Tuesday, October 28, 2008
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.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
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).
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).
Monday, October 20, 2008
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.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Take Me Out of the Bathtub by: Alan Katz
Honestly I did not enjoy this book. I feel like it would be hard to incoporate into any classroom because it is too silly. Although I do like the illustrations I feel that they are overpowering and would be overwhelming to a child reading this book. The only way that I could see myself using this book is to read a song at the end of the day and have the class sing along with me, but I would rather do a read aloud. I also think that small children may not know the tunes to all of the songs in the book, because I did not even know all of the tunes. It may also be difficult for them to sing different words to the tune. Overall, I would not recommend this book and I cannot see myself using it.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Craft Lesson #2
For: First or second grade students
Materials: paper, crayons or markers, and What Would You Do With a Tail Like This?, plain white printing paper (enough for everyone to get two sheets)
DISCUSSION
One of the most important elements in a children’s book is its illustrations. Good illustrators know that their work should add to the story. Children should be able to look at the art work and be able to tell their own story without having to actually read the words. If we want our students to become successful writers and story tellers we must emphasize to them the importance of illustrations to the story. It not only allows the student to tell their own story, but lets them use their imagination as well.
HOW TO TEACH IT
In What Would You Do With a Tail Like This? the illustrations are very important to the story. They help you to guess what comes next! Often times the pictures in a story are just as important as the words. Now I am going to read a story to you, and I want you to think about the pictures of the story and how they are important.
(Read entire story: What Would You Do With a Tail Like This?)
Now we are going to look back through the book and brainstorm as to why the pictures are important.
(Turn back to the second page with the noses)
What do the pictures on this page help us to do? (Let students answer and help them in their brainstorming.)
Now lets look at another page and I want you to guess what animals are shown just by looking at the pictures. (Turn to tail page)
(Let the students guess what the animals are) Why do you think the writer just has tails on this page? Why doesn’t he put the whole animal on the page? (Let them answer)
We are going to look at one last page which has lots of mouths on it! (Turn to the mouth page towards the end)
What do you think these animals are? How can you tell? (Let them answer)
Do you think that it is important that the author had good drawings to go with his story? (Let them answer)
Why is it important to have good illustrations? (Let them answer)
Now I am going to let you be the author of your own tail story! I want each of you to go back to your seat and be thinking about your favorite animal. I am going to give each of you a two pieces of white paper and some markers or crayons. I want you to make up your own story about your animal. This can be like the book we just read or something that you thought up on your own. The most important thing to think about while doing this project is that your illustrations add something to your story.
(Now let them work on their own story. Make sure that their illustrations are adding to the plot. Guide them if they need help and answer all of their questions).
Materials: paper, crayons or markers, and What Would You Do With a Tail Like This?, plain white printing paper (enough for everyone to get two sheets)
DISCUSSION
One of the most important elements in a children’s book is its illustrations. Good illustrators know that their work should add to the story. Children should be able to look at the art work and be able to tell their own story without having to actually read the words. If we want our students to become successful writers and story tellers we must emphasize to them the importance of illustrations to the story. It not only allows the student to tell their own story, but lets them use their imagination as well.
HOW TO TEACH IT
In What Would You Do With a Tail Like This? the illustrations are very important to the story. They help you to guess what comes next! Often times the pictures in a story are just as important as the words. Now I am going to read a story to you, and I want you to think about the pictures of the story and how they are important.
(Read entire story: What Would You Do With a Tail Like This?)
Now we are going to look back through the book and brainstorm as to why the pictures are important.
(Turn back to the second page with the noses)
What do the pictures on this page help us to do? (Let students answer and help them in their brainstorming.)
Now lets look at another page and I want you to guess what animals are shown just by looking at the pictures. (Turn to tail page)
(Let the students guess what the animals are) Why do you think the writer just has tails on this page? Why doesn’t he put the whole animal on the page? (Let them answer)
We are going to look at one last page which has lots of mouths on it! (Turn to the mouth page towards the end)
What do you think these animals are? How can you tell? (Let them answer)
Do you think that it is important that the author had good drawings to go with his story? (Let them answer)
Why is it important to have good illustrations? (Let them answer)
Now I am going to let you be the author of your own tail story! I want each of you to go back to your seat and be thinking about your favorite animal. I am going to give each of you a two pieces of white paper and some markers or crayons. I want you to make up your own story about your animal. This can be like the book we just read or something that you thought up on your own. The most important thing to think about while doing this project is that your illustrations add something to your story.
(Now let them work on their own story. Make sure that their illustrations are adding to the plot. Guide them if they need help and answer all of their questions).
He's Got the Whole World in His Hands
The illustrations in this book were beautiful. Kadir Nelson is such a talented artist that I cannot help but to love the book even if it is just for the illustrations. I grew up with this song, so reading this book reminded me of my childhood, especially church. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, but I do not think that I would teach it to my class. One reason I would not is because I would not want to bring up the topic of religion. Many parents are sensitive to what their kids hear about that, so it is a touchy topic that I would rather just not mess with. However, I do think that this would be a great book for a Sunday school teacher to read to her class especially if it was read to small children. I think that everyone can appreciate the illustrations and they are truly the focal point of this book.
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