What’s Your Academia Aesthetic Beach Read?

As the days stretch longer and the summer sizzle heats up, your academia reading adventure awaits.  Whether your soul is drawn to the mysterious halls of Dark Academia or the thoughtful musings of Writer Academia, it’s the perfect time to slather on the sunscreen dive into a new book aligned to your true academia aesthetic! 

Dark Academia

If you are drawn to old libraries, worn books, and classical art while pondering the darker side of human nature in your vintage tweed, this summer reading list is for you: 

1. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
2. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
3. Beloved by Toni Morrison 
4. Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia 
5. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

 

Light Academia

If you are happiest in bright, airy spaces with an innate appreciation for friendship, love, and the beauty of everyday moments, this is your go-to beach list:

 

1. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
2. A Room with a View by E.M. Forster
3. The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro 
4. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott 
5. The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks 

 

Writer Academia

Overflowing bookshelves, scattered manuscript pages, and cozy, dimly-lit writing nooks are how you roll...  Here’s a book list to match your paper to pen passion:  

 

1. On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King 
2. The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White 
3. Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott 
4. Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert 
5. The Paris Review Interviews

 

Romantic Academia

And for the most amorous reader whose love for poetry, classical music, and fine arts mirror the grandeur of bygone eras: 

 

1. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen 
2. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë 
3. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton 
4. Shakespeare’s Sonnets 
5. Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel

 

So, pack your beach bag, claim a spot by the sea, and soak up the pages. There's no better place to traverse the vast landscapes of academia than from the comfort of your beach towel.  Just don’t forget your bookmark … or the sunscreen!

How Do I Love Thee, April? Let Me Count the Ways!

 Hey Lit Lovers!

Just a reminder that April is Poetry Month and National Shakespeare Day is on April 23rd - the anniversary of both William Shakespeare's birth and death! 

Celebrate verse and the Bard with this glorious Poetry Jumbo Bundle and Sonnet Writing Bundle for super fun and engaging reading/writing activities. (Students will love the Shakespeare Sonnet Insult Activity)!

You can also share these fascinating facts on Shakespeare: 

1) Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway, who was three months pregnant at the time.

2) Shakespeare’s parents were probably illiterate, and his children almost certainly were.

3) Shakespeare’s epitaph wards off would-be grave robbers with a curse.

4) Some people think Shakespeare was a fraud as there is a conspiracy that he didn't write his plays. 

5) Shakespeare had seven siblings. 

6) Shakespeare wore a gold hoop earring.

7) Shakespeare was a Catholic. 

8) Females were not allowed to perform on stage during Shakespeare's time. 

9) Shakespeare introduced 3,000 words to the English language. 

10) Shakespeare was an actor as well a writer. In fact, he played the Ghost in ‘Hamlet.'

With Literacy Love,

Kimberly 

Celebrate National D.E.A.R. Day

D.E.A.R. Day, also known as Drop Everything and Read Day, is an annual celebration that takes place on April 12th. As the name suggests, this holiday is intended for everyone to dedicate a small or significant period during the day to reading. 

National D.E.A.R Day is also the birthday of the beloved author Beverly Cleary who created one of my all-time favorite childhood characters – Ramona Quimby.  On National D.E.A.R. Day, schools are encouraged to read together while promoting books as an integral part of daily life.

So how will you be celebrating D.E.A.R. Day?  Fun activities to do with family, friends, or an impassioned book club include making bookmarks, reading favorite passages, and acting out scenes.  Character charades, anyone?  While April 12th is official D.E.A.R. day, every day is a great day to Drop Everything and Read!  So take a literary timeout break today and get your read on!

Amazing Reading Facts:

1) Reading for six minutes a day reduces stress by 68%.   

2) According to many studies, regular reading is correlated with a longer lifespan.

3) Reading fiction can make you a better decision-maker.

4) The three books that have been read the most are: The Bible, Quotations From Chairman Mao Tes-Tung, and Harry Potter.

5) 'Bibliosma' is the word for loving the way books smell!

6) Adults who read for only 30 minutes a week are 20% more likely to have greater life satisfaction.

7) 19% of readers say reading helps them feel less lonely.

Need some D.E.A.R. Classroom Goodies?  

Click HERE

Embrace the Cosmic (Solar Eclipse) Dance With Poetry

Many of us stargazers are gearing up for the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse on Monday, April 8th!  What an amazing opportunity to integrate this sublime cosmic dance with verse.  (April is poetry month, after all)! 

In many spiritual traditions, the solar eclipse is seen as a time for introspection, reflection, and transformation. It is often associated with themes of endings, beginnings, and rebirth. Some people believe that a solar eclipse can actually evoke a spiritual awakening and heightened sense of awareness! 

In the same vein, the solar eclipse is a rare, wondrous event to reflect on our conscious and unconscious worlds, what we choose to shed light upon (and that which we keep hidden in the darkness) — and our relationship to the masculine and feminine forces in our lives.  Pretty deep, eh?  ...Cue the Milky Way Minstrels!  

Perfect poems to integrate into this celestial dance of light and dark/masculine and feminine energy are:   

"The Sun Rising" by John Donne: This poem personifies the sun and speaks to its power and omnipresence. Discussing this in the context of a solar eclipse can lead to interesting interpretations about the sun's temporary obscuration.

Haiku by Matsuo Bashō: Many of Bashō's haikus invoke nature and the changing seasons, capturing moments that can reflect the transient beauty of an eclipse. For a perfect example, read "A cicada shell; it sang itself utterly away..."

"Eclipse of the Sun" by William Wordsworth: Wordsworth, a central figure in the Romantic movement, often explored the profound impact of nature on the human spirit in his poetry. "Eclipse of the Sun" is no exception, capturing the awe and contemplation stirred by witnessing an eclipse. 

