was it a good or bad dream?

Journal Entry #4

What is your best remedy for loneliness, anxiety, or depression?

Have you ever been in love? Describe the person you had a crush on. Describe your feelings for them. Describe your relationship with them.

Are you religious? Are you proud of your religion or ashamed, or indifferent? How do you feel about your religion?

Journal Entry #5

Why do you write? What do you like to write? Why do you think it’s important to write?

What is your favorite subject to learn? Why?

Was there ever a time you said something to your parents that you regret? Describe it.

Journal Entry #6

Why do you think religion is important?

What do you think of the youth these days? What are their downfalls? What are their good points?

How would you like people to view you? Why?

Some students did the bare minimum and didn't really put effort into the assignment. Others jumped head first and wrote as if it were a real diary. I loved reading these and getting to know my students on a better level! I was so honored they opened up to me and let me know their secrets. 

I am definitely keeping this assignment for next year. This is what it is to be an English teacher!

Books Galore! Summer 2014 Reading

I always seem to make lofty goals for my summer reading. 

Back when I was in grade school, these lofty goals would have been very achievable: I read many, many, many books over the summer--it was the only thing I did!

But now....

Well, I can still try!

I have 3 different sets of books I need to focus on:

Motherhood Books

I've already been reading What to Expect When You're Expecting...I've been going week-by-week, almost. I only have 6 more weeks to go!

My priorities:

What To Expect During the 1st Year

The Essential Guide to Breastfeeding

The Baby Owner's Manual

Books I've Bought in the Past 2 Years and Haven't Gotten to Read Yet

I'm already reading With The Heart of a King (about Elizabeth I and Phillip II and the Spanish Armada) and Cry of the Icemark. I want to read Justin's Color Code, since it's kind of like a 5 Languages of Love book. I also want to reread The Happiness Project because once we are settled after this summer, I want to do my own. I'm not allowed to buy any more books for myself until I finish these.

My priorities:

With the Heart of a King

Color Code

Cry of the Ice Mark

Happiness Project

These is My Words

School Books

These were bought at Provo Library's $1 book sale over the weekend.

As an English Teacher, it's almost imperative to have a "library" in your classroom. I've been slowly building mine up from what I've previously owned, novels from college YA lit classes, 2012's $1 book sale, and 2013's $1 book sale. So, I have not read 2/3's of these books. I would like to. I love YA literature. But, none of these are a priority for this summer. My plan is to read them over the course of next year.

So, wish me luck!

The Long Walk and Memoir Writing

I have been very impressed with my 9th graders recently.

Our last book that we read was the memoir, The Long Walk by Slavomir Rawicz. Click the link for a summary and my review.

I had never heard of this memoir before this summer when I read it for the first time. I absolutely loved it.



My students loved reading it. We had very good discussions about this captivating memoir of a Polish forced to work in a Soviet work camp who then escapes with a small group and travels all the way down to India. It helped that they are also taking Geography at the same time and all really enjoy history. We would discuss the history and culture behind the book, as well as characteristics of it being a memoir.

I even had them write their own memoir. (Well, personal essay because we weren't going to write a full-length book.) This was my first experience teaching creative non-fiction, which is honestly my weakest point in writing. I'm great at fiction and academic writing, but personal essays? Not so much. So, I was a little unsure on how to teach it as well as revise and edit for them. Luckily, one of my English Education projects I had to do in college was to create a unit for a creative-nonfiction work. So, I used sources (and the rubric) from that!

I was astounded with their creativity. A lot of them are very good authors and excellent at descriptive elaboration and reflection! I loved reading these memoirs. I also decided to do it with them. I told them that this type of writing was my weakest, so even I need to practice it. Then, we did a peer editing assignment. They had to peer review each other's essays as well as mine! I got some very interesting feedback:

Answering the question, "Does the 1st sentence hook you? Why or why not?"
- Kind of, it's curious, but way to vague for me.
- Maybe less vague terminology in first couple sentences to be less of a sort of corny sense of mystery.
- No. Something more like 'I was exploding with excitement.'

