Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Sad Desk Salad

Sad Desk Salad

Okay, my friends, you know for a very long time while my children were infants/toddlers/pre-schoolers, I subscribed to the only real news I believed existed--wait for it--Us Weekly. I literally loved everything about celebrities, and my narrowly focused life felt somehow more expanded by reading about celebrities. Pathetic, no doubt. But seriously, who doesn't love the "Stars, they're just like us" pictures? They pump gas? They open their car door? They hail a cab? Holy Shit! That's some of the very same things I do! WOW! It's so ridiculous, I have to spend my hard earned salary on a $4.99 glossy that tells me Rihanna opens a car door. I mean, what the heck-you only live once. Part of the reason I loved reading  Between You and Me was because I felt like I was reliving the Britney drama all over again. If you haven't read that one, be sure to check it out!

Mandy's Blogger Book Club
Anyhow, Mandy over at the Well Read Wife sent me Sad Desk Salad as part of her Blogger Book Club. She was so very kind and generous to send me the book, and I devoured this book! I'll frontload you with the scoop so you can get your booty out, and buy this book!

The Down Low: Alex Lyons is a blogger on a website called "Chick Habit." Alex, and her co-workers report on all things pop culture (bonus for the uber recent material Jessica Grose!) . She has an over-zealous boss who always wants Alex and the lot posting about scandalous shit. Well, Alex hits the jackpot on a story, and risks everything she has, including personal relationships in the pursuit of page hits. Her plans hit a snag when someone starts BTCH, a hate website. Alex cannot rest until she finds out who is trying to sabotage her. Does she ever find out? You, my fellow reader, must pick this book up to find out.

Confession: Two half sick days were sacrificed in the finishing of this book. *Cough**Sniff* I do feel much better now.

Here's the link up to the discussion posts on Mandy's site:#MBBCWRW

I cannot believe this year is almost over! It's been an incredible year filled with so much growth, both personally and professionally. I wish you all well during this holiday season. Much love, always. Thank you for reading.


Saturday, December 1, 2012

Mentor Text-Symbolism and Inference

What can I say about Grandpa Green? This book, by Lane Smith, is wrought with symbolism and beauty, it is difficult to sum up in words. I used this the other day at our SIOP training, and there were many teachers in the room crying when I finished. In fact, it was difficult for me to finish myself, as it is so touching. The premise of the story is that a little boy is telling the story of his Grandpa. Grandpa Green studies horticulture (great vocab in the story), and tells the story of his life in garden sculptures. The sculpted bushes symbolize all of his major life events. First, Grandpa Green was born (garden hose squirting water represents crying), then as he ventures into boyhood his friends are from Oz, and the little engine that could. He didn't even have a cellphone or video games (gasp!). Instead Grandpa Green always played outside and the garden was his friend. Later in the story, Grandpa Green goes to war, gets married, and has children and great-grandchildren. The problem is, that Grandpa Green always forgets. He forgets his garden hat on one of his sculptures. If you read into it, I think that lets you, as the reader, know that he has Alzheimers. So, so sad! At the end, guess what? Tragedy...
This book is so wonderful to use as a mentor text for inferring, and symbolism. Both are very difficult skills to teach, so why not use this book as a segue into this skill? It is worth every penny I paid for it.
Here is an Amazon link for the book:
Grandpa Green Book on Amazon