teacher is the student

Module 6-Fiction and Poetry/LS 5663-20

2011-04-21T16:52:00.000-07:00

Fiction-John,Antony. Five Flavors of Dumb. Dial Books, 2011. ISBN 9780803734333
Poetry-Nye,Naomi S.. Time you let me in. Greenwillow Books, 2010. ISBN 9780061896378
Teens face many hardships and will encounter new struggles daily. The book that I have chosen to review is one of the winners for the Schneider Family Book Award. This award is given to honor an author or illustrator for a book that embodies the artistic impression of the disability experience for a child or an adolescent. The book that I have chosen to review is called Five Flavors of Dumb. It is the Teen 2011 Winner of the Schneider Family Book Award.
The story introduces us to the character of Piper, who daily faces life as a deaf teenager. Through a bizarre set of circumstances and a bit of a dare, she becomes the manager of a group of budding musicians from her high school. All of Piper’s efforts to improve the band and have them be taken seriously are constant being undermine by the lead singer and his would be girlfriend, who is brought into the band to be used as eye candy. As a deaf person in a world that tends to focus only on the negative aspects, she longs to stand out and be known as something other than a deaf girl among her friends and her family. She overcomes many prejudices and stereotypes by working with the band, and throughout the book discovers the importance of family and true friendship.
The book of the poetry that will correlate with this book is called Time you let me in. It is a collection of poems by poets under the age of twenty-five. Each of the poems in this book gives an insight into their lives and their profound life-altering words. The following poem is one that I feel explains the transformation that the character, Piper, goes through.
Rootless
Like a net my fingers skim
Tap water, cleaning mung beans
Sprouts
The way you showed me.
From my palm I find the whole
Ones, fetal curvatures with scalps
Blossoming on tiny yellowed skulls.
My nail bisects the vertebrae
From primordial tail, roots
Cast away in the sink.
Though I never learned
The purpose , it’s a habit that remind
Me
Of a time that you let me in.
I feel that this poem represents breaking lives into different pieces. As a matter of protection and privacy, teenagers notoriously do not always let many into their very personal thoughts and feelings. As a way of protecting themselves, others are often alienated. When layers of sharing are dissected and opened up, a deeper understanding is achieved. Each of the poems included in this book help to reinforce the purpose of allowing young poets to share what they are feeling without fear of rejection. Each of the poems can be appreciated and understood by those who allow themselves to absorb the words. Many of the experiences that are being written about are familiar to readers and could serve as a healing experience.
I would use both of these books when working with middle school or high school students. Both of these books would be very beneficial when encouraging students to share their feelings through writing either poetry or prose. I would use the poem as a catalyst to encourage adolescents to share about areas of the life that others may not know about.

Module 6-Janeczko Collection/LS 5663-20

2011-04-17T19:17:00.000-07:00

Module 6-Janeczko Collection
Janeczko,Paul B.. Dirty laundry pile, poems in different voices. China: Harper Collins Publishers, 2001. ISBN 0-688-16251-7
How you ever wondered what ordinary household objects would say if they only had a voice. Paul Janeczko has compiled a group of poems that answer that very question. These types of poems are called persona or masks poems. The poem is told from the point of view of the object.
Each of these poems take you inside the mind of the object and it is as if it is speaking directly to you. The poems are written with a natural rhyme and flow easily when read aloud. The following poem is a fun and interesting way to look at something that we all deal with everyday and most of us really do not want to deal with.
Dirty Laundry Pile
By Marcy Barack Black
Ignore me now
On the floor
By the door.
But you’ll notice
When I swell
By my smell.
Each of the poems included in this book are naturally fun ,and could prompt children into thinking about what different objects would say if they were able to verbalize their thoughts. Paul Janezcko has included poems that are high in quality and are consistently fun and creative. The persona poems include work about a variety of objects, such as vacuum cleaners, kites and snowflakes. The poems use very descriptive language and use unique and fun words that students will want to use over and over.
I would use the following poem as a fun way to introduce persona poems in the classroom or library.
Broom
By Tony Johnston
I am the trusted consort
Of floors, accomplice
Of water and swash,
Confidant of corners
Where skulks shifty, fugitive
Trash.
I am a blunt whisker,
Ghost-voiced shadow-sweeper
(suspicious of the dark),
Collector of exquisite
Scraps,
Confessor to expiring
Flies,
Seeker –of-the –lost,
Keeper-of-the-uncherished,
The crushed.
I share the deepest secrets
Of the dust.
I would bring a broom in as a prop to use while reading the poem aloud. I would have students brainstorm words that describe the broom. Afterward, I would have the students each take turns holding the broom and modeling the actions one would use when using the broom. Students could then discuss how they think the broom feels as it is being used. I would also ask students what other household objects would they think that the broom would want to be. As an extension, I would give students the chance to write their own version of the poem or choose another object and create their own persona poem.

Module 6-Poetry by Kids/LS-5663-20

2011-04-17T16:11:00.000-07:00

Module 6-Poetry by Kids
Things I have to tell you: poems and writing by teenage girls. Betsy Franco. Somerville, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press, 2001. ISBN 978-0-7636-1035-7
Teenage girls are mysterious individuals. They are precious, wonderful, will be loving one minute and screaming at you the next. This book is composed of the writing of young adolescent girls who were able to verbalize their feelings and frustrations through poetry. The editor of this book began the process of writing the book when a family friend shared some the struggles that she was going through. The idea started in the local high schools in the area and, eventually spread across the country.
Each of the poems included in the book reinforce the purpose of the book, which is to allow the voice of young girls to be heard in a setting where they feel that someone is listening and not judging. Many of the poems are very frank and explicit about a variety of topics, such as sharing a part of themselves with a boy and then having the boy leave them for someone else, or always expected to be perfect in every way. The following poem is very descriptive and to the point in regards to the feelings of a teenage girl.
Escape
I look inside me and I don’t see it
I don’t see the power
The confidence you say I have
You say I can do anything
That I’m sure of myself and my intentions
And I wonder
But I don’t know
If it’s all there
Waiting for the opportunity
To jump into you
And try to help you
Fix you
Ask you
Why? Because I don’t know
I wait anxiously
Feeling my stomach
A block of ice
Chipping away, melting,
Then freezing up again
Who can I follow?
Theresa Hossfield, age 16
The excerpt given stimulates the feelings and emotions felt by many teenage girls, as well as adults who have experience the same feeling during their teen years. I would use this book as a way to allow adolescent girls to sharing their feelings. Due to explicit language and the personal nature of some of the topics, I would use the book in a setting where the girls would feel comfortable sharing their feelings and similar frustrations after hearing the poems read aloud. I feel that the appropriate setting could be among girls in a youth group or in a group of girls in an English class. I feel that these poems could be better understood and appreciated if read aloud. I would have the girls in the group share either written or orally their feelings and opinions after listening to the poems. Students could also be encouraged to write their own poetry about similar experiences.
Several of the poems could be shared in a classroom setting with both sexes present. The poems could be used to allow the boys to share their feelings from a male point of view. I feel that if this is used then ground rules must be set to ensure the feelings that are shared will be respected.

Module 5-Performance Poetry/LS-5663-20

2011-04-07T18:02:00.000-07:00

Franco,Betsy. Messing around on the monkey bars and other school poems for two voices. Somerville, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press, 2009. ISBN 978-0-7636-3174-1
Poetry is meant to be shared and this book provides many excellent opportunities for performing with others. The author has provided a guide for using each of these poems by writing each of the lines with different levels of boldness. Different strategies are provided for reading the poems, such as by two individuals, two groups, or all together. The call and response strategy for performing is probably best suited for this work.
Each of the poems have a definite rhythm, and would work well with clapping or snapping by the students as they read them. The rhyming of each of the poems is natural and flows well. The following poem will appeal to students and can be used as a poetry break or even used during physical education classes.
Messing Around on the Monkey Bars
Time for recess!
Here we are,
Messing around on the monkey bars!
Hand over hand,
Fast or slow,
Calling to our friends below.
Skipping two bars,
Skipping three,
Dangling down by just our knees.
Swinging up
Above the ground,
Missing bars and tumbling down.
Hooting, howling,
Here we are,
Messing around on the monkey bars!
This poem could be acted out with students moving the hands and body to match the motions mentioned in each of the lines.
Each of the poems touch upon an area that each student will encounter ,or has already encountered in their school experience. The poems help the reader to see the school experience from the student perspective. Students will share their honest feelings about topics, and many will be able to identify with each of these poems. A multitude of thoughts and emotions will be felt and expressed as the reader journeys through this book.
I would use the following poem as a way to welcome a new student in the classroom. The poem could calm fears of being the new kid and would help the other students have a fun way to introduce themselves. Each student could write their own version after modeling and performing the poem with the class. Younger students could write a class version, instead of individual poems.
New Kid at School
Where did you come from?
Far away.
Miss your friends?
Every day.
Where do you live?
Maple Street.
What’s your name?
Call me Pete.
How old are you?
Just turned eight.
You like hoops?
Yeah, great.
Got any friends?
Nope, not yet.
Wanna play?
You bet!

Module 5-Hopkins Award Poetry/LS 5663-20

2011-04-06T19:41:00.000-07:00

Florian,Douglas. Beast Feast. New York: Scholastic, Inc., 1994. ISBN 0-590-13158-3
What is the animal that you like the most? Which animal scares you? These are the questions that triggers responses of excitement, fear and fascination. Douglas Florian has created fun and exciting poems about several feared “beasts” .
This book was the recipient of the Lee Bennett Hopkins Award. The criteria for winning this award is that it must be accessible to children and its presentation must serve the poems in an attractive and appropriate manner. Beastfeast was the recipient of the Lee Bennett Hopkins Award in 1995.
Each of the poems are appealing to children and are full of fascinating and interesting details. The details included in each of the poems will stimulate the emotions felt when reading about or even seeing the animals featured in the book. Students will want to share information about each animal and most students will have a story or two to share gleaned from a show on television or on the computer. This book could be used in conjunction with many different areas of thematic study, such as the rainforest, a study of bugs, or a study of ocean animals.
Each of the poems are consistently high in quality and reinforce the purpose of allowing the reader to view the animals in a more meaningful way. The poet uses very descriptive language and students may be encouraged to expand their vocabulary after reading the poem. In the following poem, a lobster is described as an underwater mobster with two claws to catch and crush.
The Lobster
See the hard-shelled
Leggy lobster
Like an underwater
Mobster
With two claws
To catch and crush
Worms and mollusks
Into mush
And antennae
Long and thick
Used for striking
Like a stick.
So be careful
On vacation
Not to step on
This crustacean.
I would use this poem when studying a thematic unit on the Ocean and Marine Life. Students are fascinated by animals that are unique. As an extension for this activity, I would have students view pictures of lobsters and other crustaceans. After viewing the pictures, I would have the class brainstorm describing words. Depending on the grade level of the students , the class could create an acrostic poem for different crustaceans or create a poem similar to ones written by Douglas Florian.

