i'm a book worm....

as you know i read a lot of childrens books

1. because i need to know the answers to those darn reading comprehension questions
2. so i can recommend good/appropriate books for kids to read - depending on their personality and interest
3. so i can recommend books to their parents
4. so i can plan and organise english lessons around certain themes and books
5. so i can find really good books to read to the whole class

the last reason is probably the hardest of the lot
what will work for 1 class will not always work with another
theres lots of 'good' books out there,
but hardly any really fantastic books that all kids will enjoy or get something out of.

but anyways, since i'm on school holidays i've been doing some holiday reading.
and these school holidays i have been reading and finishing the specky magee series.
i've heard a lot about these books being really good for boys
[its REALLY REALLY REALLY hard to find good books for boys aged between 10-14]
and yes i would definitely recommend these books for any boy between 10-14.
the themes are fantastic, the character specky magee is a fantastic role model for any kid
and it has SHIT LOADS of information about footy and the AFL.
i also picked them up from the local red cross store for $1.50 each - bargain!

this is my little haul from the book depository
i LOVE the book depository!
1. the books are really cheap, very competitive prices
2. they stock all sorts of rare and out of print books
3. they ship for free from england!!! how awesome is that?!

more reading for me... im going to use these books in the classroom
im teaching my kids to like calvin and hobbes [and understand sarcasm]
kensuke's kingdom is another book being recommended to me to use in the classroom

this is my bookclub haul
do you remember bookclub with lucky the cat and arrow and star etc?
well we still get them and the awesome part is that teachers get bonuses and freebies and really cheap books!
[i need a library if i ever build my own house!]
finders keepers is an oldie but a good i read long time ago
i'm rereading it to see if it can fit into our english program
the tiger rising is a book by my favourite children's author kate di camillo
hiding edith is something very diary of anne frank, which i am always interested in
and it might be good for a class read - who knows?

happy reading people!

Currently reading...

I have been meaning to read this for a while,

and i'm glad i did. Even though i haven't finished reading it,

i'm really enjoying it.

It is similar to Jane Austen style of writing, but not as funny or witty.

The plot is very interesting and draws you in, the characters

are well developed, which you grow to love or detest.

There's lots of french phrases - which aren't translated, so it can be

tricky to read. My limited high school french is just not cutting the mustard.

Apparently there's good twists and turns in the later half of the book,

and i can't wait to watch the tv movie version of it.

the nanny diaries

i came across this movie long before i could get my hands on the book. i really enjoyed watching the movie, thought it was brilliant, as it gave many interesting insightful tips to raising kids, especially if they arent your own.

i guess what intrigues me the most, is to see how the other, better, wealthier people live. if i were younger i would love to be a nanny for a wealthy family, to be a fly on the wall, to see what their lives would be like. so i guess this movie is a like a fantasy sneak peak into that.

but .. looking at what these poor nannies go through, life isnt so great. i loved the movie, story line, characters (especially harvard hottie) and the fashion. after i finished reading the book, i loved the story even more. Really easy to read, hard to put down. recommend it to anyone who wants a good holiday read. i could easily watch the movie over and over again :o)...

luv.clio

currently reading

the best part about being a teacher is being part of scholastic bookclub. remember the lucky, arrow, wombat and star book club catalogues we received in primary school? they have some pretty amazing book discounts, and as a teacher we get bonus incentives, free books and vouchers!! its a book worms dream :)

anyways i got my hands on this book(courtesy of bookclub) after realizing it was the winner of the newbery medal 2009. i kinda go on the premise that if a book won an award it cant be too bad. so far so good - i cant say its a page turner... its taken me about 1-2 months to complete it. if im really into a book i will try to finish it as soon as possible.

worth a read for something different.

if you're interested in finding the newbery medal award winners for previous years - just google it, you'll end up in wikipedia. i try to read books that have won a newbery medal award to my kids, so they get a chance to read something different.

just read, just watched, just loved

Last weekend i started reading the boy in the striped pyjamas, it was soo good i couldnt put it down and finished it within 2 days.

Its a fantastic story about a german boy who makes friends with a jewish boy at a concentration camp. They somehow maintain a friendship on opposite sides of the fence. Its a very innocent story of friendship during a pretty horrible time in history.

I loved the book and coudnt wait to see it in film.
However i have a personal rule to finish any book im reading before i watch the movie.

The movie was slightly different from the book but the storyline is pretty much the same.
(I hate that!!) But the boy who played Bruno was sooo adorable! The 2 boys did a great job and i recommend everyone to read and watch the boy in the striped pyjamas.

luv.clio

im bored

so i have a tummy bug and i am in no condition to go out... i am bored stupid... im hot and sticky and i have nothing to do apart from watching a lot of pirated movies and dvds.

so here i am blogging away... i tend to blog when i'm bored ... sort of a verbal diarrheoa

currently reading : The hobbit by JRR Tolkien, not a bad book but definitly not a page turner.

Just watched: The Shinjuku Incident with Jackie Chan. Had no idea what the movie was about but definitly pleasantly surprised. Movie had a decent story line and there was english subtitles (YAY!) just not happy with the malaysian censorship - aya! so strict!

listening to : Lady Gaga, find her songs very addicitve :o), and put me in the right mood to do some work. i love her, she's so fabulously trashtastic!!

clio.