craft lessons 1&2

Craft lesson #1
Buzz by J.Wong
Christian Freeman
EDLL 5351-02


This lesson will work on word recognition. This lesson is for Pre-K students.

Read the book Buzz by Janet Wong. Focus on the word buzz while reading the book. Point to the word buzz. Point to the word buzz and see if any of the students can read or recognize the word. Type the word buzz on note cards or paper. Tape them on objects in the classroom that make a buzz sound. If there is a house center tape the word on a blow-dryer with the cord cut off. Tape the word on an airplane. Try to find objects that were mentioned in the book as well as others.


Craft lesson #2
Apple Pie 4th of July by J. Wong
Christian Freeman
EDLL 5351-02

This lesson will focus on different textures and letting the children experience things through their sense of touch.

Read Apple Pie 4th of July. Bring in containers and set them up as station areas. In the containers have different items such as cooked chow mien noodles,
raw chow mien noodles, shoelaces, and other things. Let the children put their hands in the containers, and play with the objects. Ask them questions about what they are feeling with their hands.

Children's Literature, Briefly ch.6-8

I liked the chapter on poetry. I never liked poetry in school because we had to dissect boring poems. Consequently I never have read any poetry since. I do not think that any poetry I read in school was from recent authors. I had fun reading some of the poems in this chapter. I think it is a good idea to put a poems on the board for students reading only and not link them to any assignments or formal discussions.
In chapter 6 (I think) it touches on overly controlled vocabulary, and how it is harder for a kid to learn to read using it. I was reading Hop on Pop with my son. He could sound out the words pup in cup, but every time I asked him to read the whole sentence together he would say pup is in the cup. I could not get him to omit the is and in. Pup in cup just did not sound like a natural sentence to him.

Children's Literature, Briefly ch.5

I found this chapter to be boring. I found myself engaged in unengaged reading throughout most of this chapter. I think that lessons books teach are very important. If a book is not written well but a child learns a valuable lesson,then I think the book still has great value. The trick would be to find a strong book with the same strong lesson.

Children's Literature, Briefly ch.4

I loved the illustrations in this chapter. My favorite illustration was the one from the Mercer Mayer book. You can look at the picture and know exactly how everyone in the car is feeling. No words are needed, the picture says it all. I think illustrations like this are especially useful for children who are having difficulties understanding words and vocabulary.

Children's Literature, Briefly ch.3

Chapter three touched on controlled vocabulary. Children are often taught to read through controlled vocabulary. They learn simple words first, then graduate to larger words. The text books often use word patterns that sound unnatural and are not fluid like everyday speech. The chapter suggests as teachers we should divert from controlled vocabulary to natural text. The book does not give an example of natural text. Do public schools let you choose reading text books? I thought that all grade level classes used the same text books, and followed the same reading curriculum.

Children's Literature, Briefly ch.2

When I read this chapter I kept thinking about my four year old son and a his favorite book. Its title was something like Fables you Shouldn't Pay Any Attention to. The storeys all ended with the character learning an inappropriate lesson, such as; it pays to be greedy, it pays to not take care of your things, it pays to lie. Every night my son wanted to read this book. The writing was not brilliant, the illustrations were bland and the lessons taught were unsavory. He loved it. I think he identified with the characters and their misbehavior. I hid the book and got another book called David Gets in Trouble. This book also had a character that misbehaved, but the books literary qualities were at a higher standard and the illustrations were wonder full. He instantly fell in love with this book as well. Within a few weeks he had memorized the book and was reading it to me. If we know a child's interest we can suggest book titles to them of a higher quality. That way it fits the quality and taste requirements of a good book.

Children's Literature Briefly ch.1

According to this chapter most of the reading I have done for school and college has been unengaged reading. It also suggests that the benefits of unengaged reading are few. I mostly agree with that. According to the book unengaged reading can result from a teachers assigning students to look for and define specific aspects of the book. Thus reducing the child's ability to experience the book on a more personal level. So what are we to do as teachers to ensure our students are engaged readers? As a student I was always thinking about the report that was inevitably due after each book I read. I understand that engaged reading is more fulfilling on a personal level, but unengaged reading seems to be unavoidable in school settings.

Apple Pie 4th of July

Wong, J. (2006). Apple Pie 4th of July. Orlando: Voyager Books.
The main character in this story is a Chinese-American girl. She is sure no one will buy Chinese food from her parents store on such an American holiday as the Fourth of July. Her father reminds her that fireworks are Chinese. All day long there are no costumers buying food. She thinks that her parents don't understand what it is to be American. But, at the end of the day a bunch of people come in for the food. The family ends their night watching fireworks and eating apple pie.
This book explores what it is that makes one American. Is it where you were born? Is it tradition? What are American values? This book can be used to generate discussion about multi-culturalism and diversity in America. Isn't that what America is all about? I think older children in second through forth grades would enjoy it. I love how the story ends with the family watching "Chinese" fireworks and eating "American" apple pie.

Buzz

Wong, J. (2002). Buzz. Orlando: Voyager Books.
This book starts with a young boy hearing hearing a sound. It's a bee outside his window buzzing. Throughout the morning there are various things that make the buzz sound. The alarm clock, daddy shaving, the blender, the boy playing, all make a buzz. Finally, mom leaves the house going buzz just like the busy bee.
This book is a lot of fun. I could feel the busy excitement of this child's morning while I read it. All the different buzz sounds bring the book to life. I think that pre-k through first grade students would really enjoy this book. It has playful feel to it with all the different noises the one "buzz" sound can make.