VIRTUAL ADVENT TOUR: Decking the Halls with #PhysicsHaikus

This one is a little different! A few weeks ago, Perimeter Institute, a reknowned research center in Canada, posted some #PhysicsHaikus on their tweeter feed. I always like when the arts and sciences can be combined, and I took note. I decided I'd get my grade twelve physics students to write a haiku.

Now, students who take physics are not usually fans of English, and especially poetry. They like our formulas and numbers and rules in physics - that's why they take physics. However, I figured if there was ever poetry designed for scientists, it's the haiku. I mean really, it has rules with numbers in it! How perfect is that?

Saying that physics students are not fans of English is not quite right. A good number fit that category, but I have had over the years, a fair number of music/band students who take physics as the only science course they take, and just because they like it. I'm pretty sure there is a great connection between physics and music; I know there is with math and music. We actually have two math teachers on staff who are also music majors.

If you don't remember, here's a haiku on how to write a haiku. The haiku is a Japanese based poem, with specific number of syllables in each line - five syllables, then seven syllables, then five again. They are pretty easy to write.

So I found some glitter tree decorations and stuck them on the wall, making a tree shape. A bow for the top and voila! The big space on the hall outside my classroom was now ready for some haikus.

Our recent topics were electric fields and forces, and the last chapter was planetary motion. The inspiration for many was clearly the ideas we've been studying.

One aspect that was particularly tough for some of my students was just the language. We have a large number of EAL students (English as an Acquired Language) and while they are pretty good at physics, having to create in English was very hard. I was super impressed with the effort they put in to figuring out what a syllable was and then trying to make a haiku that made sense. I have students who have only been in Canada for less than a year who found this task challenging.

Some students are into modern physics, not a topic we cover, but Schrodinger's cat is pretty famous even for people who aren't into physics.

And then one fella took it pretty literal about writing a haiku about physics. He wrote about physics - the high school course. Surprisingly, he is a student who does pretty well, and I don't think he works a lot to stay on top of things, but he summarized the over all feeling of probably a lot of students, lol.

So Happy Haiku
from  outside Room 203!
and the Advent Tour

TOP TEN TUESDAY: Top Ten Favorite Books of 2017

This week's theme from The Broke and the Bookish people is Top Ten Favourite Books of 2017. Nope, not nearly ready to think about favourite books of the year. I read a ton of books this year, and I can easily make a genre top ten list of mysteries from this year, in no particular order. 

Silkworm by Robert Galbraith
I thought maybe I liked the first in this series, The Cuckoo's Calling, because it was a new detective and I was surprised how much I liked it. Nope, the series is top-notch and the second book was just as strong as the first. Ms Rowling can write and plot and create characters you feel like you know. 

Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith
Usually when I find a series I like, individual books are rated four star out of five, but I think of the series as a 4.5 or 5 star series. The sum of the parts are greater than the parts. But every time I finish a Cormoran Strike book, it's a 4.5. I cannot wait for the next book in the series.
 

Icarus by Deon Meyers
Bennie Griessel, the South African detective, must have nearly hit rock bottom. Man he has a hard time with life. He's fallen off the wagon in Icarus and trying to solve a high profile murder. Again, it's the plotting and the characters that stand out in these books. If you haven't read any Deon Meyer mysteries yet, what are you waiting for? 

Countdown City/World of Trouble by Ben H Winters
I read The Last Policeman last year and it was fabulous. Combining two of my favourite genres - cop mysteries and dystopian/apocalypsic fiction was definitely going to catch my eye. This trilogy of life as a known asteroid is heading to Earth on a known date means life if a little upside down. Add in a police detective who doesn't know how to do anything else, and he's fighting against the anarchy around him. Another series where each book got rated 4.5 and the individual books had stand alone mysteries but the over arching story was tragic.
 

Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
I've raved about this one already. Different from my police detectives, this one is an homage to village mysteries in England and Agatha Christie. I think part of the appeal was that it was just last year I read all the Miss Marple mysteries for the first time, and appreciated the style. 
 

