Benefits of Reading– Why You Should Read Everyday

I am reading a lot. English educating means reading must be done in sips, gulps, and vicariously. It is part of the joys (and nemesis) of being an English teacher. Outside the scope of teaching, there are several benefits to reading.

1) Reading Increases Focus

Attaching a time window to human attention spans has been debunked. My source is hyperlinked for your enjoyment here.

Despite the source above, reading does require extended concentration in order for concepts to be grasped. Although I will not argue specific time windows, I do believe that reading does increase attention span.

2) People of (Great) Influence are Avid Readers

According to a biography, Steve Jobs read almost on a daily basis. He made a lifestyle from reading.

On the contrary, Donald Trump admits that he does not have time to read books. Yes, he currently is a man of influence, but will he maintain this status for much longer? And how many are happily following Trump?

Bill Gates claims he reads 50 books at least a year. Gate’s annual reading habit still outdoes my 2018 reading goal!

Warren Buffet attributes his financial wealth to reading. He claims a financially successful patron must read at least 500 pages of wordsmith a day. Knowledge is what he has used to make calculated risk(s).

Lastly, Oprah Winfry has a recommended reading list, and encourages viewers to swipe library cards. Her top three books are Night, The Poisonwood Bible, and The Bluest Eye.

Follow (or don’t follow) the world’s greatest (or worst) leaders.

3) Fights Memory Loss

Preventing Alzheimer’s  Disease and Dementia are one of the major reasons I am reading on a daily basis. My memory has noticeably improved since I started my yearly reading challenge (read my 2018 reading list here).

Several studies have been conducted around Alzheimier’s Disease and its linkage to prolific reading. After weaving through several case studies, both scholarly and through published articles on Google, it was apparent that more reading equates to a stronger brain. In turn, a strong brain is a better combatant against memory loss.

4) Increases Knowledge

It is a given: the more we read, the more words we see, the more likely it is to eye words we don’t know. As a result, our lexicon increases.

Stories provide a a vivid picture into the depths of a writer’s mind. I don’t think there is any other way to dive deeper into someone’s head other than reading a story published by them.

Reading is not only about sharing stories, but practical advice is also offered. I will never have the chance to interview Steve Jobs (RIP-sent from my iPhone), but I can read about him in a biography. I can learn about Steve Jobs even though he has passed away; praise the lord for allowing me to be literate.

5) Polishes Writing Skills

Reading is the input, and writing output. Published words that have been revised, refined, and communicate clearly are always worth reading for the sheer purpose of honing on your own wordsmithing. Reading great writing reveals patterns, word choice, story telling techniques, and literary elements all which are fruitful for any aspiring writer (or anyone in a professional field that requires emailing and communicating).

I tell my students on a weekly basis that you will write in your job, and the best writer’s are the ones who garner the most respect from bosses. Tapping out an email that is poorly written could earn a no from your boss, and more importantly, it could prevent you from being hired at a job.

Even if you aren’t a writer, reading prolifically has its benefits. Experience the joy of reading, become a better communicator, and flex those cogs. Reading is awesome! And yes, I strongly encourage you to start a healthy habit today: grab a book (or e reader), and get reading!

Do you read on a daily basis? Why or why not? Do let me know your thoughts in the comments!

 

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Why Should you Read my Financial Advice?

I don’t mean to set a pompous tone, like Stephan King’s On Writing. Seriously, though, why should you read my words about money? What have I accomplished? What makes me a credible source of information?

Financial success is subjective. Allow me some wordsmith to share my successes, lending itself to my reason for advising you about finances:

1) I am Debt Free

Yes, I went to school. Yes, I have a bachelor of education from the University of Alberta. Yes, like many other students out there, I took out student loans. I paid off my loans before I left university. How did I do it?

