When Breath Becomes Air

In this memoir by Paul Kalanithi death is met head on- that is by a brain surgeon who faces terminal cancer.  When people write about dying they often express a newfound optimism.  The intensity of living the rest of your life within only a few weeks creates simultaneous panic, grief, and clarity.  Although I knew what was coming the end of this book I still found myself acutely saddened when Lucy, his widow, posthumously completed his writing.  Overall not as moving as some other near- death books I've read.  Still a good book for the novelty of the topic.

My Summer Reading List

My summer reading list is a combination of classics, bestsellers, and recommendations.  I give myself until September 9th to complete this list:

1. Half of a Yellow Sun

2.  An Unnecessary Woman

3. Taliban Shuffle

4. 1984

5. Slaughterhouse Five OR The Jungle

6. Make Lemonade

7. One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest

8. Ishmael

9. Kim

10. Brave New World

11. The Trial

12. To the Lighthouse

13. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

14. The Greater Journey

15. The Wind is not a River

16. When Breath Becomes Air

If there's time:
17. The Book Thief
18. Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
19. The Handmaid's Tale
20. The Color Purple
21. Watership Down

Starter Chest

On the cusp of having a 9 year old I am aware that my full-time parenting days are nearly half over.  (Hey I can dream).  I have been considering a "hope chest" sort of thing to get the boys started for the "real world."  I may call it a Starter Chest.  It will start out small, with items that are timeless and practical.  In the end I hope to give them most items that guys need in their 20's and have to call home.

Here is the Starter Chest list:

Kitchen-
-measuring cups/ spoons
-wooden spoon
-pot holders
-oven mitt
-tupperware
- frying pan
- pots and pans
- coffeemaker

Bathroom-
- towels and washcloths
- soap dispenser
- plunger/ toilet cleaner

Hardware-
- flat and phillips screwdriver
- hammer
- pliers
- level
- rubber mallet
- wrench set
- ratchet screwdriver
- tape measure
- flashlight
- stud finder
- crowbar
- utility knife

Other-
- hangers
- pens/ posti its
- magnets
- scissors
- whiteboard/ cork board

SummerSchool 2016

Thinking Stems-2.docx

This is the system I plan on using for my 4th grader.  He needs to work specifically on comprehension, so these "starters" are taped in the front of a composition notebook.

SummerSchool 2016

Preview attachment Summer Reading Olympics.pdfSummer Reading Olympics.pdf129 KB

In line with theNYS Summer Reading Program try this to keep students motivated throughout the summer daze.  Enjoy the Olympics too!

Winter Reading (15-16)

Eve- Young
Among the Ten Thousand Things- Pierrpont
The Girl on the Train- Hawkins
I am Malala- Yousafzai
Darkness Visible- Styron

Early Spring Pics

 Easter Morning

 Brothers on the Rope Swing

 There were four in the bed...

 Goin fishin.  In the rain.

 Alice in Wonderland in the Kitchen

 Selfies at the Phantom

 Trying out the new trash can

 Moss Island

 Burger Bishops (Burger King was out of crowns, so they re Bishops)

Pops!