Charles T. Moore Blog: December 2018

Monday, December 31, 2018

January Reads and Setting a 2019 Goal: Clear the Bookshelves Because They are Out of Control

Here it is...the last day of 2018. I'm going to spend the evening with my boyfriend at his house, watching a remake of Overboard (I have a deep fondness for the original with Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell), sipping Prosecco, and nibbling on roasted shrimp dripping in garlic and butter. There may also be a chocolate pie for dessert, too. And bread, because why not end the year right?

I've already signed up for the Beat the Backlist Challenge with NovelKnight (you can, too!) as a tool to help me read from my bookcases and if I'm lucky, the boxes of books I have in my basement. I always start out ambitious and then life says "Oh no, hang on. Here's a few other things you need to do first" and then I hit a snag that slows down my reading. The only thing I really enjoy about January is having plenty of time to be home at night and on the weekends to read and chill out. I most definitely become a hermit until around March. However, I remain optimistic that I will go forth and read like mad for the next few months.

This month I've got a few new books to read, and a few that I've had for a few months that I've plucked from a stack in my bedroom. It's an interesting mix. I'm hoping to dive back into historical fiction again this year--it's my favorite genre and I noticed I didn't read a whole lot of it last year. Luckily, most of what I'm aiming to read this month fits into my backlist challenge and are books I've got at home--double yay for me. Here's what's in store for January:

This is for a January book club: The Scarlett Letter set in the future.

Found this at B&N earlier in December and thought it looked interesting. I can't wait to read this one.

I've been waiting for this for a few months! Just bought it the other day. Dual timeline; Queen (Princess) Elizabeth's wedding gown and 1947 London.

I'm reading the first in the series; three kids search for the Grail in a battle with the dark.

I'll probably have a few others that will pop in for reviews, but for now, I'm starting off with these. I'm excited for a new year in books and hope to have a good balance of new and backlist titles each month.

Have a wonderful New Year's 2019!

The Bookalicious Babe

from Bookalicious Babe Book Reviews http://bit.ly/2QbLPpK

Saturday, December 29, 2018

Friday, December 28, 2018

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Thursday, December 27, 2018

Daughters of the Lake by Wendy Webb

I've read a few of Wendy Webb's novels, and they fit right into one of my favorite genres: modern gothic. Wendy writes what I like to think of as Midwestern Modern Gothic; novels set in the United States Midwest. Carol Goodman is another author who writes modern gothic. I can't go wrong with either of these authors.

Daughters of the Lake takes place along Lake Superior, with dual timelines of the early 1900's and the twenty-teens. Great Bay is a small town on the shores of Lake Superior, and one morning a woman's body floats to shore. She's dressed in a white nightgown, and looks like she's peacefully sleeping. But she's dead, and nestled near her side is a small baby, also dead.

Kate's father Fred discovers the body, and when Kate sees the woman, she's visibly shocked. Her reaction peaks the interest of the local authorities, who think Kate may know more about the mysterious woman than she's letting on.

Kate herself has just come to stay with her parents after discovering her husband's been having an affair with a co-worker. She's left her job, and her husband, and is still reeling from his betrayal. And then there are the weird dreams, where she's someone else, living as a happily married woman. A woman who looks exactly like the body on the shore...

The story moves back and forth between Addie and Jess, living in the early 1900's in Great Bay, and Kate, who travels from Great Bay to Wharton, another small tourist town on Lake Superior. Her family's B&B is run by her cousin; both are descendants of the man who built the great house, Harrison Connor. Kate's grandmother, Hadley, was his only child. Kate's cousin Simon invites her to stay at the B&B for awhile to figure out what she's going to do next to start over. They're both curious to explore the third floor, which was a ballroom but is now unused and full of old boxes and family mementos.

Addie's story is pretty interesting. Born in the lake, she has an affinity for the water, as her mother and grandmother have; the lake is always welcoming and the place to go when they need to escape and recharge. The spirit of the lake is alive and always watching...

