Discussion: Velma finds her way to fit into her 1st grade classroom by finding a butterfly. This book is a great book to use to interconnect curriculum.
How to Use It: I would make copies of the book into overhead copies so that you could have the whole classroom read the book with you. However, I would read the book while showing the slides of the pictures to the class on the overhead. Afterwards, I would have the students get into groups of four and discuss different type of bugs that could be found in Lubbock (or the city that they are living in). I would then have the class go out side and see if they could find any of these bugs. I would have them journal what they found and where they found it. I would have the students continue this over the weekend. The next Monday, I would have the students discuss what all they found. I would then have us make a chart of what all bugs were found and what they had in similar.
Resource: Velma Gratch & the way cool butterfly by Alan Madison and Kevin Hawkes
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Read Aloud Plan and Journal
Read Aloud Plan
Title: Velma Gratch & the Way Cool Butterfly by Alan Madison And Kevin Hawkes
The story is about a young girl who just wants to fit in with the rest of her first grade class. Velma ends up finding her way to fit in through butterflies. I chose this because being a girl you always want to fit in and tells a relateable story of Velma and how she fit in. Also, the story is about insects and since 4th grade science learns about insects I thought this would be a wonderful book to interlock reading and science. I hope that Tori finds the book interesting and learns about the metamorphosis stage of the butterfly. I hope that Tori finds it fun to learn about different subjects by reading.
Read Aloud Journal
Tori loved this book! She didn't really think that much about how Velma didn't fit in with her class. However, Tori enjoys Science and liked how Velma discovers her way of fitting in through butterflies. She really enjoyed the pictures and wanted to look at the longer. The book was long enough to tell the whole story but short enough to keep her attention. I think this book is a great book to tie in reading into the science.
Title: Velma Gratch & the Way Cool Butterfly by Alan Madison And Kevin Hawkes
The story is about a young girl who just wants to fit in with the rest of her first grade class. Velma ends up finding her way to fit in through butterflies. I chose this because being a girl you always want to fit in and tells a relateable story of Velma and how she fit in. Also, the story is about insects and since 4th grade science learns about insects I thought this would be a wonderful book to interlock reading and science. I hope that Tori finds the book interesting and learns about the metamorphosis stage of the butterfly. I hope that Tori finds it fun to learn about different subjects by reading.
Read Aloud Journal
Tori loved this book! She didn't really think that much about how Velma didn't fit in with her class. However, Tori enjoys Science and liked how Velma discovers her way of fitting in through butterflies. She really enjoyed the pictures and wanted to look at the longer. The book was long enough to tell the whole story but short enough to keep her attention. I think this book is a great book to tie in reading into the science.
Book Review
Pennypacker, S. Stuart's Cape. Illus. Martin Matje. New York NY: Scholastic/Orchard Books, 2002.
Sara Pennypacker: Stuart’s Cape
Sara Pennypacker has succeeded again! Stuart's Cape is a thrill to read. Stuart, who just moved to a new town and about to start the third grade, was absolutely bored before school start. So what did he do? He created a magical cape, of course that took him on exciting adventures. I thought that this book was a thrill to read. Pennypacker captivates the creative mind of a third grader and does a wonderful job taking the reader through Stuart's magical cape adventures. This book a must read! I will definitely use this book in my classroom. Stuart’s Cape is a great book for cheap entertainment.
Sara Pennypacker: Stuart’s Cape
Sara Pennypacker has succeeded again! Stuart's Cape is a thrill to read. Stuart, who just moved to a new town and about to start the third grade, was absolutely bored before school start. So what did he do? He created a magical cape, of course that took him on exciting adventures. I thought that this book was a thrill to read. Pennypacker captivates the creative mind of a third grader and does a wonderful job taking the reader through Stuart's magical cape adventures. This book a must read! I will definitely use this book in my classroom. Stuart’s Cape is a great book for cheap entertainment.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Craft Lesson 9: Zoom
Discussion:
Reading isn't about just words but also what the picture says. The book Zoom is a great example of how the pictures tell the story. Students will learn the importance of detail and creativity.
How to teach it:
The class reading for the day can be Zoom. I would try and get an overhead projector version of this book so that we could go throughout each side that is projected in a large version on the wall. After a few slides, you can ask your students what they are expecting next or where they think the story is going. Throughout this process you can notice if some students catch on or if the ending is a complete surprise.
After words, I would give them each an example picture from an I Spy book. They can then write a few sentences of that picture with details someone might see if they went into close detail like the book Zoom. If they have free time after the assignment, they can draw pictures to go with each sentence and make a book that you can flip through like Zoom.
Reading isn't about just words but also what the picture says. The book Zoom is a great example of how the pictures tell the story. Students will learn the importance of detail and creativity.
How to teach it:
The class reading for the day can be Zoom. I would try and get an overhead projector version of this book so that we could go throughout each side that is projected in a large version on the wall. After a few slides, you can ask your students what they are expecting next or where they think the story is going. Throughout this process you can notice if some students catch on or if the ending is a complete surprise.
After words, I would give them each an example picture from an I Spy book. They can then write a few sentences of that picture with details someone might see if they went into close detail like the book Zoom. If they have free time after the assignment, they can draw pictures to go with each sentence and make a book that you can flip through like Zoom.
Chapter 17
Tunnell, Michael O. and James S. Jacobs. Children's Literature, Briefly. 4e. Upper Saddle River NJ: Pearson/Merrill Prentice Hall, 2008.
Motivating students to read is one of the most important and useful chapter throughout this book. In order to get students engaged in reading, students must be motivated to read. This chapter provided many examples and ideas to motivate your students. They give several suggestions in ways that teachers and future teachers may organize their classroom to motivate children to read books. The suggestion that I read and thought was important is creating a reading atmosphere. I remember my 4th grade reading teacher room and it has tons of bean bags and couches and I loved reading because we got to go set somewhere in the room other than our desk. By motivating students though simple thing such as how you set up your room can change their prospective of reading.
Motivating students to read is one of the most important and useful chapter throughout this book. In order to get students engaged in reading, students must be motivated to read. This chapter provided many examples and ideas to motivate your students. They give several suggestions in ways that teachers and future teachers may organize their classroom to motivate children to read books. The suggestion that I read and thought was important is creating a reading atmosphere. I remember my 4th grade reading teacher room and it has tons of bean bags and couches and I loved reading because we got to go set somewhere in the room other than our desk. By motivating students though simple thing such as how you set up your room can change their prospective of reading.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Poetry Assignment
Poetry is an expressive form of art. When I'm teaching I hope to make poetry interesting and fun for my students. I plan to introduce poetry into my classroom by reading a poem each day, so that students will be used to hearing and seeing poetry in the class. I will read all varieties of poetry, that way students will find their preference of the styles of poetry that they enjoy. I will make picture books and poetry books available so my students are exposed to poetry at all times. I would not have the class study poetry as a unit but as a way to learn literature. I believe that it is important to introduce children to poetry because poetry is a form of expression. Students need an escape, a way to express their feelings and poetry is a great way to express emotions through words. I would allow students to use poetry as their writing during their free-writing time. By allowing students the option to write poetry during their free-time will allow them to be creative and not worried about being counted off. I would periodically suggest certain poetry styles for them to write in. By asking for a certain style, the students will learn all the styles and learn how to adapt their thoughts to a particular style. My students will learn that poetry in just another form of writing that authors use. I hope that they will take interest and find poetry interesting and fun. By introducing poetry to students in a fun and relaxed form, I hope that they will learn to love and appreciate poetry throughout their educational years.
He that walketh with wise men shall be wise
By: Alice Davidson
I chose this poem because it was one of my favorite poems growing up. I want students' to learn that poetry can be a great form of memorization.
A Soft Answer Turneth Away Wrath
By: Alice Davidson
I believe that this poem teaches a life lesson. I would want children to learn that simply smiling can change the attitude of others.
Madeline's Rescue
By: Ludwig Bemelmans
Madeline was one of my favorite books growing up. I would want my students to learn that poetry comes in all forms; maybe their favorite books can also be considered poetry.
Believe in Yourself
By: Jillian Hunt
I chose this poem because it was a poem of aspiration that my parents made me read growing up. I would want students' to learn that they can be anything that they want to be, as long as they believe in themselves.
My Dad
By: Alijon Farin
Poetry is a great way to express feelings. I would want children to learn that poetry is a form of expression and this a way for them to vent through a form of writing.
Paint Brush
By: Bettie Youngs
I chose this poem because I felt this way growing up. I would want my student's to learn that this is a great way to learn from others experience and learn about others lives.
And the Answer Is...?
By: Carol Shield
I chose this poem because it represents every classroom. I would have the students learn that every student is one of these students or somewhere in between. Poetry can be a true representative of classrooms.
Eight-Oh-Three
By: Carol Shield
I chose this poem because it is a great lyric poem. I would want children to see an example of different styles of poetry.
