Wind Farm Sign!

Earlier this year, I decided to take my son to the desert while we were in CA. I booked my Palm Springs trip in February without any clue about what my summer reading list would be. I have been trying to read our Texas Bluebonnet Award List in the summer for my class. I like to share some really good ones that I find (How to Steal A Dog By Barbara O'Connor and Atherton by Patrick Carman are on my top list thus far). I am currently reading Middle of Somewhere by J.B. Cheaney, a corky, little book about a grandpa driving around Kansas in his RV looking for wind (prospecting) with his grand daughter and hyper grandson. What an adventure in confined spaces!

Back to Palm Springs, I am driving on I-10 West when all of a sudden out of no where we run into a Wind Farm! Just what I had read the night before! I was actually on the verge of abandoning the book because the grandson was REALLY getting on my nerves. The author was dragging that frustration out of me. But then, I saw it ...the sign. To see those hundreds of wind turbines, I knew I had to keep reading. I am hoping to gain some compassion for the little guy.

New and Improved! Bluebonnet Podcasts

I got a better microphone* and recreated my podcasts. What a difference! I updated the newest edition down Thing #21. Plus here are links to my podcast.

How to Steal a Dog by Barbara O'Connor

Toys Go Out by Emily Jenkins



*I got this AT&T Over-The-Head Headset H220 (High Quality Noise-Canceling Microphone) at this dollar store (Super $1 Plus?) for $1.99! (Beltway~Exit Beechnut~ Go East to Corporate Drive). They are in a box under the sunblock/suncreen display. The only thing is the actual part that goes into the computer is a bit small but works. It comes in an orange and clear container.

Thing #21 How to Steal a Dog Podcast

I created a Podcast with pictures from Flickr and Shelfelf Word Press. I also used Photostory and uploaded it to Switchpod. No Problem.

At Switchpod, I made a site called Basking in Bluebonnets.

Here is my podcast on Barbara O'Connor's How To Steal a Dog.

Enjoy!

Okay, Thanks to Liz and Vaughn for helping posting my podcast. Try these and let me know which one works.

Thing #6 Who let the Dogs Out?

What a great, wonderful tool! I created a magazine cover with a Bluebonnet Award Winning book. It is a little text heavy for me but I can truly see how the kiddos could do this with their favorite Bluebonnet. Students could make a Famous Texans Magazine Cover or even explore with Tom Romano's Multi-Genre Writing.
What is Multi-Genre Writing? Oh, let me guide you to amazing genres of writing with Tom Romano...