"At a Lunar Eclipse" by Thomas Hardy: Hardy's poem contemplates the vastness of time and space, and the human place within it, through the lens of a lunar eclipse. It can be interpreted as a meditation on the fleeting nature of human life and achievements against the backdrop of the eternal cosmos. 

"Do Not go Gentle into that Good Night" by Dylan Thomas: Although not directly about eclipses, this poem's exploration of darkness and light, and the fight against the dying of the light, can parallel the dramatic interplay of the sun and moon during an eclipse.

The integration of poetry into the experience of a rare solar eclipse serves as a reminder of the power of literature. It highlights poetry's ability to capture the ineffable and to connect us across time and space and the shared human experience. 

As the memory of the eclipse fades, the poems remain, ready to be revisited whenever we seek to reconnect with the wonder of that moment when day turned to night and the cosmos touched the earth.

Happy Solar Eclipse Day!  

April is National Poetry Month

April is National Poetry Month, the largest literary celebration in the world! 

Why should we devote an entire month to honor words written in verse?  Because poetry is the language of the soul.  When life drowns us with its dark moments, poetry throws us a raft – a verbal sanctuary of healing and beauty - especially during this unprecedented time of fear and uncertainty.

So I urge you to release your inner poet and succumb to the sensory language, rhythm, flavor, call and response of poetry.  Feel the human spirit and universality of life's shared stories in a stanza.  Read or write a poem this month.  Restore your spirit.  Restore your soul.

April Challenge:  Write a Cinquain

A cinquain is five line poem that follows this lyrical pattern:

1) a word for the title

2) two adjectives

3) three verbs

4) a phrase

5) the title again – or synonym

Examples:

Chocolate

Dark or milk

Smooth, silky, sweet

Best thing ever

Yum! 

Eyes

Large, mysterious

Watching, rolling, blinking

Tell more than words

Soul-windows

Cinquain

Short, sweet

Five, simple steps

Maybe not so easy…

Voila!

Students need a brain break?  Try a Poem Pause!   

By projecting a short poem, such as "Dreams" by Langston Hughes, students can have a silent reflection period where they read and ponder the poem.  After five minutes, students can share their noticings and wonderings - if they choose.  

Poem Pauses are "Power Brain Breaks."  They build community, reenergize the room, and allow the students to share moments of the soul through verse. 

Next time your students need a Brain Break, do a Poem Pause instead.  Along with April being Poetry Month, you may just inspire a poet or two!    

For more Poem Pause Inspo, click HERE 

and for Poetry Instructional Goodies, click HERE 

Unveiling the Quiet Magic: The Allure of the Silent Book Club

"It’s just the most amazing thing to see the introvert revolution literally remaking the way we organize society — this time, the world of book clubs." - Susan Cain, Author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking

Shhhhh.  Have you heard the latest?  It’s the era of the Silent Book Club.  In a world that rewards “noise,” finding a serene space where one can indulge in the simple pleasure of reading can be a rare treasure. Enter the Silent Book Club, a global phenomenon that is redefining the traditional book club model by offering an appealing option for the quiet-ish reader.

 

Dubbed "Introvert Happy Hour," this unique concept blends the joy of losing oneself in a good book with the camaraderie of like-minded individuals, all in the cozy ambiance of a favorite local spot – or the virtual comfort of home.  Specifically, the Silent Book Club provides unique benefits that cater to a wide range of readers, including: 

 

Flexibility in Reading Choices: Unlike traditional book clubs that typically require all members to read the same book, Silent Book Clubs allow members voice and choice - to bring and read whatever they choose. 

 

No Pressure to Contribute to Discussions: Silent Book Clubs eliminate the pressure to speak up or sound insightful. Members can simply enjoy the act of reading without worrying about formulating opinions or engaging in discussions.

 

Inclusivity: Silent Book Clubs are welcoming to everyone, from voracious readers to those who might feel intimidated by the commitment of a traditional book club. Since there's no common book to finish or discuss, it's easier for people who read at a slower pace or have less time to dedicate to reading to participate.

 

Encourages Reading as a Habit: By dedicating specific times for silent reading, Silent Book Clubs can help members build and maintain a regular reading habit, especially for those struggling to find the time or motivation.  

 

Yes, Silent Book Clubs are having a moment, but be assured this is only a soft launch!  With over 70 chapters that currently dot the globe, Silent Book Clubs cater to those who love reading but without the pressures and formalities. Whether you're an introvert looking for a comfortable social setting or a book lover seeking new literary adventures, the Silent Book Club (tacitly) welcomes you! 

 

 

February Literacy Loot

Greetings, Lit Lovers - 

Happy February, Black History Month, and Valentine's Day!

Baby, it's cold outside, but you can still leverage literacy learning with these instructional goodies...

Celebrate the spirit and rich literature of African-Americans with the Black History Month Literature Bundle - full texts included.  

Valentine's Day is just around the corner. Are your students acting mushy, gushy, and crushy? Check out my Valentine's Day Literary Bundle, Valentine's Day Haiku Bundle, and Sonnet Writing Bundle for super fun and engaging reading/writing activities.

Starting your Argumentative Writing Unit?  Check out this must-have Bundle for everything you need!  

Have an upcoming evaluation or learning walk? Let your scholars do the heavy lifting with best practice engagement activities like Socratic Seminars and Gallery Walks. 

Finally, it's a new year and a new you! Is one of your professional goals to become a teacher-leader in your building?  Impress your adminstrators and colleagues with the Teacher Leader Meeting PowerPoint Bundle that will showcase your leadership skills in no time!  

Happy teaching and learning!

With literacy love, 

Kimberly =)