Discussion:
I would like to teach my students that just because something is old or rugged does not mean there is no use for it (just like the trashman and Stuart thought in this book). Something great can come out of anything even what someone thinks is junk!! Also, I think this will get my students to use their imaginations.
How To Teach It:
To teach this lesson I would collect things from a pawn shop or old objects from my apartment/house. I would have each student choose some of these "scraps" and ask them to design something out of these objects. To make it related to language arts, I would have them get up in front of the class and present their objects. They can talk about why they picked the objects they did and why they decided to make the objects they did. This will spark many children's imaginations and maybe they will see stuff around their house or at stores differently because of this book and activity.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Babymouse Our Hero
This book is too cute! I was actually laughing out loud while reading it. I really liked page 32 where Babymouse was "guilty as charged" for getting the answer wrong in math and not showing her work. I really like the format of this book; it is an easy read and children who like comic books would be interested in this book.
Holm, Jennifer L, and Matthew Holm. Babymouse Our Hero. New York: Random House, 2005.
Holm, Jennifer L, and Matthew Holm. Babymouse Our Hero. New York: Random House, 2005.
Chapter 14: Children's Literature Briefly
I thought informational books were so boring in elementary, middle, and high school. This chapter does have some good suggestions to use in the classroom for using informational books in the classroom to make it interesting. For example, I would use activity books in my classroom because I feel this would keep the children engaged. Photo essays would also be very interesting to use in the classroom to teach students about facts and past times. I feel this chapter will be very helpful for me in the future.
Tunnell, Michael O. and James S. Jacobs. Children's Literature, Briefly. 4e. Upper Sadle River NJ: Pearson/Merrill Prentice Hall, 2008.
Tunnell, Michael O. and James S. Jacobs. Children's Literature, Briefly. 4e. Upper Sadle River NJ: Pearson/Merrill Prentice Hall, 2008.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Stuart's Cape
The part of the story that I really enjoyed was the part about Aunt Bubbles' angel food cake. On page 24, Aunt Bubbles is upset that someone stole her angel food cake, which was lighter than air. I really liked the imagery here and the play on words. The use of imagination throughout this book was amazing. Children would really enjoy reading this story.
Pennypacker, S. Stuart's Cape. Illus. Martin Matje. New York NY: Scholastic/Orchard Books, 2002.
Pennypacker, S. Stuart's Cape. Illus. Martin Matje. New York NY: Scholastic/Orchard Books, 2002.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Craft Lesson 6: Sidewalk Circus
Discussion:
I think it is important for children to use their imaginations so I also think it is important for children to exercise their imaginations.
How To Teach It:
I would try to get a book for each child in the class. Together, we would flip through the pages and talk about what is happening within the story. After reading, I would take the students outside and ask them to find a comfortable place where they could see birds, people, children, and houses. I would then ask them to make their own picture story about what they see, just like the book, Sidewalk Circus. I would remind them to use their imaginations. I would provide them with paper so they could draw their story. If some then want to write after they draw what they see then they can do that; I know children learn in different ways.
I think it is important for children to use their imaginations so I also think it is important for children to exercise their imaginations.
How To Teach It:
I would try to get a book for each child in the class. Together, we would flip through the pages and talk about what is happening within the story. After reading, I would take the students outside and ask them to find a comfortable place where they could see birds, people, children, and houses. I would then ask them to make their own picture story about what they see, just like the book, Sidewalk Circus. I would remind them to use their imaginations. I would provide them with paper so they could draw their story. If some then want to write after they draw what they see then they can do that; I know children learn in different ways.
Chapter 13: Children's Literature Briefly
I really do love biographies! I remember in grade school if I had to read a biography I would always choose one on Martin Luther King Jr. or Rosa Parks. I can also remember having to write a report about the person's life and that was so boring. I will come up with extension lessons after my students read biographies. It would be neat to have an "Autobiography Day". My students could research about a person from history. Then, they could dress up and be that person for the day. They each could get time to present their own story about their own lives.
