Book Review

My Book review was over Henry's Freedom Box and I chose to post on the Barnes and Noble website. My pen name is jdykes which is what I wrote my review under. Enjoy! : http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Henrys-Freedom-Box/Levine/e/9780439777339/#TABS

Ruby Lu, Brave and True By: Lenore Look

Honestly, I did not really enjoy reading this book. I thought that there were way too many story lines within the story that it was a little hard to keep up with. I do not think that I would integrate this book into my classroom curriculm, but I would be willing to keep it as a classroom library book. I do think that some children would relate to Ruby and enjoy the book, but as an adult I did not. One thing I did like was Ruby's character. I found her fun and refreshing. I do not think that I would recommend this book to fellow teachers.

Stuart Goes to School by: Sara Pennypacker

This book really confused me. I felt like I did not know what was happening half of the time and then I could not figure out what was real and what was made up. I think that this book may be confusing for a child just starting to read chapter books. Also, after our discussion in class about this book I think it would be a good idea to read "Stuart's Cape," the first book in the Stuart series, so that the reader has background knowledge of Stuart and the powers of his cape. This is a book that I can definitely see in my classroom library because I think that children would enjoy reading it, but it may be a little too confusing to read aloud.

Video Book Talk #2

Craft Lesson #3

For: 2nd or 3rd graders


Materials: The Giving Tree by: Shel Silverstein, 5 sets of alphabet letters (these can be magnetic, foam, or paper), 5 writing pads (one per table or group)

DISCUSSION

As children learn to read and write many times they can read more words than they can spell. It is our job as teachers to ensure that our students are also focusing on their writing ability and not just their reading. Spelling words helps children learn to sound out words, and also helps them become better readers as well. Many times when these taught teachers tend to focus most of their class time on reading. This craft lesson is a great way to mesh reading and writing together to help strengthen both skills.

HOW TO TEACH IT

Today, we are going to read a book called The Giving Tree. This story describes the importance of a tree to a young boy as he grows up. He visits the tree many times throughout his life and the tree is always giving him something to make the boy’s life better. Now I am going to read The Giving Tree.

Read the whole story to the class.

Now, I am going to break you up into five different groups. (You can number the children off or let them pick their own groups. Try to have about the same number of kids in each group). I want each group to go sit at a table together. On your table you will find a bag of alphabet letters, and a writing pad. In just a second I am going to call out a word and I want you to work with your table and spell the word using the alphabet letters that I have given you. Once you are done raise your hand and I will come check your answer. Once I have checked your answer, each of you needs to write the word once on your writing pad.

The first word is “branches.” (You can choose whatever word you would like from the book).

(Go around to each table as they raise their hands and check their answer. Make sure that each of them is writing the word once on their writing pad.)

The next word is “carried.” (Again, you may choose whatever word you would like).

(Go around to each table as they raise their hands and check their answer. Make sure that each of them is writing the word once on their writing pad.)(Continue this same process for the next 3 words. If you want to do more than 5 words you can. This lesson is flexible and totally up to you. The next 3 words that I chose were: gather, climb, and forest).

What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? by: Steve Jenkins and Robin Page

I felt like this book was very different from the others that we have read before. The illustrations were done in collage which was new and the book was nonfiction which makes it unlike the other books we have read. I also appreciated this book because of all the wonderful lessons that could be taught from it. This would be a great tool to use with children when they are studying foreshadowing and prediction. I also really love the glossary in the back of the text. This is something that I think kids will enjoy reading because many of the animals in this story are not things that we see in West Texas. I would definitely like to use this book when I am teaching and I think that kids of any age would love it.