Module 5-Sidman Poetry/LS 5663-20

2011-04-03T15:42:00.000-07:00

Sidman,Joyce. This is just to say: poems of apology and forgiveness. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2007. ISBN 978-0-618-61680-0
Sometimes it can be very hard to say I’m sorry. Joyce Sidman has shared a variety of unique poems in which different people ask for forgiveness. The first part of the book explains the problem in each situation and the second part of the book includes the responses. Each pair of poems reveals different relationships and connections between sisters, brothers, parents, children, and best friends. The reader is able to see both sides of the situation and understand the feelings felt on both sides.
Each of the poems is based upon a childhood experience that many people encounter, such as fighting with a sibling, or being disrespectful to an adult. The poems will stimulate emotions, such as anger or fear. In the following poem, we see the frustration felt by a young man after misspelling a word at his school spelling bee,
To my mother,
Spelling Bomb
I can’t believe that I lost
I know that I disappointed you.
Do you really think I don’t care?
I know how important it is to win.

I know that I disappointed you;
I saw it in your face when I misspelled.
I know how important it is to win;
I studied hours and hours.

I saw it in your face when I misspelled.
I saw you turn away from me.
Even though I study hours and hours,
I never seem to be your champion.
I saw you turn away from me
And in that moment would have given anything
To be your champion.
To see your bright, triumphant pride.

In this moment, I would give anything-
Do you really think I don’t care?-
For your bright, triumphant pride,
Which I can’t believe I lost.
By Anthony
*The author shares that this type of poem is called a pantoum. The second and fourth lines of each stanza are repeated as the first and third lines in the next stanza. The answer back to Anthony is given in part 2 of the book and Anthony’s mother expresses her thoughts on working hard and building character. Through Anthony’s words, he shares that he feels that he has let his mother down due to misspelling a word in his spelling bee.
Each of these poems uses language that can be understood and appreciated by the audience. Many of the poems feel like conversations between two people ,who are trying to work through a problem. The poems included in this book reinforce the simple, yet difficult concept of asking for forgiveness.
As an extension after reading these poems, I would allow students to share about a time when they have had an experience similar to the ones described in the book. Students very seldom get the chance to truly share about what is truly happening in their life, due to time constraints or fear of sharing what is truly happening. This activity could be done with any age group and ability level. For the older students, individual poems and experiences could be shared. For younger students, a class poem could be written by including the thoughts and ideas of the whole group.

Module 4-Biographical Poetry/LS 5663-20

2011-03-21T19:50:00.000-07:00

Angelou,Maya. Poetry for Young People. Edwin G. Wilson. New York: Sterling, 2007. ISBN 978-1-4027-2023-9
Maya Angelou is considered to be one the most well-known poet of our time. She has been the recipient of many honors and awards. In this book, many of her most important poems are highlighted and shared, each one tied to meaningful experiences in her life.
Each of the poems shared in the book reinforce the purpose of sharing the intimate moments of Maya Angelou’s life. Through her words, the reader is better able to understand how different events in her life shaped her writing. She has overcomes many obstacles throughout her life, racial prejudice, discrimination, and hatred. She choses to channel the pain and turmoil into reaching people with her words. The following poem encourages the reader to open up their mind and their heart to fully appreciate the words.
A conceit
Give me your hand.
Make room for me
To lead and follow
You
Beyond this rage of poetry.
Let others have
The privacy of
Touching words
And love of loss
Of love.
For me
Give me your hand.
Each poem shared in the book has an introduction to explain the significance of the words in the poet’s life and different vocabulary words are explained to help the reader better understand and appreciate the poem. The words shared in each of the following poems touch many different feeling and senses. Maya Angelou use language that will be understood and appreciated by the reader, yet it also encourages the reader to stretch their linguistic abilities.
I would use any of the poems during the month of February, Black History Month. Maya Angelou is considered to be a very influential figure in the area of writing. Children of all ages and ethnicities can benefit from her writing style. I would also use her work to share during National Poetry Month.

Module 4-Social Studies Poetry-LS 5663-20

2011-03-20T19:22:00.000-07:00

I never saw another butterfly, Children's drawings and poems from Terezin Concentration Camp, 1942-1944. Hana Volavkova. New York: Schocken Books, 1993. ISBN 978-0-8052-1015-6
The topic of the Holocaust is a very difficult one to share about due to the graphic nature of the treatment of the Jewish people. The poetry created and shared by the children of the Terezin Concentration Camp gives the reader a first hand glimpse into the oppressive life and seeing death all around them each day.
The introduction to the book is from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and it is filled with important information to help the reader understand the history behind this specific concentration camp. Terezin was a Jewish ghetto for what one could call privileged Jews: war heroes, intellectuals, artists, half-Jews, and Jews married to Aryans. This model community was to prepared the Jewish people for Palestine, as it was presented to the community. This was not to be the case and many in the community were sent on to Auschwitz, where they were later killed or left to die.
One brave artist felt that the children of Terizin would benefit from art therapy. Her name was Friedl Dicker-Brandeis. She felt that art could be the release for the escape the daily chaos and turmoil of their lives. The materials for these lessons were often office supplies, scrap paper, or wrapping paper. She would encourage students to express their feelings through art or their words. Each of the poems are accompanied by the artwork of the students. Many of these drawings were saved by a former student of Mrs. Dicker-Brandeis and were eventually shared with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, where the artwork is on display today.
Each of the poems included in this book reinforce the purpose of the book, which is to share the story of the children who lived in the ghetto of Terezin. Many of these children chose to see the brighter side of life in a concentration camp. Many used their words and their art to express frustration, fear and even anger.
The following poem shares the hope of one of the residents of Terrezin. The poet uses very descriptive language to describe the colors of the sun as it disappears, just as the regular life of a Jewish child disappeared during the terroristic reign of the Third Reich.
The Butterfly
The last, the very last ,
So richly, brightly dazzlingly yellow.
Perhaps if the sun’s teach would sing
Against a white stone……..
Such, such a yellow
Is carried lightly ‘way up high.
It went away I’m sure because it wished to
Kiss the world good-bye.
For seven weeks I’ve lived in here,
Penned up inside this ghetto.
But I have found what I love here.
The dandelions call to me
And the white chestnut branches in the court.
Only I never saw another butterfly.
That butterfly was the last one.
Butterflies don’t live in here,
In the ghetto.
-Pavel Friedman 4.6.1942
I would use this poem to share with students as part of a study of the Holocaust. I feel that it would be important to summarize the history of Terezin, as it shared in the introduction of the book. My daughter was able to read this book of poetry during her sixth grade year. The teachers at this grade level were able to obtain a trunk from the National Holocaust Memorial Museum to use as part of the curriculum. This trunk is filled with vast amounts of literature, pictures and other artifacts. One of the activities that each of the sixth grade students is able to participate in is to create their own butterfly in honor of Jewish children who were in a concentration camp. The students are responsible for researching the lives of the Jewish children. At the end of the study, the butterflies are sent back to be displayed in Washington, D.C. at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Module 4-Science Poetry/LS 5663-20

2011-03-14T19:30:00.000-07:00

Module 4-Science Poetry
Florian,Douglas. Comets, stars, the moon and Mars. Orlando: Harcourt, Inc., 2007. ISBN 978-0-15-205372-7
Space…the final frontier. As adults, we grew up hearing this on television and we have never lost our fascination for space travel.
Space is an abstract subject that many can only read about, until the day that space travel is possible for everyone. The poems shared in this book give the reader a short description of the planets, the stars, the moon and other space related topics. Each of the poems reinforce the purpose to share information about space in a fun and informative way.
Each of the poems in this book share information about planets, the moon, and the stars in a way that students will want to know more. The author writes in a rhyming format and each of the poems has a natural flow while including an abundance of information. The following poem is the first one in the book and gives the reader an glimpse of what is to come.
Skywatch
On a clear night you might try
To gaze upon the starry sky.
A telescope or binoculars are
Great aids to observe a star.
To find your way it’s good to sight
Upon a star that’s very bright,
Like Sirius or Canopus,
Alpha Centauri or Arcturus.
You may see a planet or
A flash of light from a meteor.
Use a constellation chart
To help you tell the stars apart.
Start out when the day is done.
Most of all: Have lots of fun!
Each of the poems would be an excellent source of material to introduce the concept of webbing to younger readers. As a class, I would have my students create a web of information with the material given in the poems and then encourage the students to continue to research the topics further. I would poem use the poem, Skywatch, to introduce a thematic unit on Space and Space Pioneers. Each of the poems use descriptive language and encourages the reader to expand their vocabulary as they extend their research beyond what is presented in the book.

Module 3-2011 Poetry Book/LS 5663-20

2011-02-27T16:58:00.000-08:00

Module 3-2011 Poetry Book
George,Kristine O.. Emma Dilemma. Boston: Clarion Books, 2011. ISBN 978-0-618-42842-7
“Mom, she is bothering me!”
“No, I’m not!”
“Are too!”
“Are not!”
This has been an argument heard at many houses all around the world and will continue as long as siblings strive to build relationships with each other. The relationship between sisters is a very special one. Many of us have at one time viewed our little sisters as pests and would like for them to leave us alone, instead of constantly interrupting us. The poems in this award-winning book do an amazing job to introduce the reader to the unique and often hard to understand relationship between sisters. The author, Kristine O’Connell George, uses her experience as a big sister to give a unique perspective in her writing.
The author uses the connection between Jessica and Emma to appeal to the emotions of the reader. Each person at one point in their life has seen their younger sibling as an ally, a playmate, but also as the enemy. Each of the poems has a natural cadence and rhythm, and are not written in rhyming format. This format would be excellent for choral reading. The language used by the poet can be easily understood by the reader and each of the poems, along with the illustrations by Nancy Carpenter, stimulates the imagination of the reader.
In the following poem, Emma Dilemma, the poet presents an interesting description of dealing with the frustrations of having a pesky younger sister.
Emma Dilemma
Sometimes Dad calls my little sister Emma Dilemma.
Dad says a dilemma is an interesting problem.
I know Dad’s joking but sometimes Emma is my dilemma.
Each of the poems included in this book share about different facets of the relationship between two sisters and help to reinforce the purpose of this book, which is to show the love and sometimes intense dislike between two siblings. As much as our siblings do things to drive us crazy, such as trying to copy each thing that we do or embarrass us in front of our friends, we still love them. The reader will feel many different emotions throughout the reading of this book, as the poems share Jessica’s daily struggles with her little sister, ranging from pride to intense sadness.
As a way of sharing this book, I would use this book as a way of introducing a study of family relationships. I would begin with the question, “How do you feel when your sibling does something to bother you?” Depending on the grade level, students may need to know what the word sibling means. After allowing students to verbally share how they would feel and writing these down on chart paper, I would share the following poem:
Trespass
Someone has been “shopping” in my room.
Someone has been playing dress-up with my clothes.
Someone has left the caps off all my new markers.
Someone drew a face on my soccer ball.
Someone is hiding and had better hope I never find her.
Students could complete a journal entry about their siblings. An example could be:
When my little sister(or brother) takes something of mine, I feel ________________________.
To extend this activity, I would have the students complete a home project sharing information about their family with different questions, such as what type of activities does your family like to do together, how many siblings do you have, and what makes your family special. This is an activity that my first grade students complete each year. Older students could write their relationship with a sibling.