Both stories kept me interested in finding out what exactly happens to Addie, and how she ends up appearing in the lake 100 years after she's died. You have to just go with it, and accept that the lake has protected her body all this time, and released it now for a reason. That reason is Kate. The police investigation, and suspicion on Kate is pretty flimsy, but it spurs the plot forward. It gets Kate moving in the direction of solving the mystery, and meeting the handsome Detective Nick Stone.

I thoroughly enjoyed this read. There's just not enough fiction written about the Great Lakes, the beauty and sheer wonder of them. And, of course, the magic. So just read this novel for the fun of it, and interesting legend that is the Daughters of the Lake.

Rating: 4/6 for an interesting plot, even though some of the devices to move it along were kind of flimsy. But I didn't mind, because I found the storyline interesting and hard to put down. Lake Superior is a major character in this novel, and it will make you yearn for some quiet contemplation on the shore of a lovely lake. If you like light modern gothic mysteries with a Midwest flavor, I recommend Wendy Webb's novels.

Available in paperback, ebook, and audio.

from Bookalicious Babe Book Reviews http://bit.ly/2SolFlk

Friday, December 21, 2018

12 Festive Drinks

Cheers! The holidays are here and you need a drink. We have 12 Festive Drinks for all your party and entertaining needs. Whether you want hot chocolate or mulled wine, we have a recipe for you!

1. White Chocolate Peppermint Cocoa

Chocolate Almond Kiss Cookies are a fun twist on a holiday classic! Easy to make and delicious to drink!

In need of last-minute holiday food gifts? This White Chocolate Peppermint Cocoa post includes downloadable gift tags!

(more…)

The post 12 Festive Drinks appeared first on My Baking Addiction.

from My Baking Addiction http://bit.ly/2R8ZAtY

A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg

I decided to deviate from my planned holiday reads and picked up Fannie Flagg's A Redbird Christmas after spotting it at the library and realizing it was time to finally read it. I've spent many Christmas retail years putting this book on endcap displays and holiday book tables, but never planned on reading it. I guess I had to wait for the right time.

The holidays can be a really tough time for many folks. It seems like loss is amplified, surrounded by what should be a cheerful, exciting time of the year. I've had two family members pass on during this time: one at the beginning of the season, and one just after Christmas. It's now become a bittersweet time of year for me. I love the music, the lights, the excitement, but it's become more of a reflection and remembering of what Christmas was for me as a kid and young adult. Now it's a chance to reconnect with friends, even if only for a few hours. It's a time to be home, spending quiet time reading or just chilling out. I suppose all of that is normal as we grow older, and think about making our own Christmas traditions.

I've read a few Fannie Flagg novels, and they always find me at the right time. There's something about her gentle humor, endearing characters, and storytelling that puts a smile on my face. This novel was no different. Published in 2004, A Redbird Christmas has become a modern holiday classic. It's the story of Oswald Campbell, a middle-aged man who is a recovering alcoholic living a rather lonely life in Chicago. A visit to his doctor gives him bad news: if he stays in Chicago, he'll probably die of pneumonia within a few months. Years of trouble with his lungs have made living in the cold winters of Chicago deadly.

Oswald's doctor recommends a place his father, also a doctor, sent his patients years ago: a small town in Alabama called Lost River, where folks can stay and rest in the warmth of a southern winter. Oswald's got nothing to lose, so he packs up his meager possessions and travels to Lost River, not knowing what to expect.

What follows once Oswald arrives is a perfect Christmas tale about neighbors becoming family, a funny little redbird called Jack, and the kindness of strangers. Oswald finds himself in a place that is unlike anywhere else he's ever been, and just what he needs. A little girl named Patsy becomes part of Lost River's community, and her friendship with Jack, the redbird that lives at the general store, is the main storyline of the novel. Lost River is a small town full of quirky, kind folks who take care of each other and gently stay in each other's business. I kept thinking I had overlooked when this novel takes place, but I realize it's never mentioned. I like to think it's somewhere in the 1960's or 1970's, but I'm not sure. It didn't bother me, and I actually preferred the story without a specific era--it added to the sense that Lost River was timeless.

