Hacking Google for Education by Currie, Krakower, and Rocco

I am so ridic excited that next year all Social Studies and English teachers will be using Google Classroom.  I've been seeking out some new resources for our teachers, and this was one that came in from a water money order. 

What I like about this particular manual is that it's broken into classroom, school, and district.  For Google's G Suite/Apps for Education to work the way it should, there has to be buy-in from administration and teachers across disciplines.  I'm hoping to get more people on board!  This guide is a really good place to start.

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All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.

The Feather Thief by Kirk Wallace Johnson

I have weird obsessions.  Ancient Aliens.  Oak Island.  Southern Virginia/Northern Tennessee.  Bacon.  Those hats British ladies wear. 

But I don't think any of my obsessions reach the level of Johnson's or that of his subject.

To sum up, a young flute player breaks into a museum and steals a ridiculous amount of rare (dead/stuffed/mounted/partial) birds of beautiful feathered varieties.  Later he will claim Asperger's as his defense. 

A young man helping Iraqi refugees seeks solace in a fishing trip.  He's in awe of his friend's fly making skills.  Said friend tells him the story of Edwin Rist, the bird-thief.  The story goes Rist stole them to make fishing flys. 

Really.

I swear I'm not making this up.

When I first took this out, I judged a book by it's cover.  It looked really awesome.

Then I read the jacket description and went "what the French toast?  Are you serious?  Is this for real?  Why did I buy this?  How is this on the bestseller list?!?!?!?!"

Because I'm committed to this whole Book a Day January thing, I pressed on.

It was actually a really good story!  It is as much about Johnson's obsession to solve the crime (finding Rist's accomplices and buyers of the stolen feathers) as it is about the actual crime itself.

Kinda stunned I liked it so much.

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The Crimes of Grindelwald by J.K. Rowling

I'm a Potterhead.

Duh.  As if you didn't know that already.

That being said, I was uber-disappointed in Fantastic Beasts, so I had some hesitation about reading this.  Written as a screenplay, much like Cursed Child, this is the basis of the latest movie, starring Johnny Depp (on a side note, HP is a Universal/Warner thing; could that be why Depp was fired from the Pirates franchise, a Disney endeavor?).

If you've followed me for a while, you know I have to read the book before I see the movie.

The reality is I don't really need to review this for plot.  It's a prequel; we know what happens to Grindelwald and Dumbledore.  There are some pretty significant plot twists I did not expect, but I don't want to spoil them, although anyone who really knows HP has an idea.  I especially liked Nagini.  ;)

Note the WHHS LMC does not have this book; this is a personal copy.  If there is enough interest, perhaps we can get it.

Oh, and after meeting with my bosses, my reviews are going to appear in video form.  More details to come.

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The Best Cook in the World by Rick Bragg

A lot of people think their Mommas are the best cooks in the world.  Mine was not.  She could burn water.  But my Nana, my non-biological great-grandmother (she ran the boarding house my grandfather lived in on Noble Street), was an amazing cook.  I was pretty sure she was the cook in the last cookbook memoir I reviewed here.

This Momma, however, is from the South.  Way South.

Baked possum anyone?  With sweet potatoes?

I've read Rick Bragg's column in one of my fave magazines, Garden & Gun.  I also loved said previous cookbook memoir (Bruculinu America).  I also secretly want to retire to south Virginia, near Tennessee.  I had no idea what I was in for in reading this.

I laughed a lot.  I cried a few times.  And I most definitely felt the need to puke once (you have to CARE FOR the possum for a week before cooking it!).

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Ban This Book by Alan Gratz

This was sent to me by Carrigan Reading teacher (and my Co-Color Guard Advisor) Mr. Adams.  HE was right that I'd like it. 

When I was a classroom teacher, The Bluest Eye in our curriculum was challenged by a parent.  It is a gut-wrenching experience to have your materials challenged before the Board of Education.  I've not had a book challenged as a Librarian, but I do make it a point to showcase how many books we have that have been challenged or banned during Banned Books Week. 

Our main character in this story finds her favorite book has been challenged and removed from her school library.  Amy Anne can't comprehend this and starts a secret library from the school lockers to trade in banned books.  Ultimately she and her classmates mount a quest to get all their banned books back into the school library by facing off with the Board of Education.   

This is a super-quick read (it's lower reading level) and really awesome to a school librarian.

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All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.

Loving Amy by Janis Winehouse

I went out to dinner for my birthday last night and completely blanked on writing this review.  So today is a two-for again!

Amy Winehouse was a gifted singer and musician, but her life was cut short by addiction.  A member of the infamous 27 year old club, Amy died as a result of alcohol.  This memoir reads like a biography but with the emotion of a mother's loss.

Fame isn't easy on relatives.  Tabloids make sure of that.  Amy was easy prey for supermarket rags: her attire, hair, makeup, and public intoxication frequently appeared on their covers.  Her death was public news within 30 minutes of her body being found.  For her siblings and parents, this meant every inch of their lives scrutinized.  How did a young woman with so much potential, from a good family, end up an addict?  Weren't they there for her?  Didn't they try to get her help?  Yes.  But that's never told in the media. 

I absolutely love Amy's music.  You might actually hear me humming "Rehab" every once in a while.  But music wasn't enough to save her. 

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Get More Out of G Suite by Hywel Stayte

I'm a total Google nerd.  When I saw this, I immediately put it on our wish list.  I am so proud of all the teachers at WHHS who have embraced Google and GSuite for Education.  I am hoping to convince some of our holdouts to get on board!

So, I'm a little disappointed.  I was looking to get more, but I knew everything this book had to offer.  This is definitely a how-to manual for beginners, not for someone like me who is Google Certified.

One other thing--it's in British English!  "Organisation" and "maximise" drove me bonkers!

This will be in our Professional section!

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All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.