Module 3-Verse Novel/LS 5663-20

2011-02-25T08:04:00.000-08:00

Module 3-Verse Novel
LeZotte,Ann C. T4, A novel in verse. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2008. ISBN 978-0-547-04684-6
This verse novel shares a lesser known story of the atrocities inflicted during the Holocaust. T4, or Tiergartenstrasse 4 is the headquarters where the Nazi regime made it a priority to annihilate any mentally ill, or disabled person. The main character of the verse novel is Paula Becker, a deaf teenager faced with the frustration of trying to communicate with each of her family members and trying to survive in time when those who were “different” were done away with. The topic of the Holocaust is often a very difficult one to read about, however it is a topic that must be shared due to the historical significance.
Because of the subject matter, this verse novel stimulates the emotions of the reader. The character of Paula feels like she is an outsider in her own family due to her disability. Paula learns to communicate with her hands with the help of the local priest, who also plays a key role in her survival as she matures. It has been said that when one of our senses is taken away, the other senses become stronger. The poet uses sensory images to convey feelings. For example, in the following poem, What I saw, the reader views an increased awareness of the sense of sight.
What I Saw
My visual sense was so strong.
If a breeze shook the leaves on a tree
I would shriek with delight.
If people ran fast past me
It looked like a tidal wave.
Even the motion of a hand waving goodbye startled me.
Since the subject of the Holocaust is very emotional and difficult to comprehend, I feel that this book should be geared toward students in the intermediate age range. As a way of introducing this book, I would have the students discuss how they would feel if they were no longer able to hear anything, such as their music or the voice of their friends. Students of this age are dependent on their friends and are highly influenced by peers. Have them share their frustrations and fears and explain why they might feel this way. I would then ask them to share how they would communicate if they were not able to hear the voices of friends and family. Would they use texting or another means of communication? As my last question, I would have them put themselves in the place of Paula and ask how they would feel if they knew that the government didn’t think that they deserved to live because of their disability.

Module 3-Poetic Form/LS 5663-20

2011-02-21T19:04:00.000-08:00

Module 3-Poetic Form
Mora,Pat . Yum! MmMm!Que Rico!: America's Sproutings. New York: Lee & Low Books, Inc., 2007. ISBN 978-1-58430-271-1
Everyone is drawn in by the appeal of food. Pat Mora has taken several of the foods that are native to America and stimulated our tastebuds, as well as our love of language. Each of the haikus shared in the book used language in a unique way, giving vivid descriptions of each of the foods represented. The traditional haiku poetry form is written in a way that the reader can almost taste each of the foods represented. The illustrations done by Rafael Lopez enhance the writings and enrich the history of the vegetables. In addition to the haiku, the author has given a brief summary of the history of each of the fruit or vegetables. The haiku traditionally consists of 17 syllables in lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables respectively, and the author uses this form to share descriptive, colorful, and even tasty writing. Pat Mora introduces the reader to poetry about foods that they may enjoy on a daily basis, foods that only the adults, in their families will eat, and even foods that they have never even heard of.
In order to fully appreciate this book, I would provide a sample of several of the foods represented in the book.* I would focus on the following poems,
1.Chocolate
Fudge, cake, pie, cookies
Brown magic melts on your tongue
Happy, your eyes dance.
2.Cranberry
Marsh-floating hard bead
Simmers then POPS! In hot pot.
Scarlet fireworks.
3. Papaya
Chewing your perfume,
We taste your leafy jungle.
Yum! Juicy tropics.
I specifically chose these three foods, since many people enjoy chocolate, many parents enjoy cranberries and very few of my student have never tasted papaya. *I would have the students taste each of the food samples. After tasting each sample, I would have the students share descriptive words about each of the foods. I would encourage each of the students think about each of the senses, depending on how the foods taste, sound, feel , look and smell. After each of the foods are tasted, the descriptive words could be used to write a class haiku about the favorite sampled food.
*(Prior to the tasting of each of the foods, I would obtain permission from each of the parents and check for food allergies.)

Module 2-NCTE Award Poetry/LS 5663-20

2011-02-15T18:30:00.000-08:00

A jar of tiny stars: poems by NCTE award-winning poets. Bernice E. Cullinan. Honesdale, Pennsylvania: Boyds Mill Press, Inc., 1996. ISBN 1-56397-087-2
This book is a collection of NCTE award-winning poets. Each poet shares a source of the inspiration for their work. At the end of the book, not only do the award-winning poets share about their sources of inspiration, information is given about their life accomplishments. Many of the poems share about familiar childhood experiences, such as selling lemonade or the birth of a new puppy. Each of the poems were chosen by children and the poems consistently show evidence of the high quality of writing.
The following poem would be a great introduction to a poetry study.
How to eat a poem
-Eve Merriam
Don’t be polite.
Bite in.
Pick it up with your fingers and lick the juice that may run down your chin.
It is ready and ripe now, whenever you are.
You do not need a knife or fork or spoon or plate or napkin or tablecloth.
For there is no core
Or stem
Or rind
Or pit
Or seed
Or skin
To throw away.
As a way to introduce this poem, I would have an assortment of fruit and talk about what happens when you eat a piece of fruit. Does juice run down your chin? Do you hear a crunch? Is the fruit soft, hard, squishy, or firm. As the students are sharing, I would have them brainstorm as many words as possible to describe the fruit. After the students eat a piece of fruit, I would read the poem and have the students think about what happened as they ate their piece of fruit. I would then have the students writing a line for a class book using the sentence starter, When I bit it my apple(or whatever their fruit is), the fruit was__________. If possible, I would use shaped -writing paper and have each student choose the shape closest to the fruit that they sampled. This activity could be also be used for a unit on the food pyramid and healthy eating habits.

Module 2-Multicultural Poetry/LS 5663-20

2011-02-13T17:56:00.001-08:00

Module 2-Multicultural Poetry
Alarcon,Francisco X.. Laughing tomatoes and other spring poems/Jitomates risuenos y otros poemas de primavera. San Francisco, CA: Children's Book Press/Libros para ninos, 1997. ISBN 0-89239-139-1
Francisco Alarcon uses the concept of springtime and different vegetables to stimulate thoughts and emotions of special times with family, such as meal times or cooking with family. Many memories are evoked by a certain smell or by eating a certain food. The illustrations bring the words to life and the language used gives the reader such elaborate descriptions of foods often found in the Hispanic culture. I would love to be able to read, and verbalize the Spanish language in order to truly appreciate the gift of words given by the poet. Any of the poems in this book would be amazing to share during Hispanic Heritage Month(September) or during Cinco de Mayo. I would love to have parents come in an share the favorite moments while cooking with their parents, and possibly read the following poem:
My Grandma’s Songs
Would follow the beat of the washing machine
Turning our kitchen into a dance floor
Consoling the chairs placed upside down
Delighting the family portraits on the walls
Putting to sleep the sheets on the clothesline
Giving flavor to the boiling pot of beans
The songs my grandma used to sing
Could make the stars come out
Could turn my grandma into a young girl
Going back to the river for water
And make her laugh and cry at the same time.
The familiar childhood experiences described in several of the poems bring back memories and for all that read the poems, drawing the reader to a time of simplicity and innocence. The writings use imaginative, descriptive words to enlighten the reader about topics shared in the Hispanic culture.

Module 2-Florian Poetry/LS 5663-20

2011-02-08T19:54:00.000-08:00

Module 2-Florian Poetry
Florian,Douglas. Insectlopedia. New York: Harcourt Brace & Company, 1998.
ISBN-10: 0152013067
Douglas Florian does an amazing job of introducing the reader to insects that can usually cause one to cringe, scream or run away in fear. The topics of insects is naturally appealing to younger children and this book of poetry would be an excellent resource when doing a thematic study. The tone of each poem is light and playful, making one feel as if they are outside in the garden watching the bugs play and crawl around.
Florian presents each of the insects poems in a fresh and imaginative way. For example, in the poem, The Whirligig Beetles, it is written in a circular pattern to simulate their whirling and twirling in circles.
As an introduction to an author study on Eric Carle, I would began the unit with the following poem,
The Crickets
You don’t need tickets
To listen to crickets.
They chirp and cheep for free.
They fiddle and sing
By rubbing each wing,
And never will charge you a fee.
After reading this poem, I would have the students share what they know about crickets and share what information that they would like to find out about crickets. I would then read The Very Quiet Cricket by Eric Carle. After reading the book, I would have the students work on retelling the story by sequencing the different animals that the cricket encounters throughout the book.

Module 1-Hopkins Collection/LS 5663-20

2011-01-29T11:47:00.000-08:00

Hopkins,Lee B.. Me! A book of poems. New York: The Seabury Press, 1970.
(No image available)
(No ISBN, only Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 72-115782)
Each of the poems compiled in this book evoke a moment of wonder from our childhood. Many of the poems chosen by Lee Bennett Hopkins bring back memories of childhood. Each poem chosen highlights a child’s unique individuality and each poem allows for self discovery. Discovering shadows, climbing trees, and the fascination of losing a tooth are among the topics used to stimulate the emotions of the reader. Each of the poems would be perfect to share with reluctant readers using choral reading or echo reading in order to encourage fluency. The illustrations done by Talivaldis Stubis help the reader to visualize what the poets are sharing.
The poems are compatible with the theme of the book. Hopkins chose poems that would encourage young readers to share their thoughts, share their experiences, and have a sense of wonder about themselves.
The following poem would be useful at the beginning of the school year, when teachers are asking students to share about themselves.
Everybody Says by Dorothy Aldis
Everybody says
I look just like my mother.
Everybody says
I’m the image of Aunt Bee.
Everybody says
My nose is like my father’s
But I want to look like ME!
I would use this poem when working on units and stories about family. This poem could be part of an at home project in which students could share information about their family. I usually do this project every year and I have my students share what activities they like to do with their families, what make their family special and then this information is compiled into a class family album that is kept in the library center of our classroom. This poem could also be shared as a way to begin an author study on Kevin Henkes or Jan and Stan Berenstain.

Module 1-School Poetry/LS 5663-20

2011-01-29T10:41:00.000-08:00

Harrison,David L.. Somebody catch my homework. Honesdale, PA: Boyds Mill Press, Inc., 1993.
ISBN 1-56397-520-3
From the moment that you pick up this book and begin reading, you are transported back in time. Each of us has forgotten information for a test or left homework at home. As adults, we tend to put those memories aside until we experience it with our own children. Harrison brings to life the emotions felt by students who have struggled with the possibility of having to write a story for homework or having to eat what the cafeteria is serving. Harrison does an excellent job of using words to help students visualize ideas, such as describing the lumps in the mashed potatoes as glue or comparing applesauce as watery goo. The poem is written in a rhyming format to allow a beginning reader to enjoy listening for each set of rhyming words.
The following poem could be enjoyed by any age group and could be used to introduce a unit on the food pyramid and healthy eating habits.
New Here?
You’ll love our food at our school.
Oh yes!
The lumps in the potatoes are glue
We guess.
The beef never mooed like a cow
You can bet
Though very few kids have died from it…
Yet.
The rolls are great to stone squirrels
From trees
But some of us blast them with
Buckshot peas.
The applesauce is watery
Goo
But suck it right down ‘cause it’s good
For you.
The best, of course, we all save for last-
Bouncing our Jell-O down the hall
Real fast.
I would also use this poem to share as students are preparing to go to lunch and have them think about how we could describe our lunch. This is a great opportunity to working on using describing words. Using an add from the newspaper or a magazine showing food, I would have the students verbally describe the food represent and ask them to use different adjectives, such as crunchy, smooth, puffy, and gooey.