I took advantage of opportunities. On a bi-semester basis, the University of Alberta would host a huge for its apparel. Hoodies were going for 20 bucks a size. I purchased several hoodies, of different sizes and colours, and posted them on Kijji for a little higher than the price of the University of Alberta’s bookstore. I kind of sold each hoodie. I kind of made bank on this investment.

How else did I become debt free? I started working when I was 12 years old at Tim Hortons. Too young to wield a knife, but still old enough to pour a cup of coffee, Tim Hortons taught me essential life skills. And I was able to save money (and later crash a nice sports care. Visit the Annex for this story here).

During my expensive- piece-of-toilet-paper education, I also had the opportunity to study Chinese abroad in Taiwan for 8 months. My program offered a 2000 dollar scholarship and a student visa. Though I wasn’t supposed to “work” on this type of visa, I took up tutoring jobs, where I was paid upwards of 200-400 dollars.

Through tutoring one individual, I met another man who was wealthy, and he paid me loads of cash to speak English to him. All I had to do was talk to him. He was a big guru manager of some Taiwanese hotels in China. I remember him handing me thick stacks of cash.

In the end, I never spent the scholarship money, and because I ran into the right opportunities, I was able to pay for my entire trip and another semester of studying in Taiwan. When I returned to Canada, I put a significant chunk of cash towards my student loans– by that point I was at around 20000 in debt.

2) In the Past, I was very frugal

I basically followed these tips to the letter when I was enrolled in university. Today, however, I live very comfortably. I would recommend following these frugal tips until you have paid down all your debt.

3) I Never Spend more than I make

I cannot remember the last time I ever dipped into my savings account, except when I was paying off my student loans. My salary is enough to cover my expenses, even with inflation costs factored in. And I don’t make very much! My excel spreadsheet coins my salary at 36000USD a year tax free.

With this salary, I do not have to be frugal; I live very comfortably today. I save approximately 50% of my paycheck every month.

4) I have a budgeting system

Monitoring spending is essential to saving in my opinion. I utilize an excel spreadsheet to save my funds. Want more details about my spreadsheet? Click here for some depth.

When creating a system for budgeting, is it important to habitualize using whatever system you are comfortable with. Without it becoming a habit, you will lose the importance and system behind your creation.

Eventually you will find that budgeting helps show where you are spending too much money (or, lord bless you, not enough money), and then you can allocate and make adjustments the following month. Having a monthly budget is useful, but building in a networth calculator is also imperative.

5) I know my networth

I think many people look over this important word: networth. Your networth is how much cash you are worth, with all your assets calculated into the total. Calculating your networth also allows people to make choices on their funds based on a yearly perspective, it makes you feel like your money is working towards something bigger. For example, if I have my milestones (budget) set for each month, then I can see how much money I will make that will contribute to my total networth.

It also provides a good snapshot of which parts of your capital are working for you (IE: invested in other assets, such as stocks, or rental properties), and shows how your money is constantly growing.

None of these accomplishments above make me a qualified financial advisor, but I do know how to save money, prosper, and hopefully impact this earth one day with my dollars (what is my end goal anyway)?

Perhaps following my advice is worth it to you, because in the end, all you lose is a few minutes of your day just to read my words.

 

Marathon Training: Failed Goal

Accomplishing goals is not easy. Learning from failure is key. Reflection is but another important piece of the puzzle. This blog entry is written in the name of failure for half marathon training. In this post, I will analyze why I went wrong, what went well, and the ugliest part of all: why I failed. Before delving into specifics, first let me outline the goal itself.

What was the Goal?

Simply put, the goal was to train for a half marathon, which would lower my resting heart rate to 49 Beats Per Minute. It was to be trained with my beloved. Lowering a heart rate means consistent practise must be at play. We have not been consistent due to some health concerns, and inconsistency on my part.

Why did I Fail?

Failure stems from 4 reasons:

1) Air quality in Shenzhen is not the best, my lungs started to feel pain after a few days of running.

2) My beloved is having tendon issues in her left foot and ankle area; therefore, she is not able to run. Running causes pain in the ankle.