I also think short biography books would be a good introduction for a social studies lesson about a particular person! I really do think books can be a wonderful introduction to a lesson in social studies, sciencec, and even math. I am really beginning to enjoy children's books and am constantly making trips to Hasting's and Barnes and Noble to see if they have any specials...that could get pretty expensive but at least my students will have a wide selection of books to choose from.
Tunnell, Michael O. and James S. Jacobs. Children's Literature, Briefly. 4e. Upper Sadle River NJ: Pearson/Merrill Prentice Hall, 2008.
I also think short biography books would be a good introduction for a social studies lesson about a particular person! I really do think books can be a wonderful introduction to a lesson in social studies, sciencec, and even math. I am really beginning to enjoy children's books and am constantly making trips to Hasting's and Barnes and Noble to see if they have any specials...that could get pretty expensive but at least my students will have a wide selection of books to choose from.
Tunnell, Michael O. and James S. Jacobs. Children's Literature, Briefly. 4e. Upper Sadle River NJ: Pearson/Merrill Prentice Hall, 2008.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Sidewalk Circus
I actually thought this book was funny. I liked how the children could use their imaginations and see the circus in every day events. I think this really shows first hand how children are so creative and use their imaginations so very often. The pictures were amazing. I was not looking forward to reading this book since there were not going to be in words, but I really think this would be a good book for younger children to make up their own story according to the pictures. I really liked how the story somewhat continues when the little boy sits down on the bench and starts seeing the "circus" too. Great book for young children!
Fleischman, Paul and Hawkes, Kevin. Sidewalk Circus. Picture book. Cambridge MA: Candlewick Press, 2004.
Fleischman, Paul and Hawkes, Kevin. Sidewalk Circus. Picture book. Cambridge MA: Candlewick Press, 2004.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Poetry Assignment
Poetry is a way for children to express their emotions and explore their imaginations. Also, poetry does not have to be in complete sentences, so I believe this is a good way to start with early writers. Students can make their poems however they want them to; they can be one word lines, phrases, sentences, expressions, or noises. Poems are a way that children can express their personality through their writing. Also, writers can use many different strategies while writing poems, such as rhyming, onomatopoeia, alliteration, metaphors, similes, personification and imagery. In my classroom, I want my children to be able to use their imaginations when writing; if they want to write poems rather than stories that will be fine with me.
Tunnel and Jacobs explain that “teachers who don’t appreciate poetry tend to ignore it in their daily routine” (80). I really do not want to be this teacher. I want my students to be exposed to as many different forms of writing and reading as possible, so they can form their own opinions on what they like or dislike. I do not want to pass on my personal opinions or beliefs to my students because then they will never learn to think for themselves.
Tunnel and Jacobs state that “one teacher simply wrote a new poem on the chalkboard each day without reading or referring to it” (83). I like this idea because I would not be dwelling on it, but some students will be interested and even ask me about it. I believe poems can be used in any subject area; they could be an introduction to a science lesson on insects, a math lesson on multiplication, a social studies lesson on American Indians, or just a piece of wisdom that children could take with them. I want to be that teacher that opens my children’s imaginations to things they have never thought about before and that makes a difference in their lives by exposing them to new and exciting things.
Sticks and Stones
By: Douglas Florian
I like this poem because it emphasizes a different idea with the phrase “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me”. I really believe words can hurt people; and children really feel this way about hurtful words. By hearing this poem, I want my students to realize that what we say can affect other people in a negative way. I think this poem would be good to read at the beginning of the semester to discuss expectations in my classroom, such as respecting others through words and actions.
Interruption
By: Douglas Florian
I chose this poem because it catches you off guard. It would be horrible if your roof really did fall down onto your head, but to this person, that is not the main problem. The main problem is that they lost their page in their book they were reading. I could use this in my classroom to emphasize to my students that reading can be for enjoyment purposes and does not always have to be for school or for accelerated reader.