Jack, the redbird, figures prominently in this novel, and I didn't realize until the end that I understood cardinals are seen as a message from our loved ones on the other side. I knew this, but didn't make the connection until the very end. And considering that this holiday season is a little more bittersweet and sad than it usually is, well, I think my redbird visit came from a book this year. I've always believed books come into your life when you need a certain message, and this one has come in loud and clear for me.

Now if I see a cardinal at all in the next week, I just may freak out! But in a good way.

Rating: 4/6 for a gentle, sweet tale of finding family, finding a new beginning out of an ending, and enjoying the simple joys of life. This is a perfect gift for readers who enjoy short tales, Southern locales, and characters who worm their way into your heart.

Available in paperback, audio, and ebook.

from Bookalicious Babe Book Reviews http://bit.ly/2T3Eydg

Thursday, December 20, 2018

“To give your kids everything in life.”

As a basketball fan, and also a fan of human beings, I loved this read, “My Dad’s Friendship With Charles Barkley.”

It is an excellent story of what seems to be an unlikely friendship, but as you read it, you realize how much the relationship makes sense because of the shared bonds between two people. The part in the story where the daughter asks Charles Barkley, one of the most famous basketball players ever, why he hung out with her dad, is so powerful yet so simple:

‘Why My Dad?’

Later, after it all, I texted Barkley and asked him: “Why my dad? Why did he matter so much to you?” And recently, I called him up and asked: “What did you even have to talk about?”

“Well, I think — first of all, clearly, he was a fan,” Barkley said. “But I think the main thing we talked about was you and your brother.”

“What did you guys talk about — what did he say?” I asked.

“I think it was more that he was proud,” Barkley said. “Because I’ve got a daughter, too. I’m just really, really proud of her, because I think she’s a good person. And your dad was so proud of you and your brother.

“Listen: As an adult — and you’re too young to understand this now — all you want is your kids to be happy. That’s what you work for. To give your kids everything in life.”

The last line was something that resonated with me as an educator, a father, and a son.

I encourage you to read the whole thing.

July 20, 2010 What I learned on my trip
March 21, 2016 The Message and the Messenger
April 3, 2018 My Brother is Home
August 16, 2018 3 Thoughts on “Culture Killers”
January 27, 2015 The Worksheet Conversation

Source: George Couros

from Connected Principals http://bit.ly/2EGSSp0

“To give your kids everything in life.”

As a basketball fan, and also a fan of human beings, I loved this read, “My Dad’s Friendship With Charles Barkley.”

‘Why My Dad?’

Later, after it all, I texted Barkley and asked him: “Why my dad? Why did he matter so much to you?” And recently, I called him up and asked: “What did you even have to talk about?”

“Well, I think — first of all, clearly, he was a fan,” Barkley said. “But I think the main thing we talked about was you and your brother.”

“What did you guys talk about — what did he say?” I asked.

“I think it was more that he was proud,” Barkley said. “Because I’ve got a daughter, too. I’m just really, really proud of her, because I think she’s a good person. And your dad was so proud of you and your brother.

“Listen: As an adult — and you’re too young to understand this now — all you want is your kids to be happy. That’s what you work for. To give your kids everything in life.”

The last line was something that resonated with me as an educator, a father, and a son.

I encourage you to read the whole thing.

July 20, 2010 What I learned on my trip
March 21, 2016 The Message and the Messenger
April 3, 2018 My Brother is Home
August 16, 2018 3 Thoughts on “Culture Killers”
January 27, 2015 The Worksheet Conversation

from Connected Principals https://ift.tt/2BzXUzw

Colwood Corners by Onni in Victoria

Colwood Corners by Onni Group is a new 5 storey condo development located in Victoria, BC. This project will offer 284 units. Upon completion, Colwood Corners has the potential to provide 125,000 square feet of retail as well as multi-family residential.

The post Colwood Corners by Onni in Victoria appeared first on Vancouver New Condos.

from Projects – Vancouver New Condos https://ift.tt/2A5mWqs

PMP:137 Reaching and Teaching Students Exposed to Trauma – Dr. Barbara Sorrels

One day I was walking through one of my high school buildings, when I heard the sound of a teacher yelling for help. I sprinted toward the sound, and I found a teacher trying to guide a student into the hallway. He was a special education student I knew – a teenage boy whose development […]

from Connected Principals https://ift.tt/2AbjZER

Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Say Less, Heard More

I learned a lot from my time as a basketball referee. It taught me to think quickly under pressure and how to de-escalate disagreement on the fly. Humility and confidence were necessary, and I learned those traits are more interconnected than we give them credit.