A weakness:
- Too much history, not enough descriptive elaboration.
- You just start your sentences with 'I' a lot. But I'm sure we all do.

As we were finishing our unit on The Long Walk, I found out that there were some researchers who didn't believe the memoir was true. I dug a little deeper and found out that apparently Rawicz didn't escape a work camp and stole the story from someone who possibly had. There were accusations, counter-accusations, Polish refugees wanting to stay quiet, BBC in a uproar, interviews, movies, a whole debacle. So, I printed out a few of these articles and had my students, who loved Rawicz and the story and were invested in it emotionally, read these articles. They were shocked. So, we decided to have something called a Fishbowl Discussion.



How a Fishbowl Discussion works:
There are two chairs in the middle of a circle (the rest of the desks form the circle).
There is a list of thought-provoking, opinion-based questions on the board (having to range from what they knew of history and the Soviets, characteristics of memoirs, what the foreword and the afterword in The Long Walk say, why he may or may not have been telling the truth, etc).
The two people in the middle choose a question and start discussing it. They are the only ones allowed to talk. If someone outside of the circle has something to say, or wants to change to a different question, they get up and tap one of the two out of the middle.

I was amazed at how in-depth and how passionate about these questions my students got. They were all waiting on their tiptoes to be able to tap someone out. There was such discussion and debate (by the way, most of my students were also the Speech and Debate class). I was so enthralled at how well this hastily thrown-together activity was. I also invited another class into it (about 10 more students to my 12) since they had also read the memoir. I just wish I had let some of the other teachers know ahead of time so they could've come watch.

I will definitely be using that exact same Fishbowl Discussion next year! So, I made my 9th graders swear they wouldn't divulge any secrets they've learned about The Long Walk to my 8th graders. Their reply: "We don't talk to the 8th graders, anyway!"

Weekly Focus #5

It's time for Weekly Focus #5 Linkup!

What Weekly Focus Is

I decided to call it Weekly Focus because it could be a wish, a goal, a mentality, a plan, anything really that you want to focus on for the week. It is the driving force of that week and you only need one.

How to Participate

Each week on Monday, write a post about your weekly focus. Include the Weekly Focus button at the bottom of this page. Review how last week's focus went. Join my link-up and visit others, leaving encouraging comments.

I feel that by focusing on only one thing, it doesn't consume your life, but you are still continually working toward improving yourself. I simply love the idea of personal "Happiness Plans," and I want to help those who would love to do their own, but are still very busy in life. This shows that we can still take control of our lives and make it what we want while still being busy bees. So, I hope you join and have fun!

<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.morrellfairytale.com/2014/02/weekly-focus-linkup.html" title="Our Fairy Tale" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigNvzpotdppCVMSeGQxjE7N6WtRsUVPSNmop8vZt0X6OUOQsQ08OOGuxVKQaZILSKekOATrYloETD2-sBRKY4aOhJc8rR6SJjjGU9lrRDxiOTYTxAcsl_hwVvMOjzto-qRHrgb6AqnVWca/s1600/weekly+focus+linkup.jpg" alt="Our Fairy Tale" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Last Week's Goal: Read for myself 30 minutes every day. 
I am making my way through The Freedom Writers. I also spent a lot of time reading blogs. But, I'd say I really only succeeded in this goal 5 out of 7 times this week.

This Week's Goal: Stop working on school stuff by 8pm every day. This way, I am given an assured hour and a half for myself to enjoy.

What is your Weekly Focus?

Weekly Focus #4

Last Week's Goal:  Reorganize blogging budget and find button swaps, etc. to get my blog out there a bit more.

I got my monthly budget back in order--it's small to start out with, but that matches the size of my blog. I am sponsoring a big blog this month because I love her blog and all her sponsors say she's great! I have also gone out and found numerous button swaps. Check these lovely ladies out!

Life of Bon

Shades of Color

The Southern Thing

Army Ever After

Rhyme and Ribbons

Never the Same Spice Twice

I'm also starting a savings account to earn up for a good DSLR....so, bloggers who already have these awesome cameras, tell me what kind should I get?

