Tunnell, Michael O. and James S. Jacobs. Children's Literature, Briefly. 4e. Upper Saddle River NJ: Pearson/Merrill Prentice Hall, 2008
I think that multicultural literature is a good method of exposing children to cultures they may not know much about. They might also find the different ways of story telling interesting, and educational. I thought it was interesting that many people feel that multicultural books should not be written by outsiders of that culture. They feel that outsiders would present a distorted or even prejudice view of that culture. I do not necessarily agree with this view. I think with research and an open mind anyone can write about almost anything. I think that a person who immerses themselves in a culture can accurately write about certain aspects of that culture, or portray a character from that culture. It might be difficult and they might need help from others within that culture, but I think it could be done.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Craft lesson # 8
This craft lesson will be for second grade students. The entire lesson will span over a week. On Monday I will read Babymouse: Our Hero to the class. I will tell them that tomorrow we will create our own superheroes. On Tuesday I will ask them to create their own superhero, draw it, and give it a name. On Wednesday I will ask them to draw another picture of their super hero, and right a sentence describing its powers. On Thursday my students will draw a picture of the heroes nemesis and give it a name. On Friday they will draw another picture and write a sentence explaining the nemesis's powers. Depending on the classes responses to the assignment I might ask them to write a comic story based on their superheroes. The reason I would take my time with this lesson is because I want the kids to have time to go home and possibly think about their super hero before they create it.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Babymouse
Holm, Jennifer & Holm, Matthew. Babymouse: Our Hero. New York, NY: Random House, Inc., 2005.
This story is about an imaginative mouse who does not want to play in the dodge ball game at school. She has managed to get out of playing doge ball in the past. But when the gym teacher tells the class that everyone must participate in the upcoming game, and that it will be part of their grade Babymouse knows she can not avoid it. She is scared of her nemesis Felicia Furrypaws. Felicia is a cat whose special talent is pounding people with dodge balls. Babymouse's best friend Wilson helps her prepare and practice for the dodge ball game. In the end Babymouse wins the dodge ball game and becomes the hero.
I loved this book. It was hilarious. I liked all the imaginations of babymouse. She imagined her school as a prison, and the walk to school as a torturous wagon trail (it was only two blocks). I think the comic book style might attract some boys who would not normally read a pink girl book . It will also attract girls who may not have ever read a comic book. I found Baybymouse's pessimism to be humorous. Even though she was the hero, the book ended with her being stuffed in her locker.
This story is about an imaginative mouse who does not want to play in the dodge ball game at school. She has managed to get out of playing doge ball in the past. But when the gym teacher tells the class that everyone must participate in the upcoming game, and that it will be part of their grade Babymouse knows she can not avoid it. She is scared of her nemesis Felicia Furrypaws. Felicia is a cat whose special talent is pounding people with dodge balls. Babymouse's best friend Wilson helps her prepare and practice for the dodge ball game. In the end Babymouse wins the dodge ball game and becomes the hero.
I loved this book. It was hilarious. I liked all the imaginations of babymouse. She imagined her school as a prison, and the walk to school as a torturous wagon trail (it was only two blocks). I think the comic book style might attract some boys who would not normally read a pink girl book . It will also attract girls who may not have ever read a comic book. I found Baybymouse's pessimism to be humorous. Even though she was the hero, the book ended with her being stuffed in her locker.
T&J chapter 14
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 to be interesting. When I was a child the only reason I read informational books was to do a book report. Number two in the reasons why children do not "flock" to informational books accurately describes my elementary experiences with these types of books. After reading this chapter I want to have some informational books in my classroom library. I never considered that reading these types of books could be fun. I think I will go to the library this weekend I try to check out Color Zoo. This book seems like it will be a good book for the pre-k level. I think my sons will like it too. I also liked the excerpt form the book Alaska Bear Tales. I found it interesting because Nanook is the password for my computer. I think my husband got it from a Frank Zappa song. Now I know a little more about the password.
I found this chapter to be interesting. When I was a child the only reason I read informational books was to do a book report. Number two in the reasons why children do not "flock" to informational books accurately describes my elementary experiences with these types of books. After reading this chapter I want to have some informational books in my classroom library. I never considered that reading these types of books could be fun. I think I will go to the library this weekend I try to check out Color Zoo. This book seems like it will be a good book for the pre-k level. I think my sons will like it too. I also liked the excerpt form the book Alaska Bear Tales. I found it interesting because Nanook is the password for my computer. I think my husband got it from a Frank Zappa song. Now I know a little more about the password.