I remember before one game, we were talking about the coaches and I distinctly remember my partner sharing something with me about one of the coaches. He said, “The coach is really quiet, but if he says something, listen because it is probably something you missed.” He was right.

Some coaches would talk or yell at the referees the entire game, and for your sanity, you would learn to tune them out. You never knew what was important because it seemed like EVERYTHING was important. But this one coach, he would pick and choose when he would share some feedback or thoughts on a missed or ruined call. You listened and took it to heart and always grew.

This is something I think about a lot. Often, the people who get the attention are those that yell the loudest and most often, but we should pay attention to those that pick and choose their spots. If they find a moment to speak up, they usually have something from which we can learn.

June 8, 2015 The “Sponge” Factor
February 12, 2015 Feedback or noise?
February 3, 2015 They Will Follow Your Lead
December 11, 2010 Success
March 13, 2011 More Than A Game

Source: George Couros

from Connected Principals https://ift.tt/2A5PPmt

Say Less, Heard More

June 8, 2015 The “Sponge” Factor
February 12, 2015 Feedback or noise?
February 3, 2015 They Will Follow Your Lead
December 11, 2010 Success
March 13, 2011 More Than A Game

from Connected Principals https://ift.tt/2EBS0lI

Taking a Break from Holiday Novels: Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh

When someone hands you a book and asks you to read it so they can discuss it, you read the book so you can discuss it. This was a novel that had me at turns disturbed, disgusted, intrigued, and reluctantly cheering Eileen on towards a better life.

Taking place in 1964, and told from a much older Eileen's lens, this is one weird ride. Even when I was completely grossed out, I kept reading--the writing is just that good. Tiny little details that keep you compulsively turning the pages. Are you intrigued yet?

Eileen is twenty-four, and living at home with her alcoholic father. The home is completely filthy; neither has cleaned the house since Eileen's mother died years before. Her father is such an alcoholic that he sits in front of the open oven for warmth, drinking bottles of gin all day, every day. He's a retired cop who still has some odd kind of respect from the hometown police force--a polite, turn your head away respect. He's gotten into so much trouble in his drunken wanderings that Eileen now keeps all his shoes locked in the trunk of her car so he can't leave the house. Eileen herself is a piece of work. A young woman who is so disgusted with her physical appearance, her life, and pretty much everything; she's such a wreck that it's a bit of a shock. She sleeps in an unheated attic on a fold out cot, and wears her dead mother's too big clothes to her job as an office worker in a boy's prison. Personal hygiene is out the window. As she says, she likes to "stew in her own filth." Ew.

Christmas is just around the corner, and we know that Eileen's life is going to radically change on Christmas Eve. We know this because older, wiser Eileen keeps telling us, so the build up to what will happen starts pretty early in the novel. You are at times repulsed by Eileen, and equally intrigued, and see glimpses of who she could have been, if only her upbringing had been a little different; if only her parents had cared about their child. This is a study of a person profoundly damaged by their negligent parents--and for that, you can't help but hope Eileen finds a way out.

You may wonder why the heck anyone would want to read this novel. I've got to say, it will grab you and you won't be able to put it down. Once you get past Eileen's very strong defenses, and start to see more of who she is, you become invested in her escape from her terrible, empty life. You see glimpses of an Eileen that is witty, sharp, and so desperately wants someone to love her.

Read it. It's quite the change from my reads so far this month, but a good one. I recommend it as a great way to bust out of your routine book type--take a chance and read something really different.

Rating: 4/6 for a fascinating novel about a young woman who aches to break out of her life and make something of herself, but had to overcome a lot of obstacles to get there. Brilliant writing.