Arithmetickle
By: Douglas Florian
I chose this poem because I love math but I know other people do not like math at all! I actually thought about being a high school math teacher for the longest time but realized I liked working with younger children better. I hope my students will see that someone else may feel the same way they do about a particular subject in school. But the key point is that no matter if they like the subject or not it is still something they need to learn to be educated. This poem is really just for fun and I could see myself putting it on the board after we finish a big math lesson.
READ THIS POEM!
By: Douglas Florian
I thought this poem was very cute. I would think children would really like this poem too. I liked how Douglas Florian made the poem come alive by using “I”. I just would hope my students would enjoy this poem and realize that reading can be for fun!
They Gave Me
By: Douglas Florian
I chose this poem because I really feel that life is about giving and taking and what goes around comes around. If we do good things then good things will happen to us. I would want my students to realize this idea also about giving and taking. I believe many children these days are very spoiled and just know about the “taking” part of life. I would hope this would introduce my students to the “giving” part of life. Maybe this could be used as an introduction to a social studies lesson about a community service plan.
Substitute Teacher
By: Douglas Florian
I thought this poem was so funny! I remember different substitute teachers we had. This poem made me think of when the boys in my elementary school, middle school, and high school class played tricks on the substitute teacher. I really liked the ending to this poem; I could not even imagine what the regular teacher was like. I would use this poem in my class just for fun. I think it would be funny to read this poem the day before we would have a substitute teacher fill in for me. I think the students would maybe realize that substitute teachers are not so bad and maybe that they will even like them more than me.
Do-It-Yourself Poem
By: Douglas Florian
I chose this poem because it is interactive and easy to fill in. I would hope my students would be able to come up with rhyming words that would fit semantically and syntactically with the sentence. I know a lot of children enjoy rhyming words because sounds are easy to recognize for most children that I have worked with.
LONG-LEG LOU AND SHORT-LEG SUE
By: Shel Silverstein
I chose this poem because it is about friendship and it was one of my favorite poems growing up. I can somewhat relate to this because I was the girl in elementary school that was taller than all the boys; I had really long, skinny legs. By reading this poem, I would like my students to understand that we all have differences that we need to accept. I would like to read this poem at the beginning of the year to talk about expectations in my classroom, such as all of us being friends in the class.
THE VOICE
By: Shel Silverstein
I chose this poem because I think children really do have a problem with peer pressure at all ages. I would want my students to understand that they know what is best for them, and it is good to have a different opinion than your friends or teachers about certain things. I want my students to think for themselves and know the difference between right and wrong. Again, I would like to read this poem at the beginning of the year to introduce expectations I have of my students.
FORGETFUL PAUL REVERE
By: Shel Silverstein
I chose this poem because I thought it would be a good introduction to a social studies lesson on Paul Revere. I know children are familiar with the saying, “one if by land, two if by sea”. I would want them to correct “Paul Revere” here when he is trying to remember the famous phrase he said a long time ago. This would be a perfect way to start conversation up about Paul Revere’s ride. I would want this poem to get my students’ minds wondering about social studies figures, such as Paul Revere.
Martin Luther King
By: Myra Cohn Livingston
I absolutely love Martin Luther King! I have always been fascinated with his civil rights actions, speeches, sermons, and ideas. I would want my students to understand what this poem is talking about and for them to form their own opinion about it. Maybe I could do an extension activity on this and have them write about ways we as a society can overcome the problems with race, gender, and culture we still have today.
Changing
By: Mary Anne Hoberman
I chose this poem because it touches on the idea of being empathetic for other people. I am a very empathetic person; I believe it is a good quality to have that I would want to pass on to my students. I could use this poem in my classroom with a social studies lesson. For example, if we were talking about the pioneer days, we could use this poem to relate to how the people of that certain time period felt and what they were going through.