English Is Pain! (Pane?)
By: Shirlee Bingham
I chose this poem because it was a humorous poem that precisely said how I felt about English. I would want students' to learn that poetry is humorous. I believe it is important for students to learn that poetry can be fun.
Everyday Angels
By: Mark Moulton
Everyday Angels is one of my favorite books and this poem is an excerpt taken from the book.
I would want students to learn that poetry is found everywhere. I would hope that they could start recognizing poetry in different places.
Could Have Been Worse
By: Bill Dodds
I chose this poem because it is a humorous poem that made me laugh. I would have students' learn that this poem is an example of a limerick and that they are fun and humorous.
Too Busy
By: Bruce Lansky
I chose this poem because I believe everyone can relate to having hectic days. I would want students' to learn that a short story can be told through poetry.
Homework! Oh, Homework!
By: Jack Prelutsky
I chose this because it is how most people feel about homework and will make students laugh. I would want students to learn that poetry has no boundaries. I believe this is a great example to teach students rhyme.
A Student's Prayer
By: Anonymous
This poem is a short, simple poem that I believe everyone has probably prayed during their educational career. Students will learn that poems come in all lengths.
School, Some Suggestions
By: Bobbie Katz
I thought this poem was cute and a true representative of what a student would suggest about school. I would want students to learn that you can be creative and be expressive about issues throughout poetry.
Tree House
By: Shel Silverstein
I chose Shel Silverstein's poem, Tree House, to show children a very popular poetic author. I would want children to be familiar with certain authors and learn that authors have particular writing styles.
I Should Have Studied
By: Bobbi Katz
I chose this poem to teach the consequences of actions. I would want students to learn a rhyming form of actions and consequences.
New Angel
By: Esther Christensen
I chose this poem because it was my great-grandmothers way of coping with her sons young death. I would want students to have another example of how to express emotions through writing. I would want them to learn that everyone copes differently and that writing is a form of coping.
Pretending
By: Esther Christensen
I chose this poem because it was a special poem that my parents read to me. I would want students to learn to be creative and that pretending is a form of creativity.
Bubble Bath
By:Esther Christensen
I chose this because it is a great representative of my great grandmother's personality. I would show how poetry can be descriptive and tell a short story.
With Love-
By: Esther Christensen
I chose this poem because it was a present that my great grandmother wrote for me. I would have the students learn that poems can be a wonderful gift to give to others.
He that walketh with wise men shall be wise
By: Alice Davidson
I chose this poem because it was one of my favorite poems growing up. I want students' to learn that poetry can be a great form of memorization.
A Soft Answer Turneth Away Wrath
By: Alice Davidson
I believe that this poem teaches a life lesson. I would want children to learn that simply smiling can change the attitude of others.
Madeline's Rescue
By: Ludwig Bemelmans
Madeline was one of my favorite books growing up. I would want my students to learn that poetry comes in all forms; maybe their favorite books can also be considered poetry.
Believe in Yourself
By: Jillian Hunt
I chose this poem because it was a poem of aspiration that my parents made me read growing up. I would want students' to learn that they can be anything that they want to be, as long as they believe in themselves.
My Dad
By: Alijon Farin
Poetry is a great way to express feelings. I would want children to learn that poetry is a form of expression and this a way for them to vent through a form of writing.
Paint Brush
By: Bettie Youngs
I chose this poem because I felt this way growing up. I would want my student's to learn that this is a great way to learn from others experience and learn about others lives.
And the Answer Is...?
By: Carol Shield
I chose this poem because it represents every classroom. I would have the students learn that every student is one of these students or somewhere in between. Poetry can be a true representative of classrooms.
Eight-Oh-Three
By: Carol Shield
I chose this poem because it is a great lyric poem. I would want children to see an example of different styles of poetry.
English Is Pain! (Pane?)
By: Shirlee Bingham
I chose this poem because it was a humorous poem that precisely said how I felt about English. I would want students' to learn that poetry is humorous. I believe it is important for students to learn that poetry can be fun.
Everyday Angels
By: Mark Moulton
Everyday Angels is one of my favorite books and this poem is an excerpt taken from the book.
I would want students to learn that poetry is found everywhere. I would hope that they could start recognizing poetry in different places.
Could Have Been Worse
By: Bill Dodds
I chose this poem because it is a humorous poem that made me laugh. I would have students' learn that this poem is an example of a limerick and that they are fun and humorous.
Too Busy
By: Bruce Lansky
I chose this poem because I believe everyone can relate to having hectic days. I would want students' to learn that a short story can be told through poetry.
Homework! Oh, Homework!
By: Jack Prelutsky
I chose this because it is how most people feel about homework and will make students laugh. I would want students to learn that poetry has no boundaries. I believe this is a great example to teach students rhyme.
A Student's Prayer
By: Anonymous
This poem is a short, simple poem that I believe everyone has probably prayed during their educational career. Students will learn that poems come in all lengths.
School, Some Suggestions
By: Bobbie Katz
I thought this poem was cute and a true representative of what a student would suggest about school. I would want students to learn that you can be creative and be expressive about issues throughout poetry.
Tree House
By: Shel Silverstein
I chose Shel Silverstein's poem, Tree House, to show children a very popular poetic author. I would want children to be familiar with certain authors and learn that authors have particular writing styles.
I Should Have Studied
By: Bobbi Katz
I chose this poem to teach the consequences of actions. I would want students to learn a rhyming form of actions and consequences.
New Angel
By: Esther Christensen
I chose this poem because it was my great-grandmothers way of coping with her sons young death. I would want students to have another example of how to express emotions through writing. I would want them to learn that everyone copes differently and that writing is a form of coping.
Pretending
By: Esther Christensen
I chose this poem because it was a special poem that my parents read to me. I would want students to learn to be creative and that pretending is a form of creativity.
Bubble Bath
By:Esther Christensen
I chose this because it is a great representative of my great grandmother's personality. I would show how poetry can be descriptive and tell a short story.
With Love-
By: Esther Christensen
I chose this poem because it was a present that my great grandmother wrote for me. I would have the students learn that poems can be a wonderful gift to give to others.
Zoom by: Istvan Banyai
Banyai, Istvan. Zoom. New York: Puffin Books, 1998.
The first time I looked at this book I really didn't enjoy it that much. However, the second time I started to notice the connections between each picture, I truly enjoyed the book. I liked how each page was in such detail, however on the other side it was contrasted by a black page. The black page allowed me to truly concentrate on the details on the opposite page. I enjoyed how the book kept me guessing because I never would have guessed that the first pages were a magazine that ended up being a cruise advertisement. I found this book amazing due to the detail throughout the book.
The first time I looked at this book I really didn't enjoy it that much. However, the second time I started to notice the connections between each picture, I truly enjoyed the book. I liked how each page was in such detail, however on the other side it was contrasted by a black page. The black page allowed me to truly concentrate on the details on the opposite page. I enjoyed how the book kept me guessing because I never would have guessed that the first pages were a magazine that ended up being a cruise advertisement. I found this book amazing due to the detail throughout the book.
Chaper 16
Tunnell, Michael O. and James S. Jacobs. Children's Literature, Briefly. 4e. Upper Saddle River NJ: Pearson/Merrill Prentice Hall, 2008.
I found this chapter interesting. I knew of several issues that were controversial when it came to teaching students about subjects. However, I didn't really think that much about literature and what all was considered controversial. After reading this chapter, I think that it will be a challenge looking at books deciding if it is controversial or not because to some it may be and to other it won't be. Therefore, I believe that if I even have to think if a book is controversial or not I will probably avoid it because there are thousands of other books that can be chosen from.
I found this chapter interesting. I knew of several issues that were controversial when it came to teaching students about subjects. However, I didn't really think that much about literature and what all was considered controversial. After reading this chapter, I think that it will be a challenge looking at books deciding if it is controversial or not because to some it may be and to other it won't be. Therefore, I believe that if I even have to think if a book is controversial or not I will probably avoid it because there are thousands of other books that can be chosen from.
Craft Lesson 8: BabyMouse Our Hero
Discussion:
Students need to see that writing comes in all styles ranging from books to comic books. I would show students that writing can be creative and fun by showing them an example of a comic book.
How I Would Teach It:
If possible, I would get all students a copy of Baby Mouse and have the students read their book on their own. Afterwards, I would have the class discuss their favorite parts of the story. I would show them that the detail throughout Baby Mouse allows for the reading to be enjoyable. I would then have each student get a comic strip and have them write their own comic. I would try to have other comic books available in the classroom that way students have other examples to look at. After the students finish, I would have them read their comic to the class.
Students need to see that writing comes in all styles ranging from books to comic books. I would show students that writing can be creative and fun by showing them an example of a comic book.
