The Dragon Series
Christopher Paolini started creating the Inheritance Series of books around a 15 year old boy, a blue dragon, and a world of adventure, intrigue, and mystery. There are many complex sub-themes with in each of the books. Earagon is the first in the series, which introduces us to Eragon. He discovers a blue stone which he thinks he can sell or trade for food for his family. When the sone hatches, he knows he should not keep the baby but he does. He has stumbled on a mystery that will change his life. Book 2, Eldest deals with his training as a Dragon Rider, discovering ever more about the races of Alagaesa and the evil Empire. Book 3, Brisinger unfolds more mysteries along with the maturing Eragon involved in evermore complex plots and his loyalties are tested. This is very well written and a favorite of both students and adults. I enjoyed the breadth and depth of the author's imagination as well as his skill. Book 4 yet to come will be a winner also.

Readicide?

Readicide?  This was a new thought presented by a very highly thought of teacher of the year, Bill Ferriter, an 8th grade teacher.  

Please see the following link and then add your own thoughts.  Please view the link to VoiceThread and listen to other educators. You might have to copy and paste the link into your browser window

Http://teacherleaders.typepad.com/the_tempered_radical/2009/01/conversation-on-readicide-begins-today.htm.

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You

If you liked Alias, high tech and adventure, this book is for you.  The Gallagher Academy for exceptional young women is not your typical all-girls high school.  You take advanced martial arts in PE, open secret passages with obscure levers, learn the latest in chemical warfare, break codes, learn surveillance techniques and your Mom is a secret agent.  She wears tiny microfilm recorders in her broaches.  Cammie Morgan is fluent in 14 languages but has no idea what to do when she meets an ordinary boy.  She can hack into the family computer, track him, yet try to keep her identity secret.   However friends arrange for a clandestine meeting.   All kinds of things go haywire as this relationship progresses.  This is an enjoyable story for teenage girls.

Reads for Boys

The Ranger's Apprentice Series

The Ranger's Apprentice series has a lot a guy could want. Adventure, intrigue, non-stop unexpected events and friendships that develop throughout the books. The special marine like organization and training takes place during the middle ages using the technology of the time. The human insights and coming of age threads are very well done. There are seven books published so far and the author, John Flanagan may have more coming. We have seven in the MC. I have enjoyed reading the first three of the series. The photos are courtesy of Amazon.com You can order these on line. They would make a great gift.

Twilight Series of Books

Twilight

Since my 7th and 8th graders love these books, and we have requests for them all the time, I bought a set and started reading. These books are very well written, with woven subplots spicing up the tale as it progresses. There are several larger themes within the books that attract teens. Love wins over anger and lesser motives. Love puts the other person first, although it may get clouded by faulty vision sometimes. There is a lot a young heart wants to hear.

Picture of the book is from Amazon.com

Trailer Enjoy! More on Youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBvOhfL4mYw

Trends of Worth

Trends Worth Noting
I read several articles recently that are quite good. Among them are...

From eSchool News (www.eschoolnews.com/emails/esnTW/esntw120108.htm)
Seven Skills Students Desperately Need...
http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/?i=56127
Four Trends that Could Change Everything...
http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/index.cfm?i=56180
Why some Students Prefer Virtual Schooling
http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/related-top-news/index.cfm?i=56217

Technology brings about changes. Staying alert to these trends requires time to read about them and reflection time to integrate them into my thinking at least. Ignoring them is dangerous for everyone in education. ICT skills are taking on more importance as they are integrated globally. Forgive me if these comments are short. Time is of the essence for all of us.

Wonderingwind

Second Life: Education in a Virtual World (slidecast)

From: HVX.Mica, 9 months ago

Second Life: Education in a Virtual World (slidecast)

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: lauc-b conference academic library 2.0)

Presentation slides for the LAUC-B Academic Library 2.0 conference. Presentation given by Bernadette Daly Swanson (UCD) and Danielle Kane (UCSC)


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