Read, White, and Blue Giveaway!

I'm so excited to be blogging and blogging about one of my favorite things... BOOKS! The #WeCantPutBooksDown girls and I are so excited to team up for our July Insta-Linky!

To join our Insta-linky is super simple! Just log on to your Instagram account and share your favorite summer and/or beach reads! Tell us why you're lovin' these books and don't forget use the hashtag #wecantputbooksdown in your post. We will choose a winner via the hashtags on Sunday to win a $25 dollar Barnes and Noble giftcard! Who doesn't want some extra spending $$$ for books? 

Here's my two favorite summer reads so far... 

I'm rereading Reading in the Wild before the Scholastic Reading Summit and I'm almost finished with A Mango Shaped Space. Wendy Mass does it again with A Mango Shaped Space! I'm trying to see if I can fit this book into our character unit book club! It may need to be a later book since the beginning is a little mature and deals heavily with the loss of a beloved grandfather. But, I love that this story is about a girl just trying to deal with loss and acceptance the best way she knows how, all the while dealing with synesthesia. Anyone that has ever felt on the outside or like they're keeping a secret can totally relate to Mia.

As for Reading in the Wild, this book is just as good a second time through. I've made so many more notes and began a list of ideas for improving independent reading in the classroom. I can't wait for my  new fifth graders to become WILD readers!

Okay, now to let you in on a little secret....

This is my summer stack that I haven't gotten through yet! Yikes! I recently went through recommendations from Nerdy Book Club, followers on Instagram, and my previous students and came back from the library with this tower! I added in a few picture books for a confidence boost! In my stack I have all the books I'm trying to read before school starts back in early August. I really need some more pool days to get these books in.... On my list are: books for my Building a Reading Life unit {Have I Got a Book for You & You're Finally Here!} as well as a Newberry I haven't read {When You Reach Me} and let's not forget a few favorite authors {Notes from the Dog by Gary Paulsen and The Unfinished Angel by Sharon Creech}, a student rec {Spirit Animals series}, as well as a "nerdy" choice {Red Queen}... Then, keeping with Donalyn Miller's philosophy I chose {The Testing, Bone Gap, & A Handful of Stars}.

I can't wait to see everyone's summer reads! If you don't have an instagram account, feel free to post your favorite summer reads below in the comments! You can also follow #wecantputbooksdown all summer for great reading recommendations! I can't wait to add to my stack.... 

Want to follow the #WeCantPutBooksDown ladies?
Click the links below to be taken to our Instagram accounts! 
@msaplusteacher
@fourthnten
@literacyforbigkids
@missy_griggs
@nmotting
@ramonarecommends
@teachlovegrow
@teachersunny
@msleslieann01
@mobryanwildaboutfifth

Happy Reading & Sharing,