How I Would Teach It:
If possible, I would get all students a copy of Baby Mouse and have the students read their book on their own. Afterwards, I would have the class discuss their favorite parts of the story. I would show them that the detail throughout Baby Mouse allows for the reading to be enjoyable. I would then have each student get a comic strip and have them write their own comic. I would try to have other comic books available in the classroom that way students have other examples to look at. After the students finish, I would have them read their comic to the class.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Chapter 15
Tunnell, Michael O. and James S. Jacobs. Children's Literature, Briefly. 4e. Upper Saddle River NJ: Pearson/Merrill Prentice Hall, 2008.
I thought chapter 8 was a great chapter to read. I found the information very informative and useful. One of my favorite quotes from the chapter was by James Baldwin: "Literature is indispensable to the world... The world changes according to the way people see it, and if you alter, even by a millimeter, the way a person looks at reality, then you can change it." I loved this quote because it brought in so much insight of what literature can do for children. By using multicultural literature in the classroom you can bring in great insight about others cultures.
I thought chapter 8 was a great chapter to read. I found the information very informative and useful. One of my favorite quotes from the chapter was by James Baldwin: "Literature is indispensable to the world... The world changes according to the way people see it, and if you alter, even by a millimeter, the way a person looks at reality, then you can change it." I loved this quote because it brought in so much insight of what literature can do for children. By using multicultural literature in the classroom you can bring in great insight about others cultures.
Children's Literature Autobiography
Reading as Easy as ABC: Early Memories
Early on, I was introduced to a variety of children’s literature through my family, friends, and church, and it captured my heart. Some of my first memories are of my nightly bedtime reads. I asked my parents or older brother to read me one of my two favorite books: Little Ducks Moving Day or Panda Bears Secret. After nights of reading I memorized the lines and pretended that I could read, though I was only reciting the book by memory. But I was bound to grow in my literacy skills, and I learned any way I could. Having an older brother challenged me in every way. Being four years younger, I had to mature by four years to keep up with him. Therefore, this caused me to want to read what he was reading at four years above my reading level. This encouraged me to continue to excel at a higher reading level throughout my education. My brother sat with me at night and read comics, bible stories and Bernstein Bear books. Reading for me was a way to disappear into magical worlds and kingdoms.
Reading Building Blocks
My reading was enhanced when I entered my early school years. Throughout elementary school, I had several assignments where I wrote my own book. My teacher, of course, published these well-written episodes. Having my books published in our school’s library drove me to work harder and aspire to be a better writer. My family then moved to Lubbock. It was here that I was introduced to Accelerated Reading. Through the AR program, I had the opportunity to read hundreds of books from 3rd grade until 8th grade. I read books that were a part of a series so that I could stay with the same characters but still experience different story lines. Some of the series I read included The Babysitter’s’ Club, Sweet Valley High and Hank the Cow Dog. Although there were many positives to the AR system, I experienced some negatives as well. The AR system took away my love for reading and forced me to read a book in order to pass a test, but not for the enjoyment. I believe that in elementary and junior high literature wasn’t used to the full capacity that it deserves to be. Instead, literature was a way to read a book quickly, take a test, and get an A in your class by achieving a certain point level. During high school, I read motivational books and Christian inspirational readings outside of school. However, in-class literature was quite a miserable experience. Books were chosen because they were on a required list to read and we would read, take a test and learn nothing. Not until my senior year did I learn to enjoy a book. We read Tuesdays with Morrie and it immediately became one of my favorite books. A book of inspiring life lessons was a wonderful way to teach literature.
Inspiration
My grandma has been the one person that has truly influenced my feelings toward books. She has introduced me to hundreds of books. Growing up, she always bought us brand new hardback books, hot off the presses. They were incredible examples of children’s literature. The illustrations were always breath-taking and memorable. She taught me to see beyond the words and to read the pictures to see what the pictures said that the text didn’t. My mom influenced my reading as well. She was the one who taught me how to read and bought more books for me. She encouraged me to read different genres to expand and challenge my reading capacity. She bought fantasy, Christian, humor and educational books. She taught me that through reading I would never stop learning and that reading would take me through a life’s journey. Finally, television influenced what I read. We weren’t able to watch television very often; therefore, if I saw a show I liked I bought and read the books, as opposed to watching them.
My Favorite Bedtime Titles
This paper allowed me to crawl into my attic and get out boxes of children’s books and to relive memories of my favorite books. I have almost a hundred favorite titles. However, I pared it down to my favorite nighttime readings or books that truly captured my heart as a child A few of my favorite bedtime titles are Nathan’s Fishing Trip, Snuggle Piggy and the Magic Blanket, The Velveteen Rabbit and If You Give a Mouse A Cookie.
Reading, a Continuous Journey
Reading has been a continuous journey of experience and growth throughout my life. I am now currently reading a variety of titles covering a myriad of subjects. However, I believe that the children’s literature brings back enjoyment and leisure of reading.
Early on, I was introduced to a variety of children’s literature through my family, friends, and church, and it captured my heart. Some of my first memories are of my nightly bedtime reads. I asked my parents or older brother to read me one of my two favorite books: Little Ducks Moving Day or Panda Bears Secret. After nights of reading I memorized the lines and pretended that I could read, though I was only reciting the book by memory. But I was bound to grow in my literacy skills, and I learned any way I could. Having an older brother challenged me in every way. Being four years younger, I had to mature by four years to keep up with him. Therefore, this caused me to want to read what he was reading at four years above my reading level. This encouraged me to continue to excel at a higher reading level throughout my education. My brother sat with me at night and read comics, bible stories and Bernstein Bear books. Reading for me was a way to disappear into magical worlds and kingdoms.
Reading Building Blocks
My reading was enhanced when I entered my early school years. Throughout elementary school, I had several assignments where I wrote my own book. My teacher, of course, published these well-written episodes. Having my books published in our school’s library drove me to work harder and aspire to be a better writer. My family then moved to Lubbock. It was here that I was introduced to Accelerated Reading. Through the AR program, I had the opportunity to read hundreds of books from 3rd grade until 8th grade. I read books that were a part of a series so that I could stay with the same characters but still experience different story lines. Some of the series I read included The Babysitter’s’ Club, Sweet Valley High and Hank the Cow Dog. Although there were many positives to the AR system, I experienced some negatives as well. The AR system took away my love for reading and forced me to read a book in order to pass a test, but not for the enjoyment. I believe that in elementary and junior high literature wasn’t used to the full capacity that it deserves to be. Instead, literature was a way to read a book quickly, take a test, and get an A in your class by achieving a certain point level. During high school, I read motivational books and Christian inspirational readings outside of school. However, in-class literature was quite a miserable experience. Books were chosen because they were on a required list to read and we would read, take a test and learn nothing. Not until my senior year did I learn to enjoy a book. We read Tuesdays with Morrie and it immediately became one of my favorite books. A book of inspiring life lessons was a wonderful way to teach literature.
Inspiration
My grandma has been the one person that has truly influenced my feelings toward books. She has introduced me to hundreds of books. Growing up, she always bought us brand new hardback books, hot off the presses. They were incredible examples of children’s literature. The illustrations were always breath-taking and memorable. She taught me to see beyond the words and to read the pictures to see what the pictures said that the text didn’t. My mom influenced my reading as well. She was the one who taught me how to read and bought more books for me. She encouraged me to read different genres to expand and challenge my reading capacity. She bought fantasy, Christian, humor and educational books. She taught me that through reading I would never stop learning and that reading would take me through a life’s journey. Finally, television influenced what I read. We weren’t able to watch television very often; therefore, if I saw a show I liked I bought and read the books, as opposed to watching them.
My Favorite Bedtime Titles
This paper allowed me to crawl into my attic and get out boxes of children’s books and to relive memories of my favorite books. I have almost a hundred favorite titles. However, I pared it down to my favorite nighttime readings or books that truly captured my heart as a child A few of my favorite bedtime titles are Nathan’s Fishing Trip, Snuggle Piggy and the Magic Blanket, The Velveteen Rabbit and If You Give a Mouse A Cookie.
Reading, a Continuous Journey
Reading has been a continuous journey of experience and growth throughout my life. I am now currently reading a variety of titles covering a myriad of subjects. However, I believe that the children’s literature brings back enjoyment and leisure of reading.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Craft Lesson 7: Stuart's Cape
Discussion:
I think that students should exercise their imagination and creativity in the classroom when ever possible. I would want children to exercise their imagination is ways that Stuart did in this book.
How to teach it:
I would take the time to read the book in one class setting to the class. However, if time doesn't allow break it into two or three days. After reading, I have the class discuss different things that Stuart could have imagined that he did with his cape. I would then have my students draw what their cape would look like. After, they know what it would look like I would have them write a few short paragraphs. These paragraphs would describe what the students would do for a day with their magic cape.
I think that students should exercise their imagination and creativity in the classroom when ever possible. I would want children to exercise their imagination is ways that Stuart did in this book.
