Book Reviews

I found a great blog that podcasts children’s book reviews.  The book I’m going to link to is Someday When My Cat Can Talk but you should really take a look around the site because it totally rocks!  I’m always on the look out for good book reviews to point me to a new favorite author and this is going to be book marked for sure.  I can see using this in a classroom or school library to help children find out about new books or as a teacher or parent to get ideas for gifts or assignments.  Pretty great all around.

Let me know what you think of the site (how cute is “Just One More Book” for a blog name anyway?)

I hope you enjoy it!

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the-lion-in-love-worksheet.doc

the-lion-in-love.mp3

This Podcast is a reading of The Lark, one of Aesop’s fables.  I love the lessons that Aesop’s fables provide and think they are a great lesson for any age.  You will also find a printable worksheet to go along with the podcast.

The lesson for me is to not lose myself while in love.  It is so easy to change yourself so that you are what your object of desire wants you to be.  Often, however, when you make those changes the other person will not want you anyway.  It is more important to be true to yourself than to change everything that makes you who you are to try and make someone else happy.   Wow!  This one is a hard one.  I generally like to make people I care about happy but if they really care about me they’ll want me to be myself.

Staying true to myself has also been something I have struggled with as a teacher.  It seems like either the administration or parents or even other teachers want you to change what you do or how you look or any number of other things.  Sometimes it is almost like you are supposed to give up your own personality and identity when you become a teacher.  While I don’t think your personal life should be part of your teaching life, I do think you should be allowed a personality and view points that may differ from that of the administration or district. 

What lesson did this fable teach you?  Do you find yourself changing because of someone or something you love?  Were the changes good for you or bad for you? 

As always, please, let me know what you think of the podcast and the worksheet.  If you have a request for a specific fable I will try to use it in an upcoming post.

The Lion in Love Photo Credit:  Smudge 9000 from Flickr, Creative Commons License

the-lark.mp3

the-lark-worksheet.doc

  This Podcast is a reading of The Lark one of Aesop’s fables.  I love the lessons that Aesop’s fables provide and think they are a great lesson for any age.  You will also find a printable worksheet to go along with the podcast.

I love the lessons this fable teaches.  The first for me is that you should always listen carefully to what is being said as well and listen for the unspoken meaning behind what is being said.  The second, more obvious lesson, is if you want something done right you must do it yourself.  Sometimes I follow that lesson a little to well.  I know I should delegate, but dang is it hard.  I think letting go of any kind of control is probably something most teachers have trouble with. 

What does this fable mean to you?  Do you have a tendency to want to do everything by yourself?

As always, please, let me know what you think of the podcast and the worksheet.  If you have a request for a specific fable I will try to use it in an upcoming post.

The Lark Photo Credit:  Stephen Barnett from Flickr, Creative Commons License

the-donkey-and-the-statue.mp3

the-donkey-and-the-statue-worksheet.doc

This Podcast is a reading of The Donkey and the Statue one of Aesop’s fables.  I love the lessons that Aesop’s fables provide and think they are a great lesson for any age.  You will also find a printable worksheet to go along with the podcast.

I know sometimes it can be hard to know if people like you for yourself or for something you have or because of something you can do for them.  This fable reminds me to always think about the motives behind others actions.    Do you have a less cynical interpretation? 

As always, please, let me know what you think of the podcast and the worksheet.  If you have a request for a specific fable I will try to use it in an upcoming post.

The Donkey Photo Credit:  ccarlstead from Flickr, Creative Commons License

the-donkey-and-the-salt-worksheet.doc

the-donkey-and-the-salt.mp3

This Podcast is a reading of The Donkey and the Salt  one of Aesop’s fables.  I love the lessons that Aesop’s fables provide and think they are a great lesson for any age.  You will also find a printable worksheet to go along with the podcast.

Please, let me know what you think of the podcast and the worksheet.  If you have a request for a specific fable I will try to use it in an upcoming post. 

This fable reminds me that it is always better to work hard than to shirk your responsibilities.  You never know if the task you are avoiding is better than the task the is yet to be assigned.

What does this fable mean to you?

The Donkey in Water Photo Credit:  ogwen from Flickr, Creative Commons License

the-lion-and-the-mouse-worksheet.doc

the-lion-and-the-mouse.mp3

This Podcast is a reading of The Lion and the Mouse one of Aesop’s fables.  I love the lessons that Aesop’s fables provide and think they are a great lesson for any age.  You will also find a printable worksheet to go along with the podcast. 

Please, let me know what you think of the podcast and the worksheet.  If you have a request for a specific fable I will try to use it in an upcoming post.  Do you like fables?  Why or why not?

The Lion Photo Credit:  Jelleprins from Flickr, Creative Commons License

The Mouse Photo Credit:  Braydawg from Flickr, Creative Commons License