Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate

Over the next few days, I will be highlighting some of the books I've read recently.  I just finished one of the most beautiful stories I've read in a while.  The novel was Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate. The story is about Kek, a young refugee who moves from Africa to Minnesota.  I can't imagine that kind of change, and it's interesting to read about Kek having to learn to survive in a new culture.  He sees snow for the first time,  rides in an airplane (or flying boat), and misunderstands the term "washing machine" and tries to wash the dishes in it.

The book is written in poetry form, which reads beautifully.  It also makes it a quick read; I read it in one evening.  I love that the book balances the horror of his old life, which is revealed through his dreams, with the humorous and heartfelt stories of his new life.  I highly recommend this novel!

Do you have a book you want to share?  Email me at mrs.schuette at gmail.com a short highlight of the novel, and I'll post it on here.

Writing Challenge #5

Writing Challenge #5

This week’s writing challenge is to write an entry for a local contest that Boise State Public Radio is hosting.  The contest appears to be open to kids and adults.   Whether or not you enter the contest is up to you, but it’s good practice to try.  Plus, I thought the topic was fun.  We’ve spent our summer so far exploring all that the Boise area has to offer: bike riding and roller blading on the greenbelt, the zoo, Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Roaring Springs, and a variety of ice cream choices.  

Here’s the information on the contest:

"One Minute Idaho" Writing Contest!

Write a 120-word description of your memorable, uniquely Idaho experience – for example, your best Idaho travel or adventure moment, your favorite Idaho landmark and why, where you were when you ate your favorite Idaho food for the first time, and so on ... we want to hear your story. Submit it by 11:59 p.m. MST on August 12, 2011.

Three winners will be chosen. His/her essay will be recorded and aired on Boise State Public Radio. Winners will also receive a pair of tickets to hear Ira Glass on November 5 at the Morrison Center in Boise, tickets to the private reception with Ira Glass prior to his public appearance and one overnight stay at a bed & breakfast or hotel in Boise. Additionally, one of the three winners will be selected by Ira Glass and have their story read onstage the evening of Ira's appearance in Boise. 

To see the contest information or to enter, go to http://radio.boisestate.edu/iraglasscontest

As always, you may email me at mrs.schuette at gmail.com or post to Dropbox.  Happy writing!

Writing Challenge #4

Writing Challenge #4 

This week is going to be a little different.  I am currently taking a class on incorporating service learning into the curriculum.  As part of the class, we are looking at service learning projects as meaningful, engaging, learning experiences for both the students helping and the people on the receiving end of the project.  What I’d like to know is what has been the most meaningful community service project you’ve experienced?  Why did you feel it was worthwhile?  How did it affect you?  How did you get involved with this project?   

I don’t want this to sound like a community service report.  I want to hear your personal experience, focused on why it was meaningful.  Get readers to see it from your perspective, and try to convince readers to become involved in the same project.  It doesn’t have to be a full essay, but it should be detailed enough to share your experience.  

As a bonus, this will be one of our first assignments when the school year starts.  If you write it now, you won’t have to write it in the fall.  As always, post it on Dropbox, or email it to me at mrs.schuette at gmail.com.  Thanks for participating!

Writing Challenge #3

Thanks to those of you who played along last week. Our family just switched completely over to Mac computers, so I'm trying to get the hang of posting everything in new formats. It may take awhile to get used to the differences. For this week's challenge, try to include multiple scenes in your writing piece. It can be fiction or nonfiction, but I'd like to see you include either two different places or two different time periods. For example, Little Susie starts out in Boise, Idaho, and then travels to Paris, France. Another example might start out with Bob's childhood, then go to his eighteenth birthday. The trick here is to weave two (or more) scenes into one cohesive story.

I can't wait to read what you write :)

What are you reading this summer?

I just finished the Uglies series (more on that at a later date).  On the last book order, I ordered a bunch of books for my classroom library.  These are the ones I brought home to read this summer:
Words in the Dust  by Trent Reedy
*When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
Tracker by Gary Paulsen
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jaqueline Kelly
*Newberry book

Anyone reading anything that they think EVERYONE should read? 

Happy Reading!

Writing Challenge #2

I'm sorry I'm a bit tardy getting the second challenge up.  Thank you to Carson and Blake for playing along in week one!  I found an awesome site for you to try for your second writing challenge.  The site is http://www.thestorystarter.com/ or for an easier starter, www.thestorystarter.com/jr.htm  These sites will automatically generate story starters. You do not have to use the first one it gives you.  Feel free to play with it until you find one that inspires you.   Some are quite silly, but overall, I think the site is fun.  If you have another idea you want to use, you may do that as well. 

Remember, to have a chance at fun prizes, you need to email it to me or post it on Dropbox. If you would title your file as your name and #2, that would be great. For example, mine would be name nschuette#2. If you post it by the end of the week, you will get two drawing entries. Anything posted after the 21st will get 1 entry. I look forward to reading your pieces! Have fun!

Writing Challenge #1

Welcome to the Summer Writing Challenge!  I'm going to make the first challenge fairly easy as we start summer break.  Your first challenge is to write about a summer adventure.  The genre is your choice.  It can be a poem, nonfiction story or essay about a summer adventure you've had, or a fictional story about the ultimate summer adventure. 

Remember, to have a chance at fun prizes, you need to email it to me or post it on Dropbox.  If you would title your file as your name and #1, that would be great.  For example, mine would be name nschuette#1.   If you post it by the end of the week, you will get two drawing entries. Anything posted after the 12th will get 1 entry.  I look forward to reading your pieces, and I will post my own sometime this week.  Have fun!