Tuesday, August 26, 2008

If you can read this, thank a teacher!

I am so excited about today. Seriously! I've been waiting for today for what feels like an eternity. I'm not kidding.

What is it, Spaz? What is it that could have you in a state of such anticipatory glee? What?

I'll tell you what.

It's Works For Me Wednesday time again. Yeah, baby!

That's right, it's time for the blog carnival that tops them all! No offense to any of the other blog carnivals that I love and participate in. I really do love y'all.

But there's a special place in my heart for Works For Me Wednesday. It was my first (I think) and it has brought me much traffic and many of my regular readers. I love Shannon for starting it, I love you all for clicking over and reading from it, I love Works For Me Wednesday.

(big exhale)

I'm so glad it's back.

Oh! Right! I'm supposed to post about something that works for me!

Sorry, it's been so long I nearly forgot. :)

I've got a great one, too. See, it's back to school for us and for most of y'all, too. This year Bug entered the gifted program and every night he's required to read for 30 minutes as part of his homework.

Munchkin scored academically and intellectually high enough to enter the gifted program (we're still working on the maturity level), too, so The Man and I decided she should probably join him in his 30 minutes of reading.

In fact, The Man and I think maybe the whole family should make a point to sit down with a book for 30 minutes of quiet time every evening. Because reading? That works for us.

Books!
Photo by ninjapoodles<

So last week we packed everyone up and headed down to our local library. All three of the kids picked out a couple of books (and so did The Man and I) and we brought them home. Now, we've done this before with disastrous results. The first time we returned the books like two weeks late. Totally my fault, I am so disorganized!

The second time Goober completely lost one of his books and I spilled tea all over one of The Man's books, ruining it. Oops. There's a $50 mistake we won't be making again.

This time we made a new rule. The library books are ONLY to be read in our living room (aka the room we never go in) and not taken out of there. There are nice plushy couches in there and it's a quiet room and heck, there's even a fireplace! It's the perfect place to curl up with a book. So now it's our reading room. Not only do we actually use the room, but the library books will always be able to be found and it's highly unlikely we'll ruin any of them.

That completely works for me.

Speaking of reading, I was alerted to a great program that TJ Maxx is sponsoring this year. They've partnered with Save the Children and launched a website where they've created a little game called The Great Book Adventure Game. It's a cute little game where you choose to be either a bus, a rocket ship, or a submarine and you travel along giving books to little animals, aliens, or marine life. I know what you're thinking...

Spaz, aliens don't read! They automatically absorb knowledge through highly advanced receptors! Duh!

I know, I know... just go with me, here. The people at TJ Maxx and Save the Children must have overlooked that. Forgive them.

Not only is this game SUPER cute and sort of addicting, but every time you play TJ Maxx will donate a book to impoverished children living here in the United States! Did you know that there are more than 2.6 million children living in rural poverty right here in our country? Take some time to read about what Save the Children does to help with literacy for these children.

But wait, there's more! (Hee hee, I just had to use that line.)

When you register to play, you'll be entered to win a $1000 shopping spree at TJ Maxx.

Cha ching!

Have you seen the selection of purses at that place? Heck, there's one in my area that carries Valentino and Prada dresses. I practically raced over there to enter.

Reading and improving literacy definitely works for me! For more Works For Me Wednesday posts, check out Rocks In My Dryer!

Hey, wait! Before you go, please take a few minutes to nominate a blogger for the Little Fish award! It's just one way you can share the bloggy love!


11 comments:

Muthering Heights said...[Reply to comment]

If only all moms prized reading as much!

Anonymous said...[Reply to comment]

Definitely right up my alley here with the books. You go, girl!! I hope your kids are enjoying it -- they'll definitely thank you someday.

-Lori
www.barefootinhighheels.wordpress.com

Jan Ross said...[Reply to comment]

You're welcome! I'd like to think in my twenty years as a school librarian, I have encouraged some kids to like books. Forget the state-wide testing, I just want them to be life-long readers who enjoy books!!

Anonymous said...[Reply to comment]

AMEN TO MRS.WHO...!!!

Totallyscrappy said...[Reply to comment]

I love the idea of the library books only being used in one room. We have a container for only library books, because who wants to do the Library-Book-Hunt-Around every three weeks? :)
I know your family is benefitting from 30 minutes of reading!

Michelle@Life with Three said...[Reply to comment]

That is such a great idea to keep the library books in one room -- I always have to hunt everywhere for them. I can't believe I never thought of that before! :)

ames said...[Reply to comment]

Very clever! I love checking out library books (I think I have about 30 out right now) and I have a terrible habit of leaving them in every room! I had to set up my account to email me when they are due, I will have to work on this.

Sherry @ Lamp Unto My Feet said...[Reply to comment]

We love to read minus dh who reads magazines. We go to the library once a week. I also use "Honey for a Child's Heart" to find good books for the children. :D

AGSoccerMom said...[Reply to comment]

My girl child has to read for 30 minutes also. What a great idea, as I already turn off all electronics during this time anyway.

Valarie Lea said...[Reply to comment]

Thats an awesome idea having family reading time. Good Job! :)

Audra Krell said...[Reply to comment]

You crack me up! I'm so glad WFMW is back too and I'm very grateful for all this special carnival has done for my blog. Well with WFMW back, that means Domestic Spaz is back too, and I'm grateful for that! Thanks for the reading tips.