What Am I Reading?

I am a lifelong reader.

As a child, I don't think my mom read to me much (although she did sing to me often 😃). Reading was not something that was modeled for me at home. Nevertheless, I developed a fondness for it. 

In elementary school, I remember looking forward to independent reading time. I enjoyed the little books that I got to choose from out of the blue bucket. I would finish the book and answer some questions about it, then move on to the next one.

Whenever I would visit my grandma in the summertime, she would take me to the public library where I would spend hours walking around and looking at books. I like the library. People are quiet there and generally friendly. It's cool on a hot summer day. I even like the way libraries smell of old paper.

There are so many choices at the library! Fiction, non-fiction, magazines, newspapers... Just about any topic I could think of could be found in some reading material at the library. I would check out a bunch of books and take them home. Sometimes I would read them; sometimes I would just look at them. I liked having them around.

In high school, I did not read as diligently as my teachers would have liked. We were assigned some great novels to read, but I had other interests. I would generally read the Cliffs Notes instead so I had just enough information to join in the conversation or take the test. Of course, I don't advise that anyone do this because they miss out on the richness of the text, but I am aware that some people want the shortcut. These days, I would use Shmoop.

Throughout my life, reading has served many purposes for me. I have used reading to learn about a subject or read to escape into another place and time. I read to get to know characters and feel empowered or sad with them. I read to find out what is happening in the world. I read to stay in touch with my friends and family. I read recipes so I can make good food. I read comics to laugh. I read directions. I read a variety of texts to be inspired. All the time, I read about countries and cultures I want to visit because my family is always planning our next travel adventure!

This week, I am reading several things.

• I am reading It Won't Be Easy. It's light and funny. I chose it because I follow the author on Twitter. I like his positions on social justice. He speaks in a voice I can hear and identify with. Teaching is hard and wonderful. It is definitely not easy, but I wouldn't want to do anything else.  
• I also receive a weekly subscription of "The New Yorker" magazine. It is dense reading; I generally skip around and don't read it cover to cover. It contains current event news articles and fictional stories, comics and poems, movie reviews and interviews. There is a comic caption contest every week that my daughter and I participate in sometimes.
• I read BBC news on an app just about every morning. It contains news from places all around the world. I like being informed about other countries as well as our own. It's also interesting to read their news about the U.S. (from another country's perspective).
• I am also busy reading on social media every day. I have a personal Facebook account where I read the things my friends and family members post. I also read a lot of teacher blogs and participate in professional development on Twitter. I post about my travels and (as of today) my auto-immune disorder on Instagram. (That last one is more about writing, but reading and writing really go hand in hand.)
• Finally, I have been reading travel blogs about Iceland. That is our next destination.

What are you reading? 

Southeast Asia Travel

My wife and I have just returned from three and a half weeks of travel. While it wasn't always comfortable, mentally or physically, it was definitely educational. I find that visiting cultures different from my own help me build empathy and compassion. I have definitely grown from being somewhere I cannot read or speak the predominant language. I like to think that learning about other social institutions and customs makes me a better person; at least it gives me more stories to tell.

Here are some of the highlights:


Bangkok, Thailand

• Hello: Sawasdee
• Met up with my friend, Liz
• Trains and tuk tuks
• Lots of walking
• Street food
• Night markets
• Hot and humid
• River taxi
• Mango sticky rice
• Intestinal parasite
• Bed & breakfast (Inn a Day) and fancy hotel (Mandarin)

Chiang Mai, Thailand

• Cooking class
• Currency exchange
• Temples and shrines
• Farmers' Markets
• Street food
• Hot and humid
• Lush tropical forest
• Air B&B cottage (Uma's)
• Thank you: Kab kun ka

Luang Prabang, Laos

• Rice farming
• BBQd dog, rat, bird, snails
• Teaching English to students
• Rented a motorbike
• Street food
• Waterfalls
• Tried Mexican, Korean, and Pizza in Laos
• Guest house (Oudomsouk)
• Hot and humid
• Fed the guest house manager
• Hello: Sabaidi
• Thank you: Khob chai

Hanoi, Vietnam

• Hello: Xin chao
• Street vendors
• Street food tour
• Millions of scooters
• Glass-front hotel (La Selva)
• Hot and humid
• Lots of walking
• Women's Museum
• Prison
• "American War"

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

• Cu Chi tunnels
• Motorcycle tour
• Rubber plantation
• Street food
• Landmark tour on scooters
• Hot and humid
• Air B&B apartment (Christina's)
• Thank you: Cam on

I hope you are having a great summer as well. Tell me in the comments below what your experiences were.

