You are Only Just Beginning by Morgan Harper Nichols #{IMWAYR}

It's Monday, What are you reading? and my answer You Are Only Just Beginning by Morgan Harper Nichols because it to me last week.st read.

The book is beautiful. I was participating in a writing retreat and we jigsawed our introduction to the book. I read the last section - Reintegrating with Where You've Come From, Lessons from Butterflies. Each section of the book starts with a page that begins with What We Learn From followed by a collection of poem with uplifting illustrations. Each section ends with a list - a list of signs based on the reading and poetry just read. 

I usually consider poetry a slow red for me and have it on my what can I read for a short amount of time list and fill my bucket. I came home and poured through the first two sections; Beginning a New Adventure; Lessons from Sunlight and Finding Your People; Lessons from Elephants. 

It's been raining here a lot lately and I'm hoping for one more rainstorm tonight so I can grab a cup of tea and this gem of a book. Her website is filled with so much information about her and places her work is. She has a podcast, a storyteller app, and much more.

                Thank you Jen at Teach Mentor Texts for co-hosting this event

                            with Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers.

It's Monday, What are you Reading? {#IMWRYR}

It's Monday, What are you reading? and my answer is Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. My oldest daughter gifted me this book for Mother's Day this year after she got to see her at Boulder Bookstore in CO. I have gifted her books her whole life and it was so nice to hear her excitement on the phone about see Bonnie in person. 

She had already read the book and said it was one of her favorites of all time. She wrote a love note inside the front cover and I keep reading the book from the lens of making connections to the text and how she decided on the words for her small love note. 

I'm just about a third of the way through the book and the first big surprise just happened. I'm intrigued by the characters and wonder what's next.

My favorite line so far was is on p6.

"We both know food is the catalyst that unlocks our brains, binds our families and determines the future."

It's Monday, What Are you Reading? {#IMWAYR}

It's Monday, What are you reading? and my answer is The Book of Boundaries Set the Limits That Will Set You Free by Melissa Urban. I usually start the summer off with a self improvement book and this has been in my TBR pile for a few months. I'm enjoying the gentle advice and organization of this book.

Part One goes over boundary beginnings and guidance for using the book. Part Two is organized by different settings we need boundaries for; work, balance, parents, neighbors, friends, partners - that's how far I am and I'm about half way through the book. 

My biggest love so far is the different scenarios described and Melissa's scripts for setting a boundary. I never imagined levels for boundary setting. Melissa offers three suggestions for each scenario and they are color coded by green, yellow, and red. Some boundaries can be simply shared in generally positive manner and some need to be pretty direct.

I'm finding I can read a scenario - see if it applies to my life now or maybe in the future and breeze through a few pages at a time. 

                   

                             Thank you Jen at Teach Mentor Texts for co-hosting this event 

with Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers.

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? {IMWAYR}

 

 This week I read - 

The Precipice of Mental Health Becoming Your Own Safe Space by Achea Redd is my third book I've read by local author Achea Redd. Achea shares her own personal journey as an adult with depression and anxiety during the pandemic this time and how she navigates through it. Her voice is filled with wisdom I find helpful for myself and helpful for supporting others.

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave was a fun adult mystery read I couldn't put down.  A father disappears and lots is discovered about the truth leading up to his disappearance. I always enjoy books I find from the Reese Witherspoon book club. 

I'm currently reading - 

Live in Grace Walk in Love by Bob Goff is my morning short passage read before starting my day.

Rumi's Little Book of Life Translated by Maryam Mafi and Azima Melita Kolin is my short read before going to sleep.

Thank you Jen at Teach Mentor Texts for co-hosting this event with Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers.

It's Monday, What are you reading? {#IMWAYR}

 This week I read - 

Take Off Your Brave  The World through the Eyes of a Preschool Poet by Nadim (age 4)  and the introduction by her mother Yasmine Shamma defined poetry to her son as "It's a kind of story of a feeling, or a moment." It was delightful to see how his mother who is an educator captured his words.

