Wishtree Staff Book Club

During January several staff members have been reading Wishtree by Katherine Applegate. We have 17 members of book club this time, and I have been busy finding extra copies of the book as more people jumped into book club.  This time of the year is tricky for book club because unseen obstacles like snow days or sick days can impact the amount of reading time available. Even though there may be obstacles it's important to pick a good book and keep reading.

I had already read Wishtree, and I couldn't wait to share this amazing story with my fellow readers. I missed our first discussion day because I was sick, and I was a little disappointed at some of the responses I heard. Some readers were having a difficult time getting into the book. Some were confused with the point of view. "Keep reading," I urged them. I knew that eventually they would discover the magic. They would be drawn to Red and the way Red held the community together.

Today was our final discussion, and those who finished reading the book loved it. Here are a couple comments:

• I have really enjoyed it and I know others have also.  It has also been great to have kids say...hey my teacher is reading that book too!
• ...I wonder if the parents will ever start being friends?! Great book!
• I loved watching a friendship evolve...I think there is hope for the parents.
• I enjoyed this book!! I enjoyed reading it with my kiddo too and seeing him get the big idea in the book. It was so interesting how the author chose to write from the tree's point of view.
• ...I feel that it ties together really well with the whole aspect of welcoming and interacting with others who aren't necessarily like you.

It was also exciting to have Katherine Applegate tweet a comment about our book club.

What can learn from staff book clubs? I have a couple ideas:

1. Reading in a book club helps provide accountability for readers. 
2. Book clubs provide us with opportunities to share with our families.
3. Students are watching us. They are watching us as readers. 
4. Book clubs may introduce us to books we may not read otherwise.
5. Book clubs are fun!

#OneWord2018

With the new year approaching I began looking for my #OneWord2018. I didn't have a word that just jumped out and cried to be the word for the new year. So I sat down and listed all the words that came to mind. I wanted a word that led to action. Courage and balance kept coming up as two words that I really needed in my life.  After looking at the getoneword.com website I found three questions that helped me in my search.

2 Timothy 1:7 "For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline."

1. What do I need?
2. What's in my way?
3. What needs to go?

Balance (verb)- establish equal or appropriate proportions of elements in.

This year I am dedicated to working on finding balance. 

Luke 2:52 "And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man."