3) Consistency was difficult to maintain, especially with all the other commitments we have outside of work. My major focus is communication, and that’s why I am writing on a frequent basis.

4) Number 3 above is not trying to convey the “I’m too busy” excuse. I struggled with motivation, and being consistent. A routine did not even take off before it crashed into a sizzling failure, that reeked of sweaty socks locked in a jogger’s running shoe.

5) Overall, I lack knowledge and research about training for a half marathon. Running with the proper form is probably important, but notice my lack of certainty in my prose? it is because I truly don’t know enough about what I am doing. I don’t even know if training for a marathon is the best way to reduce my heart rate. In fact, I barley understand the health benefits of having a lower heart rate. More research is required.

What worked with this goal?

Using this blog to track the progress of this goal is a witty idea. You can see my progress here, and here.

Tackling a goal with a partner in crime is also another positive that will be replicated in the future.

Having a fitness watch, even if it’s crappy (read my review of this device here) was also another great way to track progression. I would almost go to say having a fitness watch is essential (huh? What do I know? I only jogged 3 times in my life, ha)!

 

 

 

 

 

 

2018 Reading Goal:Updated Book List

Recalling from the last post, I intend to read at least 40 books this year. 4 more books need to be selected and added to the list below. The reason is that it allows me some wiggle room to include a friend’s suggested book on the reading list. Any books that are added to my Trello, must be read, no matter how terrible or brutal they might be.

Below you will find a revised list of the books that I will read before the end of 2018. As of today, I feel slightly ahead of schedule, though it is difficult to keep pace with such a large reading book (remember, readers, I only read 10 books last year. This goal calls for quadruple the amount).

 

 

What is Project Based Learning?

Three years deep into my practise as an educator with the Project Based Learning philosophy as my main teaching method. I am not sure if I am qualified to write enough about the topic, but I will share what I know.

Empowering students is the first descriptor for Project Based Learning. It really is difficult for an educator to relinquish control to their students, but that is one way students can be empowered.

Another facet of Project Based Learning is it needs to be authentic and related to real life, not just through the soft skills pieces (soft skills are collaboration, critical thinking skills, and independent endevour). The project should be related to the world in someway. For example, the students in room 414 are creating a poetry cafe. They wrote the poems, designed the space, and wrote pieces of marketing material. Read more about this project in detail here.

Next up is the Driving Question. This part of the project is the most important; consider it the heart of the project. A DQ needs to be authentic, pose a real world problem, and hint at or include a soft skillset in order to accomplish. An educator should hang the driving question up in their classroom, and constantly reference it when students need guidance.

Project Based Learning must have a public audience for the final presentation. Adding an audience ups the stakes of the project, students are more likely to prepare for something that they present in front of their peers. I am not just talking about an audience of the class, invite other classes to see your project presentations, have an expert visit and offer feedback on the project.

Drafting and revision is another huge piece of Project Based Learning. Work must be offered critique, and revamped in light of kind, specific, and helpful feedback.

There you have it! I have been teaching Project Based Learning for 3 years now, and have worked in a pure Project Based Learning international school (we had no curricular standards). Many people and educators confuse PBL, see my article on what PBL is not.

 

Book Review: Among the Betrayed

+Wonderful development of the main character

-Minor character is named Bonner. Really?

+Gripping action, readers will not be able to put it down

+Excellent use of sensory details to make the settings come alive

9/10

After finishing the second book in the series, Among the Imposters, I was apprehensive to start reading the third book– Among the Betrayed. An agreement was formed in my head: if Among the Betrayed fails to deliver a suspenseful, power punch of a story, than I will put the series down entirely.

Readers will be hooked from the first few pages, pacing of this novel is strong, it feels progressive, and I connect to the characters because I feel the realism. On a consistent basis, I wonder what the main character is going to do next.