Day to Day Assessments in the Reading Workshop by Franki Sibberson and Karen Symusiak is one I'm reading with my team this summer. It was technically my third read and each time I find nuggets to ponder. It's the best how to reading workshop book with a responsive stance for the work we do with readers.

Love That Story by Jonathon Van Ness did not disappoint and opened my eyes and thinking to in many ways. I appreciate his openness and willingness to share his truth and hopes for a more inclusive world.

When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson was another text that opened my eyes and taught me many things about being a refugee. When I got to the back matter of the book, I couldn't stop reading every piece of information about how the story came to be. 

How To Love the World Poems of Gratitude and Hope by James Crews is my short read before going to sleep and was able to finish it midweek.

I'm currently reading - 

Live in Grace Walk in Love by Bob Goff is my morning short passage read before starting my day.

Rumi's Little Book of Life Translated by Maryam Mafi and Azima Melita Kolin is my short read before going to sleep.

I have a couple of books started and a huge TBR pile. I'm not sure what else will be on my list this week.

Thank you Jen at Teach Mentor Texts for co-hosting this event with Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers.

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? {#IMWAYR}

 This week I read - 

I'm a Neutrino Tiny Particles in a Big Universe by Dr. Eve M. Vavagiakis. A book I enjoyed and thought older students would enjoy with more questioning than my third graders would have.

Rain Before Rainbows by Smriti Prasadam-Halls is one of my favorite social emotional books that acknowledges the bumps in day to day life that brings us darkness and each morning is a chance to start again.

We Belong by Laura Purdie Salas is a book I'm adding to my list of books for the first week of school; delightful!

The Year We Learned to Fly by Jacqueline Woodson is a new to me folktale and I really enjoyed the back matter to help me understand the origin of the story.

We Were Never Here by Andrea Bartz was my first adult read of summer break and I loved getting lost in a story line that was easy and had me wondering if the characters get caught with two murders they were able to justify as defense.

I'm currently reading - 

Live in Grace Walk in Love by Bob Goff is my morning short passage read before starting my day.

When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson is my first realistic fiction graphic novel and I'm intrigued with how realistic this is and eye opening it is for me about refugee camps.

How To Love the World Poems of Gratitude and Hope by James Crews is my short read before going to sleep.

Thank you Jen at Teach Mentor Texts for co-hosting this event with Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers.

It's Monday, What are you reading? {#IMWAYR}

I thought about not joining in, my personal reading was slow this week and realized slow reading is reading and progress is progress.

 

This week I am reading a few things.

Live in Grace - Walk in Love a 365 Day Journey by Bob Goff has become part of my morning routine. I'm finding a life nugget to hold on to as I start my day. 

Here is one from this week I thought others might need to hear..."the discomfort brought by fear and uncertainty in our lives can become blessings."

Building a Life Worth Living A Memoir by Marsha M Linehan continues to be fascinating. I enjoy reading about her path and studies early in her career.

I finished the audio version of Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds. The author note at the end really helped me think about the reality of life teens in jails may be facing.

My next audio book, I'm starting tomorrow is What Happened to You? by Oprah Winfrey and Bruce D Perry.

Thank you Jen at Teach Mentor Texts for co-hosting this event with Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers.

It's Monday! What are you reading? {#IMWAYR}

Hello 2022, it's good to dust off this writing space and reconnect.  

This week I am reading a few things.

Live in Grace - Walk in Love a 365 Day Journey by Bob Goff has become part of my morning routine. I picked this book up for two reasons; guidance for having an open heart about life and for a nudge in thinking about religion. 

Building a Life Worth Living A Memoir by Marsha M Linehan is fascinating. Our family participated in a Dialetical Behavior Therapy a program for six months once a week. I understand the impact her work has on mental health. Marcia's work actually began when she was institutionalized for two years at eighteen years old. I can't wait to learn more about her journey. 

My audio book this week is  Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds. I'm so intrigued by the main character's visitors during an elevator ride. 

Thank you Jen at Teach Mentor Texts for co-hosting this event with Kellee and Ricki from Unleashing Readers.