Together
By: Paul Engle
I chose this poem because it brings about the idea of teamwork. I see my future class as a team striving to meet particular goals. I believe reading this poem would be a good way to introduce again the expectations I have of my students and what goals we have for the year as a class.
A Word
By: Emily Dickinson
I chose this poem because I believe it is very insightful and makes you think. I like how Emily Dickinson personifies “a word” and emphasizes the fact that a word can actual be alive. I would want my students to realize that this is true because whenever they speak, they bring a word to life. It is their duty to make words live; they hold a purpose. I would be interested to see how my students react to this concept of them playing a role in daily life. I could even expand on that just because they are younger or smaller than adults does not mean they are less important. Some children could feel they are not important because of what goes on at home, but I would want my students to feel important and wanted in my classroom.
Dreams
By: Langston Hughes
I chose this poem because I want my students to have dreams. I believe dreams cause students to have confidence, goals, and a purpose. After reading this poem, I would like my students to write a poem about a dream they have. Some students may have never thought about a dream of theirs before, so this will give them an opportunity to think of one. This assignment will give them an opportunity to picture themselves successful in the future, which is a good image to have of themselves.
The Library
By: Barbara A. Huff
I chose this poem because I agree with it! Books are such a wonderful way to explore places or things we have never seen before. I would hope my students would feel the same way about books and libraries as this author does. Some children have never been to a library before they get to elementary school; and a library is such a wonderful place to explore, research, travel, and imagine. I would want my students to understand how lucky they are to have such a wonderful resource: a library.
L is for Lonestar
By: Carol Crane
I chose this poem because independence is such an important thing that I think a lot of people take for granted! I would use this poem to introduce a social studies lesson about how unique Texas is, such as why we can fly our flag the same height as the USA flag. I really do not want my students to take our freedom and independence for granted, so I would hope this would be a way to introduce the importance of it.
Keep a Poem in Your Pocket
By: Beatrice Schenk de Regniers
I chose this poem because of the imagery it forms in my head. I really do see a picture when I am lying in bed at night. I would want my students to read this before they go to bed at night and form a picture in their heads. I would want them to return the next day and tell me what pictures they saw. This will allow my students to use their imaginations with poetry. Then, I could even have my students write a poem about their image they saw the following night.
To Dark Eyes Dreaming
By: Zilpha Keatley Snyder
I chose this poem because it touches on determination. I think determination is something that should drive each of us, especially my students. I would want my students to understand that dreams can be far-reaching. This poem explains that dreams come in all shapes and sizes and that dreams are different for everyone; the important thing is that dreams have a place to live, which is within us. We make our dreams happen.
Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
By: Dr. Seuss
I chose this poem because this is my all-time favorite children’s book. I like how it lets children know they are responsible for the own destiny and changing their lives. I would love to teach in a lower socioeconomic status area. Most of these children need to be told they can make good decisions in their life that will lead them down a path to success. I would like to read this book at the beginning of the year and the end of the year. I would read it at the beginning to let my students know that it is a new year and a new grade and that they need to set new goals and expectations for themselves. Also, I would read it at the end of the year to send them off to the next grade level on a positive note; I would like them to realize they can make new goals and expectations for themselves to go down a successful path.
Tunnel and Jacobs explain that “teachers who don’t appreciate poetry tend to ignore it in their daily routine” (80). I really do not want to be this teacher. I want my students to be exposed to as many different forms of writing and reading as possible, so they can form their own opinions on what they like or dislike. I do not want to pass on my personal opinions or beliefs to my students because then they will never learn to think for themselves.
Tunnel and Jacobs state that “one teacher simply wrote a new poem on the chalkboard each day without reading or referring to it” (83). I like this idea because I would not be dwelling on it, but some students will be interested and even ask me about it. I believe poems can be used in any subject area; they could be an introduction to a science lesson on insects, a math lesson on multiplication, a social studies lesson on American Indians, or just a piece of wisdom that children could take with them. I want to be that teacher that opens my children’s imaginations to things they have never thought about before and that makes a difference in their lives by exposing them to new and exciting things.
