What a great turn out for yesterday's Poetry Friday!
Well, the Read-a-Thon starts in 1.25 hours for me over on the East Coast.
So far, people have donated $33.34, plus $.11 for every page I read, $.06 for every hour I read, and $10.06 for every book I read.
There's still time to donate to support Reading is Fundamental-- a great organization that gives free books to kids. Kids need books. If you want to donate, just leave me a comment or shoot me an email at kidsilkhaze at yahoo dot com.
Anyway, until then... I'm just prepping for this week's storytime.
Also, I got my hair cut yesterday. Pictures will be forthcoming, but I lost a lot of length and now my head feels all unbalanced. But cute. :)
Showing posts with label Reading is fundamental. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reading is fundamental. Show all posts
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Friday, June 20, 2008
Help Me.
Last night was one of those nights when I'm super happy to be living in a real neighborhood. I went to take the trash out and it took me an hour, because my neighbor on the left side was talking to her neighbors on her left side, and then I joined the conversation.
We talked about everything neighbors talk about-- the wacky transformer that cuts power to half our houses (not that half the people on the block don't have power, but everyone on the block only has power in half their house. I am not making this up.) our gardens, the weather, commutes, people who keep parking in our driveways, and who's moved out and who's moved in.
The neighbors 2 doors down have kids who are finishing up their school year. Their oldest daughter just finished 6th grade (it's a 6-7-8 middle school) and is heartbroken because they've been told they won't be getting Reading is Fundamental next year due to budget issues. 5 times during the school year, the children in my neighborhood got to pick out free books to keep. This is a 12 year old girl who loves to read right at the age when we start to lose our heavy readers to other things. She will no longer be getting her free books to help feed her habit.
This broke my heart, but was a timely story in that weird way that life seems to work.
Next weekend, I'm participating in Dewey's 24-Hour-Read-a-Thon, which benefits Reading is Fundamental. I am asking for your sponsorship.
After listening to this young woman's sadness at no longer having RIF in her school, it just strengthened my convictions in how important this is. So, THANK YOU to those who have already signed up to help.
This is an organization that should be expanding the number of children they serve, not having to cut schools out of their efforts.
We talked about everything neighbors talk about-- the wacky transformer that cuts power to half our houses (not that half the people on the block don't have power, but everyone on the block only has power in half their house. I am not making this up.) our gardens, the weather, commutes, people who keep parking in our driveways, and who's moved out and who's moved in.
The neighbors 2 doors down have kids who are finishing up their school year. Their oldest daughter just finished 6th grade (it's a 6-7-8 middle school) and is heartbroken because they've been told they won't be getting Reading is Fundamental next year due to budget issues. 5 times during the school year, the children in my neighborhood got to pick out free books to keep. This is a 12 year old girl who loves to read right at the age when we start to lose our heavy readers to other things. She will no longer be getting her free books to help feed her habit.
This broke my heart, but was a timely story in that weird way that life seems to work.
Next weekend, I'm participating in Dewey's 24-Hour-Read-a-Thon, which benefits Reading is Fundamental. I am asking for your sponsorship.
After listening to this young woman's sadness at no longer having RIF in her school, it just strengthened my convictions in how important this is. So, THANK YOU to those who have already signed up to help.
This is an organization that should be expanding the number of children they serve, not having to cut schools out of their efforts.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
48 Hour Wrap Up + 24 Hour info
Alright, I'm insane and didn't sleep all weekend. And when I woke up on Monday at 12:00 (I didn't have to work until 1, and I had gone to bed at 9 on Sunday) I still felt like I had been run over by a MACK truck. Apparently flying to Iowa and back last weekend, a few days of Code Red air days and no sleep = sinus and ear infection. So I didn't go to work yesterday which is very, very poor form. BAD JENNIE. Also, there is definitely a point of diminishing returns. I probably could have read the same amount if I had slept because the lack of sleep was messing with my reading speed and comprehension.
But it was fun.
Anyway, today I'm adding pictures and things to my 48 hour posts, I'm also going to be posting some things on my spoiler blog because I have a lot of opinions on where Princess Diaries left off.
ALSO! The 24 Hour Read-a-thon is coming up in 2 weeks.
This one is a little different--
1. Everyone reads for the same 24 hours (1:59 11:59 Saturday afternoon to 1:59 11:59* Sunday afternoon if you're on the East Coast like me.)
2. You can read anything you want.
3. Instead of fame and glory, this one's for charity (Reading is Fundamental.)
SO! I'm asking for sponsors to help me for this. There are a few ways to sponsor me.
You can just donate a lump sum. Or, you can donate based on how I do.
I will personally be donating $.03 for every book, hour and page I read. Based on this past weekend, I'm expecting that to be around $60-$70.
I've already received some sponsors, so including my own donation, I will be raising $.08 for every page I read, $.06 for every book, and $.06 for every hour.
If you would like to help me raise money for this worthy cause, please email me at kidsilkhaze (at) yahoo (dot) com.
**Edited to correct times. I can't read a time zone map.
Anyway, some further thoughts on books. I think I forgot to mention that Pure Dead... talks about poop. A lot. Mainly dragon poop. And baby poop. And how Yetis like to eat poop. This can either be a turn off or a selling point, depending on your audience.