Available in paperback, ebook, and audio.

from Bookalicious Babe Book Reviews https://ift.tt/2UUuLbe

Sunday, December 16, 2018

Focusing on Individual Moments and Recognition of Staff

The best administrators I have ever worked for were always great with emotional intelligence, yet not always stellar on “policy.” The former matters more than the latter because policies don’t matter if the culture in the building is subpar. Giving people the ownership and helping them find their purpose of moving things forward is much better than pointing them to a directive.

As we go into the break, I’m reminded of one of the best principals I worked for in my career. We know that too many students dread the break because school is a place for them where they are maybe receiving things they aren’t outside of school. The same can be true for our valued staff as well. Don’t forget that.

Instead of buying each person on staff the same book to read to build the culture forward, this principal would buy every individual staff member a book that they thought would not only help them grow but was tailored to the interests of each staff member. I was always blown away by this because it wasn’t just looking up books on Amazon and buying them, but hours of getting to know the individual staff member on the team, reading books that he thought would appeal to them, and THEN buying them as gifts. Obviously, this can’t be done for a staff of 500 (or maybe it can) but since we were a smaller staff, this was something that could be done. He would take an entire day to hand out the books one-by-one before the holiday break, hand them to staff, and just talk with them individually for a few minutes to see how they were doing and give them a “check-in” before they went their way before the break. This wasn’t a “once a year” type of thing, but he always reminded us that we were family and treated us as such and it was nice to know that we were cared for as people first, not merely employees. Ironically, that led us to become better employees.

As I get older, I realize there are things I once assumed everyone looked forward to, are for some, things some might dread. I used to love going back to my hometown over the holidays, but after my father passed away, it was very tough and although my childhood home was full, there was a giant piece of my heart missing. I looked at going home differently from when I first started teaching. But that just one story from one person, while each person on your team has their own narrative. Take time to honor that before the break, after the break, and often throughout each school year. Educators are in the people business, and when we remember that each one of our students AND staff has their own story and experiences, and taking time to connect with them as individuals, it will not only make the work we do stronger, it will be done with a higher purpose.

July 19, 2018 The 3 “E’s” of Building a Great School Culture
May 22, 2018 3 Reminders For the End of the School Year
June 28, 2013 The Prophets In Your Land
June 8, 2018 “We can’t ask teachers to be innovative in their practice while administrators do the same thing they have always done.”
August 9, 2013 This I Believe

Source: George Couros

from Connected Principals https://ift.tt/2R4AT1P

Focusing on Individual Moments and Recognition of Staff

July 19, 2018 The 3 “E’s” of Building a Great School Culture
May 22, 2018 3 Reminders For the End of the School Year
June 28, 2013 The Prophets In Your Land
June 8, 2018 “We can’t ask teachers to be innovative in their practice while administrators do the same thing they have always done.”
August 9, 2013 This I Believe

from Connected Principals https://ift.tt/2LojJXG

Focusing on Individual Moments and Recognition of Staff

July 19, 2018 The 3 “E’s” of Building a Great School Culture
May 22, 2018 3 Reminders For the End of the School Year
June 28, 2013 The Prophets In Your Land
June 8, 2018 “We can’t ask teachers to be innovative in their practice while administrators do the same thing they have always done.”
August 9, 2013 This I Believe

from Connected Principals https://ift.tt/2LojJXG

Friday, December 14, 2018

5 Thoughts to Improve Your Mental Approach as an Educator

Your lessons matter. Your strategies matter. Your relationships matter. Lots of other things matter too. Some of these things are in your control and some of them are not.

But in every decision you make, in every action you take, there is a common thread. What is your mental approach? Do you have a growth mindset? Are you an empowered educator? Do you believe in your ability to make a difference? Do you have a strong sense of self-efficacy?

A person's mental approach to any situation has an incredible impact on outcomes. The choices we make determine our future. It is our choices more than any other factor that determine who we are and who we will become. I believe that's true for students, and I believe that's true for us as educators as well.

1. Extraordinary results require you to expect big results.

Extraordinary results don't happen by accident. Just look at what successful people do, and you'll see what it takes. First, you have to believe great things can happen. Some people are hesitant to set the bar very high, because they might fall short. Others think about how much work it's going to take to get there, and wonder if it's going to be worth it?