Oblivion by Arnaldur Indridason
Just like my favourite TV show, This is Us, Indridason has realized that a dead character doesn't limit the stories you can tell. While present day Erlendur can't solve any more mysteries, he was a police detective for many years and the new books look back at old cases. One case is set in the 70s, while Erlendur is also looking into a cold case from the 60s. The conflicted history of American army bases in Iceland is explored as well.
 

In This Grave Hour by Jacqueline Winspear
I was getting ready to give up on Maisie Dobbs after the last two books but Winspear has returned Maisie to all the parts I like best. She's in London, working with Billy and Inspector Stratten, and her father is around again. A new war has begun, but the first war is still having repercussions, as it has in all the good Maisie books. 
 

Queen of Hearts/Malice in the Palace/On Her Majesty's Frightfully Secret Service by Rhys Bowen
I'm really not a fan of cozy mysteries but I make an exception for Georgie, 35th in line to the throne in 1930s England. The mix of historical information, high society hob-nobbing, and silly romance just works for me. None of the books actually stand out, but here's an example of the whole is greater than the parts. Plus, I've been watching The Crown and David and Wallace Simpson are in both, and they are so much fun when they appear.
 

Glass Houses by Louise Penny
I've been listening to this series and Penny's latest addition is a stellar read. She plays with the structure a bit here, having the unknown trial happening at the same time as the story is being revealed. The opioid crisis is a major plot point. Some books have had other settings, but this one is in Three Pines, so all the great characters are around. I am enjoying retired Gamauche. 
 

The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill
First in a series, The Coroner's Lunch is set in 1970s Laos. A former Communist, 72 year old Siri Paibourn has been appointed to be the medical examiner. I really liked this first book in the series. Siri is cynical, and cranky and the setting is so different. I got the second book, Thirty-Three Teeth but didn't find it as similar or as good as it headed off into more supernatural territory. I'll still keep The Coroner's Lunch on my 'Best of Mysteries' list for the year.

#AMonthofFaves: 3 Popular Books Worth the Hype

Fri. | Dec. 8 – 3 Popular Books Worth the Hype #AMonthofFaves– and/or Not Worth the Hype

Join hosts  Girlxoxo, Traveling with T and Estella’s Revenge for the 4th annual #AMonthofFaves blog event – a fun way to recap the year that was.

Three books I read this year that I picked up because I've heard about them and read rave reviews and that lived up to expectations? That can be tricky, because sometimes beginning something based on great expectations (copywrite Dickens) can backfire. You are expecting to enjoy it so much, that you can't help but be let down. This is not the story with these three books.

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante (12h 38min)
I listened to this first in a quartet originally wondering what all the hype was about. I quite enjoyed it, got very much into the story of two friends in Naples, Italy in the 1950s. I wish my library had more on audio, but I will be reading the next installation, The Story of a New Name next year for sure, wanting to find out what happens next for these poor yet ambitious frenemies.

Redshirts by John Scalzi, 320 pages
I loved this crazy science fiction romp through the galaxy! So funny, so meta for fans of Star Trek. Not that I am even a fan, I've seen the original series episodes. But the series is very much a part of our cultural knowledge. Each time I realized what was happening and how it all connected, I'd just think, wow. So much fun.

Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz, 496 pages
I can't decide whether to consider this a book worth the hype, or an underrated book. It certainly was a fantastic read, an homage to golden age mysteries. I saw it around in the spring/summer and then loved it when I read it. It is actually two books in one - a manuscript for a mystery, whose author then disappears , sending the editor on a wild goose hunt for the second mystery. So well done. If you are any kind of an Agatha Christie fan, you must read this!

VIRTUAL ADVENT CALENDAR: O Holy Night by the Beck Sisters

I was browsing around social media, trying to think of an Advent Tour post when I landed on this sweet video. There are many aspects of this that make it a Christmas post to share. 

First of all, what a beautiful song! Amy and Rachel Beck are sisters who sing the loveliest harmonies and everytime I hear them, I remind myself I should see them perform more often. To make this a more typical Island story, Amy taught at my school two years ago and was a great addition to our staff.