Craft lesson #7 (Pennypacker)
This craft lesson is aimed at kindergarten students. It will be an exercise in sentence writing.
I will start by reading the first part of Stuart's Cape to the class. I will read "Stuart Makes a Cape" and "Day 1" to the children. I will ask the children to draw a picture. They can chose any animal they want. I will ask them to draw a picture of the animal playing them. Then I will ask the children to write a sentence at the bottom of their picture describing what the animal is doing.
I will start by reading the first part of Stuart's Cape to the class. I will read "Stuart Makes a Cape" and "Day 1" to the children. I will ask the children to draw a picture. They can chose any animal they want. I will ask them to draw a picture of the animal playing them. Then I will ask the children to write a sentence at the bottom of their picture describing what the animal is doing.
chapter 13
Tunnell, Michael O. and James S. Jacobs. Children's Literature, Briefly. 4e. Upper Saddle River NJ: Pearson/Merrill Prentice Hall, 2008.
This chapter was about biographies. Biographies are a good tool to get children interested in history and historical figures. Children who read a few sentences about a historical figure in a textbook will more than likely not remember anything about that person. By reading a biography they will learn that the person was more than a fact or something they need to memorize for a test. Biographies bring people to life. It is important for children to understand that these people had real lives. The information that novels present us with will be remembered because it is interesting. It will not just be memorized and then forgotten in a month. I also liked the idea of children reading the biographies that were listed as other interesting people. There are people today who make a big difference in our world. They are not celebrities or presidents, but seemingly normal people. I think these type of biographies can inspire children and adults.
This chapter was about biographies. Biographies are a good tool to get children interested in history and historical figures. Children who read a few sentences about a historical figure in a textbook will more than likely not remember anything about that person. By reading a biography they will learn that the person was more than a fact or something they need to memorize for a test. Biographies bring people to life. It is important for children to understand that these people had real lives. The information that novels present us with will be remembered because it is interesting. It will not just be memorized and then forgotten in a month. I also liked the idea of children reading the biographies that were listed as other interesting people. There are people today who make a big difference in our world. They are not celebrities or presidents, but seemingly normal people. I think these type of biographies can inspire children and adults.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Stuart's Cape
Pennypacker, Sara. Stuart's Cape. Illus. Martin Matje. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc., 2002.
This book was a bout a little boy who wanted to have an adventure. He had moved to a new town, school had not started yet, he did not have any friends, and all his best stuff had accidentally been thrown away before he had moved. He decided that adventures happened to people who had capes. He made a cape out of neck ties. As soon as he put on his cape adventures started to happen. A horse, gorilla and dinosaur came to his door. The animals played "Stuart" with him for the day. He flew one day. He grew giant toast and invited all the neighbors over for a toast party. All these things happened because of his cape. On the day of school orientation Stuart's parents made him take off his cape. His cat fell asleep on the cape and switched places with the garbage man. Stuart had another adventure and finally got the garbage man and the cat to switch back to normal. Stuart made friend with the garbage man. They both liked to collect things that other people thought was junk.
I think this is a good book for third graders. That is the age Stuart. This book could also work as a read aloud for younger grades. I think 1st and 2nd graders would enjoy this book as a read aloud. I personally did not enjoy this book, but I think younger kids would like it. I read it to my son who is kindergarten and he laughed at some of the things that happened in the book. It was hard to tell which parts of the book was Stuart's imagination. Was Aunt Bubbles real? I think she was because the parents had to buy new tires for the car. The book was too far fetched for my enjoyment. The parents left Stuart at home all by himself. They also let him go to school orientation by himself. I also had a hard time identifying with Stuart. I never worried about anything as a child. I still do not worry much as a adult. However, I think this book would be good for kids with a strong imagination.
This book was a bout a little boy who wanted to have an adventure. He had moved to a new town, school had not started yet, he did not have any friends, and all his best stuff had accidentally been thrown away before he had moved. He decided that adventures happened to people who had capes. He made a cape out of neck ties. As soon as he put on his cape adventures started to happen. A horse, gorilla and dinosaur came to his door. The animals played "Stuart" with him for the day. He flew one day. He grew giant toast and invited all the neighbors over for a toast party. All these things happened because of his cape. On the day of school orientation Stuart's parents made him take off his cape. His cat fell asleep on the cape and switched places with the garbage man. Stuart had another adventure and finally got the garbage man and the cat to switch back to normal. Stuart made friend with the garbage man. They both liked to collect things that other people thought was junk.