Module 1-African American Poetry/LS 5663-20

2011-01-29T10:01:00.000-08:00

Grimes,Nikki. A dime a dozen. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 1998.
ISBN 0-8037-2227-3
This collection of poems by Nikki Grimes shows her journey as a young woman of color struggling with issues of appearance, growing as a writer and dealing with the divorce of her parents. In the first poem, we see the determination of a young woman to achieve her dreams, in spite of her circumstances.
The Dream
Oh! To poet
like a laser,
pierce darkness
with one word!
I would use this poem as a catalyst for achieving your dreams. Children are not often allowed to dream about what they would like to do. This poem could be used to encourage students to write about they would like to achieve as adults. I would have the students list several goals that they would like to accomplish and share why. I feel that this activity would be beneficial for intermediate students. As an ice-breaker for the activity, I would have different staff members write about what their future goals were as young adults, without including their name and then have the students try to match the correct staff member with the story shared. As the instructor, I would also share what my goals were and how I felt in my journey to achieve them.
This specific book is broken down into three different sections, with each section giving the reader insight into the life of Nikki Grimes. As an introduction to the book, the poet shares that her mother tells her that writers are “a dime a dozen” and writers don’t come from their neighborhood. I feel that these poems can evoke memories of a time when each of us have been told that we need to be realistic and stop dreaming. This experience can bring about resentment and pain that many would not want to revisit. Nikki Grimes took her experience with being told to give up her dream, and through her words, she can encourage young writers to never give up on their dreams, no matter what.
Nikki Grimes has also shared the emotion of a child dealing with divorce. This topic is unfortunately something readers of all ages have experienced. As a child of divorce, she shares through her work the stress of worrying about the emotional state of both parents, financial issues and trying to have a healthy relationship with both parents. I feel that the following poem would be helpful to students who are struggling with these issues.
Untitled
It happened
to Maria
Malik
and Danny Gold;
To Javier
and Suki
Jim Roth
and Suzy Chow.
My parents
got divorced
last month
…..I guess I fit in now.

Genre 6-LS 5603 Book Review-Newberry Award Winner

2010-05-02T13:56:00.001-07:00

Book review-Newberry award winner
1.Bibliography-Stead, Rebecca. When You Reach Me. New York, Wendy Lamb Books. ISBN 9780385737425
2. Plot Summary-This is the story of a 6th grader named Miranda, who receives a mysterious note and strange things begin to happen in her life. Miranda and her mother are working to prepare for an appearance on the television game show, The $20,000 Pyramid. Mysterious notes, missing objects and unusual characters in her neighborhood help Miranda discover the important things in her life.
3. Critical Analysis-The character of Miranda is one with whom readers can identify. As the female protagonist, she is the only child of a single-working mother, who wants a better life for her and her daughter. Throughout the novel, many of the events that Miranda and her friends encounter help to facilitate their growth into adulthood. Set in to 1970’s, Miranda’s neighborhood is described in detail paying careful attention to the eccentric characters in and near her apartment building. With the addition of the mystery notes that begin to show up, the plot takes a strange twist and Miranda begins to make connections between the notes and occurrences in the neighborhood. She feels that the notes are going to lead to something tragic, and is unsure of what the future actually holds. This story presents a young woman on the verge of becoming a teenager and all of the problems and triumphs one her age can encounter. Rebecca Stead uses a delicate balance of dialogue and narration from the viewpoint of Miranda, while concentrating on building a better relationship with her mother, Richard-her mother’s boyfriend and her friends.
Texas Lone Star Book 2010-2011
Newberry Medal Winner 2010
School Library Journal(starred review)- “Stead's novel is as much about character as story. Miranda's voice rings true with its faltering attempts at maturity and observation. The story builds slowly, emerging naturally from a sturdy premise. As Miranda reminisces, the time sequencing is somewhat challenging, but in an intriguing way. The setting is consistently strong. The stores and even the streets–in Miranda's neighborhood act as physical entities and impact the plot in tangible ways.”
Kirkus Reviews(starred review)-"[W]hen all the sidewalk characters from Miranda's Manhattan world converge amid mind-blowing revelations and cunning details, teen readers will circle back to the beginning and say,'Wow ... cool.'"

Booklist(starred review)- "[T]he mental gymnastics required of readers are invigorating; and the characters, children, and adults are honest bits of humanity no matter in what place or time their souls rest."

The Horn Book Magazine (starred review)- "Closing revelations are startling and satisfying but quietly made, their reverberations giving plenty of impetus for the reader to go back to the beginning and catch what was missed.

People Magazine-"Absorbing."

The Wall Street Journal-"Readers ... are likely to find themselves chewing over the details of this superb and intricate tale long afterward."

5. Connections-
Another book by Rebecca Stead:
Stead, Rebecca. First Light. ISBN-10: 0440422221

Genre 6-LS 5603- Book Review of Michael L. Printz Award

2010-04-26T19:00:00.000-07:00

Book review-Michael Printz Young Adult Award winner-
1.Bibliography- Johnson, Angela. The First Part Last. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2003. ISBN 0689849222
2. Plot Summary-Using the topic of teenage pregnancy, this award-winning novel shares the fears and frustrations from a male perspective. Bobby, the main character, learns that he is about to become a father at the age of sixteen. Throughout the story, Bobby deals with the struggles that each new parent faces, such as the lack of sleep and increased responsibility. When faced with the topic of giving his daughter up for adoption, Bobby determines to be a good father even as Nia, his girlfriend, suffers permanent brain damage during the delivery of their baby and will never be able to help care for her.
3. Critical Analysis-The character of Bobby shows such raw emotion as the reader sees him adapt to his new parental role. The fears and frustrations felt by any new parent are evident as Bobby struggles to take care of his daughter, Feather. The journey that Bobby goes through is not only demanding physically but emotionally, as he knows that Nia will never know their daughter and be able to hold her. The author takes an extremely touchy, yet relevant topic in today’s society and tells the story from the teenage father’s point of view. I believe this is a story that many older, intermediate readers would consider to be a good read. I am not sure that elementary-age children should read it without parental guidance. Unfortunately, the nature of the topic shows a rapid ascent into adulthood for the character of Bobby and his responsibilities of caring for a newborn baby, while trying to do well in school. This story represents a real problem that is very relevant in our society, without stereotyping the typical teenage dad. Bobby represents the opposite of the what is the norm of teenage fathers.

4. Awards won and review excerpts-
Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature-2004
Coretta Scott King Award -2004
School Library Journal( starred review)-“Brief, poetic, and absolutely riveting.”
Publishers Weekly( starred review)-“Readers will only clamor for more.”
U.S. News and World Report-“Johnson has carved a niche writing realistically about young people's issues.”
5. Connections-
Other books by Angela Johnson:
Johnson, Angela. Looking for Red. ISBN-10: 0689863888
Johnson, Angela. Heaven. ISBN-10: 144240342X
Johnson, Angela. Sweet Hereafter (The Heaven Trilogy). ISBN-10: 0689873859

Genre 6--LS 5603-Book review of a graphic novel

2010-04-26T17:58:00.000-07:00

Book review-Graphic work
1.Bibliography- Kinney, Jeff. Diary of a Wimpy Kid. New York: Amulet Books, 2007. ISBN 13-9780810993136
2. Plot summary-This graphic novel, which has recently been released as a motion picture, gives a glimpse into the life of Greg Heffley as he enters middle school. The torment of early teen years is documented through each diary entry and further enjoyed through the cartoon drawings.
3. Critical Analysis-The character of Greg Heffley is the voice of how many feel as they entered their teenage years. He is walking the line between being seen as a little boy in his parents’ eyes and discovering where he fits in the world of middle school. The theme of growing up into adulthood is evident throughout the novel. The story is told with an attitude of survival, in school, with family and even with friends. Each person who reads any of the series will identify with Greg. Although the character is male, the story can be appreciated by each gender, especially those who are in the same grade level as Greg. With the addition of the cartoon drawings throughout the novel, we are able to understand Greg’s struggles even more with the addition of dialogue and details included in the drawing. Jeff Kinney’s style of writing invites the reader inside the mind of Greg and allows the reader to “walk in the shoes” of a young man entering the of chaotic and turbulent world of junior high. We are able to understand the story from his point of view.
4. Awards won and review excerpts-
Publishers Weekly(starred review)- “Middle school student Greg Heffley takes readers through an academic year's worth of drama. Kinney has a gift for believable preteen dialogue and narration (e.g., "Don't expect me to be all 'Dear Diary' this and 'Dear Diary' that"), and the illustrations serve as a hilarious counterpoint to Greg's often deadpan voice. The hero's utter obliviousness to his friends and family becomes a running joke.”
School Library Journal-“ Kinney does a masterful job of making the mundane life of boys on the brink of adolescence hilarious. Greg is a conflicted soul: he wants to do the right thing, but the constant quest for status and girls seems to undermine his every effort”
Booklist review- “The first year in the middle-school life of Greg Heffley is chronicled in this, episodic chapters. Most revolve around the adolescent male curse: the need to do incredibly dumb things because they seem to be a good idea at the time. Yet, unlike some other books about kids of this age, there's no sense of a slightly condescending adult writer behind the main character. At every moment, Greg seems real, and the engrossed reader will even occasionally see the logic in some of his choices. Greatly adding to the humor are Kinney's cartoons, which appear on every page. The simple line drawings perfectly capture archetypes of growing up, such as a preschool-age little brother, out-of-touch teachers, and an assortment of class nerds.”
5. Connections-
Other books in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series:
Kinney, Jeff. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules. ISBN-10: 0810994739
Kinney, Jeff. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw. ISBN-10: 0810970686
Kinney, Jeff. Dog Days (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 4). ISBN-10: 0810983915
Kinney, Jeff. Diary of a Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book. ISBN-10: 0810979772

Genre 5-LS 5603 Book review of Scott O'Dell award winner

2010-04-12T19:25:00.000-07:00

Book review of Scott O’Dell award winner
1.Bibliography: Curtis,Christopher P. Elijah of Buxton. New York: Scholastic Press, 2007. ISBN9780439023443
2. Plot Summary: This novel is the story of Elijah Freeman, the first child born free in the settlement of Buxton, Canada. Buxton was a settlement of freed slaves across the border from Detroit. Each of the members of this settlement lend a hand to help each other to have a better life as a freed person. Elijah’s adventures lead him to some dangerous experiences as he is asked to help with returning money needed to by the freedom of slaves who are still in captivity.
3. Critical Analysis: Elijah is a character that young readers can identify with. Elijah is a young man who enjoys spending time with his friends, fishing and sometimes gets into trouble with his friends. He is a very believable character because boys of this age are like him-liking the same hobbies, getting into a “bit” of trouble. However, his adventures are set in a different period of time. The issue of slavery and the attitude of the freed slaves is explained in a way that reader can understand and even the historical figure of Frederick Douglas has an important part in the story. The theme of the story is focused on family and taking of those in the community. The survival of the settlement is important to those who are now freed slaves and the importance is passed down to the children. Christopher Paul Curtis uses the speech patterns of the era. The setting of this story is essential because the members of this community belong to no one, they each take pride in being a productive member of society. Yet, across the water in Detroit, members of their families are still slaves and have no hope of freedom. The proximity of freedom is so close, but still so far. Elijah is the symbol of freedom to many in Buxton, because he was the first child who was born free, owned by no one.
4. Awards won and review excerpts:
Scott O’Dell Historical Fiction Award-2008
Booklist(starred review)-“ Inexperienced and prone to mistakes, yet kind, courageous, and understanding, Elijah has the distinction of being the first child born in the Buxton Settlement, which was founded in Ontario in 1849 as a haven for former slaves. Narrator Elijah tells an episodic story that builds a broad picture of Buxton's residents before plunging into the dramatic events that take him out of Buxton and, quite possibly, out of his depth. In the author's note, Curtis relates the difficulty of tackling the subject of slavery realistically through a child's first-person perspective. “
5. Connections:
Other books by Christopher Paul Curtis-
Curtis, Christopher P. Bud, Not Buddy. ISBN-10: 0553494104
Curtis, Christopher P. Mr. Chickee's Funny Money. ISBN-10: 0440229197
Curtis, Christopher P. Bucking the Sarge. ISBN-10: 0440413311
Curtis, Christopher P. Mr. Chickee's Messy Mission. ISBN-10: 0440229227
Curtis, Christopher P. The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963. ISBN-10: 044022800X

