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Kindle 3G

This Christmas I got the new Kindle 3G gadget.  I have to admit that I really like it!  I am a cover person, unfortunately and wasn't sure I would get used to not seeing a cover of a book- not to mention the smell and feel of turning those pages.  However, now that I have one, it is so neat! I love how it can hold so many books and the way it fits in my purse.  Also, it is so easy to read in the sunlight! I take it to the beach for a nice read and I feel like I can actually see the words easier than those printed in a book-I know it seems strange.  I suggest you check it out if you are a reader-I think it is really neat and worth it!

Nicolas Sparks

Nicolas Sparks is one of my favorite adult authors.  His books are amazing love stories and I never get tired of reading them.  The following books are my favorite of his and suggested reads if you like reading love stories.

Nicolas Sparks returns with a tale about the greatest commitment of all: loving someone forever. When a near-fatal car crash brings Taylor McAden together with Denise Holden, a new resident of Edenton, North Carolina, he must look into his past to see if it's not too late to take a chance on the future.


Nicholas Sparks tells the unforgettable story of a man whose brushes with death lead him to the love of his life.  After U.S. Marine Logan Thibault finds a photograph of a smiling young woman buried in the dirt during his tour of duty in Iraq, he experiences a sudden streak of luck, winning poker games and even surviving deadly combat. 


Back home in Colorado, Thibault can't seem to get the woman in the photograph out of his mind and he sets out on a journey across the country to find her. But Thibault is caught off guard by the strong attraction he feels for the woman he encounters in North Carolina, Elizabeth, a divorced mother, and he keeps the story of the photo, and his luck, a secret. As he and Elizabeth embark upon a passionate love affair, his secret soon threatens to tear them apart, destroying not only their love, but also their lives.

Miles's life seemed to end the day his wife was killed in a hit-and-run accident. He still rises each morning to take care of his young son and carries out his duties as deputy sheriff of New Bern, North Carolina, but it's all in a numb and hopeless haze.  Until he meets Sarah.

Writing Essentials-updated

I chose to read the book Writing Essentials by Regie Routman.  I was hoping to find some enlightening way on how to improve my writing instruction.  I found the book to be very inspirational for primary and intermediate grade level teachers.  I will be able to put several of the lessons and teaching ideas into practice in my first grade classroom.  However, I found it difficult to extend ideas for high school students and possibly students above seventh grade. This book was written chiefly for elementary educators.  With that in mind, I found it difficult to create a presentation towards teachers in grades sixth-twelfth.  Therefore, I tried to modify the examples Routman used in her book for an older audience.  Please check out my presentation of the highlights of the book on my Google site under Book Presentation.  https://sites.google.com/site/acaveoftreasuresforreaders/innovations/writing-essentials-newsletter