But if you're not willing to aim for extraordinary results, are you settling for less than what you're capable of doing? And if you're settling for less, are you giving your students an experience that is less than they deserve? You deserve to be your best too. Crave that which is not easily within your grasp. Dream big.

2. It's not lack of time, it's lack of direction.

We all have exactly the same number of hours in each day. We have the same number of days in each week. I've rarely heard anyone complain about lack of time who also wasn't wasting some amount of time every day and every week. The key is how we are using the time we have. Are you making the most of your time? Are you giving time to the things that will make the biggest impact? Do you know with clarity what's most important in your day?

Choose to pour your energy into the things that will transform your effectiveness. You have to take risks. You'll miss 100% of the shots you don't take. What actions are your multipliers? They make everything better. They pay dividends into the future. Pour your energy into things that give the most returns. Find your true north and set your direction accordingly.

3. Be willing to let of go of something good for something great.

Most people reach a certain level of effectiveness, and then they just maintain the status quo. They get into a routine without continuing to stretch and push forward. Too often we are polishing the past, trying to improve on practices that are simply outdated or no longer effective. We're aiming to make things just a little better instead of opening our minds to new possibilities.

Don't settle for good enough. Don't settle for teaching as you were taught. Our world is changing faster than ever before. So our schools should reflect those changes. We can't allow schools to become time capsules, when they could be time machines. We need to adapt and create learning that's relevant to the world our students will live in.

4. See problems as they are, but not worse than they are.

I believe in the power of positive thinking. But positive thinking, in my mind, is not believing everything is okay. It's not pretending everything is great. But it is believing things can get better. It's focusing on solutions, not problems. We need to see problems for what they are, but not act like they are impossible to overcome.

Some people focus their energy on blaming and complaining. They throw their hands up and quit. Their solution is for everything outside of them to change. But a different approach is to be focused on pursuing excellence. No obstacle is too big to stop trying. They believe that with hard work, determination, and the desire to continually learn and grow, there is no limit to what might be possible.

5. One of the best ways to increase student effort and engagement is to increase your own energy and enthusiasm.

What type of energy are you bringing to your classroom or school? I notice some of our students dragging into school with very little energy. What's it going to take to shift that energy and get them going? Many of our students have developed habits that prevent them from getting the most out of their learning. Those habits won't change unless we as educators are intentional. We need to change.

We need to bring so much determination and passion to what we do that students know, "This person is not going to accept less than my best." Lots of things can stand in the way of learning in a school, let's make sure it's not the attitude or enthusiasm of the adults who work there.

What other ideas do you have for establishing a solid mental approach as an educator? I want to hear from you. Leave a comment below or respond on Facebook or Twitter.

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Charles T. Moore Blog

Monday, December 31, 2018

January Reads and Setting a 2019 Goal: Clear the Bookshelves Because They are Out of Control

Saturday, December 29, 2018

Top Ten Favorite Reads of 2018: It's Been an Interesting Year

Friday, December 28, 2018

Top 10 Most Popular Future Driven Posts from 2018

5 Tips for Building Great Relationships with Students

Why Do Some Educators Burn Out While Others Seem to Grow More Passionate?

5 Questions Every Kid Is Trying to Answer

What's Your Priority? Passion or Proficiency

20 Ways to Be Future Driven in Your Classroom

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Thursday, December 27, 2018

Daughters of the Lake by Wendy Webb

Friday, December 21, 2018

12 Festive Drinks

1. White Chocolate Peppermint Cocoa

A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg

Thursday, December 20, 2018

“To give your kids everything in life.”

“To give your kids everything in life.”

Colwood Corners by Onni in Victoria

PMP:137 Reaching and Teaching Students Exposed to Trauma – Dr. Barbara Sorrels

Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Say Less, Heard More

Say Less, Heard More

Taking a Break from Holiday Novels: Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh

Sunday, December 16, 2018

Focusing on Individual Moments and Recognition of Staff

Focusing on Individual Moments and Recognition of Staff

Focusing on Individual Moments and Recognition of Staff

Friday, December 14, 2018

5 Thoughts to Improve Your Mental Approach as an Educator

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