How to teach it:
I would take the time to read the book in one class setting to the class. However, if time doesn't allow break it into two or three days. After reading, I have the class discuss different things that Stuart could have imagined that he did with his cape. I would then have my students draw what their cape would look like. After, they know what it would look like I would have them write a few short paragraphs. These paragraphs would describe what the students would do for a day with their magic cape.
Chapter 14
Tunnell, Michael O. and James S. Jacobs. Children's Literature, Briefly. 4e. Upper Saddle River NJ: Pearson/Merrill Prentice Hall, 2008.
An informational books is one area that doesn't capture my interest. I never have really enjoyed them but maybe if I find informational books that take my interest I may enjoy them more. A quote in chapter 14 caught my attention. "The purpose of an informational book in a school library is not merely to present data for writing reports but to stir a reader's interest in a particular subject." I think this is the quote that made me realize that I need to find informational books that will capture my interest in a subject. I think this chapter has made me what to give informational books another chance and hopefully I will enjoy them more the second time around.
An informational books is one area that doesn't capture my interest. I never have really enjoyed them but maybe if I find informational books that take my interest I may enjoy them more. A quote in chapter 14 caught my attention. "The purpose of an informational book in a school library is not merely to present data for writing reports but to stir a reader's interest in a particular subject." I think this is the quote that made me realize that I need to find informational books that will capture my interest in a subject. I think this chapter has made me what to give informational books another chance and hopefully I will enjoy them more the second time around.
Chapter 13
Tunnell, Michael O. and James S. Jacobs. Children's Literature, Briefly. 4e. Upper Saddle River NJ: Pearson/Merrill Prentice Hall, 2008.
I'm not sure what I thought about this chapter except that I liked the fact that it was decently short. I grew up reading biographies every now and then. I mainly read one about actors or sports personalities but nothing else really. My favorite biographies were ones that contained pictures in them. I think pictures would allow me to relate more to the story of that particular person’s life. I think that I correlate biographies to research papers and that is where I find my disinterest in them.
One part that stuck out to me in chapter 13 was in types of biographies under the section of autobiographies. I liked the quote, "What writing about oneself loses in objectivity it gains in wholeness." I thought this quote was interesting I never thought of biographies in that sense and thought that quote was unique and worth noting.
I'm not sure what I thought about this chapter except that I liked the fact that it was decently short. I grew up reading biographies every now and then. I mainly read one about actors or sports personalities but nothing else really. My favorite biographies were ones that contained pictures in them. I think pictures would allow me to relate more to the story of that particular person’s life. I think that I correlate biographies to research papers and that is where I find my disinterest in them.
One part that stuck out to me in chapter 13 was in types of biographies under the section of autobiographies. I liked the quote, "What writing about oneself loses in objectivity it gains in wholeness." I thought this quote was interesting I never thought of biographies in that sense and thought that quote was unique and worth noting.
Friday, March 28, 2008
BabyMouse Our Hero By Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm
Holm, Jennifer L, and Matthew Holm. BabyMouse Our Hero. New York: Random House, 2005.
I enjoyed this comic. I thought BabyMouse was really cute and the story line was so funny. One of my favorite things about the book is that you can read it several times and notice something new. I think this book is a great way to get a student to read that may not enjoy reading.
I enjoyed this comic. I thought BabyMouse was really cute and the story line was so funny. One of my favorite things about the book is that you can read it several times and notice something new. I think this book is a great way to get a student to read that may not enjoy reading.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Stuart's Cape by Sara Pennypacker and Illustrated by Martin Matje
Pennypacker, S. Stuart's Cape. Illus. Martin Matje. New York NY: Scholastic/Orchard Books, 2002.
I loved this book! Stuart's Cape was a thrill to read. The book immediately caught my attention and kept it till the end. I think it is a great book for kids and adults to read. I love how Stuart is creative and makes a magic cape to entertain him. He portrays a typical kid when they are bored by truly capturing the sense of imagination and creativity. Aunt Bubbles cracked me up throughout the book. I love the part when she thought the clouds were talking to her. Overall, Stuart's Cape has been my favorite book we have read for class.
I loved this book! Stuart's Cape was a thrill to read. The book immediately caught my attention and kept it till the end. I think it is a great book for kids and adults to read. I love how Stuart is creative and makes a magic cape to entertain him. He portrays a typical kid when they are bored by truly capturing the sense of imagination and creativity. Aunt Bubbles cracked me up throughout the book. I love the part when she thought the clouds were talking to her. Overall, Stuart's Cape has been my favorite book we have read for class.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Craft Lesson 6: Sidewalk Circus
Discussion:
I think it is so important for children to be able to use their creativity and clever imaginations. I would also have students learn about the importance of detail and how detail can change the perspective of a story.
How to teach it:
I would start off by reading the book two different times. First, I would let the students just enjoy the book and pictures. However, the second time I would ask the students what they noticed about each page and what details stuck out to them.
I would then as a class have us make a picture book together. I would have ours be about of classroom hallway. I would have the students go out in the hallway and picture what they want their picture to tell. I would let the kids get in a group and decide as a group the order the story in going to go in. Then, the students can trace, color or paint their picture. Finally, I would have the class present their story to me and if possible another classroom and see what the other class sees in the picture.
I would then hang them in the hallway for others to see our "Hallway Story."
I think it is so important for children to be able to use their creativity and clever imaginations. I would also have students learn about the importance of detail and how detail can change the perspective of a story.
How to teach it:
I would start off by reading the book two different times. First, I would let the students just enjoy the book and pictures. However, the second time I would ask the students what they noticed about each page and what details stuck out to them.
I would then as a class have us make a picture book together. I would have ours be about of classroom hallway. I would have the students go out in the hallway and picture what they want their picture to tell. I would let the kids get in a group and decide as a group the order the story in going to go in. Then, the students can trace, color or paint their picture. Finally, I would have the class present their story to me and if possible another classroom and see what the other class sees in the picture.
I would then hang them in the hallway for others to see our "Hallway Story."
Sidewalk Circus by Paul Fleischman and Kevin Hawkes
Fleischman, Paul and Hawkes, Kevin. Sidewalk Circus. Picture book. Cambridge MA: Candlewick Press, 2004.
The first time I read this book, I didn't enjoy that much. The second time around that I read it I truly enjoyed it. I noticed more details in the pictures that lead me to truly enjoy the book. I liked how each page introduced a section of the act but in the end a picture taken of the street let one see how it truly flowed together. I think that it is an amazing book for children. Children are able to use their creative imaginations and think of their own story. I think it would be great to read it to a group of kids and see how their thoughts of the story differ. Overall, I think this is a wonderful book for children to read.
The first time I read this book, I didn't enjoy that much. The second time around that I read it I truly enjoyed it. I noticed more details in the pictures that lead me to truly enjoy the book. I liked how each page introduced a section of the act but in the end a picture taken of the street let one see how it truly flowed together. I think that it is an amazing book for children. Children are able to use their creative imaginations and think of their own story. I think it would be great to read it to a group of kids and see how their thoughts of the story differ. Overall, I think this is a wonderful book for children to read.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Yum! MmMm! Que Rico! Craft Lesson
Yum! MmMm! Que Rico!
Discussion:
Poetry is not a strong interest for children at the primary ages. However, food is a topic that any age child can relate to. I would have the students bring their family home to the classroom and have the students discuss what favorite family foods are. The discussion would then lead to a classroom cookbook.
How to teach it:
I would start by reading the book. Next, I would discuss the different types of foods that were mentioned and ask if any of the kids have had any of these foods. I would then have the students' brainstorm their favorite meals are that their family makes. After, having the list I would make sure there wasn't duplicates and allow the students to write there favorite recipe down.
This craft lesson would probably be a two day lesson so that your students could go home and get help from their family on what the recipe ingredients calls for. Then you could bind the recipes together, form a classroom cookbook, make copies, and send them home with each kid. Therefore, each family will have their recipe and many new ones to try.
Discussion:
Poetry is not a strong interest for children at the primary ages. However, food is a topic that any age child can relate to. I would have the students bring their family home to the classroom and have the students discuss what favorite family foods are. The discussion would then lead to a classroom cookbook.
How to teach it:
I would start by reading the book. Next, I would discuss the different types of foods that were mentioned and ask if any of the kids have had any of these foods. I would then have the students' brainstorm their favorite meals are that their family makes. After, having the list I would make sure there wasn't duplicates and allow the students to write there favorite recipe down.
This craft lesson would probably be a two day lesson so that your students could go home and get help from their family on what the recipe ingredients calls for. Then you could bind the recipes together, form a classroom cookbook, make copies, and send them home with each kid. Therefore, each family will have their recipe and many new ones to try.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Yum! MmMm! Que Rico!
Mora, Pat. Yum! MmMm! Que rico!. Illus. Rafael Lopez. Madison Avenue NY: LEE & LOW BOOKS Inc., 2007.
