A recent news story caught my ear about credit card contracts, reading levels, and what could happen. Most credit card contracts are written at an 11th grade level, well most Americans read at a 9th grade level. What problems could this cause? How can we change it? Are there other documents that we must read that are written at a more difficult level then Americans read at and why? 

What are your big plans for the summer? Are you getting a job?

This time of year not only is the weather crazy with rapidly changing temperatures, winds, precipitation and forecasts, but so are my students moods and mine. Between the full moon last week, Halloween and daylight savings time- I think that everyone is ready for a break. What do you do to set yourself up for success during this time? Do you change your sleeping habits early or are you just thankful for your one extra hour of sleep on Sunday morning? Do you believe that the cycle of the moon and the tides effect peoples behavior? WMYST (What makes you say that?) 

High school is a stressful time for most students and teachers; I cannot imagine the compounded stress added to students that don't have a stable and safe home. The frustration with the social service system, the need to keep up on school work, athletic requirements, not to mention clean clothes and laundry. What can we do to help as teachers, as a school system? We need to do better at creating a safe and bully-free environment for those students! Students need to all be aware of whom they should contact, where they can find help or services, and how they can access those people.  

How many different things are you doing right now? How many of them are getting the best you, your full attention? Students are often found using their phone at the same time as they are listening to music and trying to read. Many different scientists have researched this and teachers and parents are realizing that it just doesn't work.Read that article from Mindshift  and then comment on the blog below>>> How Does Multitasking Change the Way Kids Learn?Annie Murphy Paul 

The beginning of the week is often a bummer for those students that don't want their weekend to end. At times it is the weather, the testing or even the cafeteria choices that discourage some from coming to school. I know my favorite thing to do on the weekend especially when it is raining is to curl up in a big blanket and read a great book. I often will be so intent on reading that I won't even realize that the rain has stopped or I have spent half of my day on the couch. Many times I get caught up in reading books for school, but my favorite is a crime mystery, especially a crime mystery about Washington DC. It has the perfect combination of power, greed and motive for me. What makes a story good to you? Tell me about a time when you just had to keep reading until the end of the book. Are there types of books that you like to read because there are obvious stopping points that are shorter? 

Many will say that the times we are living in today are much more violent then in the past. Do you think that statement is true? What makes you say that? Do you read the newspaper or newsfeeds online? Have you ever read a crime novel? What is the craziest criminal you have heard about and describe what the book would be like. 

The Catching Fire or Part Two of the Hunger Games franchise opened this weekend earning $161 million dollars. The fourth largest opening ever. Did you see the movie? Did you read the book, what about the whole series? What are the differences that you notice? I now remember why I couldn't wait to read the last book,.. the cliff-hanger ending in the movie and the book leaves you screaming for the next part in utter frustration. I was lucky enough to see the movie on opening day with some students and teachers that are part of the book club at our high school! Phenomenal doesn't even begin to describe it, I enjoyed the symbolism and was especially creeped out by the scary monkeys!!! What are your reactions? Are there things in books that you have read about that you would like to see in movies? Are there movies that you have sse

Many teachers are having students participate in different types of independent reading activities from English classes to silent reading in advisory. Research shows that students that perform the best on testing are students that report doing the most independent reading, books of choice. What do you think that students can learn from all of this reading? What makes you say that?