My (Christmas) Readings

Hi, guys!!! Here are the books I've been reading this Christmas break.

As Crónicas de Avantia: O Primeiro Herói 
The Chronicles of Avantia: First Hero

Sinopse em Português: Avantia está à beira do colapso, inimigos tenebrosos são liderados por um malévolo guerreiro, e reúnem-se na fronteira para acabar com Avantia de uma vez por todas. Mas um improvável herói foi escolhido pelo destino, para enfrentar tal ameaça... Com apenas quinze anos, Tanner não é um rapaz vulgar depois de lhe atacarem a aldeia, de lhe matar o seu pai e raptar a sua mãe, Tanner , ficou marcado pela tragédia .... Sendo companheiro eleito de Firepos, um jovem e feroz pássaro de fogo, cabe--lhe a ele inverter a maré de guerra que ameaça submergir Avantia. 

Synopsis in English: Avantia is on the edge of collapse, tenebrous armies are led by an evil warrior and they gather to meet on the border to finish of Avantia once and for all. An unlikely hero was chosen by fate to face such threat ... Only fifteen years old, Tanner, is no ordinary boy, surrounded by tragedy once his father was killed and his mother kidnapped... Being chosen by Firepos, a young and fierce phoenix, it's up to him to reverse the tide of war that threatens to destroy Avantia. 





CHERUB: Um Dia Negro 
CHERUB: Black Friday

Sinopse em Português: Com este novo livro de Robert Muchamore temos um novo herói, Ryan Sharma, e uma nova missão: Salvar os EUA do maior ataque terrorista da história do país. Ryan trabalha para a CHERUB, uma organização secreta com uma grande vantagem...os seus membros são todos crianças e com isto nem os criminosos mais experientes suspeitam que meras crianças os possam vigiar. 

Synopsis in English: With this new book by Robert Muchamore we have a new hero, Ryan Sharma, and a new mission: To save the USA from the biggest terrorist attack in the history of that country. Ryan works for CHERUB, a secret organization, with a big advantage: All of their members are kids and with this not even the most experienced criminals suspect that mere kids can be watching them.

Your Teacher's 2014 Reading Challenge

Joining Goodreads in Jan 2012 was one of the best things I have ever done to improve my reading standards. As you may know, this website was founded in 2006 and "allows individuals to freely search Goodreads' extensive user-populated database of books, annotations, and reviews. Users can sign up and register books to generate library catalogs and reading lists" (Wikipedia)
It's now the world's largest-site for readers and book recommendations and by allowing readers to set goals, I (certainly like so many others) do my best to achieve them!
For 2012 I had set my goal in reading 24 books and tough as it was juggling reading, schoolwork, housework, kids... I promised myself I would do it. And I did!!!For 2013, I was more modest and my Reading Challenge was 20 books - and so was the goal for the current year of 2014.

Besides the easiness with which all readers can keep track of their readings (or lack of them!), the visual reminders (or rather, the gadgets with the shelf and counting the books we can embed in our blogs / websites) have also worked for me either telling me I am one / two books ahead or behind and I become aware that I have to allocate more time to my reading (even if that means sleeping fewer hours ;) )
In the beginning of December, even before I had completed this year's reading goal, the nice folks at Goodreads sent me this:

- the list of books I have read throughout 2014

- the stats of those books

How pleased I was!!! This is another reason why I'm definitely joining their 2015 Reading Challenge!!!

What about you? Why don't you try it for 2015??? Challenge yourself and let me/us know!

One last thing...
Here's my top book recommendation from the ones I read in 2014 using a web 2.0 free tool we've tried before Vine (remember, João Carecho and Diogo Ricardo?)

Happy Reading(s) :)

Summer Reading Suggestions

This is not the first time that students recommend books to their peers - indeed, I would like to make it common practice once I believe we can all benefit from that.

Following Joana, Maria Beatriz, Verónica... now we have a group of more readers suggesting books for the summer.

Hope you enjoy your classmates' reading tips and follow their example ;)

Do READ and ENJOY your summer holidays!

Summer Reading Suggestions

Publish at Calameo or read more publications.

Enjoy and Play with the World Cup

Who is this???

With the World Cup in motion and you already enjoying your summer break, it's time for fun, don’t you agree?

I’ve collected some resources / links with stuff connected to football and the World Cup – why don’t you have a look?

1. Let's start with books!

Fever Pitch, by Nick Hornby, is an award winning football classic.

If you check here you'll find a Portuguese version of "Febre no Estádio".

Horrid Henry and the Football Fiend, by Francesca Simon, has a low level of English and is therefore great for newly confident readers.

The Story of Football, by Rob Jones, takes a look at football through the ages, from the Roman Army to the modern day.

The Story of The World Cup, by Richard Brassey, is definitely a book for all ages and I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

FIFA World Football Facts & Records, unlike the previous books, is packed with info and stats on football.

2. Vocabulary - so that you can understand what you're listening ;)

Here you'll find basic football vocabulary and the British Council also has a phrasebook on football vocabulary.

3. Games, Yuppi!!!! Finally, yes!

Start by checking FIFA where you'll find plenty of good games :)

At ESOL Courses you can also find nice games, and the most appropriate for you are the ones here under the heading "Activities for English Beginners and Elementary Students". Why don't you have a go with this or this???

Again, the British Council has fantastic games for all to play here.

There are also movies... an example is "Bend it like Beckham", a 2003 comedy about bending the rules to reach one's goals and explores the world of female football (I'm sure you can find it if you look for it ;))

As a curiosity, I'm including a video about the introduction of QR Codes on the pavements in Brazil made with Portuguese cobblestone in order to guide and provide tourists with relevant information. Technology also at the service of the World Cup!