I thought this book had wonderful artwork. The color and detail of each illustration was amazing. I think this book would be great for an art class. However, I did not enjoy the text in the book as much as the art work.
I thought this book had wonderful artwork. The color and detail of each illustration was amazing. I think this book would be great for an art class. However, I did not enjoy the text in the book as much as the art work.
Ch 12 Overview
Tunnell, Michael O. and James S. Jacobs. Children's Literature, Briefly. 4e. Upper Saddle River NJ: Pearson/Merrill Prentice Hall, 2008.
History was one of my least favorite subjects. I never enjoyed reading or learning about it. However, I believe chapter 12 helped me learn the importance of historical fiction. After reading the section about textbooks versus trade books, I learned that trade books could be a great resource when teaching about historical events. I think that history was boring to me because it was just a short boring paragraph about an event. However, if you get an event and make it become alive, students will be interested and more willing to learn.
History was one of my least favorite subjects. I never enjoyed reading or learning about it. However, I believe chapter 12 helped me learn the importance of historical fiction. After reading the section about textbooks versus trade books, I learned that trade books could be a great resource when teaching about historical events. I think that history was boring to me because it was just a short boring paragraph about an event. However, if you get an event and make it become alive, students will be interested and more willing to learn.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Children's Literature Autobiography
Children’s Literature Autobiography
Reading as Easy as ABC: Early Memories
Reading is a journey of emotions, experiences, and memories. Growing up, I was exposed to a variety of children’s literature through my family, friends, and church. Children’s literature captured my heart at a very young age. Some of my first memories were my nightly bedtime reads. I would ask my parents or older brother to read me one of my two favorite books: Little Ducks Moving Day or Panda Bears Secret. However, after nights of reading I memorized the lines and would pretend that I could read but I was only reciting the book by memory. Having an older brother challenged me in every way, being four years younger I had to mature by four years to keep up with him. Therefore, this caused me to want to read what he was reading at four years above my reading level. This led me to continue to excel at a higher reading level throughout my education. My brother would sit there with me at night and read variety of books from comics, to bible stories, and Bernstein Bear books. Reading for me was a way for my imagination to be taken captive of and run.
Reading Building Blocks
My reading was enhanced when I entered my school years. Throughout elementary school I would have several assignments of writing my own books and the teacher would publish them. Having my books published in our schools library allowed for me to work harder and aspire to be a better writer. I then moved to Lubbock where Accelerated Reading was introduced to me. Through the AR program, I had the opportunity to read hundreds of books from 3rd till 8th grade. I would read books that were in series so that I could stay with the same characters but different story lines. Some of the series I read was Babysitters Club, Sweet Valley High and Hank the Cow Dog. The AR system took away my love for reading and forced me to learn to just read a book not for the enjoyment, but to just pass a test. I believe that in elementary and junior high literature wasn’t used to the full capacity that it deserves to be. Instead, literature was a way to read a quick book, take a test, and get an A in your class by achieving a certain point level. In high school, I read motivation books and Christian Inspirational readings outside of school. However, literature throughout high school was quite a miserable experience. Books were chosen because they were on a required list to read and we would read, take a test and learn nothing. Not until my senior year did I learn or enjoy a book. Finally, we read Tuesdays with Morrie my senior year and this was one of my favorite books. A book of inspiring life lessons was a wonderful way to teach literature.
Inspiration
My grandma has been the one person that has truly influenced my feelings toward books. She has introduced me to hundreds of books. Growing up, she always brought us brand new hard back books that were right off the printer. They were incredible children’s literature. The illustrations were always breathe taking and memorable. She taught me to see beyond the words but to read the pictures and to see what the pictures said that the book didn’t. My mom influenced my reading as well for she was the one who taught me how to read and bought the remaining of my books. She encouraged and motivated me to read a variety of books. She brought fantasy, Christian, humor, and educational books to expand and challenge my reading capacity. She taught me that through reading I would never stop learning and that reading would take me through a life’s journey. Finally, television influenced what I read. We weren’t able to watch television very often, therefore if I saw a show I liked I would go buy the books and read the books instead of watching them. I loved reading Madeline books by Ludwig Bemelmans. I saw Madeline on TV one day and after that I bought several of her books. They were about a little French orphan girl who lived with twelve other girls. A few other series that I saw and then read was the Magic School Bus, Full House books, and Ramona books.
My Favorite Bedtime Titles
This paper allowed me to crawl into my attic and get out boxes of children’s books and allowed for me to relive memories of my favorite books. I have almost a hundred favorite titles. However, I limited it down to my favorite nighttime readings or books that truly captured my heart as a child. Nathan’s Fishing Trip by Lulu Delacre was about an elephant that went out a fishing trip. Nathan went on a day trip to learn how to fish by his instructor who ironically was a mouse. The book had wonderful illustrations and a cute storyline. Snuggle Piggy and the Magic Blanket by Michele Stepto was about a pig that had a magic blanket that took him through a magical journey. I loved this book for the fact that I had a blanket that I slept with growing up. The Velveteen Rabbit was a book that my family treasured and we had three different versions of. Flavia and the Velveteen Rabbit was the original version and is quite lengthy compared to the other series. However, it took children thru an emotional roller coaster and journey of losing something you once loved. Finally, the traditional If You Give a Mouse A Cookie was a book that never got tried of. The story was about when a boy gave a mouse a cookie that then led to a day of events. This book allowed for an experience that children could imagine and relate too.
Reading a continuous journey
Reading has been a continuous journey of experience and growth throughout my life. I am now currently reading a variety of subjects and titles. I am ranging from school textbooks, to the Wall Street journal, and back reliving my children’s literature books. However, I believe that the children’s literature brings back enjoyment and leisure of reading. Children’s literature can be used to teach a variety of life and educational lessons. However, it is our job as teachers to find creative ways to adapt of lessons to incorporate children’s literature and to capture the interest and the attention of our students.
Reading as Easy as ABC: Early Memories
Reading is a journey of emotions, experiences, and memories. Growing up, I was exposed to a variety of children’s literature through my family, friends, and church. Children’s literature captured my heart at a very young age. Some of my first memories were my nightly bedtime reads. I would ask my parents or older brother to read me one of my two favorite books: Little Ducks Moving Day or Panda Bears Secret. However, after nights of reading I memorized the lines and would pretend that I could read but I was only reciting the book by memory. Having an older brother challenged me in every way, being four years younger I had to mature by four years to keep up with him. Therefore, this caused me to want to read what he was reading at four years above my reading level. This led me to continue to excel at a higher reading level throughout my education. My brother would sit there with me at night and read variety of books from comics, to bible stories, and Bernstein Bear books. Reading for me was a way for my imagination to be taken captive of and run.
Reading Building Blocks
My reading was enhanced when I entered my school years. Throughout elementary school I would have several assignments of writing my own books and the teacher would publish them. Having my books published in our schools library allowed for me to work harder and aspire to be a better writer. I then moved to Lubbock where Accelerated Reading was introduced to me. Through the AR program, I had the opportunity to read hundreds of books from 3rd till 8th grade. I would read books that were in series so that I could stay with the same characters but different story lines. Some of the series I read was Babysitters Club, Sweet Valley High and Hank the Cow Dog. The AR system took away my love for reading and forced me to learn to just read a book not for the enjoyment, but to just pass a test. I believe that in elementary and junior high literature wasn’t used to the full capacity that it deserves to be. Instead, literature was a way to read a quick book, take a test, and get an A in your class by achieving a certain point level. In high school, I read motivation books and Christian Inspirational readings outside of school. However, literature throughout high school was quite a miserable experience. Books were chosen because they were on a required list to read and we would read, take a test and learn nothing. Not until my senior year did I learn or enjoy a book. Finally, we read Tuesdays with Morrie my senior year and this was one of my favorite books. A book of inspiring life lessons was a wonderful way to teach literature.
Inspiration
My grandma has been the one person that has truly influenced my feelings toward books. She has introduced me to hundreds of books. Growing up, she always brought us brand new hard back books that were right off the printer. They were incredible children’s literature. The illustrations were always breathe taking and memorable. She taught me to see beyond the words but to read the pictures and to see what the pictures said that the book didn’t. My mom influenced my reading as well for she was the one who taught me how to read and bought the remaining of my books. She encouraged and motivated me to read a variety of books. She brought fantasy, Christian, humor, and educational books to expand and challenge my reading capacity. She taught me that through reading I would never stop learning and that reading would take me through a life’s journey. Finally, television influenced what I read. We weren’t able to watch television very often, therefore if I saw a show I liked I would go buy the books and read the books instead of watching them. I loved reading Madeline books by Ludwig Bemelmans. I saw Madeline on TV one day and after that I bought several of her books. They were about a little French orphan girl who lived with twelve other girls. A few other series that I saw and then read was the Magic School Bus, Full House books, and Ramona books.
