The Book Whisperer

I just finished reading The Book Whisperer, by Donalyn Miller (2009). Donalyn, a teacher, writes about her success hooking kids on reading. She does it by having a great in-class book collection, scheduling reading time every day, and expecting that everyone will read, every day.

The kids chose what they want to read and recommend books to each other, and she recommends books, based on what she knows about each child.

It was a delight to read about her enthusiasm for kids and reading and books, and to hear about her successes nurturing readers. And it gives me hope that a focus on reading for pleasure, and letting kids chose their own books, might reach other kids who are uncomfortable with reading.

Maureen

The Joy of Time and Solitude

I was given the greatest gift for a writer, time and solitude. I spent two nights in Canmore in a condo, courtesy of a brother- and sister-in-law. It was a mini-spring in winter, so warm I sat on the balcony in bare feet and a T-shirt, the sleeves pushed up over my shoulders, tanning while I wrote. I spent three days alone, with no one needing anything, no laundry waiting, no walks to shovel. I worked when I wanted to and rested when I needed.

I couldn’t push this hard every day, but to use this time to simply write and write and write – well, to edit and edit and edit – on five, yes, seriously, five different projects – was brilliant. This is an indication of how scattered my last six months have been, and the effort I’m putting in to learning and growing as a writer, but it has to stop at some point. I keep thinking I’m almost at that point, and then I see something new to dig into.

And it was wonderful, truly wonderful.

Maureen

What’s a Reducetarian?

Hi. My name is Maureen, and I’m a Reducetarian

My older daughter was home for three weeks over the holiday. She’s a vegan, and so we adapted our menus to accommodate.

It was an interesting experience ­– difficult because I have food allergies and sensitivities that make it difficult for me to eat only vegan. But I love vegetables, and I prefer meals that focus on wonderful vegetables,  so we found a way to manage, more or less.

I’ve been looking for vegetarian recipes I can eat, and now can add vegan recipes. And I’m much more inspired ­– the food is so good, and so healthy, and I’m quite happy to eat less and less meat.

Now I discover there’s a name for that – Reducetarian – for people who don’t want to or can’t go all-out vegetarian or vegan, but want to reduce their meat consumption, for environmental, ethical or health reasons. And because it tastes so good.

When my children were small I learned about burping babies, and french-braiding wildly curly hair, and putting really straight hair into buns, and sewing costumes (a half-tutu was my piece de resistance).

Now we’ve moved on to being challenged to eat vegan, to understand LGBTQ issues (Quiltbag), to have a much broader view of feminism (for my kid’s generation, it’s about equality for all). And it’s fascinating. Bring it on!

Maureen