Sticks and Stones
By: Douglas Florian
I like this poem because it emphasizes a different idea with the phrase “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me”. I really believe words can hurt people; and children really feel this way about hurtful words. By hearing this poem, I want my students to realize that what we say can affect other people in a negative way. I think this poem would be good to read at the beginning of the semester to discuss expectations in my classroom, such as respecting others through words and actions.
Interruption
By: Douglas Florian
I chose this poem because it catches you off guard. It would be horrible if your roof really did fall down onto your head, but to this person, that is not the main problem. The main problem is that they lost their page in their book they were reading. I could use this in my classroom to emphasize to my students that reading can be for enjoyment purposes and does not always have to be for school or for accelerated reader.
Arithmetickle
By: Douglas Florian
I chose this poem because I love math but I know other people do not like math at all! I actually thought about being a high school math teacher for the longest time but realized I liked working with younger children better. I hope my students will see that someone else may feel the same way they do about a particular subject in school. But the key point is that no matter if they like the subject or not it is still something they need to learn to be educated. This poem is really just for fun and I could see myself putting it on the board after we finish a big math lesson.
READ THIS POEM!
By: Douglas Florian
I thought this poem was very cute. I would think children would really like this poem too. I liked how Douglas Florian made the poem come alive by using “I”. I just would hope my students would enjoy this poem and realize that reading can be for fun!
They Gave Me
By: Douglas Florian
I chose this poem because I really feel that life is about giving and taking and what goes around comes around. If we do good things then good things will happen to us. I would want my students to realize this idea also about giving and taking. I believe many children these days are very spoiled and just know about the “taking” part of life. I would hope this would introduce my students to the “giving” part of life. Maybe this could be used as an introduction to a social studies lesson about a community service plan.
Substitute Teacher
By: Douglas Florian
I thought this poem was so funny! I remember different substitute teachers we had. This poem made me think of when the boys in my elementary school, middle school, and high school class played tricks on the substitute teacher. I really liked the ending to this poem; I could not even imagine what the regular teacher was like. I would use this poem in my class just for fun. I think it would be funny to read this poem the day before we would have a substitute teacher fill in for me. I think the students would maybe realize that substitute teachers are not so bad and maybe that they will even like them more than me.
Do-It-Yourself Poem
By: Douglas Florian
I chose this poem because it is interactive and easy to fill in. I would hope my students would be able to come up with rhyming words that would fit semantically and syntactically with the sentence. I know a lot of children enjoy rhyming words because sounds are easy to recognize for most children that I have worked with.
LONG-LEG LOU AND SHORT-LEG SUE
By: Shel Silverstein
I chose this poem because it is about friendship and it was one of my favorite poems growing up. I can somewhat relate to this because I was the girl in elementary school that was taller than all the boys; I had really long, skinny legs. By reading this poem, I would like my students to understand that we all have differences that we need to accept. I would like to read this poem at the beginning of the year to talk about expectations in my classroom, such as all of us being friends in the class.
THE VOICE
By: Shel Silverstein
I chose this poem because I think children really do have a problem with peer pressure at all ages. I would want my students to understand that they know what is best for them, and it is good to have a different opinion than your friends or teachers about certain things. I want my students to think for themselves and know the difference between right and wrong. Again, I would like to read this poem at the beginning of the year to introduce expectations I have of my students.
FORGETFUL PAUL REVERE
By: Shel Silverstein
I chose this poem because I thought it would be a good introduction to a social studies lesson on Paul Revere. I know children are familiar with the saying, “one if by land, two if by sea”. I would want them to correct “Paul Revere” here when he is trying to remember the famous phrase he said a long time ago. This would be a perfect way to start conversation up about Paul Revere’s ride. I would want this poem to get my students’ minds wondering about social studies figures, such as Paul Revere.