Enjoy Your Summer

GUEST BLOGGERS

Movie ReviewIn English class we watched Life is Beautiful. The movie is about the Holocaust and takes place in Italy. The movie is about Guido, the main character, who tries to make everything funny and he keeps on running into this girl named Dora that he likes and is always trying to impress her. Then one day Guido and Dora got married. Soon after that they had a son name Giouse and then got deported to camp Auschwitz. The kid’s dad told him that it was a game and whoever got to 1000 points you won a tank. The son believed it the whole time and he stayed alive until the end. Right at the end of the movie Guido gets shot in the camp because he was looking for his wife, and the kid was hiding in a box because his dad told him to hide until everyone leaves and he wins the tank. Right when he came out of his hiding spot and everyone left, an American tank came around the corner. It came at the right time at the right place. So he thought he won the game even though there was not a game.

Jesse C.


Question of the Week: If you could travel anywhere where would it be?My dad says that if he could travel anywhere in the world that he would probably travel to England or Scotland. The countryside seems kind of interesting, has a lot of history and is the scene for lots of movies, like Robin Hood and James Bond. He would like to see what it looks like and see what an English village looks like. Then there are settings that he really likes because he reads a lot of books and some of them take place in that area or parts of the book are in England or Scotland. The part that he likes about Robin Hood is all of it, but he especially likes the part where they are in the Sherwood Forest. The part of the James Bond movie he likes is when he is driving around in the countryside and when they are at his dad’s house protecting him and that kind of stuff.

Jesse C.


Question of the Week: I asked my sister who is in college now, what do you think is your purpose in life? I decided to ask this question because she is a really big dreamer and she has a really open mind.

Her response: “My purpose in life is my passion and my actions. I feel like over-thinking things doesn’t get you anywhere so why not just do it? Trying new things is always very fun and scary but it’s worth it. My actions are what are going to take me to my dream, more specifically, my passion. Your purpose is what you’re here for, what you are going to do to help the world even if it’s just a little bit. I still want to travel and do nice things for people. I feel like my future job is going to help people which makes me very happy. (She’s going to be a therapist). I still need to figure out what exactly my purpose is because at my age it’s still hard to figure out but for now, that is my idea.”

Yureli M.


Two Truths and a Lie

1. Last summer I used to play video games all the time and used to eat lots of junk food and sweets, but not a lot of healthy food. But, I weighed over 200 pounds and had a heart attack. Then I got motivated and lost 80 pounds. 
2. I have a dog named Vicious and he is super aggressive. He eats trash off of the ground all the time. He eats my trash everyday. He just got a haircut. He is 3 years old. He hates other dogs and also other people. He loves to dig holes in the backyard. He loves to take walks and I made a sonnet about him. 
3. I play a lot of Call of Duty Black Ops 3. I am prestige 3. I am trying to get all diamond guns so I can get dark matter. I want to get dark matter because it looks cool and only the good people have it. 

Jesse C.


Question of the Week: What Would be Included in your Favorite Meal? In my dad's favorite meal there would be tacos. There are a lot of reasons though. For example there are so many different options like, what kind of shell you want there can be a crispy hard shell that you can cook up in oil. Then you can mix all of your favorite foods together like beans and meat or lettuce because it adds a crunch. It is good for the environment too because the taco is your plate and you do not really need utensils. Another reason is that our aunt just sent us a book about tacos. So he can try out a bunch of new recipes on top of all the recipes he already knows. If you're by yourself you can eat as many tacos as you want. Everybody can make tacos too because they are really easy to make. The only reason you wouldn’t want to make them is if you don't like tacos or you are a bad cook.

