12 for 2014 - Progress Report

In January I started my personal 12 Books for 2014 challenge in order to get myself to read more of the nonfiction I always plan to read but never quite get to.  I have another one and a half books checked off my list.  First, for the half, I read Sparks of Genius: The Thirteen Thinking Tools of the World's Most Creative People.  To be honest, I did not finish it.  While the book was interesting, it was very long and wordy.  I did not make it all that far before it was due at the library.  I had seen a presentation on the same topic by the authors, and found that their presentation had been a fantastic summary of all of the ideas.  Therefore, I am feeling okay with not finishing it.

The other book, which I actually read cover to cover, was Design Make Play.  The book focused on using making and tinkering as a tool in STEM education and the idea that children learn important problem solving and engineering skills better when interacting with real world materials.  The book was filled with great ideas and examples of how those have been implemented by others.  While I originally intended to read it for my students, I also found myself liking a lot of ideas from the book for Xander's education.  I had the urge to run out and buy him every type of constructive toy I could find.  I also started collecting bottle caps and paper towel tubes for him to use to create.  While it wasn't necessarily a page turner, I am very glad I read it.  Maybe I need to add a STEM component to Xander's education! :)

My Twelve Books for 2014

In no particular order:
1.  The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child by Donalyn Miller
2.  Mind in the Making: The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs by Ellen Galinsky
3.  Design Make Play by Margaret Honey 
4.  Teach Like a Champion by Doug Lemov
5.  The Five Love Languages of Children by Gary Champan
6.  Real Boys: Rescuing Our Sons from the Myths of Boyhood by William Pollack   (Stopped Reading)
6.  Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck
7.  Sparks of Genius: The Thirteen Thinking Tools of the World's Most Creative People by Robert S. Root-Bernstein
8.  Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time by Brian Tracy
9.  Sink Reflections by Marla Cilley
10.  A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking
11.  Happier at Home: Kiss More, Jump More, Abandon Self-Control, and My Other Experiments in Everyday Life by Gretchen Rubin
12.  Beyond Snapshots: How to Take That Fancy DSLR Camera Off "Auto" and Photograph Your Life Like a Pro by Rachel Devine

12 for 2014 - Confession

In January I started my personal 12 Books for 2014 challenge in order to get myself to read more of the nonfiction I always plan to read but never quite get to.  Well, it is only April and I have to confess, I plan on deviating from my plan.  I had originally planned to read Real Boys: Rescuing Our Sons from the Myths of Boyhood by William Pollack.  I had had to read a chapter from it for a class and really loved it, which is why it made the list.  However, after sitting down to read the actual book, I feel like it is way too long and repetitive.  I haven't really learned much beyond the initial chapters and am having a lot of trouble getting through it.  Therefore, I have decided I am not going to make myself finish when there are so many fantastic books out there waiting to be read.  Instead, I am going to replace it with Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck.

My Twelve Books for 2014
In no particular order:
1.  The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child by Donalyn Miller
2.  Mind in the Making: The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs by Ellen Galinsky
3.  Design Make Play by Margaret Honey 
4.  Teach Like a Champion by Doug Lemov
5.  The Five Love Languages of Children by Gary Champan
6.  Real Boys: Rescuing Our Sons from the Myths of Boyhood by William Pollack   (Stopped Reading)
6.  Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck
7.  Sparks of Genius: The Thirteen Thinking Tools of the World's Most Creative People by Robert S. Root-Bernstein
8.  Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time by Brian Tracy
9.  Sink Reflections by Marla Cilley
10.  A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking
11.  Happier at Home: Kiss More, Jump More, Abandon Self-Control, and My Other Experiments in Everyday Life by Gretchen Rubin
12.  Beyond Snapshots: How to Take That Fancy DSLR Camera Off "Auto" and Photograph Your Life Like a Pro by Rachel Devine

12 Books in 2014 Update 3

Another one down!  This month I got stalled a little bit on my 12 Books for 2014 goal.  I'm hoping to have made a bit of a recovery, though!  I just finished The Five Love Languages of Children.

Back in college I read The Five Love Languages and found it very intriguing.  While it most definitely did not turn me into a perfect partner, I think it was a good read for anyone wanting a serious relationship.  Since the most important relationship in my life right now is the one I have with my son, I decided a refresher, in the form of The Five Love Languages of Children, was in order.  I am so happy I read it now!  Xander is still so young that I am not quite sure what his love language will be.  Luckily, I do not think he has any issues with his love tank; I am constantly expressing love to him, in almost every language.  However, I do feel reading the book made me much more aware of how I interact with him.  I am also much more cautious about expressing love sincerely before and after I discipline him (I'm still far from perfect though).  I hope to keep the principles of this book in mind as he grows, and may even read it another time or two in the future.  I'd recommend it to other parents.  

