Exploring Learning

Little Brother by Cory Doctorow If ever I read a book that advocates the teaching of code to school kids, this is it! All teenagers need to read this to think about the implications of technology - about how it helps but more importantly, WHO it helps. It paints a dark portrait of a not-too-distant future in America, where our every move is tracked and analysed . BUT it also shows how those who can get beneath the surface of computers, can change the world. Computers are not new anymore - but the facade that we see masks what is really going on. Children need to be able to go behind the facade that presents our interface as beautiful and learn to control and manipulate it. The future is not about those who can use a computer because let's face it, two years olds can do that. The future is about children who can get behind the pretty and into the nitty gritty. Many educators are coming around to this notion and lots of us are introducing basic code into our classrooms ...

I am an advocate of reading. I am an avid reader. Many posts and Tweets contest to such. Always wanting to improve my practice and approach to delivering reading to my learners, I recently picked up a copy of  @Donalynbooks The Book Whisperer . It confirmed much of what I do in regards reading, as sound and effective methodology, such as free-reading, and reading time every day, as well as modelling being an actual reader. The book also gave me some areas to think about and re-work, such as the ubiquitous class novel. Red Dot Book Awards We are already reading every lesson, and learners have accepted my Reading Challenge 2014 . In addition, as part of my Future of Fiction unit which explores where storytelling might be going, and how technology might help us to tell stories, I am including some reading circles, using books from the Red Dot Book Awards in Singapore. The  Red Dot Book Awards   is a student choice book awards organised  by the Intern...

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe  by Benjamin Alire Saenz This is a story of friendship, growing-up, loyalty and love. It is a joy and a pleasure and I read with a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. Two Hispanic boys more dissimilar than alike, form a bond stronger than friendship, the kind that can teach a lesson to us all. Whilst written for Young Adults, this is a book that is worth reading by adults too - the role we play in shaping the lives of our children is laid bare and resonates across generations. It forced me to want to be more honest and open, to support and not judge - particularly when my children get to trickier teenage times ahead. I would recommend this to anyone struggling with the courage to be themselves, or anyone who wonders just whose rules we are living our life by. If you like this, you will love: Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan Every Day by D...

Trackers (Book 1) by Patrick Carman I am currently planning an inquiry based unit asking learners to think about the future of fiction. Where fiction is going is of great interest to me. I own a few Kindles, though personally, have not fully integrated myself into this realm. I love the fact I can have a book in seconds - but, I still go out and buy the 'real' version of any I read and love on my Kindle. I do not think you can beat the feel and smell and sound of a brand new book. Geek that I am, nothing excites me more than an hour or so to wander around Kinokunyia  (Singapore hosts the largest store outside of Japan), or the lastest  arrival from Amazon, of a stack of books for me to explore and lose myself in. Kinokunyia , Ngee Ann City, Singapore Throughout my MEd ., I have been focusing on where reading and writing might be going for learners growing up in a digital age. I wrote an essay about Kindles , exploring whether they may re-engage le...

Legend Trilogy Boxed Set (Amazon) Legend , Prodigy and Champion by Marie Lu. He is a Legend. She is a Prodigy. Who will be Champion? I am a bit of a fan of dystopian fiction; it was Atwood's  The Handmaid's Tale that began it all, I think. Anyway, having just steamed my way through Veronica Roth's excellent Divergent trilogy, as well having just watched Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins second in The Hunger Games triology - I wanted more! A search led me to Lu's Legend trilogy and, it being Christmas and all, I treated myself to a boxed set. The hardcover books are lovely with tactile dustcovers  (these things matter in the whole reading experience). Chapters are told in third person but alternatively focus on either June or Day's perspective. Day's chapters are printed in coloured  ink to match the colours of each novel - gold, blue and red respectively. The story occurs in a post- apocolyptic  world destroyed and disjointed by immense f...

Every You, Every Me by David Levithan Last year, I read Everyday by David Levithan and became an instant fan. He is what I aspire to be as a writer - unique, original, intelligent, thought-provoking... I am also very much  inspired by his writing process . Will Grayson, Will Grayson , co-authored with John Green (another of my favorite authors - read ALL his books if you haven't yet!), was penned by each author assuming a voice of one of the two protagonists. Each was a 'Will Grayson', and they wrote alternating chapters that together, compromise a wonderfully crafted, realistic depiction of teenage life that appeals to us all.  Every You, Every Me  does not disappoint in both the way it was written and the final outcome. Inspired by a photograph seen pinned to a fridge at the home of Jonathan Farmer, Levithan set out to write a psychological thriller inspired by photographs. Farmer sent Levithan images upon which the next par...

A Wrinkle in Time is a classic children's favourite . Somehow - don't ask me how - it had gone under my radar until I read When You Reach Me  by Rebecca Stead, in which time travel plays a huge part due to Miranda, the protagonist, being a fan of L'Engle's novel. And so I bought the graphic novel. Time travel is something that both fascinates and baffles me. No amount of Back To The Future  (the second one in particular) can help me wrap my head around the concept of travelling through time, which in itself is an abstract concept I struggle with. L'Engle's novel was first published fifty years ago and graphic novelist, Hope Larson, has brought it to life for a whole new generation to enjoy. According to the School Library Journal, Larson's illustrations remain "true to the story, preserving the original chapter format and retaining L’Engle’s voice. Black-and-white artwork is accented with blue, echoing the original cover color" (Amazon). C...

I have started a review and record of all the books I read this year. I already have a huge list of books lined up for this year - lots for the Singapore Red Dot Awards , others from recommendations and others' 2014 lists ( see here ). Below is a list of 30 ( ish ) to-reads for this year, so far - though obviously, there will be more along the way. Once read, they will be reviewed and recorded on my Books - 2014 page . Eleanor & Park  by Rainbow Rowell JAN 2014 A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Nove l by Madeleine L'Engle and Hope Larson  JAN 2014 Legend by Marie Lu JAN 2014 Prodigy by Marie Lu JAN 2014 Champion by Marie Lu JAN 2014 Solanin  by Inio Asano JAN 2014 Fangirl  by Rainbow Rowell JAN 2014 Every You Every Me by David Levithan JAN 2014 Daytripper   by Gabriel Ba and Fabio Moon JAN 2014 Little White Duck by Na  Liu  JAN 2014 Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo  JAN 2014 Trackers by Patrick Carman...

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell John Green, who happens to be one of my favourite  YA authors, sums this book up perfectly: “Eleanor & Park reminded me not just what it’s like to be young and in love with a girl, but also what it’s like to be young and in love with a book.”—John Green, The New York Times Book Review I could not put this down and read it incessantly until I was done. I absorbed the characters, their heartaches, their joy - I was reminded of what it is like to be young, an outsider, in love. This book has some strong language so I will recommend it with caution to my learners, but to every adult, particularly of my generation, I would make it a must-read. Set in the late 80s, anyone who was a misfit, a punk, a skater; anyone who loved Vans, dressed for themselves without a care for others, who didn't quite fit, who was bullied, who was insecure; anyone who appreciates great comics and great music, anyone who remembers first love - they will identif...