Martin Luther King
By: Myra Cohn Livingston
I absolutely love Martin Luther King! I have always been fascinated with his civil rights actions, speeches, sermons, and ideas. I would want my students to understand what this poem is talking about and for them to form their own opinion about it. Maybe I could do an extension activity on this and have them write about ways we as a society can overcome the problems with race, gender, and culture we still have today.
Changing
By: Mary Anne Hoberman
I chose this poem because it touches on the idea of being empathetic for other people. I am a very empathetic person; I believe it is a good quality to have that I would want to pass on to my students. I could use this poem in my classroom with a social studies lesson. For example, if we were talking about the pioneer days, we could use this poem to relate to how the people of that certain time period felt and what they were going through.
Together
By: Paul Engle
I chose this poem because it brings about the idea of teamwork. I see my future class as a team striving to meet particular goals. I believe reading this poem would be a good way to introduce again the expectations I have of my students and what goals we have for the year as a class.
A Word
By: Emily Dickinson
I chose this poem because I believe it is very insightful and makes you think. I like how Emily Dickinson personifies “a word” and emphasizes the fact that a word can actual be alive. I would want my students to realize that this is true because whenever they speak, they bring a word to life. It is their duty to make words live; they hold a purpose. I would be interested to see how my students react to this concept of them playing a role in daily life. I could even expand on that just because they are younger or smaller than adults does not mean they are less important. Some children could feel they are not important because of what goes on at home, but I would want my students to feel important and wanted in my classroom.
Dreams
By: Langston Hughes
I chose this poem because I want my students to have dreams. I believe dreams cause students to have confidence, goals, and a purpose. After reading this poem, I would like my students to write a poem about a dream they have. Some students may have never thought about a dream of theirs before, so this will give them an opportunity to think of one. This assignment will give them an opportunity to picture themselves successful in the future, which is a good image to have of themselves.
The Library
By: Barbara A. Huff
I chose this poem because I agree with it! Books are such a wonderful way to explore places or things we have never seen before. I would hope my students would feel the same way about books and libraries as this author does. Some children have never been to a library before they get to elementary school; and a library is such a wonderful place to explore, research, travel, and imagine. I would want my students to understand how lucky they are to have such a wonderful resource: a library.
L is for Lonestar
By: Carol Crane
I chose this poem because independence is such an important thing that I think a lot of people take for granted! I would use this poem to introduce a social studies lesson about how unique Texas is, such as why we can fly our flag the same height as the USA flag. I really do not want my students to take our freedom and independence for granted, so I would hope this would be a way to introduce the importance of it.
Keep a Poem in Your Pocket
By: Beatrice Schenk de Regniers
I chose this poem because of the imagery it forms in my head. I really do see a picture when I am lying in bed at night. I would want my students to read this before they go to bed at night and form a picture in their heads. I would want them to return the next day and tell me what pictures they saw. This will allow my students to use their imaginations with poetry. Then, I could even have my students write a poem about their image they saw the following night.
To Dark Eyes Dreaming
By: Zilpha Keatley Snyder
I chose this poem because it touches on determination. I think determination is something that should drive each of us, especially my students. I would want my students to understand that dreams can be far-reaching. This poem explains that dreams come in all shapes and sizes and that dreams are different for everyone; the important thing is that dreams have a place to live, which is within us. We make our dreams happen.
Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
By: Dr. Seuss
I chose this poem because this is my all-time favorite children’s book. I like how it lets children know they are responsible for the own destiny and changing their lives. I would love to teach in a lower socioeconomic status area. Most of these children need to be told they can make good decisions in their life that will lead them down a path to success. I would like to read this book at the beginning of the year and the end of the year. I would read it at the beginning to let my students know that it is a new year and a new grade and that they need to set new goals and expectations for themselves. Also, I would read it at the end of the year to send them off to the next grade level on a positive note; I would like them to realize they can make new goals and expectations for themselves to go down a successful path.
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