Has anyone else read it?  What did you think?

My Twelve Books for 2014
In no particular order:
1.  The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child by Donalyn Miller
2.  Mind in the Making: The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs by Ellen Galinsky
3.  Design Make Play by Margaret Honey 
4.  Teach Like a Champion by Doug Lemov
5.  The Five Love Languages of Children by Gary Champan
6.  Real Boys: Rescuing Our Sons from the Myths of Boyhood by William Pollack
7.  Sparks of Genius: The Thirteen Thinking Tools of the World's Most Creative People by Robert S. Root-Bernstein
8.  Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time by Brian Tracy
9.  Sink Reflections by Marla Cilley
10.  A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking
11.  Happier at Home: Kiss More, Jump More, Abandon Self-Control, and My Other Experiments in Everyday Life by Gretchen Rubin
12.  Beyond Snapshots: How to Take That Fancy DSLR Camera Off "Auto" and Photograph Your Life Like a Pro by Rachel Devine

12 Books in 2014 Update 2

In January I posted about making a conscious effort to read more nonfiction in my 12 Books for 2014 post.  Sadly my progress is a little slower than I would like, but I finally crossed another book of my list!

I finished Happier at Home: Kiss More, Jump More, Abandon Self-Control, and My Other Experiments in Everyday Life by Gretchen Rubin

I had read The Happiness Project by the same author last year, and found it motivating.  I liked this book as well, however, it did not apply to my life quite as much.  Part of the book concentrates on setting up your house to improve happiness.  Since I live with my dad, I have limited control.  A lot of the other resolutions were very useful and inspiring.  While I may not begin a full fledged "Happiness Project" as a result of reading this book, I have decided to make more of an effort in some areas.  For example, in an effort to appreciate the now more, I have made it a goal to take at least one video of Xander each week.  I am also much more conscious of letting others bring me down.  All in all, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it.  Just don't expect an life altering revelations.  I find the small, simple ones more manageable anyway!

My Twelve Books for 2014
In no particular order:
1.  The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child by Donalyn Miller
2.  Mind in the Making: The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs by Ellen Galinsky
3.  Design Make Play by Margaret Honey 
4.  Teach Like a Champion by Doug Lemov
5.  The Five Love Languages of Children by Gary Champan
6.  Real Boys: Rescuing Our Sons from the Myths of Boyhood by William Pollack
7.  Sparks of Genius: The Thirteen Thinking Tools of the World's Most Creative People by Robert S. Root-Bernstein
8.  Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time by Brian Tracy
9.  Sink Reflections by Marla Cilley
10.  A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking
11.  Happier at Home: Kiss More, Jump More, Abandon Self-Control, and My Other Experiments in Everyday Life by Gretchen Rubin
12.  Beyond Snapshots: How to Take That Fancy DSLR Camera Off "Auto" and Photograph Your Life Like a Pro by Rachel Devine

12 Books for 2014

Jolanthe, over at Homeschool Creations recently posted her commitment to read 12 nonfiction books in 2014, and I thought it was a wonderful idea! I love to read, but almost always choose fiction (despite the large number of nonfiction books on my Goodreads To-Read shelf!). I think forcing myself to read some more nonfiction will help me grow!

I tried to choose quite a variety in my 12 books.  Since I will be student teaching in a physics classroom this semester, I have included some teaching and science books.

My Twelve Books for 2014
In no particular order:
1.  The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child by Donalyn Miller
2.  Mind in the Making: The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs by Ellen Galinsky
3.  Design Make Play by Margaret Honey 
4.  Teach Like a Champion by Doug Lemov
5.  The Five Love Languages of Children by Gary Champan
6.  Real Boys: Rescuing Our Sons from the Myths of Boyhood by William Pollack
7.  Sparks of Genius: The Thirteen Thinking Tools of the World's Most Creative People by Robert S. Root-Bernstein
8.  Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time by Brian Tracy
9.  Sink Reflections by Marla Cilley
10.  A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking
11.  Happier at Home: Kiss More, Jump More, Abandon Self-Control, and My Other Experiments in Everyday Life by Gretchen Rubin
12.  Beyond Snapshots: How to Take That Fancy DSLR Camera Off "Auto" and Photograph Your Life Like a Pro by Rachel Devine

What are you reading?  What suggestions do you have?  I'd love to hear!