Namaste, Y'all. For Real!

I just twisted the head off of a bunny, a hollow Godiva chocolate bunny. Last week our school, which contains all 8th graders for the county and no other children, took our state writing tests. I don't know about the kids, but I'm still recovering. Mercy. That was something else.

While I just read that tequila helps with weight loss, it's Miette's Bedtime Stories that I want to share with you here. Priorities, people!

Who is this Miette? Who can say? All that you need to know right now is that she has spent hours speaking into a microphone for the good of humankind. And her voice. Her voice is as gentle as that well-worn favorite blanket of your childhood, the one that casts its calming spell and lulls you to sleep with all of its softness.

You can listen to her stories right now from your computer. Visit the iTunes store and download them there. Do you have Apple TV? Yep. Miette's podcasts are waiting for you and your remote. (Can someone please invent a television that allows us to darken our screens with the flip of a switch, so we can listen in peace?)

There are so many wee stories to choose from. Where does one start? You can peruse the recordings by author's name. If you are one of those English major types, you will recognize some of those lovely classics that often nestle themselves in anthology after anthology. There are many surprises as well, the B sides of short story masters.

My own go-to tale for dozing off is William Faulkner's gem, "A Rose for Emily." I know, but it is so familiar that the nightmares must be too distant in my brain to register now. Faulkner's writing style coupled with Miette's voice swirl  smooth placid circles within my brain until the night is no longer and the alarm announces the new day. There are no sheep needed, just Count No-Count.

The only time I would recommend driving to her podcasts is when she features a guest reader. One of my favorites is a massive collaboration of folks performing Cornell Woolrich's classic, "Murder Was the Case." Some of you may be wondering why you haven't heard of this story. It's the basis for the Alfred Hitchcock film, Rear Window. 

Over the years, Miette's recording equipment has improved, so you may want to browse available stories starting with her most recent offering.

I could go on, but I'm just getting in between you and your new tasting menu. 

If you ever see this dear Miette, please give her our thanks and a word of encouragement. It's nice to know that kind folks are laboring without fanfare to do what they love and share it with others. Doesn't it make you wonder what other treasures are out there hidden amongst the ephemera of the web just waiting to be discovered?

And if you came here to look for my cat's Pick 4 numbers, 

Gracie just walked across the keyboard to the tune of...

2398.

Wonder: A Blog Inside a Blog

Help Readers Love Reading: Wonder by R. J. Palacio

Thanks to my own middle skoo pal, Laura, I can share this ^ resource with you.   I have nothing to do with all of the hard work that went into this awesome site.   It's full of clips, links, songs and photos to help children visualize and understand the pop culture references in R.J. Palacio's Wonder.

What's Wonder all about?   Check out this book trailer:

Wonder has a broad appeal, and even though the main character is youngish, my 8th graders are enjoying his story right now.   When we talk about struggling readers, they are often open to a variety of stories, if you will provide the support they need to get through them.

I've been alternating my read-alouds with the book on CD.   So far we've only gotten through two parts, meaning two voices.   I'm not crazy about the voices that we're chosen to narrate, but sometimes my throat needs a break.   Now, I can use the resources this wonderful teacher has assembled to help kids get some of the references that are made in the book, most often by Auggie.   A good reader visualizes without thinking twice.   Others could use a little assistance.

Today we used paint chips to copy September's precept from the book.   Each child wrote on two paint chips.   They will hang one in a public spot.   My friends will help out by hanging the others.

What's September's precept?

"When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind." (Dr. Wayne Dyer)

(For the record, I am well aware that I could also use a little personal growth, so I'm keeping one of the less legible tags for myownself.)

Long after I was out of paint chips for our Random Acts of Inspiration, people still wanted to participate, so those folks are at the top of my list this go round.

Isn't it good to be reminded every now and then that we are all wonders of creation?