RAE’S READS

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This year (2025) finds me with 53 years of teaching “under my belt.” I have taught all levels from pre-K “(library lady” or “book lady”–volunteer) to juniors, seniors, and graduate students enrolled in my Advanced Writing class at the university where I have just completed 34 years. My first paying teaching job was junior high, and I spent 13 years with ages 12-13, the “difficult years.” I had some of the “funnest” experiences with this age group. When I was no longer the “young, fun teacher,” I taught in an elementary school setting before sixth graders went on to junior high, teaching language arts blocs, an assignment that was a “dream-fit” for me. After completing graduate school in my 40s, I went on to community college, then university teaching. This past fall I accepted a part-time teaching job at Apogee Gulf Coast Schools in its first year at the Alvin campus. After my Better Half died n 2022, I achieved a lifelong dream: opening a bookstore of my own, Rae’s Reads. A year later, I sold the house we had lived in for 47 years and moved into the bookstore. My goal is to circulate and repurpose books. Just as teaching is “in my blood,” so is a passion for reading, writing, libraries, and everything bookish. This blog will be open to anyone who loves books, promotes literacy and wants to “come out and play.”

DEWEY’S 24 HOUR READATHON

Tomorrow is the big day.  We are not required to read for 24 hours but to read as much as we can IN 24 hours.  I plan to set my alarm and start reading by 7:00 a.m. CST. My main objective is to whittle down my TBR stack and at the same time to come near to completing my “Color Coded Challenge.” I made a big pan of Italian Baked Beans, laced generously with rosemary and have some quick fixes like frozen burritos and frozen pizza to pare cooking time down to almost nothing.  Snacks are very important, so I went to the local Aldi’s and made trail mix from a variety of nuts, dried fruits, and yes, I threw in some raisins and chocolate chips.  I hope I don’t get the book pages sticky!

Who would like to join me and thousands of others around the world in the readathon?  It doesn’t have to be official, just let me know we’ll be reading together, and we’ll check on and update each other on our progress.  Updates will be posted here irregularly and spasmodically from time to time tomorrow.

Let’s read!

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9 responses to “DEWEY’S 24 HOUR READATHON”

  1. sjhigbee Avatar
    sjhigbee

    I would love to join in! I might see if I can wrangle the children to join it – if I can, then maybe we’ll also hop on board…

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    1. Rae Longest Avatar
      Rae Longest

      Hope you got some reading in. I have posted my results on my blog.

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. sjhigbee Avatar
        sjhigbee

        I’ll catch up with it all – congratulations on completing two books!

        Liked by 1 person

  2. Ashley Avatar
    Ashley

    I hope you are having a successful readathon! As part of the readathon challenges they asked us to reach out to 5 randomly selected participants using a random number generator. You were the first person selected for me! My name is Ashley, from Canada and this is my first year participating! What have you read so far? Feel free to write back or find me on Instagram @theuntrainedlibrarian

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Rae Longest Avatar
      Rae Longest

      I don’t know how to do Instagram, but my final tally can be found at https://powerfulwomenreaders.wordpress.com I did 12 hours of reading, an hour of preparing and eating meals, a fifteen minute trip to pick up a prescription, and finished in time to prepare for subbing for our Sunday School teacher today. I consider that pretty good.

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  3. Tessa Avatar
    Tessa

    I’m a fellow reader from the readathon stopping by to cheer you on. Your food sounds great. How’s it all working out?

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Rae Longest Avatar
      Rae Longest

      It WENT well. My Better Half and I did 12 hours of actual reading. I posted my final results at https://powerfulwomenreaders.wordpress.com

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  4. readerbuzz Avatar
    readerbuzz

    I’m curious how the readathon went for you. I hope you post an update soon.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Rae Longest Avatar
      Rae Longest

      Posted Sunday evening on https://powerfulwomenreaders.wordpress.com

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