This Week's Goal: Read for myself 30 minutes every day.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

What Weekly Focus Is

I decided to call it Weekly Focus because it could be a wish, a goal, a mentality, a plan, anything really that you want to focus on for the week. It is the driving force of that week and you only need one.

How to Participate

Each week on Monday, write a post about your weekly focus. Include the Weekly Focus button at the bottom of this page. Review how last week's focus went. Join my link-up and visit others, leaving encouraging comments.

I feel that by focusing on only one thing, it doesn't consume your life, but you are still continually working toward improving yourself. I simply love the idea of personal "Happiness Plans," and I want to help those who would love to do their own, but are still very busy in life. This shows that we can still take control of our lives and make it what we want while still being busy bees. So, I hope you join and have fun!

<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.morrellfairytale.com/2014/02/weekly-focus-linkup.html" title="Our Fairy Tale" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigNvzpotdppCVMSeGQxjE7N6WtRsUVPSNmop8vZt0X6OUOQsQ08OOGuxVKQaZILSKekOATrYloETD2-sBRKY4aOhJc8rR6SJjjGU9lrRDxiOTYTxAcsl_hwVvMOjzto-qRHrgb6AqnVWca/s1600/weekly+focus+linkup.jpg" alt="Our Fairy Tale" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

What is your Weekly Focus?

I am Officially a Full-Time Teacher (So What Wednesday)

Today is another So-What Wednesday hosted by Shannon at Life After I "Dew."

So What If I....

~ I am going to shamelessly tell you to participate in my giveaway sponsored by Honey Lemon Designs.

~ And them shamelessly again tell you to participate in a group giveaway I am helping with over at Bailey Dailies!

~ Got a new bike yesterday? Super happy I did and there will be a ton of bike riding now!

~ I need to go shopping today for a 4th of July shirt and accessories?

~ Have to put my summer reading list on hold (3 down, 8 to go) because.....

I just got hired as a full-time teacher!!!!!!!

You are looking at reading about the newest English Teacher at Navigator Pointe Academy (a public charter school in West Jordan). Which means, I had to call the charter school that gave me a half-time position and tell them sorry, I couldn't accept it.

I am super excited! I spent my student teaching internship last year teaching History, but now I get to teach English! I'll be so glad to put both under my belt and on my resume after only 2 years of teaching!

I will be teaching one history class, two writing classes, a 7th grade English class, an 8th grade English class, and a 9th grade English class. Insane, right? But I'm super excited for numerous reasons:

~ Navigator Pointe, albeit really out of the way (35-55 minute commute depending on traffic) is a very small charter school--only 500 students K-9. Which means, for the jr. high (7-9), there is only 1 science teacher, 1 math teacher, 1 history teacher, and now 2 English teachers.

~ The principal is from Virginia just like me. I'm a bit jealous that she actually has an accent, though.

~ Navigator Pointe doesn't follow the National Core. Instead, they do something called Core Knowledge. This is kind of like the National Core in that it builds on itself, but it focuses more on cross-curriculum, making sure every subject connects to each other, and hitting important points, events, concepts, and pieces of literature/art/music that every child should be exposed to.

~ Navigator Pointe teaches Shakespeare to its jr. high students! I love Shakespeare and am so excited to teach it to every grade!

~ I get to read new books! I did the IB program in school, so I read more of international books, rather than American classics.

(Aside from the Shakespeare, I have never read any of these books, surprisingly!) This is only a selection from 7th, 8th, and 9th grade and ONLY the tip of the iceberg. Each grade reads a total of 6 books (including a Shakespeare play) during the year.

~ Navigator Pointe not only focuses on cross-curricular learning, but also on writing. They even have a Writing Coordinator for the entire school that "interviewed" me after my initial interview with the principal. She was a big supporter for me. I will be working closely with her as I help jr. high students learn to write 5 paragraph essays and other types of writing.

So, I am very excited to be part of this staff. I have a lot to prepare for and a lot to coordinate, but I love teaching and I love reading and writing, so it is perfect for me! I feel very thankful that God allowed this to happen, that he found a full-time opportunity for me even though I was lucky enough to get a half-time position teaching both subjects.  I can't wait till August.