The Gateway Book

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I contributed a guest post to an upper elementary teaching blog, Minds in Bloom. The post is about helping kids find their gateway book and then using that gateway book to generate spin off books that build a love of reading. See my survival book list or the guest post for an explanation of a gateway book.

My favorite part of the article is the Book Trails. This is a list of books that can be generated from one starter book. Check out the post to see how to build your own book trail!

candy factory book trail

Here is a sample book trail for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Create a list of related books to keep a child reading.

Press My Buttons

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This is a mini post to show off my new social media buttons. Please take a moment to look at the right side bar, admire, and press a button if the mood should strike.

I feel like TheRoomMom just entered a new chapter…

Thank you, Claudia Olivos for designing my new social media buttons– and being really patient with all of my messages and requests.

Versatile Blogger

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Sewing Sister thinks my blog has a split personality since I post tips about how to help children in school and then turn around and share cocktail recipes. I prefer the term Versatile Blogger. Turns out, there is a WordPress award for that. A new follower, Forestmtnhike, nominated me, and I would like to thank her. WordPress awards are fun because it is a way to pay it forward by sharing favorite blogs with followers.

To accept this award and spread the love there are 3 rules to follow:

1) I’m to first thank and link the person who nominated me for the award in my post (see above).

2) Share 7 random facts about myself (see below).

3) Nominate 15 of my favorite versatile bloggers for this award (see further below).

Random Facts about Myself:

  • Altoids make me sneeze.
  • I start planning my family holiday card by the end of September (that is probably not that random if you know how much I enjoy projects).
  • I will put about any topping on my pizza except for olives.
  • I will order any dish on a menu if the side that comes with it is mashed potatoes.
  • I dislike doing anything that makes me sweat.
  • I teach and have to stand in front of people all day, but public speaking in front of other groups makes me nervous, makes my face turn hot and red, and makes me sweat (see previous fact).
  • I read children’s literature almost exclusively. I say it is because I need to know what to recommend to students, but the truth is, I just like it.

Since I recently shared some of my favorite blogs for a WordPress Family nomination, I am listing blogs that give me ideas for new children’s book titles. It might not be very versatile, but they are a great resource for me.

Almost 15 Blogs

WordPress Friends and Family

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21stcenturyrenaissancegirl, nominated me for a WordPress award. Basically, these awards are a way to share names of WordPress blogs that WordPress bloggers enjoy reading. Thanks to 21stcenturyrenaissancegirl, one of my earliest followers, for including me.

A handful of the blogs on my list are run by friends I had from my early grades in school or from my summer camp, and I would not have found these people again without this funny blogging world. The others on the list are blogs that just match my interests well or make me laugh.

  1. marthawills.com
  2. thejoyofteaching
  3. popcorntheblog
  4. oyestheydid
  5. deploymentdiatribes
  6. secondcareerteacher
  7. 365daybook
  8. olddognewtits
  9. shoesonthewrongfeet
  10. cafecasey.com

P.S. I apologize for the delete and re-post! Technical difficulties today.