Genre 5-LS 5603 Book review of Historical fiction-Avi

2010-04-11T13:50:00.000-07:00

Book Review of historical novel by Avi
1. Bibliography: Avi, Seer of Shadows. New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 2008. ISBN 9780060000158
2. Plot Summary: Set in the 1870’s, this novel introduces the reader to Horace Carpetine. He becomes the apprentice to Enoch Middleditch, a society photographer. Through a strange turn of events, Horace believes that he has brought the spirit of a young girl back from the dead. With help of Pegg, a young servant and best friend to Eleanora, he discovers the truth behind the death of Eleanora and helps to correct the injustice of her death before her spirit takes revenge.
3. Critical Analysis: The setting of this story is important to be able to understand some of the ideas at this time. As Horace becomes the apprentice to Mr. Middleditch and begins to learn his new trade, we are introduced to the science of photography. The practice of photography was relatively new during the industrial revolution. Many of the modern conveniences that we take for granted were just being introduced and practiced at this time. It was then thought that a photograph captured the soul of a person forever and this concept makes this novel quite chilling due to the story line of Eleanora and her family. The character of Horace, who believed that science could explain everything, begins to question his thinking after Eleanora’s spirit keeps getting stronger and stronger every time he views her photograph. The reader can identify with Horace, because as a child grows older, they will sometimes question why they believe in a certain way. The theme of the story is somewhat dark and dreary, yet we see the glimmer of light as the friendship of Horace and Pegg develops to help free the spirit of Eleanora. The writing style of the author draws the reader in and has them wanting to find out more. Avi explains much of the scientific process of developing a photography through the character of Horace.
4. Awards won and review excerpts:
Publishers Weekly(starred review)-“An intriguing ghost story. Details about photographic processes add authenticity, while the book’s somber ending will leave spines tingling.”
Children’s Literature-“In perhaps his best work yet, Avi has created a truly chilling tale that will stay with the reader long after the last page is turned and the lights are turned out.”
Kirkus Reviews-“This tale proves that the time-honored ghost story, capably researched, well-paced and fusing the Gothic elements of mystery, madness and romance, can still thrill in the hands of a skilled craftsman.”
5. Connections:
Other books by Avi-
Avi. Crispin: The Cross of Lead. ISBN-10: 0689837771
Avi. Crispin: At the Edge of The World. ISBN-10: 078685152X
Avi. The Book Without Words: A Fable of Medieval Magic. ISBN-10: 0786816597
Avi. Murder at Midnight. ISBN-10: 0545080908

Genre 5-LS 5603 Review of classic work of historical fiction

2010-04-09T17:13:00.000-07:00

LS 5603-Book Review of classic work of historical fiction
1.Bibliogaphy: Lowry,Lois. Number the Stars. New York: Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers, 1989. ISBN 0440403278
2.Plot Summary: Lois Lowry tells the story of sacrifices made to save the lives of others during the German occupation of Denmark during the 1940’s. Annemarie Johansen and Ellen Rosen are two extraordinary young ladies who must deal with the constant changes in the lives due to the Nazi soldiers who have taken over their town. The relocation of Jews is a daily threat ,so Ellen comes to live with Annemarie and becomes part of their family. As a way to help Ellen reunite with her family, Annemarie is asked to participate in a very treacherous mission. As a result of her bravery, her best friend is safely taken to Sweden with her family.
3. Critical Analysis: The setting of this novel is Denmark during the German occupation. Many of the hardships faced by the Danish people are mentioned, such as no fuel for heat, electricity rationing, as well as many food rations. The hatred and fear felt by the Danish people toward the Germans is recognized through the eyes of the two friends as they see the world as they know it begin crumble. The hardships of war are seen through the feelings of Annemarie and Ellen, who should be enjoying the carefree days of childhood ,but are instead seeing the cold hard reality of what happens as the enemy takes over their country. Annemarie is the inspiring heroine who helps her best friend’s family escape to freedom with the help of a powerful hankerchief. Readers will be able to identify with the character of Annemarie and her willingness to help a friend in need.
4. Awards won and review excerpts:
School Library Journal-Readers are taken to the very heart of Annemarie's experience, and, through her eyes, come to understand the true meaning of bravery.
Newberry Medal 1990
Publishers Weekly review-"The whole work is seamless, compelling, and memorable -- impossible to put down; difficult to forget."
Horn Book review-“The whole book is seamless, compelling, and memorable-impossible to put down; difficult to forget.”
5. Connections:
Other books by Lois Lowry-
Lowry, Lois. The Giver. ISBN-10: 0385732554
Lowry, Lois. Messenger. ISBN-10: 0385737165
Lowry, Lois. Gathering Blue. ISBN-10: 0385732562
Lowry,Lois. Gossamer. ISBN-10: 0385734166
Lowry, Lois. The Silent Boy (Readers Circle). ISBN-10: 0440419808
Lowry, Lois. A Summer to Die. ISBN-10: 0385734204

Genre 4-LS 5603 Biography by Diane Stanley

2010-03-17T13:53:00.000-07:00

Book Review of Biography by Diane Stanley
1.Bibliography: Stanley,Diane. Michelangelo. Hong Kong: Harper Collins Publishers, 2000.
2. Plot Summary: This is the story of Michelangelo di Lodovico di Lionardo di Buonarroti Simomi, who later become known as the greatest sculptor in Italy. Michelangelo began his life as a the second son of a local magistrate, who felt that ordinary work was beneath his social status. Through working as an apprentice with an artist, Michelangelo discovered his love of sculpture and his fascination with paying attention to the details of sculpting the human body.
3. Critical Analysis: The accuracy of the story of Michelangelo is very carefully presented with attention to detail. Each facet of his life was impacted in one way or another by the religious leaders of the time, leading to his greatest triumphs, as well as his worst defeats. The author has investigated the life of Michelangelo, along with many other historical figures, such as Elizabeth I and Shakespeare. The style of the writing reveals that this author wants to share her enthusiasm for historical figures that many children are not usually interested in reading about. The design of the book is inviting and makes the reader want to discover more about this artist. Many of the important works of Michelangelo are included in the book and they are embedded into the illustrations done by the author. The inclusion of the author’s note at the beginning of the book helps to prepare the reader with a mini-lesson on the Renaissance period and the impact of this on the life and works of Michelangelo.
4. Awards won and review excerpts:
-Booklist review- “One of the most pleasing things about Stanley's books is the way her sturdy texts stand up to her strong artwork.”
- Bulletin of the Center for Children' s Books review- “Images of Michelangelo's art are photo-based and computer manipulated, and they're seamlessly integrated into the compositions...an in-depth picture of Michelangelo..."
5. Connections:
-Other books by Diane Stanley:
-Stanley, Diane. Leonardo da Vinci. ISBN-10: 0688161553
-Stanley, Diane& Vennema, Peter. Bard of Avon: The Story of William Shakespeare. ISBN-10: 0688162940
-Stanley, Diane. Joan of Arc. ISBN-10: 0064437485
-Stanley, Diane & Vennema, Peter. Cleopatra. ISBN-10: 0688154808
-Stanley, Diane & Vennema, Peter. Good Queen Bess : The Story of Elizabeth I of England. ISBN-10: 0688179614

Genre 4-LS 5603 Book review-Orbis Pictus

2010-03-16T19:00:00.000-07:00

Book Review of Orbis Pictus/ Sibert Award book
1.Bibligraphy: Nelson,Kadir. We are the Ship, the story of Negro League Baseball. New York: Jump at the Sun/Hyperion Books for Children, 2008.
2. Plot Summary: This book is a history of the struggles and triumphs of the Negro Baseball League. The book leads the reader through the beginnings in the 1920s’ to the decline after the great Jackie Robinson crossed over to play with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
3. Critical Analysis: The book is written in a style that makes the reader want to know more about the organization of the Negro Baseball League. It is organized in sequential chapters, each describing the certain aspects of life in the league. The author uses the term innings instead of chapters. The sources cited at the end of the book thoroughly show the information was carefully researched and organized. The design of the book is inviting with each illustration including the most intricate of details, such as the muscles in the arms of Josh Gibson( pg. 41, 5th inning). Each illustration enhances the story helping the reader to make a connection with the player mentioned in the history. Kadir Nelson is an accomplished artist and has illustrated many childrens’ books and has been honored for his work.
4. Awards won and review excerpts:
-Orbis Pictus Honor book-2009
-Texas Bluebonnet Nominee 2009-2010
-Coretta Scott King author award winner-2009
-School Library Journal starred review: A lost piece of American history comes to life in Kadir Nelson's elegant and eloquent history (Hyperion/Jump at the Sun, 2008) of the Negro Leagues and its gifted baseball players. The history of the Leagues echoes the social and political struggles of black America during the first half of the 20th century.
-Booklist review- The narrative showcases the pride and comradery of the Negro Leagues, celebrates triumphing on one’s own terms and embracing adversity, even as it clearly shows the “us” and “them” mentality bred by segregation.
5. Connections:
Other books about the Negro Baseball League:
-Morelli, Jack. Heroes of the Negro Leagues. Illustr. Mark Chiarello. ISBN-10: 0810994348
-Peterson, Robert. Only the Ball Was White: A History of Legendary Black Players and All-Black Professional Teams. ISBN-10: 0195076370
-Lanctot, Neil. Negro League Baseball: The Rise and Ruin of a Black Institution. ISBN-10: 0812220277
- Hogan, Lawrence D. Shades of Glory: The Negro Leagues and the Story of African-American Baseball. ISBN-10: 079225306X

Genre 4-LS 5603 Book review-Seymour Simon

2010-03-16T13:54:00.000-07:00

Book Review of Seymour Simon
1.Bibliography: Simon,Seymour. Tornadoes. New York: Morrow Junior Books, 1999. ISBN 0688146465
2. Plot Summary: Many people are fascinated with tornadoes and tornado watching, yet do not understand the science behind them. Seymour Simon takes the reader step by step through a tornado explaining what happens to cause it, as well as the history of some of the nation’s worst tornadoes.
3. Critical Analysis: The organization of this book helps the reader to understand the scientific terminology used to describe the activity of a tornado. Mr. Simon explains the progression of a tornado in easy to understand language, while using actual pictures, as well as actual Doppler radar photographs. Seymour Simon is considered an expert in the field of writing children’s science books. He has writing over 200 books and has won numerous awards. His writing style encourages children to want to learn more about science. He has put the facts about tornadoes into a easier to understand format than a science textbook and encourages the reader to want to research more about the topic.
4. Awards Won and review excerpts:
-Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children 2000--selected by Natn'l Science Tchrs Assoc. & Child. Bk Cncl
-School Library Journal review-Simons clear, well-organized text discusses the weather conditions necessary to spawn these violent storms; how they form; where they are most likely to occur; and how scientists predict, rate, and track them. He also describes some of the major tornadoes recorded in the U.S. and includes weather maps and a diagram.

