A recent study published online January 23 in the journal Archives of Neurology stated that " doing puzzles and reading books have been linked with a decreased risk
of Alzheimer's disease, and a new study may explain why — it reduces the
accumulation of harmful proteins in the brain."
Terrific news! Now when I sit in my comfy chair and read instead of doing housework or other chores, I can say I am mentally stimulating my brain! love it!
For more information on this study go to Vitals on MSNBC.
Showing posts with label reading. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reading. Show all posts
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Gift Guide
I like this gift list from abduzeedo. It is not a list of the best sellers or the most popular, but a list of really interesting books that would make great gifts: posters, graphics, brand theory, design and more.
Example: Art of the Modern Movie Poster: International Postwar Style and Design
"Critically authoritative, visually stunning, and physically massive, Art of the Modern Movie Poster is the first and last word on post-WWII film poster design. Showcasing fascinating examples from 15 nations, this collection of more than 1,500 exemplary designs is a must-have for film buffs, design and poster aficionados alike. The posters are organized by country of origin, offering an intriguing glimpse into each region's unique visual sensibility and sometimes unexpected takes on familiar films. Gathered from the renowned collection of the Posteritati Gallery in New Yorkone of the largest holdings of international film posters in the worldthis volume is the definitive survey of both film and popular graphic art in the modern era."
Example: Art of the Modern Movie Poster: International Postwar Style and Design
"Critically authoritative, visually stunning, and physically massive, Art of the Modern Movie Poster is the first and last word on post-WWII film poster design. Showcasing fascinating examples from 15 nations, this collection of more than 1,500 exemplary designs is a must-have for film buffs, design and poster aficionados alike. The posters are organized by country of origin, offering an intriguing glimpse into each region's unique visual sensibility and sometimes unexpected takes on familiar films. Gathered from the renowned collection of the Posteritati Gallery in New Yorkone of the largest holdings of international film posters in the worldthis volume is the definitive survey of both film and popular graphic art in the modern era."
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Digital Reading
I found this blog post very interesting: What if reading on the computer means we don't get it? My reading comprehension is certainly better when I have a printed copy of whatever on my desk. I think I take more time to read rather than hurrying to read the computer screen quickly so I can get on with my clicking!
I chose three different articles that are about the level that I would normally assign for current events, two of them from the New York Times. For Grade 6, this can be a fairly challenging reading level. Each article was followed by five questions related to comprehension of the key information from the article. The subject of each article was familiar but the information was ‘new’ to the students. I did the experiment with both of my Humanities classes – about 40 students.
For article one, students read entirely online. They could take notes on paper or using an online tool.
For article two, students read a pdf version stripped of all ads (using the ‘READER’ function of Safari). They could then take notes on paper or using Preview (which allows them to take notes and highlight the text easily).
For article three, students received a paper copy of the article and could write on it if they needed to. If I am being honest, this article was in fact the longest and most complex.
The results?
For the first article (reading online), the class average was 68%, a D+.
For the second article (a pdf version that allowed note-taking), the class average was 72%, a C-.
For the final article (a paper copy), the class average was 89, a B+.
I chose three different articles that are about the level that I would normally assign for current events, two of them from the New York Times. For Grade 6, this can be a fairly challenging reading level. Each article was followed by five questions related to comprehension of the key information from the article. The subject of each article was familiar but the information was ‘new’ to the students. I did the experiment with both of my Humanities classes – about 40 students.
For article one, students read entirely online. They could take notes on paper or using an online tool.
For article two, students read a pdf version stripped of all ads (using the ‘READER’ function of Safari). They could then take notes on paper or using Preview (which allows them to take notes and highlight the text easily).
For article three, students received a paper copy of the article and could write on it if they needed to. If I am being honest, this article was in fact the longest and most complex.
The results?
For the first article (reading online), the class average was 68%, a D+.
For the second article (a pdf version that allowed note-taking), the class average was 72%, a C-.
For the final article (a paper copy), the class average was 89, a B+.
Monday, March 7, 2011
goodreads challenge
Did you sign up for a reading challenge? If not, try goodreads.
71,875 people participating
Motivate yourself to read more books: Enter the 2011 Reading Challenge!
Total goal for all participants: 5,173,274 books
Average goal for all participants: 71 books
Total challenges completed: 77
534,671 of 5,173,274 (10%)
Total challenges completed: 77
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
'to read' shelf
This 3-day weekend found me doing a little cleaning. I thought I should clean up my home library -- tidy up the stacks of papers (so I can see the wood of my desk), shelve books (so I vacuum the carpet where the stacks of books have been for a lonnggg time), and maybe even weed a few books (so I can shelve those books -- OMG!),
Well, I designated one shelf just for those books that I have not read, but plan to read. I soon realized some of these books have been around for ages. Should they go in the 'reconsideration' stack so I can consider reading them for another year or should I make the final decision? another OMG! moment.
My 'to read' shelves (two) now hold 76 print books and 3 audio books. Plus, I have at least 15 on my Kindle waiting for me. I moved one from 'to read' to the another shelf because I had listened to the audio book which I borrowed from my local public library.
I am happy and sad to say I did not discard one book. I may have to put another bookcase in the guest room....
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