My Favorite Bedtime Titles
This paper allowed me to crawl into my attic and get out boxes of children’s books and allowed for me to relive memories of my favorite books. I have almost a hundred favorite titles. However, I limited it down to my favorite nighttime readings or books that truly captured my heart as a child. Nathan’s Fishing Trip by Lulu Delacre was about an elephant that went out a fishing trip. Nathan went on a day trip to learn how to fish by his instructor who ironically was a mouse. The book had wonderful illustrations and a cute storyline. Snuggle Piggy and the Magic Blanket by Michele Stepto was about a pig that had a magic blanket that took him through a magical journey. I loved this book for the fact that I had a blanket that I slept with growing up. The Velveteen Rabbit was a book that my family treasured and we had three different versions of. Flavia and the Velveteen Rabbit was the original version and is quite lengthy compared to the other series. However, it took children thru an emotional roller coaster and journey of losing something you once loved. Finally, the traditional If You Give a Mouse A Cookie was a book that never got tried of. The story was about when a boy gave a mouse a cookie that then led to a day of events. This book allowed for an experience that children could imagine and relate too.
Reading a continuous journey
Reading has been a continuous journey of experience and growth throughout my life. I am now currently reading a variety of subjects and titles. I am ranging from school textbooks, to the Wall Street journal, and back reliving my children’s literature books. However, I believe that the children’s literature brings back enjoyment and leisure of reading. Children’s literature can be used to teach a variety of life and educational lessons. However, it is our job as teachers to find creative ways to adapt of lessons to incorporate children’s literature and to capture the interest and the attention of our students.
Ch 11.
Tunnell, Michael O. and James S. Jacobs. Children's Literature, Briefly. 4e. Upper Saddle River NJ: Pearson/Merrill Prentice Hall, 2008.
Chapter 11
I enjoyed this chapter. I found it interesting that in contemporary realistic fiction that the age of the main character in the book is approximately the age of the reader. I started to think back and I noticed that several of my favorite books throughout my life have been when the main character was about my age. Perhaps the reason is because the main character is going through problems that the reader may relate to as well. I enjoy contemporary realistic fiction because it's relatable. I learned that one of my favorite authors Beverly Cleary's Ramona books were categorized as humor in contemporary realistic fiction.
Chapter 11
I enjoyed this chapter. I found it interesting that in contemporary realistic fiction that the age of the main character in the book is approximately the age of the reader. I started to think back and I noticed that several of my favorite books throughout my life have been when the main character was about my age. Perhaps the reason is because the main character is going through problems that the reader may relate to as well. I enjoy contemporary realistic fiction because it's relatable. I learned that one of my favorite authors Beverly Cleary's Ramona books were categorized as humor in contemporary realistic fiction.
Craft Lesson 4: My Many Colored Days
My Many Colored Days
Grade Level Third: TEKS focusing on Reading Literacy: analyzing characters feelings and capturing a sense of audience. Mathematics: fractions, multiplying, geometric, and measurement. Health: nutrients and food pyramid.
Discussion:
My Many Colored Days book teaches emotions and art. Children need to know the importance of controlling emotions and the appreciation of art work. I would discuss how a children's board book can be used for creative thoughts and ideas at all levels even though it is a simple children's board book. I would incorporate the curriculum of several subjects by using Dr. Seuss My Many Colored Days.
How to Teach It:
I would start off by asking different types of emotions that the students could think of. After hearing them, we would read the book and see if the book covered all the emotions. Then, we could continue to think of other emotions that might have not been discussed in the book.
Next, introduce a half of a day project that would incorporate reading, mathematics, health, and art. The project would to design your own cereal box with a creative artwork like My Many Colored Days. The students may develop their own cereal brand name and design their own cereal box cereal representative (like the Bee off of Honey-Nut-Cheerios.) The cereal box representative can express their brands emotions. The students would have to choose a target audience for your cereal. Also, they would do the artwork to display brand personality of your cereal. They can decorate the back with a subject line topic if it is an adult cereal or games if it's a children's cereal. They would then determine the nutritional facts and serving size that their private label cereal would be.
After deciding the design of the cereal box they will construct a cereal box by using the knowledge of geometric shapes and put the designs in a final hand designed cereal box.
I would display the unique boxes throughout the room and allow the kids to vote on their favorite peer's cereal box. The prize for the winner could be a free homework pass or a free day. Then, you will have the cereal box artwork to decorate the classroom with and then the students will have an artwork that they created to bring home.
Grade Level Third: TEKS focusing on Reading Literacy: analyzing characters feelings and capturing a sense of audience. Mathematics: fractions, multiplying, geometric, and measurement. Health: nutrients and food pyramid.
Discussion:
My Many Colored Days book teaches emotions and art. Children need to know the importance of controlling emotions and the appreciation of art work. I would discuss how a children's board book can be used for creative thoughts and ideas at all levels even though it is a simple children's board book. I would incorporate the curriculum of several subjects by using Dr. Seuss My Many Colored Days.
How to Teach It:
I would start off by asking different types of emotions that the students could think of. After hearing them, we would read the book and see if the book covered all the emotions. Then, we could continue to think of other emotions that might have not been discussed in the book.
Next, introduce a half of a day project that would incorporate reading, mathematics, health, and art. The project would to design your own cereal box with a creative artwork like My Many Colored Days. The students may develop their own cereal brand name and design their own cereal box cereal representative (like the Bee off of Honey-Nut-Cheerios.) The cereal box representative can express their brands emotions. The students would have to choose a target audience for your cereal. Also, they would do the artwork to display brand personality of your cereal. They can decorate the back with a subject line topic if it is an adult cereal or games if it's a children's cereal. They would then determine the nutritional facts and serving size that their private label cereal would be.
After deciding the design of the cereal box they will construct a cereal box by using the knowledge of geometric shapes and put the designs in a final hand designed cereal box.
I would display the unique boxes throughout the room and allow the kids to vote on their favorite peer's cereal box. The prize for the winner could be a free homework pass or a free day. Then, you will have the cereal box artwork to decorate the classroom with and then the students will have an artwork that they created to bring home.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Children's LitBlog Ch 10, Craft Lesson 3, Dr. Seuss and Minn & Jake Part 2
Tunnell, Michael O. and James S. Jacobs. Children's Literature, Briefly. 4e. Upper Sadle River NJ: Pearson/Merrill Prentice Hall, 2008.
Chapter 10
This chapter wasn't one of the most exciting chapters that I have read except for the fact it was short. However, Chapter 10 related to some of my favorite movies that have been out in the past few years. After viewing Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter and reading this chapter, I understood the six basic fantasy motifs. The book fully describing them and see a movie or reading a book that used these allowed for a complete understanding of the material.
I think after reading the past few chapters that I have realized that it is very important to have a wide variety of material to capture and engage children's interest.
Craft Lesson 3: Minn and Jake
Discussion: Minn and Jake is a wonderful book and it could be applied to the classroom is many ways. I would use it to focus on differences in children and how differences make some one unique. I would use Minn and Jake at the beginning of the year to bring out unique characteristics in the students so everyone could learn about one another.
How to Teach It:
I would start off by taking a few days and reading Minn and Jake. Afterwards, I would discuss friendships and the unique characteristics of Minn and Jake and their friends. To apply it to class, I would make a sheet up in the form of bingo and in each box have a unique characteristic. Examples could be: I have blonde hair, I was born outside Lubbock, I have 3 or more siblings. Then I would allow the class to mingle amongst each other and see as a class if you can get all the boxes full and hopefully get a black out. In the meantime of playing the game, you learn new things about your classmates.
This would be a great first of the week craft idea to have the class meet each other and get ready for the year.
Seuss, Dr. My Many Colored Days. Illus. Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher. New York, NY: Random House, Inc., 1996.
My Many Colored Days
My Many Colored Days was a unique book for the fact that it said so much in such few words. I thought the illustrations were wonderful and truly captured the text. It goes through the emotions of different days and shows that every day varies in how some one may feel. This is a great book because a child may not understand the words exactly but perhaps the illustrations will speak louder than the words and bring in a better understanding of emotions.
Wong, Janet S. Minn and Jake. Illus. Genevieve Cote. New York, NY: Frances Foster Books, 2003.
Minn and Jake Part 2
Minn and Jake was a wonderful and enjoyable book to read. I loved how she broke the book up in short chapters. It made for a fast read. The pictures in the book allowed for you to see the cleverness of her writing. It allowed you to experience part of Minn and Jake's adventures throughout the book. I love how at the end Jake/ Soup caught a lizard for Minn right before they left for the summer. It was such a wonderful book and being able to talk to Janet Wong at the Literature Festival brought some wonderful insight of Minn and Jake.
Chapter 10
This chapter wasn't one of the most exciting chapters that I have read except for the fact it was short. However, Chapter 10 related to some of my favorite movies that have been out in the past few years. After viewing Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter and reading this chapter, I understood the six basic fantasy motifs. The book fully describing them and see a movie or reading a book that used these allowed for a complete understanding of the material.