Development of the main character is the strongest suit for this novel. An attachment to the main character means readers are inclined to buy into the story, to continue page turning, and write glowing reviews like this one. There are many instances in the story where the main character is doing something to progress the story, and these doings all relate to her character. Sensory details also aid with the character’s development, the settings assist with making readers feel attached to her, as she faces a woman vs society conflict. Here’s a memorable quotation taken from the text:

“Everything that had happened to Nina was real. She had real handcuffs on her wrists, real scars on her back, real fear flooding her mind.”

There was a character named Bonner in this book, but I kept reading him as a Boner. I am sure the author could have created another name for this minor character.

In terms of pacing, this book was difficult to put down. I read until 12:50am on a school night. Many of the chapters end with a few lines of prose that make me want to read further. Not only was the story itself engaging, but I felt immersed into the settings the characters trudged through.

Sensory details evoke several images in this book for me, which makes me present in Haddix’s dystopia. Details were appropriate, and did not influence the pacing of the text at all.

Overall, Among the Betrayed has rekindled the Shadow Children Series for me. It keeps a stronger pace than its predecessor, Among the Imposters.

 

Book Review: On Writing: A Memoir Of The Craft

+Creative idea to deliver writing advice

-+Lots of interesting Memoiring, but somewhat distorts and distracts from the real focus of this book: on writing.

+Specific writing tips that can be applied to writing right now

+General tips that require a change of lifestyle

+Dark and sinister tone permeates certain chapters of this book

-King is a pompous and arrogant writer.

7/10

Stephen King attempts to write a technical writing book that flecked with the spice of storytelling. Overall, King achieves this task, and I think it is a creative way to present information. The story behind his life as a writer isn’t dry, and King admits it is a challenge for him to write his first non-fiction.

Though his prose and overall approach to writing about writing is creative (and engaging), the creativity distorts from the novels first purpose–becoming a better writer. King’s narrative strings a long for almost half the book. During the narrative, he drops a few hints as to how to become a better writer, but these hints are not direct, and at the very most, ambigious. Deciphering the writing tips, at least for the first half of the book, are pegged on the reader; in other words, the reader is shown a lot of story, and forced to really cog churn and decipher the “hidden code” about writing.

Even though King distorts his writing tips for the first half of the book, his book revives itself on the later half. After getting over the 50% mark, a reader will (finally) discover prose that is direct and related to writing. These tips are pretty strong. Many of the advice can applied to a writer’s wordsmith right away. King breaks down his grammar strategy, and offers several examples, creating a unified and cohesive piece of work for a writer to work with.

Not all of King’s tips are technical (and can be applied right now), instead, King insinuates lifestyle changes that are essential for a writer. These pieces of advice are also powerful, require habit in order to successfully execute, and show how dedicated a writer must be to her craft.

King recieves an applauding audience for his tone that permeates the pages of this book; he is a horror writer, and he (still) manages to write horrifically in a book about advice. It made this informative technical book read with a sense of engagement. King’s tone glued my eyes to the page, making it much more of an enjoyable read. The tone put’s King’s “On Writing” far ahead of Brande’s “Becoming a Writer” in terms of engagement.

In my personal life, I do not hangout with arrogant and pompous people, for the very reason that I aggression may ensue as a result. Modesty is an important characteristic that I find important in human beings. Unfortunately, King is an arrogant writer. His arrogance almost causes readers to stop and close the book, but I stuck through till the end. He often boasts his success, and states a lot of absolutes in terms of being a writer. For me, this arrogance really kept this book from garnering a 9/10.

Overall, this book achieves its intention, and it is a creative way to broach a somewhat dry subject. Reading technical books about becoming a better writer can be tedious, but King breaks that convention down it’s spine. King’s writing is dripping with arrogance, where at times, he reads like he’s some god of writing. King is an amazing writer,but his message in this book is distorted slightly with the creativity, and alot with his arrogant attitude. This book could be for you if you want to become a better writer and look past a pompous author.