Four Ways to Read More Over the Holidays

Holiday season is fun, but it’s also hectic. You may get a few days off from work or school, but with all the parties, family gatherings, feast cooking, gift shopping, and other celebratory goings-on, there may not be much time left over. What’s a bookworm to do? Get creative, that’s what! Here are four ways to sneak some reading time into even the busiest holiday schedule.

1 Share the Joy

For many, the holiday season is an opportunity to gather loved ones together and spend quality time with each other. Why not turn reading into a bonding activity? Find a funny or heartwarming short story to read aloud to your family. Who knows? It may just become a beloved holiday tradition. If nothing else, it’s a good way to keep little ones entertained and out from underfoot—your hosts will thank you.

2 Carve Out Alone Time

We get it, though. Part of the reason many of us enjoy reading is the quiet alone time. We’re not suggesting you actually hide from your friends and family over the holidays, but there’s nothing wrong with turning down an invitation in favor of a quiet night in. And if there’s still holiday prep-work to be done (gift shopping, meal planning, travel arranging), get it out of the way today. With all that done, you can spend your precious holiday time reading instead of frantically trying to cross things off your to-do list.

3 Keep Your Book Handy

Be prepared to seize any opportunity. Will you be stuck in the car for an hour traveling to Aunt Miriam’s house? Don’t waste that transit time staring into space—bring your book along! After a lovely holiday dinner, you may find yourself surrounded by happily dozing friends and family—you might have time for a whole chapter. And if you really just need a break to peruse a page or two, you can always try that age-old introvert trick: pretending you have to go to the bathroom.

4 Explore New Ways of Absorbing Books

One reason to love ebooks is that you can carry your whole library around with you on an e-reader or even your mobile phone (see no. 3 for ways to take advantage of this). But don’t forget about audiobooks. If you’ve never listened to one, give it a try. Scrubbing down the kitchen before guests arrive isn’t such a tedious chore when you can also listen to a thrilling novel.

What are your strategies for making time to read during the holiday season?

3 Young Adult Series You Should Read before You See the Movies

We’ve all heard it before: The movie was great, but the book was so much better. No matter which version of the story you prefer, the great thing about book-to-movie adaptations is that you can enjoy the story twice: once on the page and again on the screen. Here are three young adult series we recommend you read before you see their on-screen counterparts:

The Divergent series by Veronica Roth

In the film version of Divergent, the first book in the trilogy by Veronica Roth, Shailene Woodley does a wonderful job of conveying protagonist Tris Prior’s determination and bravery as the world around her changes into something she barely recognizes. The movie keeps all the essential scenes from the book, but as movies often do, it compresses some of the relationships and plotlines that are more deeply developed in the novel. For this reason, pick up a copy of Divergent and give it a chance before you watch the movie.

The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins

There’s no denying that Jennifer Lawrence embodies the character of Katniss Everdeen on screen. But there’s one character who gets a lot more development in the book series, particularly the first book, than in the movies: Gale, Katniss’s best friend. In order to feel the true tension of the Katniss-Peeta-Gale love triangle, you must get to know Gale better. And to get to know Gale better, you must read the books.

The Chaos Walking series by Patrick Ness

The most obvious reason you should read the Chaos Walking series before watching the movies is that the movies haven’t been released yet! This young adult sci-fi series is set in a world where humans can hear each other’s thoughts, which makes for a very loud and often chaotic society. It also makes the writing creative and colorful, which is why the book is worth a read before the movie makes it to the big screen.

Which book-to-movie adaptation is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!

If you’re looking for more movie versions of your favorite books, check out these films we recommend.

5 Children’s Books You Should Read As an Adult

Many of us have special memories of books that changed our worlds as children. I’ll never forget snuggling up next to my dad while he read a section of C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia to my brother and me each night before bed. Here are five books and series for kids that we recommend re-reading as an adult:

The Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder Based on Wilder’s experiences growing up on the American frontier, the Little House series paints an intimate portrait of an exciting time in American history. Read along as Laura and her family encounter bears, battle the elements, and survive in the early American West.