Second, it reminds me how talented our little Island is with singers. While I haven't seen all of them perform, I've heard of all of them. If you ever get a chance to hear Lennie Gallant, he's super amazing on this album of amazing singers.

Finally, no surprise that these performers donated their talents to a fund-raiser album, A Special Island Christmas, for Special Olympics. Christmas is all about charity and giving and sharing our blessings.

Thanks for stopping by, and thanks to sprite for hosting and organizing the Virtual Advent Tour again. Did you know, Sprite, that you commented on my very first Advent post in 2007? Happy ten year friendaversary! Merrty Christmas!

 Here's some of my old Virtual Advent Tour posts with some great books, recipes, and riddles.

Thanks for stopping by again this year. Having the Virtual Advent Tour is now a tradition at Christmas for me. Here's my past posts:

In 2016, I shared the lights of my town, and a recipe for Spumoni shortbreads

In 2015, I shared my Christmas decorations in our new home

In 2014, there was no tour

In 2013, I shared a Christmas series of novellas by Anne Perry that I listened in audio

In 2012, I posted some favourite Christmas mystery  books

In 2011, I posted a 'recipe' for fruitcake that my grandmother had given me.

In 2010, I took a humorous look at some local events on Prince Edward Island.
In 2009, we played 'guess the carol'
In 2008, I played a game of 'guess the movie', and my favorite Christmas picture ever.
In 2007, it was the original 'guess the carol' game, with your vocabulary tested, and my whipped shortbread cookie recipe.

#AMonthofFaves - This is How We Read

Mon. | Dec. 4 – This Is How We Read #AMonthofFaves– eg. Number of books read so far, genre you read the most from, picture of favorite (or most often used) reading location, most read author, % eBooks, hardcovers, paperbacks and/or audiobooks, hint at what your favorite read of the year is (let us guess), types of books you wish you read more of, month you read the most and least)

# of books read - 144
# of audiobooks - 60
# nonfiction reads - 56

best month - July (20 books) [no surprise as I'm on summer holidays]
least read month - November (6 books) [no surprise, school is super busy by Nov]

My goal this year was to read more nonfiction and I succeeded. At one point, half of what I read was nonfiction. I read many types of nonfiction - science, memoirs, history, graphic novels, feminism, and essays. 

Audiobooks contribute to my reading a lot. Getting the free YA Sync audiobooks adds almost 30 books available to read, many of which I would never have picked up. My library is full of all kinds of great books so I generally looked to the audiobooks first for nonfiction options, a simple way to read NF.

I kept up on some series that I like and finished a few excellent trilogies (The Colours of Madeleine and The Last Policeman.) Ongoing series seem to release a new addition each year and I stayed current on  Louise Penny, Deon Meyer, Arnaldur Indridason, Rhys Bowen, Karin Slaughter, Jacqueline Winspear, and Susan Elia MacNeal. Cormoran Strike, the PI  written by Robert Galbraith, aka JK Rowling is probably the best new series I've read in a while and I can't wait for the next book to be released next year.

Some non-mystery series like The Penderwicks, Lumberjanes, March and The Colours of Madeleine by Jaclyn Moriarty were excellent. Every time I read from the Irish Country Doctor series I get immersed and want to read more.

Another part of my reading was to make sure to read Canadian authors. I decided for Canada 150  to read (at least) 13 fiction and 13 nonfiction books. In eleven months I've read 14 nonfiction books:

Canada - Mike Myers
Captured Hearts: New Brunswick's War Brides - Melynda Jarrett 
David and Goliath - Malcolm Gladwell (audiobook)
The Massey Murder: A Maid, Her Master, and the Trial that Shocked a Country - Charlotte Gray
Outliers - Malcolm Gladwell (audiobook) 
Field Notes: A City Girl's Search for Heart and Home in Rural Nova Scotia - Sara Jewell
Pumpkinflowers - Matti Freidman (audiobook) 
Based on a True Story - Norm Macdonald 
Susanna Moodie; Roughing it in the Bush - Carol Shields and Patrick Crowe
Not Yet: A Memoir of Living and Almost Dying - Wayson Choy 
The Dorito Effect: The Surprising New Truth About Food and Flavour - Mark Schatzker 
Sisters in Two Worlds: A Visual Biography of Susanna Moodie and Catharine Parr Traill - Michael Peterman
Marshall McLuhan - Douglas Coupland
Crows: Encounters With the Wise Guys of the Avian World - Candace Savage