I think this is a good book for third graders. That is the age Stuart. This book could also work as a read aloud for younger grades. I think 1st and 2nd graders would enjoy this book as a read aloud. I personally did not enjoy this book, but I think younger kids would like it. I read it to my son who is kindergarten and he laughed at some of the things that happened in the book. It was hard to tell which parts of the book was Stuart's imagination. Was Aunt Bubbles real? I think she was because the parents had to buy new tires for the car. The book was too far fetched for my enjoyment. The parents left Stuart at home all by himself. They also let him go to school orientation by himself. I also had a hard time identifying with Stuart. I never worried about anything as a child. I still do not worry much as a adult. However, I think this book would be good for kids with a strong imagination.
craft lesson #6
For this lesson I will assist the students in writing a story. This lesson is for pre-k students.
First we will read the book Sidewalk Circus. Then I will have photocopied pages from the book. I will break the students up into small groups of about 4 students. Throughout the week I will show the different groups the photocopied pages from the book. I will record there words as they tell me what the story should be for the individual pages. We will focus on the little girls facial expressions as we write the story. I will ask them what they think that she might be saying. We will review what we have previously written before adding something new. At the end of the week we will read our books together.
First we will read the book Sidewalk Circus. Then I will have photocopied pages from the book. I will break the students up into small groups of about 4 students. Throughout the week I will show the different groups the photocopied pages from the book. I will record there words as they tell me what the story should be for the individual pages. We will focus on the little girls facial expressions as we write the story. I will ask them what they think that she might be saying. We will review what we have previously written before adding something new. At the end of the week we will read our books together.
craft lesson #5
For this lesson I will work with the five senses. This is a lesson for kindergarten or pre-kindergarten students.
I will read some of the poems from "Yum! MmMm! Que rico!". I will describe what the five senses are. I will ask the kids what senses we will use most to describe the differnt foods. I bring out some of the foods from the book and have them in individual serving cups. I will ask the kids what the fruit smells, looks, feels, sounds and tastes like.
I will read some of the poems from "Yum! MmMm! Que rico!". I will describe what the five senses are. I will ask the kids what senses we will use most to describe the differnt foods. I bring out some of the foods from the book and have them in individual serving cups. I will ask the kids what the fruit smells, looks, feels, sounds and tastes like.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Sidewalk Circus
Fleischman, Paul. SIDEWALK CIRCUS. Illus. Paul Hawkes. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press, 2004.
This book is about a circus. There’s a sign that says the circus is coming soon. A girl sits on the buss stop bench and watches what is taking place on the side walk. Although the sign says the circus is coming, it seems to the girl that a circus is already here. The window washers are the trapeze swingers. A couple of kids on skate boards are the clowns. A close look at the shadows will tell you what circus performer is on the page. The posters also describe the circus feats being performed by ordinary people on the sidewalk. I liked how the man putting up the posters is the ringleader of the sidewalk circus. After the girl leaves a boy takes his position on the bench and begins to watch the show. Although this was a picture book I think the words in the signs and posters add a lot to the story. The illustrations were packed with information. Even though there are no words you can tell exactly what the little girl was thinking by the expressions on her face. One has to look closely at the book to gain a full appreciation for this book. The more I look at it the more I like it.
This book is about a circus. There’s a sign that says the circus is coming soon. A girl sits on the buss stop bench and watches what is taking place on the side walk. Although the sign says the circus is coming, it seems to the girl that a circus is already here. The window washers are the trapeze swingers. A couple of kids on skate boards are the clowns. A close look at the shadows will tell you what circus performer is on the page. The posters also describe the circus feats being performed by ordinary people on the sidewalk. I liked how the man putting up the posters is the ringleader of the sidewalk circus. After the girl leaves a boy takes his position on the bench and begins to watch the show. Although this was a picture book I think the words in the signs and posters add a lot to the story. The illustrations were packed with information. Even though there are no words you can tell exactly what the little girl was thinking by the expressions on her face. One has to look closely at the book to gain a full appreciation for this book. The more I look at it the more I like it.
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