I think after reading the past few chapters that I have realized that it is very important to have a wide variety of material to capture and engage children's interest.
Craft Lesson 3: Minn and Jake
Discussion: Minn and Jake is a wonderful book and it could be applied to the classroom is many ways. I would use it to focus on differences in children and how differences make some one unique. I would use Minn and Jake at the beginning of the year to bring out unique characteristics in the students so everyone could learn about one another.
How to Teach It:
I would start off by taking a few days and reading Minn and Jake. Afterwards, I would discuss friendships and the unique characteristics of Minn and Jake and their friends. To apply it to class, I would make a sheet up in the form of bingo and in each box have a unique characteristic. Examples could be: I have blonde hair, I was born outside Lubbock, I have 3 or more siblings. Then I would allow the class to mingle amongst each other and see as a class if you can get all the boxes full and hopefully get a black out. In the meantime of playing the game, you learn new things about your classmates.
This would be a great first of the week craft idea to have the class meet each other and get ready for the year.
Seuss, Dr. My Many Colored Days. Illus. Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher. New York, NY: Random House, Inc., 1996.
My Many Colored Days
My Many Colored Days was a unique book for the fact that it said so much in such few words. I thought the illustrations were wonderful and truly captured the text. It goes through the emotions of different days and shows that every day varies in how some one may feel. This is a great book because a child may not understand the words exactly but perhaps the illustrations will speak louder than the words and bring in a better understanding of emotions.
Wong, Janet S. Minn and Jake. Illus. Genevieve Cote. New York, NY: Frances Foster Books, 2003.
Minn and Jake Part 2
Minn and Jake was a wonderful and enjoyable book to read. I loved how she broke the book up in short chapters. It made for a fast read. The pictures in the book allowed for you to see the cleverness of her writing. It allowed you to experience part of Minn and Jake's adventures throughout the book. I love how at the end Jake/ Soup caught a lizard for Minn right before they left for the summer. It was such a wonderful book and being able to talk to Janet Wong at the Literature Festival brought some wonderful insight of Minn and Jake.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Children's LitBlog Ch 9&18
Tunnell, Michael O. and James S. Jacobs. Children's Literature, Briefly. 4e. Upper Sadle River NJ: Pearson/Merrill Prentice Hall, 2008.
Chapter 9
Chapter 9 discussed traditional fantasy and after the brief definition of what it is, I was amazed to learn about all of the stories that were considered traditional fantasy. I was shocked and surprised to learn that movie names such as "Cinderella", "Sleeping Beauty" and many more had no original author. These were such wonderful children stories that I was amazed that they didn't have the true author's name on it.
The chapter continued on and the subheading discussion on frightening for young children struck my attention. I never considered children’s books frightening. I read the original "The Three Little Pigs" when I was young and I was never upset or frightened. However, now I know to consider if books are frightening and that there are edited version that has happier endings.
Chapter 18
Chapter 18 discussion of trade books versus textbooks was interesting to me. I believe that students may want to learn and read more if trade books were incorporate into class reading. Trade books would bring variety to the curriculum and would go into more depth and detail that the traditional textbook.
Chapter 9
Chapter 9 discussed traditional fantasy and after the brief definition of what it is, I was amazed to learn about all of the stories that were considered traditional fantasy. I was shocked and surprised to learn that movie names such as "Cinderella", "Sleeping Beauty" and many more had no original author. These were such wonderful children stories that I was amazed that they didn't have the true author's name on it.
The chapter continued on and the subheading discussion on frightening for young children struck my attention. I never considered children’s books frightening. I read the original "The Three Little Pigs" when I was young and I was never upset or frightened. However, now I know to consider if books are frightening and that there are edited version that has happier endings.
Chapter 18
Chapter 18 discussion of trade books versus textbooks was interesting to me. I believe that students may want to learn and read more if trade books were incorporate into class reading. Trade books would bring variety to the curriculum and would go into more depth and detail that the traditional textbook.
Craft Lesson 2: Apple Pie 4th of July
Craft Lesson 2: Apple Pie 4th of July
Discussion:
In the book, Apple Pie 4th of July we see how America is made up of different cultures, ethnicities and backgrounds. I believe that it would be important to discuss other examples of cultures and how different cultures have shaped what America is today.
How to teach it:
I would start of with the book and start discussing examples of how different cultures have shaped America and discuss holidays such as thanksgiving, Christmas, and others. I would continue the discussion but move the focus on the students. The students can start describing their family holidays and how they may differ from another student’s family holiday.
After the class discussion, I would have the class break into groups and either have different stations set up in the classroom focusing on a particular country or have them research on a computer different countries. I would make a journal for the students to write the countries facts in and this journal would represent a passport. I would have them find what unique traditions of different countries and other facts are. Afterwards researching, they will have a passport around the world that they can take home and keep. To further the study, you can have you students select a country and do a presentation for the class about the country and perhaps bring a type of food that, which country is known for.
Discussion:
In the book, Apple Pie 4th of July we see how America is made up of different cultures, ethnicities and backgrounds. I believe that it would be important to discuss other examples of cultures and how different cultures have shaped what America is today.
How to teach it:
I would start of with the book and start discussing examples of how different cultures have shaped America and discuss holidays such as thanksgiving, Christmas, and others. I would continue the discussion but move the focus on the students. The students can start describing their family holidays and how they may differ from another student’s family holiday.
After the class discussion, I would have the class break into groups and either have different stations set up in the classroom focusing on a particular country or have them research on a computer different countries. I would make a journal for the students to write the countries facts in and this journal would represent a passport. I would have them find what unique traditions of different countries and other facts are. Afterwards researching, they will have a passport around the world that they can take home and keep. To further the study, you can have you students select a country and do a presentation for the class about the country and perhaps bring a type of food that, which country is known for.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Craft Lesson 1
Craft Lesson 1: Buzz
Discussion:
In all books, descriptions of objects and people play important roles in setting scenes and characters. Words that create a sound in the reader’s mind are no exception. In the book Buzz, we have learned the power of words that make sounds and the importance these descriptors play in the setting and movement of a book. This craft lesson focuses on allowing children to think of these “sound words” and their use in everyday life.
How to teach it:
I would start off by reading the book Buzz to the class. I would follow up with something like, Imagine you’re getting ready for school one day, but you don’t hear any of the normal “morning sounds.” Your mom is preparing breakfast, but you can’t snap, crackle or pop of your Rice Krispies in the milk. You are brushing your teeth, but you can’t hear the bristles of your brush doing their job. Life just isn’t the same without the day-to-day noises we’ve grown use to hearing.
I would continue to explain how books are like real life, and without sounds they’re not complete. Sounds play an important role in every action we do. I would break the class up into groups and discuss other important sound words that we might hear during the day. Examples of these sounds are your feet crunching the rocks on a playground, or your cat meowing to you in the morning. Then as a group we will write a story with “sound words” that we thought of and make a classroom book of our own just like the book Buzz. At the end of the class, I would have a student read the new book that we wrote all together using “sound words.”
Discussion:
In all books, descriptions of objects and people play important roles in setting scenes and characters. Words that create a sound in the reader’s mind are no exception. In the book Buzz, we have learned the power of words that make sounds and the importance these descriptors play in the setting and movement of a book. This craft lesson focuses on allowing children to think of these “sound words” and their use in everyday life.
How to teach it:
I would start off by reading the book Buzz to the class. I would follow up with something like, Imagine you’re getting ready for school one day, but you don’t hear any of the normal “morning sounds.” Your mom is preparing breakfast, but you can’t snap, crackle or pop of your Rice Krispies in the milk. You are brushing your teeth, but you can’t hear the bristles of your brush doing their job. Life just isn’t the same without the day-to-day noises we’ve grown use to hearing.
I would continue to explain how books are like real life, and without sounds they’re not complete. Sounds play an important role in every action we do. I would break the class up into groups and discuss other important sound words that we might hear during the day. Examples of these sounds are your feet crunching the rocks on a playground, or your cat meowing to you in the morning. Then as a group we will write a story with “sound words” that we thought of and make a classroom book of our own just like the book Buzz. At the end of the class, I would have a student read the new book that we wrote all together using “sound words.”
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Children's LitBlog Ch 6-8 and Minn and Jake
Tunnell, Michael O. and James S. Jacobs. Children's Literature, Briefly. 4e. Upper Sadle River NJ: Pearson/Merrill Prentice Hall, 2008.