5. Connections:
The following are books in the weather series by Seymour Simon:
Simon, Seymour. Weather. ISBN-13: 9780060884352
Simon, Seymour. Hurricanes, Smithsonian Institution Series. ISBN-13: 9780061170713
Simon,Seymour. Lightning. ISBN-13: 9780060884352
To enhance the study of weather, the following could be useful:
Gibbons, Gail. Weather Words and What They Mean. ISBN-13: 9780823409525
De Paola, Tomie. The Cloud Book. ISBN-13: 978082340531

Genre 3-LS 5603-Margarita Engle

2010-03-09T17:12:00.000-08:00

Genre 3-Book Review of verse novel by Margarita Engle
1.Bibliography: Engle,Margarita. The Surrender Tree. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2008. ISBN 9780805086744
2. Plot Summary: This verse novel tells the story of Cuba’s struggle for freedom, told from the point of view of several characters. The main character, Rosa, is a healer who uses whatever the forest supplies to help the rebels. The character of Lieutenant Death is the son of the man who searches for runaway slaves and his life goal is to capture Rosa, whom he calls the Child Witch. Each part of the novel is broken down to segment the years that the wars occurred.
3. Critical Analysis: The organization of this verse novel helps to explain the struggles of the Cuban people to obtain their freedom from Spain, by breaking the sections into a timeline of each war. The inclusion of a introduction and notes from the author help the reader to have a deeper understanding of the background behind the struggle. The point of view changes from page to page, often with each character dealing with the emotion of dealing with the violence. In the verse titled “Rosa”, (The Ten Years’ War, pg. 39), we see the weary Rosa state “Who would have imagined such stubborn dedication?..If only he would change sides and become one of us, a stubborn , determined, weary nurse, fighting this daily war against death. The arrangement of the verses helps to explain the struggle and how each character deals with their involvement, whatever side they may be fighting for.
-School Library Journal review: “The Surrender Tree is hauntingly beautiful, revealing pieces of Cuba's troubled past through the poetry of hidden moments such as the glimpse of a woman shuttling children through a cave roof for Rosa's care or the snapshot of runaway Chinese slaves catching a crocodile to eat.”
-Horn Book review: “A powerful narrative in free verse . . . haunting.”
-Kirkus reviews: “Young readers will come away inspired by these portraits of courageous ordinary people.”
5. Connections:
The following book, when paired with The Surrender Tree give a compelling account of the struggles for Cuba’s fight for freedom:
Engle, Margarita. The Poet Slave of Cuba. ISBN-10: 0805077065

Genre 3-LS 5603 Kristine O'Connell George

2010-03-07T16:50:00.000-08:00

Genre 3-Book Review-Kristine O’ Connell George
1.Bibliography: George, Kristine O'Connell. Toasting Marshmallows:Camping Poems. New York: Clarion Books, 2001. ISBN 061804597X
2. Plot Summary: Kristine O’Connell George has created a group of poems that transport the reader to special times when fond memories are made. Each poem is insight to moments when the outside world seems to disappear, and the smells, tastes of spending time outdoors make life more enjoyable.
3. Critical Analysis: Each of the poems help to relive camping experiences. The words chosen by the poet are arranged in such a way, the reader can almost taste the marshmallows as they are roasting and turning in the fire as in the poem titled “Toasting Marshmallows”. The use of imagery is key throughout the entire book. In the poem titled “ Rain Dance”, the images of rain falling as a result of the birds moving as if in a dancing motion makes one almost feel the raindrops coming down on their head. The poem “Two Voices in a Tent at Night” can make someone feel as if they were inside the tent hearing outside noises and not wanting to make a move to see what it is. Each poem presents a mental picture in which each of the senses are heightened and the use of unexpected visual images help to make the poem more memorable. The visual image of the beams of light in the poem “Flashlight” make the reader almost squint at the light when reading this poem.
4. Awards Won and Review Excerpts:
Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee-2003-2004
Horn Book Guide- The pleasure and surprise of going camping are conveyed in eighteen brief poems. . . .Richly colored paintings enhance the verses.
Booklist, ALA, Starred Review -"fine collection brings the outdoors up close...direct, satisfying poems that will engage kids at school, across the curriculum, or at home."
School Library Journal Starred -The poems are varied and inventive, replete with marvelous images and universal truths. . . .A terrific idyll for summertime sharing, even for confirmed couch potatoes.
5.Connections:
Other books by Kristine O’Connell George:
-George, Kristine O’Connell. The Great Frog Race and Other Poems. ISBN-10: 0618604782
-George, Kristine O’Connell. Old Elm Speaks: Tree Poems. ISBN-10: 0618752420
-George, Kristine O’Connell. Little Dog Poems. ISBN-10: 0395822661
Other books about camping and the experience of being outdoors:
-Ruurs, Margriet. When We Go Camping. ISBN-10: 0887766854
-James, Helen Foster. S Is For S’mores: A Camping Alphabet(Alphabet Books). ISBN-10: 1585363022

Genre 3-LS 5603 Nikki Grimes

2010-03-07T15:45:00.000-08:00

Genre 3-Book Review-Nikki Grimes
1.Bibliography: Grimes, Nikki. A Dime A Dozen. New York: Dial Books For Young Readers, 1998. ISBN 0803722273
2. Plot Summary: In this book of poetry, Nikki Grimes shares the pride and the disappointments that embody the character in the book. The poems are divided into three parts, each sharing the sometimes confusing, yet really exciting moments of discovering who you are today and what you will become.
3.Critical Analysis: The book begins with the poet describing how her family thought that she could not become a writer because of her surroundings. Many of the poems are shaped by events from the life of the author. From the poem “ A Dime A Dozen”, we feel the pain that she felt when told by her mother to find another dream instead. The rhythm of each of the poems fits the words and meaning, which should be read aloud to truly share the pain and heartbreak felt by the character. Each poem addresses different aspects of her life, some are positive, while others cause pain and heartbreak. In the poem titled “Untitled”, the character shares how she now fits in with all of her friends because her parents are divorced. In the poem titled “Less the Perfect”, we are introduced to a mother who needs to depend on alcohol to cope with the disappointments of life and tries her best to not let her daughter know that she is having trouble. The author shares so much emotion through her words, each part allowing the reader to peer deeper into the heart of the character. Many of the poems bringing back feelings brought on by jealousy or hurt that each one of us may have faced as we have grown into adulthood.
4. Awards won and Review Excerpts:
Junior Library Guild –Outstanding Book B Group
School Library Journal-these 28 poems celebrate family, culture, writing, and the spirit of a creative, introspective child. Grimes's carefully crafted word placement matches the rhythms and messages of the poems.
Nikki Grimes was chosen as the winner of the NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children in 2006. This award is given for the poet’s group of work.
5. Connections:
Other books of poetry by Nikki Grimes:
-Grimes, Nikki. A Pocketful of Poems. ISBN-10: 0395938686
-Grimes, Nikki. Oh, Brother! ISBN-10: 0688172946
-Grimes, Nikki. Meet Danitra Brown. ISBN-10: 0688154719

Genre 2-LS 5603 Book Review of a Cinderella Variant

2010-02-23T19:10:00.000-08:00

LS 5603-Book Review of a Cinderella variant
1.Bibliography: Martin,Rafe. The Rough-Face Girl. New York: Scholastic, Inc., 1992. ISBN 0590469320
2. Plot Summary: The Rough-Face Girl is the Algonquin Indian retelling of Cinderella. In this version, the “Cinderella” character is the Rough-Face Girl, the youngest of three daughters, who has been made to feed the fires. Because of this, her hands and face have been burnt by the embers of the fire. The character of the Prince is the Invisible Being, who is watched over by his sister. The women in the village all want to marry him, but only the one who can see him will become his bride. Through many unsuccessful attempts to become the bride of the Invisible Being, the Rough-Face Girl is able to pass each test given to her by the sister of the Invisible Being. By relying on what is in the heart and her inner beauty, the Rough-Face Girl becomes the bride and her scars are washed away, leaving a person who is beautiful from the inside and the outside.

3. Critical Analysis: The characters in this story are symbolic of basic human traits. In the character of the Rough-Face Girl, the reader sees inner beauty and humility. In the characters of the older sisters, selfishness and greed are instantly identified. The character of the Invisible Being represents the unknown, natural mystery. Drawing on the cultural influence, the Invisible Being is the based on the elements seen in nature and has an almost spiritual quality. The style of this book maintains the quality of the early retelling, while incorporating the artistic style of the Native Americans. Each illustration complements the story by emphasizing the elements of nature. Each image of the Invisible Being is symbolic to the Rough-Face Girl, she is able to see her true love in the beauty of a rainbow or the gathering of the clouds. The theme of the story is one that we should all strive to live through our own lives, that beauty is from the heart.

4. Awards won: Kirkus Review. “a strong, distinctive tale with art to match.”
School Library Journal. “…a splendid real aloud”

5. Connections:
Ai-Ling Louie. Yeh-Shen: A Cinderella Story from China. ISBN-10: 0698113888
San Souci, Robert D. Cendrillon: A Caribbean Cinderella. Illust. by Brian Pinkney. ISBN-10: 0689848889
Coburn, Jewell R. Domitila: A Cinderella Tale from the Mexican Tradition. Illustr. By Connie McLennan. ISBN-10: 1885008139
Climo, Shirley. The Egyptian Cinderella. Illust. by Ruth Heller. ISBN-10: 0064432793

Genre 2-LS5603-Book Review of folktale retold by Ed Young

2010-02-21T19:43:00.000-08:00

LS 5603- Book review of folktale retold and illustrated by Ed Young
1.Bibliography: Young, Ed. Trans. 1989. Lon Po Po, A Red Riding Hood from China. New York: Philomel Books. ISBN 0399216197
2.Plot Summary: Lon Po Po is a retelling of the story of Little Red-Riding Hood. In this version, we encounter three girls who come in contact with the wolf after their mother goes to attend to their grandmother on her birthday. Shang, Tao and Paotze use their skills to trick the wolf and escape being eaten. After several attempts by Lon Po Po to trick the girls and eat them, the girls decide to turn the tables. Appealing to the wolf’s hunger, Shang, Tao and Paotze trick the wolf into climbing the tree for gingko nuts. The lure of the soft, tender gingko nut ultimately leads to the wolf’s demise.
3.Critical Analysis: The female characters are the symbol of good in the story, while the character of the wolf, Lon Po Po, represents evil. The journey that the girls go through to escape the clutches of the wolf and to eventually lead the wolf to its demise is crucial to the story. The illustrations are evident of the author’s background. Ed Young was born in China and his love of the artwork of this country is evident in the style of the illustrations. Each page is brought to life with the soft , flowing watercolors that complement the history of this retelling. The love that Mr. Young has for his home country is evident in many of his books, with the oral retelling of many Chinese tales brought to book form for generations to enjoy.
4. Awards Won and Review Excerpt(s):
Caldecott Medal 1990
Boston Globe-Horn Book Award
School Library Journal review:” The text possesses that matter-of-fact veracity that characterizes the best fairy tales. The watercolor and pastel pictures are remarkable: mystically beautiful in their depiction of the Chinese countryside”

5. Connections:
Others books by Ed Young:
Young, Ed. Yeh-Shen: A Cinderella Story from China ISBN-10: 0698113888
Young, Ed. Seven Blind Mice ISBN-10: 0698118952
Young, Ed. Cat and Rat: The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac ISBN-10: 0805060499
Different versions of Little Red-Riding Hood:
Daly, Niki. Pretty Salma: A Little Red Riding Hood Story from Africa ISBN-10: 0618723455
Artell, Mike. Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood ISBN-10: 0803725140