Jesse C

Question of the Week: What were your highs and lows today? My dad did not have a lot of highs and lows today. One of the lows is when my sister, Lilia and my mom left town today for their sixth grade camping trip. He says he is always is sad when they leave for a while, or when anyone leaves for a while. A high is when my mom got her last radiation treatment for her cancer. Now all she has to do is heal and then she can go on normally with her life. But on Lilia and Mom’s camping trip he knows that they are going to have a lot of fun even though they are only there for two days. Another high is when he took Vicious, our dog, on a walk this morning. He likes it because there were not a lot of people outside so it felt like he had the whole town to themselves. It was a forty minute walk and they made it to Bidwell Park. So I guess he had more highs and lows today then he thought.

Jesse C


Question of the Week: Who do you Admire? My dad admires lots of different people, but the one he admires the most is my abuelito, my Grandpa. He was a poor little indian born in Mexico and he did not have a lot of money. His dad was what they called a vagabond. Because he was not a hobo but he went from town to town looking for jobs. My abuelito did not see too much of his dad while he was growing up. But when he did he told him about all the places he saw in Northern California. Then one day when he was grown up my abuelito was on a train in a town called Weed. Someone on the train told him that there's a lumber mill right there and you can get a job. So he hopped off the train and began to work there. Then slowly by slowly he made it his town to live. At first he had lots of family and friends there that he stayed at their house. But then he got a wife named Jesse and got a house so they can live together. Then eventually he started making a family there. And 68 years later he still lives in that town.

Jesse C

What Would be Included in Your Favorite Meal?In my sister’s favorite meal there would be lots and lots of sugar. There would be a huge cake that’s pink with pink frosting with lots of sugar. The type of cake would be red velvet. But for the main meal she will eat pasta. Her favorite pasta is fettuccini alfredo. She likes it because she says it is delicious and it is less meaty than the other pastas. On the side dish she would want buttery bread sticks because they are bready and they add a nice flavor and go good with pasta. For the drink she would love to have a Shirley Temple because she loves cherries. Also she loves soda and the Shirley Temple is refreshing. Since my sister loves cheese and bready stuff, she wants to have mozzarella sticks. She loves how the cheese and the bread taste together when they are cooked right. Plus everywhere we went to try mozzarella sticks, she loves them.

Jesse

If You Could go Anywhere in the World Where Would it be?If my mom could go anywhere in the world she would go Mexico. She would want to go there with the whole family because my dad’s side of the family is Mexican and used to live there. She would want to see the ranch my grandma grew up in and meet cousins we never even knew about. She would love to try all the food, sightsee and tour. My dad’s mom’s side of the family is from Guanajuato. It is north of Mexico City. She would like to learn more of Spanish. My mom would want to go tour the Mummy Museum and The Diego Rivera Museum and House. She would like to go to The Callejon Del Beso, which has steep stairs and attracts couples. But she really wants to go to this one ranch called The Saldana Ranchero which is my dad’s mom’s ranch that her family owns.

Jesse C.

You're A Star

My publications staff decided to recognize a few teachers and staff for the hard work they do on campus. 
We wish we could thank everyone here at Chico Junior because they all do so much for so many.
This is how their Thank Yous took form.

You're a Star, Diana Burdine!

Our Custodians are Stars!

Mrs. Hislop is a star!

What would we do without our counselors?

Just a few personal Thank Yous

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING AMAZING!!!

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GUEST BLOGGERS

Question of the Week

This week I asked my mom, who works at a daycare, “What do you like about working with kids?” She answered, with a smile on her face, “Kids are amazing. They’re creative and imaginative; they're always laughing and playing; and I love their innocence. They don't discriminate by race, gender, or religion. They play with you no matter who you are.” She also said, “I love when they learn and try new things. Whether it be food or learning a new word, their joy brings me joy”

I also asked her, “What made you want to work with kids, and when did you know that’s what you wanted to do?” She answered, “One day I was asked to help with the kids at my church and fell in love with it. They were so fun to work and play with, and I decided that this is what I want to do with my life.”