Chapter 8
Chapter 8 was a chapter that caught most of my attention for this weeks reading. The subject of poetry is one of my interest. I have learned to love poetry from my great grandmother since I was a child. The subheading about "why children may learn to dislike poetry" discussed the main reasons why children have learned to dislike poetry. Bernard Lonsdale and Helen Mackintosh (1973) stated, the importance of preference for children. Poetry allows for preference. Student's many times tend not to enjoy readings because they are forced to read something. However, poetry links into engaged and unengaged reading. Poetry having several forms allows for students to have a preference of types of poetry they like. Poetry ranges from telling stories, to songs, to being humorous allows for someone to relate to a poem or just enjoy it. The chapter continues to discuss poetry and ends with "building a poetry collection." A teacher putting the effort and finding a range of poems that children may appreciate could lead a child to appreciate poetry.
Wong, Janet S. Minn and Jake. Illus. Genevieve Cote. New York, NY: Frances Foster Books, 2003.
Minn and Jake Part 1
Minn and Jake could be one of my favorite children's books. Minn is very tall and Jake is the opposite on the other hand and is very short. Minn and Jake met on Jake's first day of class. Jake wasn't able to reach the shelf that had a book on it and this led him to ask the tallest person in class for help, Minn. Recess came and the teacher asked for Minn to hang out with Jake since he was new. However, recess wasn't great for Minn because Henry ate her worms. She didn't think there was any way for the day to get worse, but it did. The story continues by Jake having to take Minn home and they are forcefully hanging out with each other. By the end Minn is teaching Jake to catch lizards and Jake is making money by selling his belongings and others.
The book is a simple and fast read. However, I believe that kids could easily relate to this book. Parents are always trying to have kids be friends and you never know who your going to be friends with. The illustrations are one of my favorite things about the book. My favorite is page 10 where Jake is picturing all the kids in class as certain animals. The picture shows the kids normal but their shadows are outlines of the animal that he is picturing them as. The picture on page 33 is another favorite were it shows Soup with one of his boots with spurs flying in the air when they crashed the fish tank. Janet Wong did a fabulous job with this book and I can't wait to finish reading it.
Chapter 8
Chapter 8 was a chapter that caught most of my attention for this weeks reading. The subject of poetry is one of my interest. I have learned to love poetry from my great grandmother since I was a child. The subheading about "why children may learn to dislike poetry" discussed the main reasons why children have learned to dislike poetry. Bernard Lonsdale and Helen Mackintosh (1973) stated, the importance of preference for children. Poetry allows for preference. Student's many times tend not to enjoy readings because they are forced to read something. However, poetry links into engaged and unengaged reading. Poetry having several forms allows for students to have a preference of types of poetry they like. Poetry ranges from telling stories, to songs, to being humorous allows for someone to relate to a poem or just enjoy it. The chapter continues to discuss poetry and ends with "building a poetry collection." A teacher putting the effort and finding a range of poems that children may appreciate could lead a child to appreciate poetry.
Wong, Janet S. Minn and Jake. Illus. Genevieve Cote. New York, NY: Frances Foster Books, 2003.
Minn and Jake Part 1
Minn and Jake could be one of my favorite children's books. Minn is very tall and Jake is the opposite on the other hand and is very short. Minn and Jake met on Jake's first day of class. Jake wasn't able to reach the shelf that had a book on it and this led him to ask the tallest person in class for help, Minn. Recess came and the teacher asked for Minn to hang out with Jake since he was new. However, recess wasn't great for Minn because Henry ate her worms. She didn't think there was any way for the day to get worse, but it did. The story continues by Jake having to take Minn home and they are forcefully hanging out with each other. By the end Minn is teaching Jake to catch lizards and Jake is making money by selling his belongings and others.
The book is a simple and fast read. However, I believe that kids could easily relate to this book. Parents are always trying to have kids be friends and you never know who your going to be friends with. The illustrations are one of my favorite things about the book. My favorite is page 10 where Jake is picturing all the kids in class as certain animals. The picture shows the kids normal but their shadows are outlines of the animal that he is picturing them as. The picture on page 33 is another favorite were it shows Soup with one of his boots with spurs flying in the air when they crashed the fish tank. Janet Wong did a fabulous job with this book and I can't wait to finish reading it.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Children's LitBlog Chapter 1-5, Apple Pie 4th of July, and Buzz
Tunnell, Michael O. and James S. Jacobs. Children's Literature, Briefly. 4e. Upper Sadle River NJ: Pearson/Merrill Prentice Hall, 2008.
I found that Chapter 1 offered some good points on the question: why read?
The section of the chapter that discussed "Reading is Personally Motivating" was a section of Chapter 1 that took in my interest. The discussion of engaged reading and unengaged reading was intriguing to learn the difference between the two styles of reading. I have come to realize that many times when something is assigned to read it tends to be unengaged. However, perhaps if you all someone to have input in what the choose to read then maybe reading will become more engaged reading overtime. Tunnel and Jacob discuss that engaged is reading for your own purpose and not someone else. Perhaps more children would enjoy reading if teachers tend to make multiple assigned reading and the child could choose a book for his own purpose and not the teachers. In prior classes, I have found unengaged reading, however currently my reading for EDLL 5351 tends to be engaged reading.
Wong, Janet S. Apple Pie 4th of July. Illus. Margaret Chodos-Irvine. Orlando FL: Voyager Books/Harcourt, Inc., 2002.
I thought that Apple Pie 4th of July was simple and cute. The main character was young Chinese-American girl. She was upset that her parent's store was open on the 4th of July. Who would want to eat Chinese food on an American holiday? Hours past while she longed to be playing with the other kids, wanting to go to the 4th of July parade and most of all eating apple pie. However, she was having to stay in her parent's store waiting on customer who she thought would never show up. Though to her surprise customers start showing, a few in the beginning and then more and more. Finally, the after a busy night of serving Chinese food, her family went on the rooftop and enjoyed watching fireworks and apply pie, of course.
I thought this was a wonderful children's book. Wong by incorporating different cultures into books allow for her books to be adaptable. She showed that America isn't only about hot dogs, apple pie, and fireworks but also about diversity. I thought the book was amazing and the ending with fireworks and apple pie was a perfect ending.
Wong, Janet S. Buzz. Illus. Margaret Chodos-Irvine. Orlando FL: Voyager Books/Harcourt, Inc., 2000.
Buzz a fun-loving book! Who would of ever known that so many things make the sound buzz. This book allows for someone to experience the morning of a child. Buzz is a great book for children because they can notice other noises that they may notice in the morning when getting ready. It teaches the word buzz and gives many examples of objects that buzz. Wong did a wonderful job with the pictures, even though they were simple they had detail. I loved the picture of when his dad is shaving and the boy is impersonating his dad by pretending to shave his chin with his toy car. Buzz and Apple Pie 4th of July were wonderful books and I am looking forward to reading more of Janet Wong books.
I found that Chapter 1 offered some good points on the question: why read?
The section of the chapter that discussed "Reading is Personally Motivating" was a section of Chapter 1 that took in my interest. The discussion of engaged reading and unengaged reading was intriguing to learn the difference between the two styles of reading. I have come to realize that many times when something is assigned to read it tends to be unengaged. However, perhaps if you all someone to have input in what the choose to read then maybe reading will become more engaged reading overtime. Tunnel and Jacob discuss that engaged is reading for your own purpose and not someone else. Perhaps more children would enjoy reading if teachers tend to make multiple assigned reading and the child could choose a book for his own purpose and not the teachers. In prior classes, I have found unengaged reading, however currently my reading for EDLL 5351 tends to be engaged reading.
Wong, Janet S. Apple Pie 4th of July. Illus. Margaret Chodos-Irvine. Orlando FL: Voyager Books/Harcourt, Inc., 2002.
I thought that Apple Pie 4th of July was simple and cute. The main character was young Chinese-American girl. She was upset that her parent's store was open on the 4th of July. Who would want to eat Chinese food on an American holiday? Hours past while she longed to be playing with the other kids, wanting to go to the 4th of July parade and most of all eating apple pie. However, she was having to stay in her parent's store waiting on customer who she thought would never show up. Though to her surprise customers start showing, a few in the beginning and then more and more. Finally, the after a busy night of serving Chinese food, her family went on the rooftop and enjoyed watching fireworks and apply pie, of course.
I thought this was a wonderful children's book. Wong by incorporating different cultures into books allow for her books to be adaptable. She showed that America isn't only about hot dogs, apple pie, and fireworks but also about diversity. I thought the book was amazing and the ending with fireworks and apple pie was a perfect ending.
Wong, Janet S. Buzz. Illus. Margaret Chodos-Irvine. Orlando FL: Voyager Books/Harcourt, Inc., 2000.
Buzz a fun-loving book! Who would of ever known that so many things make the sound buzz. This book allows for someone to experience the morning of a child. Buzz is a great book for children because they can notice other noises that they may notice in the morning when getting ready. It teaches the word buzz and gives many examples of objects that buzz. Wong did a wonderful job with the pictures, even though they were simple they had detail. I loved the picture of when his dad is shaving and the boy is impersonating his dad by pretending to shave his chin with his toy car. Buzz and Apple Pie 4th of July were wonderful books and I am looking forward to reading more of Janet Wong books.
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