Genre 2-LS 5603-Book Review of a Folk Literature Collection

2010-02-20T19:44:00.000-08:00

LS 5603-Book Review of a Folk Literature Collection
1.Bibliography: Cousins, Lucy. Trans. 2009. Yummy: Eight Favorite Fairy Tales. Somerville: Candlewick Press. ISBN 9780763644741
2.Plot Summary: This is collection of eight well-loved and highly recognized fairy tales. This collection represents the favorite tales of the author, Lucy Cousins.
3. Critical Analysis: This anthology of fairy tales is well organized. Many of these fairy tales are very familiar to children. The illustrations are bright and colorful, with a child-like quality about them. The illustrations help to put the tales on a level that children can identify with and help to make the story come alive. Each of the tales is shared with a style that maintains the integrity of an earlier retelling. Each folktale is intertwined with the theme of good triumphing over evil or a strong moral lesson to be learned. While each of these stories is easily recognized by most readers, background information on each of these tales could enhance this collection.
4. Awards won and review excerpt(s):
School Library Journal review: “Large, arresting gouache spreads in Cousins's signature style utilize saturated colors and thick, dark outlines against solid backgrounds. Expressive characters enhance the stories' shifting moods. Large type accentuates the dynamic texts, building each spare entry to its powerful climax.”
5. Connections: This book could be used for many comparisons with different versions of the fairy tales. The following books could be used along with this anthology.
Little Red-Riding Hood-
Young, Ed. Lon Po Po, A Red-Riding Hood Story from China. ISBN 0399216197
Forward, Toby. Illust. by Izhar Cohen. The Wolf's Story: What Really Happened to Little Red Riding Hood . ISBN-10: 0763627852
The Three Little Pigs-
Scieszka, Jon. Illust. by Lane Smith. The True Story of the Three Little Pigs.ISBN-10: 0140544518
Trivizas, Eugene. Illust. by Helen Oxenbury. The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig. ISBN-10 068981528X
Goldilocks and the three Bears-
Ernst, Lisa C. Goldilocks Returns. ISBN-10 0689857055

LS 5603 Genre 1-Review about the creation of children’s picture books

2010-02-07T19:04:00.001-08:00

Genre 1-Review about the creation of children’s picture books
1.Bibilography: Cummings, Pat. Talking with Artists,Vol.1. New York: Bradbury Press, 1992.
2. Plot Summary: Many of us probably never stop to consider how our favorite authors come up with the ideas for their books or where illustrators get ideas for their pictures. Pat Cummings gives us insight into the background of fourteen children’s book authors and illustrators. Each of the featured artists shares their own story revealing how events in their childhood led to their choice to become a children’s book author or illustrator.
3. Critical Analysis: The author accurately conveys the facts from each artist, sharing information that younger generations will find relevant. For those children who are interested in becoming either an author or illustrator, this book is an excellent reference. The organization of the background story and key questions are easy to follow. The illustrations add to the text, with several of the artists sharing work from their childhood. As you read this book, one is able to sense the passion of Pat Cummings for sharing her love of drawing with younger generations. This reference guide encourages the reader to explore the area of art in children’s books by using vocabulary that children will understand.
4.Awards won and review excerpts: School Library Journal review.” Young artists will learn a lot; teachers and other children will also love it.”
Bluebonnet Award Nominee 1993-94
Winner of the Boston Globe/Horn Book Award for Nonfiction, 1992
5. Connections:
Other books by Pat Cummings that would be a great resource for future artists: Talking with Artists, Vol. 2: Conversations with Thomas B. Allen, Mary Jane Begin, Floyd Cooper, Julie Downing, Denise Fleming, Sheila Hamanaka, Kevin ... Vera B. Williams and David Wisniewski ISBN-10: 0689803109
Talking With Artists, Vol. 3: Conversations with Peter Catalanotto, Raul Colon, Lisa Desimini, Jane Dyer, Kevin Hawkes, G. Brian Karas, Betsy Lewin, Ted Lewin, Keiko Narahashi, Elise Primavera, Anna Rich, Peter Sis and Paul O. Zelinsky (Hardcover) ISBN-10: 0395891329

Genre 1-Picture book illustrated by Meilo So-LS5603

2010-02-05T19:55:00.000-08:00

Module 1-Picture book illustrated by Meilo So
1.Bibliography: O Flatharta,Antoine. Hurry and the Monarch Ill. by Meilo So. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2005. ISBN 0375930035
2. Plot Summary: In this book, the main character of Hurry, the Texas tortoise, is introduced to a monarch butterfly. The monarch butterfly shares the story of her annual migration South to Mexico to survive the winter. As the seasons change, the monarch once again finds Hurry the Tortoise in his garden in Wichita Falls, Texas. In the garden, Hurry has a bird’s-eye view of the process that changes eggs into a beautiful monarch butterfly.
3. Critical Analysis: The watercolor illustrations complement the story with a connection to the delicate body of the monarch butterfly. Meilo So uses subdued tones in oranges, blues and greens to create a feeling of calm. The characters of Hurry and the Monarch each have a unique perspective on life, and they are able to share insights with each other. The friendship between the two main characters shows that although we are different, we all have something to learn from each other. This book is a great resource for Texas about the life cycle of a butterfly, as well as teaching about the geography of Texas. As the reader follows the butterfly on its journey to Mexico, we see that the illustrations invoke a feeling of warmth, giving a connection to the typical weather in Mexico.
4. Awards won: Although this specific picture book has not been designated as an award winner, the illustrator Meilo So has been honored by the Society of Illustrators and the American Library Association.
5. Connections:
Other books illustrated by Meilo So: The 20th-Century Children’s Poetry Treasury ISBN-10: 0679893148 , Tasty Baby Belly Buttons ISBN-10: 0679893695 , Countdown to Spring ISBN-10: 0375813640
Another book to teach about Texas and the geography of the state: Armadillo from Amarillo by Lynne Cherry ISBN-10: 0152019553

Genre 1-book review of a Caldecott award medal book-LS 5603

2010-02-01T18:25:00.000-08:00

Genre 1-Review of Caldecott award medal book
1.Bibliography: Selznick, Brian. The invention of Hugo Cabret. New York: Scholastic Press, 2007. ISBN 0439813786
2. Plot Summary: The invention of Hugo Cabret is a look into the survival of Hugo. As he is dealing with the loss of his father and disappearance of his uncle, he is left as the sole time-keeper at a train station in Paris. Throughout the story, we see Hugo’s obsession with obtaining parts rebuild the automaton, a machine found by his father that is made with cogs and gears and has the appearance of a man. After his father’s death, Hugo makes it his mission to finish what his father could not. During a meeting with a mysterious man who owns a toy store and his goddaughter, Isabelle, Hugo discovers that his ability mechanical ability and parts from the toy store are the keys to finishing the automaton.
3. Critical Analysis: Brian Selznick uses the element of time throughout the novel in both the writing and the illustrations. The theme of the novel is that Hugo must find what he needs before he runs out of time, always mindful of the chance of being discovered. As the story progresses, we see that Hugo’s character goes through many complications and conflicts. Hugo is left to his own devices to maintain the clocks without alerting the station manager. In this combination of a picture book and novel, we see a connection between the skill of working with clocks, known as horology, and the world of magic. Many magicians were very accomplished at repairing broken toys or machines . The awarding winning illustrations are done in black and white, and are filled with details that depict the city as dark and mysterious. Many of the pictures actually make the reader feel as though they are looking through the angle of a camera. This is tie-in to the toy maker, who was an actual film maker in 1890’s to the 1920’s. George Melies was an accomplished magician as well. He is credited with creating the world’s first science fiction movie, A Trip to the Moon.
4. Awards:
2008 Caldecott Medal
National Book Award Finalist
A New York Times Best Illustrated Book of 2007
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2007
2007 Quill Award Winner
2007 Borders Original Voices Finalist
2007 #1 Best Book for Kids from Barnes and Noble
Parenting Magazine "Mom–Tested Book of the Year"
Miami Herald Best Kids Book of 2007>
Rocky Mountain News Best Book of 2007
San Francisco Chronicle Best Book of 2007
Kansas City Star Top 100 Books of 2007
Columbus Dispatch Best Book of 2007
Los Angeles Times Favorite Children's Book of 2007
Kidsreads.com Best Book of 2007
5. Connections:
The following books can be used to extend the topics of films in the early 1900’s:
Smith, Kath. Let’s Make a Movie. ISBN - 10:1840891904
Brown, Don. Mack Made Movies. ISBN: 0761315381
The following books can be used to discuss concept of time and clocks:
Koscielniak, Bruce. About Time: A First Look at Time and Clocks. ISBN: 0618396683
McCaughrean, Geraldine. My Grandmother’s Clock. ISBN: 0618216952

New Semester -New class(LS5603)

2010-01-22T11:56:00.000-08:00

This blog was originally used for Information Storage and Retrieval. This semester, this blog will be used for Children's Lit. I am very excited and looking forward to reading some great literature.

Database overall conclusion

2009-12-07T20:30:00.001-08:00

Database overall conclusion-
I feel that my database is a valuable to those who have the task of purchasing materials for libraries, whether in the public sector or the academic setting. As a future librarian, I feel that this database will be helpful because the user is able to view the book cover as well as read a short review of the book, if it is available. I feel that my experience of searching on this database allowed me access to materials that I might never have found using a regular online card catalog. As a teacher, I feel that this database could be used by educators to find materials that could be purchased for their own library or to determine if the specific book is already part of the library. This database was fairly simple to navigate with practice and this could be shared with colleagues in the education setting or shared with students as a library skill.

internet competency

2009-11-22T13:08:00.000-08:00

Mightybook.com
http://www.mightybook.com/

This site is geared for helping children in the primary age group to enjoy reading.
There are different categories of activities, such as stories written by kids, art/music and puzzle page. To find this website, I type in library websites as my search query. Using Yahoo as my search engine, one of the results brought up was best websites for K-12. Since, I am a first grade teacher and I hope to be a primary level librarian someday, this caught my attention. This specific webpage listed different websites for math, reading and language arts, science and social studies. One of the topics under reading and language arts was Internet Public Library(Reading).
This listed different topic areas as well as resources. One of the resources listed was Mightybook.com. I feel that this could be a great resource for parents, grandparents and teachers. There were even activities for children as young as two.

Database evaluation-part 4

2009-11-16T19:19:00.000-08:00

Part 4-Database Evaluation
Karla Phipps
LS 5013-21

Database-Book Index with reviews

Coverage-
My database covers books as well as the reviews of each book. The complete number of documents was not given. However, when I typed in the search statement, children’s literature, there were 3,124 hits. The database did have a timeline to limit search results, but each title had a date listed and each title was different in the time listing. Therefore, the dates were not uniform for every title.

Currency-
As I had stated before, the timeline allows the user to limit their search by a timeline. The specific timeline for this database was from 1922-2012. Using the same search statement, children’s literature, I was able to find books that were published in the 70’s and the 80’s, but I decided to narrow my search to the books published beginning in 1992. This is the year that I became a teacher. After narrowing my search by the timeline, children’s literature received 2488 hits.
I found it very interesting that several of the books that were not yet available for purchase were already on the index. These works in progress were already indexed.

