Tuesday, September 4, 2018

It's been a while!

Yikes! Life is busy and beautiful and chaotic. I posted one year ago a post similar to this one, and hopefully I can find time to write and update a little more regularly. 

We had a great summer! We went on LOTS of trips. Maybe too many, because the momma never really gets to rest on vacation, right?!  But we got to enjoy time on the lake, Jake visited Lake Hartwell with some college frat buddies, I went on a girls trip to Asheville and saw the breath-taking Chihuly exhibition at the Biltmore Estate, I took the girls to visit some family up in PA over Memorial Day, Jake and I went on a couples trip to Jekyll Island for our anniversary, and we went to IOP as a family.  Yep, busy!

Head over to instagram if you want to catch up with photos of all those things [smwalden11]. 

Additionally, I've really enjoyed having more time for reading this summer! I thought I would round up some of my summer reading favorites for you.  Some novels, some education books, some personal development...

The Wild Card: 7 Steps to an Educator's Creative BreakthroughThe Wild Card: 7 Steps to an Educator's Creative Breakthrough by Wade King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is full of great ideas. I enjoyed the Audible version and hearing the authors read it in their own voices. As an art teacher, I felt some of their ideas did not completely apply to me as the book is geared more towards classroom teachers, however many could be adapted for my content area. I especially loved the idea of transforming spare classrooms for all in the school to use and benefit from. I think every person in a school could gain something from this book.



Be the OneBe the One by Byron Pitts
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this entire short book in a few hours. His words are heart wrenching, captivating, and hopeful. As a future teacher, this book will stick with me for a long time.



The Perfect CoupleThe Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this new book by Hilderbrand. The characters were interesting and the plot kept you guessing, even when theorizing about who was guilty. It left me wanting more!



It Won't Be Easy: An Exceedingly Honest (and Slightly Unprofessional) Love Letter to TeachingIt Won't Be Easy: An Exceedingly Honest (and Slightly Unprofessional) Love Letter to Teaching by Tom Rademacher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book was a fantastic, quick, and easy read and was written with a practical voice of a veteran teacher who was still in touch with school as it currently is today. He is witty and self-deprecating, and was enjoyable to read. He brought up so many poignant elements that one might encounter during their first year of teaching, and overall I think it could be summed up by saying that he helps you to understand picking your battles on the many fronts you may face them. Highly recommend this one!



These were the highlights, but I did read a few others that were just okay. 


Where do you get ideas for which books to read next? I love following blogs and seeing what they suggest, and also through my friend's Goodreads accounts.  I've been in the mood for another Liane Moriarty book so I think I might start one of those next!

Now, back to grad school and football season!