Welcome to Something to Read, to Watch, to Hear, a monthly newsletter by me, Katie Novak, with a focus on inclusive practices, education news, helpful resources, and life! I'm so glad you're here.
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Onward.
Here are a few things to kick off your week.
📖 Something to Read:
I am an avid reader (yes, that includes audiobooks!). As we round out the year, I wanted to share a few of my favorite books that I read in 2023:
Couldn't Put It Down - The Bird Hotel by Joyce Maynard. This book is so beautifully written it's like getting lost in travel poetry as the protagonist deals with the grief of losing everything by checking into a decaying lakefront hotel called La Llorona in a Central American village.
Drew Inspiration - The Lioness of Boston, by Emily Franklin. As a Massachusetts native, I've always been familiar with the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. However, it wasn't until I read Franklin's historical fiction that I understood the extent of her influence. Gardner was a formidable presence in the art world, brimming with sass and refusing to conform to societal expectations of how a woman should behave. I LOVE her.
I'm still thinking about it - The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan has haunted me since I finished it. It's a dystopian piece that centers on a world where a very bad day for mothers, which may include checking your phone too often, results in children being taken away. I recommended it to my sister, Lindie, and when she finished, she called to yell at me because she couldn't stop thinking about it.
10 out of 10 - Heavy by Kiese Laymon. There are no words to explain how tragically brilliant, raw, and honest this memoir is, as Laymon uses his struggle with weight as an allegory for all he has carried.
My husband, Lon, recently added a song to our Amazon music playlist, and when I listened to it for the first time, I cried. The song "Mom and Dad" by Darren Kiely, made me so darn grateful for everything my parents did for me and my siblings. The lyrics that got me:
And I know you cried, you spoke in secret You prayed with all your might Without relent, you never weakened You held me up each time And I know that you felt worthless (I know) But each word you spoke held purpose (I know) If you questioned were you worthless Look at me
And goodness, it made me think of my own kids. My greatest hope in life is that they understand just how much I love them and that every effort, every sacrifice made for them, is absolutely worth it. Give it a listen.
📺 Something to Watch:
As a UDL practitioner, I often times boast the benefits of being flexible with learners, but finding that sweet spot is the key. Reminder: UDL is about firm goals and flexible means. Check out this video, where I explain using an ELA classroom scenario as an example.
💭 Something to Make You Think:
Each year, my family has a tradition where we each write down our personal to-do lists for the year ahead. These aren't resolutions, but rather goals we hope to achieve. We store these lists behind the same picture frame and then, on New Year's Eve, we come together to read them aloud. It's often surprising to see what we wrote; priorities that seemed crucial a year ago might have been completely forgotten. While I can't exactly remember my list for 2023, for 2024 I'm setting my sights on completing a 50-mile race, contributing to The New York Times, and delivering a TED Talk. There, I've put it out into the universe! Reply to this email and let me know what's on your 2024 list!
😄 Something just for fun!
Last weekend, I went to Iceland with my husband, and let me tell you, I 100% recommend adding it to your travel bucket list. Check out the recap from my trip. If you go, be sure to eat at Höfnin Restaurant - the service is amazing and they had the best fish and chips and the best risotto I have ever had in my life!https://www.facebook.com/reel/352150417511919
