Author Archives: mrbrentg

There are a lot of great things about books. Academically there are studies that show the more kids read the better they will perform in school, increase their vocabulary, strengthen spelling skills. Aside from academic gains, the development of compassion and empathy, experiencing other cultures and situations that one might not be exposed to inContinue reading “A simple escape”

This morning I finished my favourite book so far this summer. Finley Hart is a young girl that suffers from Depression and Anxiety. Neither of which are named until much later in the story. The description however of what she goes through, the blue days, the crushing pain that holds her down, that keeps herContinue reading “Silent struggles”

This morning I sat down to read A Boy called Bat by Elana K. Arnold. It was a wonderfully heart warming story. Bixby Alexander Tam or BAT for short is surprised one day when his veterinarian mom brings home an orphan skunk to care for until a rescue facility can house it. The part thatContinue reading “Why books like “A Boy Called Bat” matter”

I just finished reading Kwame Alexander’s Solo and first I need to say this book needs to be added to all classroom libraries. A touching story full of heart I highly recommend this story. One line stuck out to me and really just hit me in the heart. “Why do we need mirrors when weContinue reading “Mirrors”

    Usually I just write a little blurb in the book box for the books that I read but this book could possibly be the most important book I have read considering the impact it could have. We live in a time where the unrest around the world is at an all time high.Continue reading “Refugee by Alan Gratz”

I just finished reading a wonderful story, “The Girl Who Drank The Moon” I have written a little blurb about it on my book box page if you have yet to check it out. As I sat today enjoying the sun I thought more about the book and how it might impact me. In DisruptingContinue reading “Being Hope”

Kylene Beers and Robert Probst are mentioned a few times on my blog and for good reason. They have helped form my thoughts and opinions on reading instruction and so many other things. Today I want to talk a little about a book that I think all teachers should read, heck even parents should haveContinue reading “Disrupting Thinking-The book we need now.”

I have talked before about the power of picture books to get reluctant readers reading. Kids like picture books (less words) and they don’t seem to think it is work because there are only a few pages compared to a 200+ page novel. The thing is, in those few pages power lessons can be taught.Continue reading “Hard topics with Picture Books”

There are two phrases that drive me crazy in education more than any other “We make our decisions based on what is best for kids” and “Is that best practice?” Both phrases tend to come from someone trying to steer a teacher towards what they think is best instead of trusting that that teacher knowsContinue reading “What’s your compass?”

When I first started teaching grade 6 I was told that I needed to bring some “fresh” ideas to the team. Some times these fresh ideas are referred to as “best” practice for the point of this post I will just say different strategies. There are a ton of educational experts out there that haveContinue reading “We can’t do everything everyone says”