and 15 fiction books
Getting Over Edgar - Joan Barfoot 
Family Matters - Rohinton Mistry
The End of the Alphabet - CS Richardson
An Irish Country Courtship - Patrick Taylor (audiobook)
Hag-Seed - Margaret Atwood (audiobook)
The Age of Hope - David Bergen 
A Tap at the Window - Linwood Barclay
Knucklehead - Matt Lennox
The Lonely Heart's Hotel - Heather O'Neill
Airborn - Kenneth Oppel (audiobook)
A Tale for the Time Being - Ruth Ozeki (audiobook)
Bachelor Brother's Bed & Breakfast - Bill Richardson
Glass Houses - Louise Penny (audiobook)
The Betrayer - Michael Hennessey 
The Disappeared - Kim Echlin


The other main kind of book I read would be books people are talking about, whether online or in real life. So, a stand alone book that someone is raving about, and then I look in the library and I am able to find it. (I hate feeling like I'm missing out on something good!) So, Before the Fall, You, New Boy (a Hogarth book - Shakespeare rewritings), Girl at War, My Brilliant Friend, Rules of Civility, and Magpie Murders fit in this category. They are, of  course, excellent reads based on my wonderful friends good reviews.

Finally, I try to read books I have already bought. I really don't buy a lot of books, but I economically will search book sales. I got around to reading a good number (18) of previously bought books from my shelves this year. Some were sweet surprises, like Family Matters, and Citizen Vince. Keeping on top of books bought in this year is also a goal.

It's been a great year for my reading. (Also for Candy Crush, which I play while listening to audiobooks.)

#AMonthofFaves: [The 2017 Favorites Edition]

Fri. | Dec. 1 – – eg. to eat, drink, wear, smell, see, do, enjoy, best purchases, most used gift received etc, favorite concert, outdoor activity, place visited, most squee worthy moment of the year.

Clothes:
These Josef Seibel sandals in olive were my go-to fall back to school shoes. My feel love Josef Seibel shoes, and much like Mma Matsuki's shoes talk to her, my feet will tell me to buy the Seibel's when I try them on. please buy these! So I did. I still may be wearing them on days above zero degrees.

This cozy burgendy hoodie from American Eagle was a supposed to be a shared purchase with my daughter, but it matches everything and is super cozy and I wear it all the time. Not too heavy and with no writing on it, it's perfect.

My favourite store to shop for work clothes is Cazza Petite. Part of the appeal is that the store is not in my province, so getting there is a big treat, and I only get there a few times a year. They have crazy sales at end of season (70% off) and I stock up. I like that it is not a common store, that no students will be wearing the same thing, and that the clothes fit me so well, as I am only 5'2".

How about a margarita and taco on the deck in downtown Charlottetown? Yes, please! I didn't get there very often, but just knowing this darling restaurant was downtown waiting for me was enough. It really represents all of downtown Charlottetown and how wonderful summer is on PEI. Huge events like Divercity, Farm Day in the City, and Art in the Open are must attend events, and the weather this summer was perfect. Local artisans, cultures, products and foods eaten outside keep me buying local. The restaurant options available in a city our size is really incredible.

Speaking of buying locally, my favourite soaps are made in PEI from Moonsnail Soaps  a local shop downtown. When they combined with our favourite craft brewery, Upstreet, to make Upstreet soap, all my favourite local shops combined into one. I love PEI and the great businesses growing here.

It took me a few tries, but I settled on the Leuchtturm1917 for a daily journal. I'm not as consistent as I'd like, but I love the teal colour and the size, and the elastic wrap that keeps it together. Plus, Sharpie fine tip markers are so much fun.