December 2020

It's December!  The weather is colder and nights are longer.  It's the perfect time to settle in with some great books!  Currently, I am reading Igniting a Passion for Reading by Steven Layne.  With nearly all school activities delayed until later in January, now is the perfect time to promote independent reading in our school community.

Here's what I've recently finished:


Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate was recommended to me by awesome Intervale Elementary School educator Deirdre Boylan.  It's a beautiful story about a boy named Kek who has survived the Sudanese massacre and has emigrated to Minnesota.  Appropriate for Grade 5 and up.

Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield is one of those marvelous stories that combines mystical storytelling and science to deliver an incredible tale with a satisfying ending that brings the story full circle.  Highly recommended for adult readers.

The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday was recommended by our Chief of Police and has been a terrific resource for leadership guidance during the pandemic.

Endurance:  Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing delivers an exciting and extremely well-researched account of Ernest Shackleton's 1914 attempt to reach the South Pole.