Iyanah B

Sports Update: Warriors Playoffs Round 2

The Warriors are in the second round of the playoffs after sweeping the Trail Blazers (4,0). The Warriors are going to play the Utah Jazz for the quarter-finals. The Golden State Warriors are the number one team in the Western Conference and the Utah Jazz is the fifth team in the western conference. The Jazz made it to the quarterfinals by beating the LA Clippers (3,4). In my opinion, the Golden State Warriors are going to sweep the Jazz because the Warriors are number one in about everything. The Jazz has a pretty good defense but not a very good offense and that is where you put points up on the board. It will be very hard for the Utah Jazz to beat the Golden State Warriors. I think that this year the Golden State Warriors will go all the way and win the trophy.

Marcos B

Movie Review

I recently watched the new live-action Beauty and the Beast. I know many people have not seen it and know what it's about, so I won't do any spoilers or a summary. I love all things Disney, and I can say hands down that Beauty and the Beast is my favorite Disney live action adaptation. What I love about it is that it stays true to the original movie and makes it come alive. All the songs, characters, and costumes are the same. Also, the live action makes it 10 times as real, because you seeing actual people tell the story. My favorite scene is Be our guest. I loved the beautiful colors and the incredible animations. Seeing all the dishes flying and dancing was incredible. My second favorite scene was when everyone turns human. In the animated version you don't see everybody, and I like that you do in the adapted version. I suggest that all go see this incredible move, you won't be disappointed.

Iyanah B

Question of the Week: “What would be included in your favorite meal?”

My mom's favorite meal would be Japanese themed. She would order sushi. What she means by sushi is a big bowl of rice with lots of different types of fish. Her favorites are salmon, tuna, yellowtail, eel, mackerel, and she would like to try fish she does not usually eat. There would have to be vegetables like soup or green salad. She would drink a big glass of cold water and eat slices of ginger. She would have the meal with me, my sister and my dad at Big Tuna or in Japan in a restaurant by the beach. But that would be for a special occasion like on a birthday or anniversary because it is expensive. She says, with food that good, there's no room for dessert. But I always have room for dessert so I would have a root beer float.

Jesse C.

Music Research

Let's finish off the year with some 

highly engaging research about music!

Students pick a musician or band that they like 

and create a project around that.

Click here to see the assignment.

These photos show the process 

in which students are engaged.

We got to hear music from all different genres and develop new appreciations for artists we had previously not heard.

This was by far the most engaging project we have worked on all year! What a great way to finish 8th grade!

Thank you to my students for expanding my musical horizons and re-introducing me to some old favorites.

Student Bio

One of my students submitted this biographical essay for the blog. The student was brave to be vulnerable and tell so much about themselves. I've posted it anonymously. 

My own biographical information is available in the About Me section of this blog.

Life

Life is what everybody loves. The better you are at things and the better you try the better your life will be. The thing is life isn’t that easy. You have to put in a lot of work to get what you want. I have a great life. I would not change my life for anything. I have great parents that will do anything for me. I have a special girl in my life that I care about a lot for, I have toys and more toys. Usually when you are a kid you get some toys maybe 3 or 4 to keep you busy but not me I was treated a little differently a kid.

When I was smaller I could remember getting almost everything that I wanted. The older I got, the more things I wanted. I have been spoiled for as long as I can remember. I am so spoiled that whenever I want something and my parents tell me no, I would get pissed off and have an attitude. I am now 13 and I am still learning respect and how to not to talk back. My parents do so much for me and I appreciated it very much, but they have treated me too good. I feel like I have a right to be able to talk back to my parents even though I know I will get in trouble.

I have a mentality right now that I don't really care about what happens to me or what my parents take away because I know when I do better they will give it back to me. I don’t really have any chores to do. My job is easy, my job is go to school get good grades, clean the dishes, brush my teeth pretty much everything a person should be used to do everyday. I always feel that I can face anything and I can put up with whatever comes my way. But the truth is I only think that I can but that is not always true. I need help from my parents and friends but I choose not to take their help.