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein While this popular children’s book is intended for young readers, adults have found inspiration within its pages, too. The Giving Tree tells the story of a boy growing up alongside a tree and the relationship of give and take between them. It’s a short picture book and worth another read from an adult perspective.

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry The Little Prince is one of those rare children’s books that captivates young readers on one level and touches the hearts of adult readers on another. On the surface, it is about a pilot who crashes his plane in the desert and encounters a strange young boy who has traveled from his home on a distant asteroid. At a deeper level, The Little Prince is a story about being present in your own life — about paying attention to everyday pleasures and making time for friends.

Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl Many people are familiar with Wes Anderson’s movie adaptation of Fantastic Mr. Fox, but if you haven’t read the book, you’re missing out. Roald Dahl is the author of many other favorite children’s books, including James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Matilda. Pick up Fantastic Mr. Fox to enjoy a fun-filled journey through the animal world.

Daddy’s Little Girl by Peter Wilson Daddy’s Little Girl tells the story of a father’s love for his daughter through the years. The book is short and sweet and guaranteed to bring a tear to most fathers’ and daughters’ eyes.

Which books for children do you recommend rereading as an adult? Share your favorites in the comments!

Educating Educators: Basic Grammar for Teachers

Should all educators have to pass basic grammar in order to teach? Several months ago, Grammarly polled, and over 30,000 people cast their votes. The overwhelming majority, 94 percent, answered yes. But what kinds of skills should be tested? Most states require teachers to pass a test of basic skills, but each state has unique licensure requirements. Generally, the states who use tests focus on math, writing, language arts, and reading comprehension. In addition, teachers often have to pass in-depth tests in their teaching specialty. Let’s talk about what commenters think teachers should know.

Basic Parts of Speech

In one anecdote, one teacher observed a colleague pushing ESL students to identify a direct object in every sentence. Of course, not every sentence has a direct object. Clearly, these students would later have a difficult time understanding what a direct object is and identifying other parts of speech. English teachers in particular should have a firm grasp of grammar and conventions before they deliver a lesson to the class. Teachers and anyone else wishing to review the basic parts of speech can consult our Grammar Basics series. The articles give a brief overview of how to use each of the major parts of speech.

Writing Conventions

One comment reminisces unfavorably about a high school teacher who insisted that the first sentence of every paragraph be the topic sentence. Fatigued with students omitting this sentence, having to search for it, or perhaps from ignorance, she explained that topic sentences are always at the top! The story is humorous, but good writing skills are no laughing matter. Studies have repeatedly proven that good writing skills can help you to distinguish yourself from other applicants in any career. Employers value good communicators, and this skill is essential in the teaching field.

Spelling

Teachers who specialize in a subject should be experts. One commenter found it “incredible that someone can teach something without knowing how to spell it.” A good proofreading program will help teachers avoid spelling errors in printed materials. Teachers should make sure to double-check everything that they distribute to students and parents, including emails and worksheets that they find online.

Commonly Confused Expressions

One teacher fell prey to a commonly confused expression. A commenter shared the feedback that the teacher provided to her fifth-grade daughter: “You should of wrote…” The correct phrase is “should have.” (And it should be “written,” not “wrote.”) Yes, some similar-sounding expressions confuse even professionals! There are many sayings that are frequently mixed-up, and teachers have a prime opportunity to model the correct use of these expressions. Students often pick up the speaking patterns of those with whom they spend significant periods of time—parents, peers, and teachers.

In your opinion, should aspiring teachers have to demonstrate basic grammar skills? It’s not too late to cast your vote! Most teachers do a great job, and they love to learn. Whether an educational institution requires basic skills testing or not, many educators would enjoy brushing up on the basics of writing and grammar. Thankfully, there’s lots of learning material available for students and teachers! Have you taken the time to thank a teacher for helping you to learn basic grammar—either by teaching it directly or setting a great example?