Wonderful Throwback Thursday

We have one more day without Steven, and can I just say how tired I am? Hats off to all you single moms or military moms who do this all the time! I have two friends with 3 kids each who are by themselves for one month or 15 days right now (one has a 4yr old and two under 2), so I'm trying nit to complain. My one week alone with Keagan is nothing. Still, naps are SO welcoming!

So today I'm doing a double line-up with Cara and Andrea about one of my FAVORITE books that you absolutely MUST read if you teach upper grades (or if not, read it for yourself because it's amazing and well worth your time). That way I don't even have to think and can take some time to paint my nails instead!

~~~~This post is originally from early February of this year because I wanted a good book review. I didn't end up doing any for the beginning of last year.~~~~

Okay I told you I would give you my review on this book once I read it. You HAVE to read this book, especially if you work in the upper grades. I picked up the book from the library last Friday and had it finished yesterday afternoon. With a little boy who hasn't been feeling very well and doesn't want me to put him down, that's REALLY quick! Now I need to buy my own copy because this is a book I've got to have.

This link is to Amazon where the book is $8.89, which is the best price I found considering it's hardcover only right now.

Anyway, the book is about a boy, Auggie, who is terribly "deformed". He's been in and out of surgeries his entire life, but he just looks weird. His outer ears aren't existent, his eyes are out of place, and so on. Auggie has always been home-schooled, but his parents decide it's time for him to enter the "real world" as a 5th grader. The principal has three "good students" chosen to welcome Auggie into the school and take care of him, but kids are kids! There are many parts in the book where I wanted to yell at a child, but there are plenty of others where I was so proud that I wished they were my own students.

My favorite line in the book is at the very end. Auggie makes a precept that is so perfect, I may have to make a sign to post in my room. "Everyone in the world should get a standing ovation at least once in their life because we all overcometh the world." So sweet!

Alright my other item of business today (hehe, I just wanted to say that) is that my real-life best friend has started her own blog yesterday, and I'm SOO excited! Her name is Amanda, and she teaches 1st grade, although she spent 5 years in kindergarten. We both are kind of equally obsessed with Mo Willems and the pigeon, so she cracked me up when she texted me to see if I was okay with her blog title being Teacher at the Wheel. Of course! Go show her some blogging love. She's awesome, and I know she'll have some great ideas to share!

What are you waiting for? Go read this book!!! And if you teach upper grades, please read it to your kids! Oh, and of course, go follow Teacher at the Wheel!

~~~~By the way, you should still follow Amanda. Her little blog has grown a lot, and I think you'll find her hilarious! Off to do my nails or read or take a nap!~~~~