I have never been a person that likes to ask for help because, I want people to see me as a person that is smart enough to do anything and strong enough to face whatever comes towards me. I want people to look up at me as a good person and to want to follow in my footsteps. The thing is, I am not yet the person that I want to be. I am not the smartest person or the strongest person. I am a normal person that is trying to be something he is not. I know I have to ask when I need the help but I am too hard headed to see that.

I have to learn that I am not the best at all things and that, sometimes I do need help from that people that are willing to help me. The sooner that I learn to be respectful, kind, and comfortable to ask people for help, the sooner my life will get even better. Even though that I am not the smartest or the strongest or the perfect person that I want to be I would not trade my life for anything. If I had a choice to live a perfect life I would choose the life that I have right know. 

I have the best mom ever. She always helps me no matter what life problems I face. She never gets mad at me for messing up. She talks to me and explains what is right and what is wrong. She is one hundred percent the best mom ever. I also have the best dad in the world. He works extra hard so that I can have fun and be the best at what I want. He works two jobs so that he can pay for my basketball and still be able to pay the bills and the house. He is the best father ever. I also have a great sister. She is a very smart girl and I am very proud of her. She is doing very good in school and it is amazing how smart she is. Even though she can be a pain at times I still love her and wouldn’t change her for anything. 

That is my life right now and the problems that I face.

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GUEST BLOGGERS

Movie Review


I watched the movie “Nerve” and it is so far my favorite movie! Nerve is about a high school senior named Eve Delmonico who is a good student, always makes good choices, and rarely takes risks. Vee is suddenly pressured by her friends to play the very popular game, Nerve. Nerve is an online game that allows others in your town or around the world to give you dares and if you do the dare it gives you money. The more dangerous the dare is, the more money you will get. Eve suddenly meets this new guy on her very first dare and they suddenly fall in love and start doing dares together but the more they play the more dangerous it becomes. People die from this game but if you tell the police the game itself takes control over your entire life. The game takes all of your information from your social medias, bank accounts, and it even googles you! I really like this movie because our society relates a lot from it with social media and doing anything we can for followers or likes. The movie itself is just so good and I have never watched a movie like this before. I would 100% recommend it! The main characters are Ian ( Dave Franco) and Vee Delmonico (Emma Roberts).

By: Yureli M

Landscape Mural

On our campus right now, a mural is being painted by some amazing and creative students.

They shared some ideas and came up with a plan with local artist, Christine MacShane. Sutter Buttes, almond blossoms, Snowy Egret, rice fields, butterflies...

An hour at a time, students are working together, demonstrating teamwork and camaraderie.

I am so proud of their maturity and independence.

They are creating a work of art that will be 

appreciated by thousands of adults and students

for years to come.

Thank you to Arts for All for sponsoring our project. We look forward to continued dedication to our students' art educations in the future.

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GUEST BLOGGERS

Interesting Person: Howard Hughes

Howard Hughes was born on December 24,1905. Howard Hughes was very smart.  He was one of the most successful businessmen in the world. Although he was a very successful man in his days and he was a smart person, he had a problem. He was a germaphobe.  He became a germaphobe later in his life.  He was obsessed with being clean and afraid of germs.  It is not a bad thing that he was a germaphobe but Howard took it to the extreme. His obsession started small.  He started by wanting everything to be clean.  Howard Hughes insisted in not having any dust, dirt or anything dirty in his whole house.  Little by little his obsession with germs grew bigger and bigger. As howard's obsession grew, he stopped showering and did not go out in public. Howard Hughes went from a smart very handsome adult to a very smelly not very attractive person. He tried to get away from germs but the more he tried the more germs he was attracting.  Howard Hughes died at the age of 70. He died on april 5, 1976. He died of liver failure. He died on his private airplane when he was flying from Freeport to the Grand Bahamas. It was too bad that he had to live the last 10 years of his life away from people.

Marcos B