Yesterday was the intersection of my #OLW: Curious and my reading goal of 52 books for the year. One per week. Paralleling a student goal of 40 books during the year.
How does Goodreads summarize my reading?
So how am I doing?
We are in the ninth week of the year and I’ve read 18 books so I have a good lead on the year. Never having set a “books read per year goal”, I have no clue what is realistic.
What’s in the future?
March is #SOLSC.
March is blogging daily.
Reading and writing daily.
Both with public goals.
How do I feel about my progress in 2018?
I’m pleased that only 1 / 3 books are professional books. That’s better than I had anticipated. Here’s a look at the professional books.
What’s their focus?
Literacy,
Reading,
Reading,
Reading,
Writing,
Writing,
Writing
Looks like a pattern or two. I must admit that not all of the books are first reads; in fact, five are rereads. A few more quotes collected for PD work. A bit more solid foundation and many, many more post its and tabs to mark my place. Five are also signed by the authors. That means they reside on a special shelf of honor (when shelved) and are treated royally. Not allowed to be stacked on the carpet or the table. Gentle, loving treatment! Books displayed preferentially!
What’s different about 2018?
I joined a book club group. There are 192 strong of us from across the country. One title came from a student’s blog recommendation. I had to “guess” what the solution to the mystery would be (Alibi) and so I had to buy the book. But 1 / 3 of the books came from watching what others were reading, checking out the recommendations and reading the reviews on Goodreads and Amazon.
What’s your process for choosing a book? Is it the same as the one you teach students?
What’s your goal? What’s the goal for your students?
Should you meet or exceed their goal?
Thank you, Betsy, Beth, Deb, Kathleen, Lanny, Melanie, and Stacey for this weekly forum. Check out the writers, readers and teachers here. 
Note:
Personal goal setting.
No prizes, no trinkets, no stickers.
No points.
No quizes.
No book reports.
Yes, some comments on Goodreads or back to the book club members to respond to questions.
No dioramas, no art work, no projects.
Accountability to myself.
Some accountability to my #G2Great team and chat authors.
Public sharing of my choice – my selection, my format, my idea.
Resource - Full 
Thanks Fran. I needed this inspiration today. Behind in my professional reading due to ( fill in the usual excuses here).
You are welcome! It’s so easy for so many goals to get lost, but just as we ask our students to have more than one goal, I thought I should practice what I believe! 🙂
I love reading your reflections! I am behind on my Goodreads goal so far this year (ugh), but … I miss being in a book club and hope to join a new one when I move (although I love virtual book clubs too). I just ordered a few professional books that a friend will bring to me when we meet up in Bangkok next month- I prefer to read professional books in paper form and usually have to wait until summer trips to the US to stock up (although I have bought From Striving to Thriving for my Kindle and will start that soon).
Oh, Erika! Professional books miss a lot when transferred to the kindle (though I haven’t tried in over a year), I have found that tables are totally missing. I have to read them in real page-turning visions as well. So many changes coming for you, my friend! 🙂
I appreciate when people share what they are reading. While we have a few things different, there are many things, professionally, that we have in common. I just finished reading A Night Divided – I recently discovered two audiobook streaming services (for free!) through our county library system and am loving my commute to work now. I only read YA and MG because of being on a committee that reviews those books each year. It makes me excited that I was assigned to teach a mid-level teacher course this semester. I’m hoping to keep teaching it once a year so that I can share these titles with future teachers.
Aileen,
I am starting “Cloud and Wallfish” next as my friends said it was best to pair with “A Night Divided”. It’s always fun to see what makes it on other folks’ lists! 🙂
You’re cooking with gas! This is inspiring. There are a few titles you’ve read that I am itching to get my hands on: A Novel Approach and This is Where It Ends. Thanks for adding to my reading list.
Keisha,
“This is Where it Ends” was totally riveting. I could not stop. For.Anything! And yet so was Kate’s “A Novel Approach” for totally different reasons. It feels so doable when Kate describes it. I’ve been rereading to think about all the reasons I might hear, “But…”
You will love both!
I love reading but I have never set a goal about the number of books to read. My friend does it. She told me that she had read 8 or 9 books this year 😊 thanks for sharing your enjoyment is well expressed.
You are welcome. Reading and writing are both passions of mine! Love to read!
Fran, I admire you for your lofty goals. I need to finish reading my stack and start another.
Carol,
Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting! I have two stacks to go but those are never ending! 🙂
I was intrigued by your question of , “How do you choose a book?” I had to think about my reading habits and realized I tend to choose books by authors I enjoy. On thinking about this I realize that I limit myself and need to expand my interests. I know I am missing out on many good and interesting stories. Maybe I should try alternating my reading between an author I know and someone new.
I know some of your favorite authors! I literally choose personal books that are FREE on Kindle Unlimited or available somewhere free! LOL.
Professional books are trickier. Some depend on when they will be on #G2Great chats and others depend on what else I have read by that author! Wasn’t it a great question? 🙂
[…] I could sort by my shelves and my content. As previously mentioned in 2017 here, 2018 here, June, 2019 here and winter break reading here, my reading goals this year were about balance and […]