More Things on a stick!!!

I am so excited about More Things on a Stick!!! I can't wait to get started. So this is my first post for the new things. I will post again after I get my blog all refreshed and looking good.

Finally - I blog again!!!

I have been a terrible blogger! I just heard that one more person I know is 23 things on a sticking - so I thought - wow - I should get back to my blog. So.....here I am. The reading club is going great - check out our site: Page Masters Reading Club . I will try to be better about getting here on a regular basis.

Summer is streaking by!

I love Librarything.com - just a quick plug there -
I have spent a bit of time cataloging my books on thier site and have joined a couple groups. I am 24 books into my 50 book challenge. I have just finished reading Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series; and have also spent a lot of time with Nora Roberts and her trilogies this summer. School is approaching quickly and with it much less time to read for my personal pleasure, but will still be reading. I am looking for great read-a-louds for seventh and eighth graders. Any ideas, please let me know.

Summer has arrived - along with it - - Time!

Greetings! It has been a long time since I blogged - things were hectic for a bit there.
Confirmation, birthdays, Graduation, end of school......I am sure everyone has a list that is similar.

I am proud to say that my daughter has graduated and been accepted into her program of choice at college!
I have had a successful start to the summer reading program at the school where I work so I am feeling positive about that too. I am excited to find an old friend who is new to 23 Things - I hope she has as much fun with it as I did.

Hey there - just checking in and asking a couple questions.

I hope all you other 23 Thingers are enjoying the almost spring - let's all hope that we are done with the snow!

I remember seeing that 23 Things was worth 12 contact hours (CEUs) and I was wondering who I contacted to get the certificate for that? Anyone out there have the answer? Please let me know.

I find that as the end of the school year draws near I have less and less time - I am sure I'm the only one! Ha! Ha!

I am looking for ideas for ways to encourage readers in middle school and above. Let me know if you have any ideas - tried and true or otherwise. Thanks in advance.
(Here is an idea I wanted to share (again) with you all): Timberwolves Read-to-Achieve program -- check it out for next year - it was amazing!

I miss the pressure of the 23 Things deadline - I always found time to get on and blog when I had a schedule of "Things" to do - I guess I will have to try harder to make blogging higher on my priority list.

Spotlight on Books ~ 20th. Anniversary Seminar

Greetings all! I am pleased to report that I was successful in arriving in Grand Rapids in time to attend the Spotlight on Books seminar! I was able to meet many wonderful people who also braved the blizzard. Meeting D.J. MacHale was the driving factor (that and my 4-wheel-drive Jeep) in my desire to go to the conference, but I was equally impressed by all the presenting authors/illustrators.

The speakers were all great - so much talent and insight!!!

Jim Trelease came out of retirement to speak two separate times - "WOW!" he is truly inspiring, I can't wait to try out some of his ideas.

Mary Casanova was there - I didn't know she has an entire mystery series - I had to get them all! She too was both interesting and inspiring.

Debra Frasier told us about illustrating her books and about the summer reading theme that is based on her birthday cake book. She shared with us the process you go through to write and illustrate a story and how valuable your editor is. She says anyone can write - you just have to start.

D.J. MacHale, the author of the Pendragon books, made it too. I was excited to meet him and tell him how much my reading club students and I love his stories. What was extra cool - was that I was asked to do the introduction for him at the seminar! I was honored. I was the only person there that had read everything he has written, so they asked me to tell the group about his books and introduce him. It was great!!!

I also was fortunate to sit with the author of the Marion books, Brook Berg, during the dinners. That was awesome too -