It's been wonderful to return to Narnia and by the most direct route this time around. My first foray into that delightful realm was eons ago via audio dramatizations, and I listened to the books in publication order then. I always promised myself I would go back and read the actual books, and do so in chronological order. And so I stepped back in ...

I heartily enjoyed both books, but especially TLTWTW with its themes of hope, forgiveness, sacrifice, and restoration. Deep magic in a simple package.

Everyone plus the whole world have probably read the Chronicles of Narnia already, but if by some remote chance you haven't, I highly recommend that you remedy this oversight immediately. Pronto and ASAP. For therein lies magic deeper still.

After more than three years of reading my books any old how, creating a TBR list again has brought on a nice purposeful feeling. And how much nicer if I complete the whole thing ;)

For May 2019, I hope to complete:

• The 7 Hardest Things God Asks a Woman to Do - K Reimer/L Whittle
• 7 Toxic Ideas Polluting Your Mind - Anthony T Selvaggio
• Always On: Language in an Online and Mobile World - Naomi S Baron
• The History of the Ancient World - Susan Wise Bauer
• The Words of Martin Luther King, Jr (ed. Coretta Scott King)
• The Magician's Nephew - C S Lewis
• The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - C S Lewis
• Glass Houses - Louise Penny
• The Circular Staircase - Mary Roberts Rinehart
• Snowdrift and Other Stories - Georgette Heyer

Seven of these are from my paid TBR, and would be a score if I can finish them. The Louise Penny I'm very late in reading; when it first came out I wasn't in a good reading mindset and before I knew it another book had come out, and still another is due later this year in August. At least I have time to catch up without rushing.

The Georgette Heyer collection of stories was a serendipitous library find just now. I don't own it (I think that's the only one) but I've been waiting for a sale before I buy it. It came to mind as I was finalizing my TBR list. I checked my library, thinking no way they would have it but the little doubter was not rewarded, a happy turn of affairs. I know what I'll be doing tonight ;)

What are you most looking forward to reading this month?

Honestly just go ahead and have the picture ready because most of your students won’t know what a wardrobe is and it’s a great way to go ahead and start new vocabulary right at the beginning. In all seriousness, I recommend any book written by C. S. Lewis but especially this book as well as the series that follows it. However, this book alone is such an exciting read for students to truly feel like they have their own secret world hidden in our classroom that we all get to go to together when we have shared reading. This book has, adventure, magic, war, humor, trials, and above all love and true sacrifice. It’s also an all time favorite of mine that grabs your attention and holds it to the very end. This book would be perfect for a lesson on character traits as well as comparing and contrasting the different siblings. I would love to have a creative writing entry in their journals as well where they describe what their own secret works would be like and how they would enter it. 

Guided Reading Level: T

The Lion, The with and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis is such a good book to read. Its a story of four siblings who discover a hidden world within a wardrobe found while playing hide and seek. The children ar part of a great prophecy to help Aslan save Narna from the white witch. I would rate this book a four and a half out of five stars and it is listed as a 940L on the Lexile scale. As an activity for my class, I would read the book aloud to my class during group reading time. During the book (between the chapters each day that we stop) i would have a different activity set up for my students with activity sheets. One side that I would love to use it describing the characters given context clues from he book. I think this would be a great way to expand their knowledge of comprehension and context clues.