I am a Taxi

Canada's Deborah Ellis, the author of Breadwinner, Parvana's Journey and Mud City, has done it again. She has married non-fiction with fiction to create a gripping novel about Diego, a 12-year old Bolivian boy who grows up in a prison. Deborah's journalistic style teaches about serious global issues with her user-friendly vocabulary. I am a Taxi is a splendid visit to Bolivia. The book dedication reads: "To those we keep in cages."

Sacred leaf , a sequel to I am a Taxi, promises to be equally gripping.

Gentle Teaching

Last week I attended the Gentle Teaching International 07 conference at the Sheraton Cavalier Hotel. On Monday evening drove to the airport to pick up presenters from Belgium and get them settled in the hotel. John McGee was the main presenter. He is a psychiatrist who has helped many marginalized individual feel safe and respected. His book is relevant for teachers of students who feel insecure, unworthy and unhappy, and is available for downloading at http://www.gentleteaching.com/ The international dynamics at the conference contributed to an amazing experience.

The Mysterious Edge of the heroic World.

I selected the Konigsburg book because I love the cover and the title. Since judging a book by its covered is generally discouraged, I read the first page and became hooked. I like the way the protagonist meets a nextdoor neighbour in a very easy and believable mannner. The writer is absolutely sensitive and has avoided excessive description without compromising vivid images. The neighbour used to be a famous opera singer.

I like the way we learn about two boys who are trying to understand their mothers and develop their own identity.
(to be continued)

technological development

A number of teacher librarians are meeting at Walter Murray Library to participate in a Professional Development workshop to teach us how to use technology and take our library support into the 21st century. We are all at various ages and stages of our career and all over the map regarding technological literacy.

I hope this will encourage our students to become more enthusiastic about schools and education. What do you think. I wonder what my fellow PD participants are learning in this process.