Also, it was obviously written by a mother. There is a lot in here for adults poking fun at childhood foibles that kids won't get. But, for kids, there's poop. Lots and lots of poop. And talking crocodiles.
Also, the character of Ffup was interesting. I'm still not keen on how her personality totally changed when she found out she was a girl. I also think her as a teenage mother was odd, because she was very much a teenager and not ready for a child, even if she was 600 years old.
All in all, it was just very, very British. British children's books are always much more adult than American children's books are.
UPDATE:
Also, I wanted to add how much I love Mia's dorkiness. She talks in Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings similes. And she rights Battlestar Galactica fanfic. And is an expert on Lifetime movies, much like my friend Sarah.
But it was fun.
Anyway, today I'm adding pictures and things to my 48 hour posts, I'm also going to be posting some things on my spoiler blog because I have a lot of opinions on where Princess Diaries left off.
ALSO! The 24 Hour Read-a-thon is coming up in 2 weeks.
This one is a little different--
1. Everyone reads for the same 24 hours (
2. You can read anything you want.
3. Instead of fame and glory, this one's for charity (Reading is Fundamental.)
SO! I'm asking for sponsors to help me for this. There are a few ways to sponsor me.
You can just donate a lump sum. Or, you can donate based on how I do.
I will personally be donating $.03 for every book, hour and page I read. Based on this past weekend, I'm expecting that to be around $60-$70.
I've already received some sponsors, so including my own donation, I will be raising $.08 for every page I read, $.06 for every book, and $.06 for every hour.
If you would like to help me raise money for this worthy cause, please email me at kidsilkhaze (at) yahoo (dot) com.
**Edited to correct times. I can't read a time zone map.
Anyway, some further thoughts on books. I think I forgot to mention that Pure Dead... talks about poop. A lot. Mainly dragon poop. And baby poop. And how Yetis like to eat poop. This can either be a turn off or a selling point, depending on your audience.
Also, it was obviously written by a mother. There is a lot in here for adults poking fun at childhood foibles that kids won't get. But, for kids, there's poop. Lots and lots of poop. And talking crocodiles.
Also, the character of Ffup was interesting. I'm still not keen on how her personality totally changed when she found out she was a girl. I also think her as a teenage mother was odd, because she was very much a teenager and not ready for a child, even if she was 600 years old.
All in all, it was just very, very British. British children's books are always much more adult than American children's books are.
UPDATE:
Also, I wanted to add how much I love Mia's dorkiness. She talks in Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings similes. And she rights Battlestar Galactica fanfic. And is an expert on Lifetime movies, much like my friend Sarah.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Reading for a Good Cause
The Hidden Side of the Leaf has announced the 24-Hour Read-a-Thon and needs help either as a reader (read as much as you can for 24 hours starting at 9:59 PST on June 28th, which is 1:59 11:59* in my world) cheerleaders (people who regularly read readers blogs to leave helpful comments and other things) and prize donors (people to donate prizes).
So, head on over and sign up to play along! It looks like lots of fun.
The challenge is going to benefit Reading is Fundamental, a great organization that gives books to low-income children. In order for RiF to benefit, some of the readers are asking for sponsorship.
This is where you come in, because I would like some sponsors. You can promise me a lump sum (as in, if you do this, I'll give you $20) or you can pledge to give based on how I do, so you'll give me $1 for every hour I read (probably 15-20-- I have to work on the 28th) or for every book I read, or for every page I read... if you want to wait until after the 48 Hour Challenge to see how much I read because you commit, go on ahead. After the challenge, you can donate directly on the RiF's webpage or send the money to me and I'll donate it for you.
I will, myself, will donate 3 cents for every hour I read, for every book I read, and for every page I read. (Based on last year's 48 hour showing, that's going to be $50-$75) I've also donated 10 Bookmooch points to be used a prizes for readers.
Anyway, if you're willing to sponsor me (and every little bit helps! There is no amount too small) please leave a comment below or email me at kidsilkhaze at yahoo dot com.
Thank you so much.
*Edited to reflect the fact I don't know how many time zones are in the US. D'oh
So, head on over and sign up to play along! It looks like lots of fun.
The challenge is going to benefit Reading is Fundamental, a great organization that gives books to low-income children. In order for RiF to benefit, some of the readers are asking for sponsorship.
This is where you come in, because I would like some sponsors. You can promise me a lump sum (as in, if you do this, I'll give you $20) or you can pledge to give based on how I do, so you'll give me $1 for every hour I read (probably 15-20-- I have to work on the 28th) or for every book I read, or for every page I read... if you want to wait until after the 48 Hour Challenge to see how much I read because you commit, go on ahead. After the challenge, you can donate directly on the RiF's webpage or send the money to me and I'll donate it for you.
I will, myself, will donate 3 cents for every hour I read, for every book I read, and for every page I read. (Based on last year's 48 hour showing, that's going to be $50-$75) I've also donated 10 Bookmooch points to be used a prizes for readers.
Anyway, if you're willing to sponsor me (and every little bit helps! There is no amount too small) please leave a comment below or email me at kidsilkhaze at yahoo dot com.
Thank you so much.
*Edited to reflect the fact I don't know how many time zones are in the US. D'oh
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