Predictability-
I feel that this database did perform as expected. I completed several searches with the subject child and literature. I was not able to use the keywords because this database does not offer that as a field choice.
(su) child and literature-20,487 hits (basic search)
(su)child andliterature-11, 137 (advanced search)
These were both quite high and I feel that the predictability is high. After this, I tried a different field,
(rv) review and annotation.
(rv)child and literature-5030 hits
Most of the books listed in this group were geared for the upper elementary and middle school age group. These books seemed to deal with very mature topics.
I then tried the field choice of title(ti).
(ti)child and literature-1,446 hits
The majority in this group were books that would be read at the primary level or were educational texts for parents and educators.
Several of the book titles were duplicated throughout each search.

Retrievability-
Using the descriptor term, children’s literature, this database produced 3,616 hits. Using the subject field choice, the search statement produced 3,124 hits. Finally, the field of title was used and it received 1,145 hits. The number of relevant documents are not known for this system, however the results for each of the search statements have shown productive results.

Usability-This database is very user friendly and easy to use. The field choices are in a drop down format. Once the results are given, the user can sort by popularity, relevance, data descending and data ascending, just to name a few. At any point that a user needs to begin again, he or she can reset the searching options and begin again. The results can be narrowed by a timeline or by subject. A section of research starters is given to extend the search query .

research visual competency

2009-11-16T17:13:00.001-08:00

I feel that this picture is a great example of why teachers, librarians and parents all work for the same goal- to instill the love of reading in a child. Each of us started out as this child and because someone took the time to work with us, we know want to share that with others.

Retrieved November 16,2009 from Free-clipart-pictures.net
http://www.free-clipart-pictures.net/child_clipart.html

Multimedia competency

2009-11-09T19:04:00.001-08:00

I chose this specific image because it is my favorite children's book. I have read this book at least 25 times. Each time I read it, I am reminded why I love children's literature and I always try to instill that love in my students each year that I read it. I still cry each time I read the chapter when Charlotte dies and Wilbur takes the egg sac home so that he can take care of Charlotte's children.
Charlotte's Web,Spotlight on the popular children's book.(2007)
Retrieved on November 9, 2009 from InfoPlease Web site:
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/charlottes-web.html

After searching through many images from the book Charlotte's Web and reading the terms of use and copyright policies, this specific site allowed for a visitor to download one (1) single copy of the copyrighted material for the visitor's personal, non-commercial use only.

Using the database DIALOG

2009-10-26T18:33:00.000-07:00

Dialog
After previewing the tutorial and reading about this database, I was quite nervous about trying it out. However, once I got on and tried my search, I found it to be fairly easy to navigate.
Database used-ERIC
My search statement involves a topic that I deal with quite a bit as a teacher. I am interested in articles about tiered reading instruction and interventions for students who are not reading on grade level.
S1 -reading instruction- 23, 248 items.
S2-tiered reading-0 items. This did not surprise me because this is a relatively new term in educational literature. As with most things in education, tiered reading probably derived from a previously used strategies and it was given a new name,
S3-strategies for teaching reading-0 items
S4- reading intervention-0 items
At this point, I started to feel quite frustrated.
S5-education-884.009 items. I know that this is very overpowering, so now to narrow it down.
S8-reading instruction and education-18,305 items
S12-tiered reading and reading instruction and education-0 hits
I felt like I was not getting anywhere, so I began to use terms that I have heard at inservices and training.
S13-educational interventions-0 items
S14-interventions for slow learners-0 items
S15-modifications for slow learner-0 items
S16-ways to improve reading ability-0 items
S17-teaching strategies-42 items
S20-reading instruction and teaching strategies-3 items

20/8/1 DIALOG(R)File 1:(c) format only 2009 Dialog. All rts. reserv.
0007721345 ERIC Number: EJ432419
Open to Suggestion.
1991 (19910000)
Descriptors: *Class Activities; Cooperative Learning; Elementary Secondary Education; Higher Education; Integrated Curriculum; Newspapers; Reading Aloud to Others; Reading Comprehension; *Reading Instruction; *Reading Strategies; *Teacher Developed Materials; Vocabulary Development
Identifiers: Teaching Strategies
Dialog Update Date: 20090919; 08:55:43 EST

ERIC (Dialog® File 1): (c) format only 2009 Dialog. All rights reserved.

2.
20/8/2 DIALOG(R)File 1:(c) format only 2009 Dialog. All rts. reserv.
0007721342 ERIC Number: EJ432422
True Confessions (From the Teacher's Desk).
1991 (19910000)
Descriptors: English Instruction; Grade 8; Junior High Schools; Reading Aloud to Others; *Reading Attitudes; Reading Instruction; *Student Participation; *Teacher Student Relationship
Identifiers: *Literature Instruction; Teaching Strategies
Dialog Update Date: 20090919; 08:55:43 EST

ERIC (Dialog® File 1): (c) format only 2009 Dialog. All rights reserved.

3.
20/8/3 DIALOG(R)File 1:(c) format only 2009 Dialog. All rts. reserv.
0007721292 ERIC Number: EJ432479
"Wouldn't Pa Be Amazed!" Connecting with Literature through Conversation.
1991 (19910000)
Descriptors: *Childrens Literature; Elementary Education; *Literature Appreciation; *Reading Instruction
Identifiers: *Conversation; *Teaching Strategies
Dialog Update Date: 20090919; 08:55:43 EST

Search features of database-Book index with reviews

2009-10-26T15:56:00.000-07:00

Search features of database-Book Index with Reviews

Default fields-

*basic search-using known terms and Boolean operators

*advanced search –using known terms and Boolean in the following fields

(tx) all text, (au)author, (ib)ISBN, (pb)publisher, (rv)review & annotation, (su)subjects, (ti) title, (se) series information and (lc)LCCN

Search types-

In both the basic and advanced search, the user can type a known item and may also use the following search modes:

-boolean/phrase

-find any of the terms

-find all of the terms

-SmartText searching-this allows the user to type in as much text as they want, even up to several pages.

-apply related words

-search within full text of articles

Search protocols-

Limiters-

-title (exact match)

-publication type (book, audiobook, e-book)

-edition type (large print, illustrated, Braille)

-language

-title words

-publication year

-content type (fiction or non-fiction)

-publication status

-truncation: books for children-I used books for child*-1495 hits

Search helps-

Smart Text searching- this allows the user to type in as much text as they want, even up to several pages.

Spelling-if the word is spelling wrong in the initial search, then optional choices are given.

Output formats-

Visual search- this allows the user to display results in either columns or blocks, as well as sorting the results and filtering them by date. I tried the visual search on basic first and then on advanced. The visual search was only available on basic search.

Preferences- through this option, the user can change the format, page layout, image quickview, sorting prefence and the amount of results on each page. Through this option, one can print, e-mail and set export settings.

Building block search-

Search statement- I am trying to find out which books for children are considered controversial and have been prohibited in libraries.

S1-books for children-1495 hits

S2-controversial books for children-1 hit

S3-prohibited books for children-0 hits

(tx) books for children with (tx)controversy and (tx)prohibited-2 hits

(su) books for children with (su) controversy and (su) prohibited-0 hits

My conclusions about building block search- I have been using this specific search statement quite a bit for different databases. My reason behind this question involves my interest in children’s literature. As an educator, I am constantly bombarded with new literature and some of this literature is considered controversial for various reasons. During my undergraduate work, I was able to take a class titled Children’s Lit. That semester, I was introduced to some of the books that were considered controversial at that time. As I was conducting my search on this database, I was expecting to see some of the same books. However, none of the controversial books were the same. After adding the Boolean operators, I was quite surprised at the narrowing of the results. I never expected it to be only two hits.
Subject: RE:search features of database Reply Quote Modify Set Flag Remove

OK

database competencies

2009-10-24T20:37:00.000-07:00

Database competencies
ERIC
Building block search-
Search process:As a teacher and future librarian I wanted to know what books for children are considered controversial and have been banned from libraries?
1. (su) books for children-1195 hits
2. (su)considered controversial-662, 065 hits
3. (su)removed from libraries-1,221,097 hits
After searching each of the topics individually, I combined them using Boolean operators.
(su)books for children and (su)considered controversial and (su)removed from libraries-This brought no hits at all. So, I tried again this time using keyword descriptors.
(kw)books for children and (kw)considered controversial and (kw) removed from libraries-4890 hits
Where Is Judy Blume? Controversial Fiction for Older Children and Young Adults.Citation Only Available . By: Curry, Ann. Journal of Youth Services in Libraries, v14 n3 p28-37 Spr 2001. (EJ633073)
Database: ERIC

Academic search complete
Citation pearl growing search-
Search process-I began this process by typing in picture books for children. This query brought about 5,296 hits.
.Picture-Book Reading as an Intervention to Teach the Use of Line Drawings for Communication with Students with Severe Intellectual Disabilities.Citation Only Available By: Stephenson, Jennifer. AAC: Augmentative & Alternative Communication, Sep2009, Vol. 25 Issue 3, p202-214, 13p; DOI: 10.1080/07434610903031216; (AN 43840640)

Database: Academic Search Complete
*PICTURE books for children
*READING
*STUDENTS with disabilities
*ILLUSTRATION of books
*LINE drawing
*TEACHER-student relationships
I then used one of the subject terms given to see if I could increase my number of results.
(de) reading-10581 hits
Teaching word recognition to children with severe learning difficulties: an exploratory comparison of teaching methods.Citation Only Available By: Sheehy, Kieron. Educational Research, Sep2009, Vol. 51 Issue 3, p379-391, 13p, 2 charts, 7 cartoons; DOI: 10.1080/00131880903156955; (AN 43641171)
Database: Academic Search Complete
*WORD recognition
*LEARNING disabilities
*TEACHING methods
*EFFECTIVE teaching
*READING
*LEARNING disabled -- Education
After the individual searches, I combined the terms using the Boolean operator and.
(su)picture books for children and (su)reading-62 hits
Each of these articles would be considered important for my work as a teacher and as a future librarian.
Library Literature
Systematic browsing search
Once again, my search statement is dealing with which books for children are considered controversial and have been banned from libraries?
S1-(books for childrensmart search-3735 hits
S2-(books for children)smart search and controversial-40 hits
S3-(books for children)smart search and controversial and prohibited-3 hits
Smart search, which was used in each of the three searches includes every area, such as keyword, subject, and title to name a few.
Pistolis, D. R., ed Hit list: frequently challenged books for children. American Lib. Assn., 1996. 61 p.
Books in Print
Successive fraction search
Search Statement-Which books for children are considered controversial and are banned from libraries?
(kw)books for children-304,261 hits
Subject limiter-fiction-123,204 hits
Book limiter-4166 hits
Price range limiter-between $10 and $50-3746 hits
After using the nonsubject attributes to narrow the search results, I used the Boolean operator and.
(kw)books for children and (kw)controversy-726 hits
(kw)books for children and (kw)controversy and (kw)prohibited-5 hits

J. K. Rowling: Banned, Challenged, and Censored

Author: Vos MacDonald, Joan Publisher: Enslow Publishers, Incorporated ISBN or UPC: 0-7660-2687-6 (Active Record)
Format: Library Binding Date: May 2008 Price: $34.60 Market: United States
Availability: Readily Available
LC Class #: PR6068.O93Z763 2006 Dewey#: 823/.914 ISBN 13: 978-0-7660-2687-2

searching on Academic Search Complete

2009-10-20T17:56:00.000-07:00

Searching on Academic Search Complete
1. Find a few articles on some of the new technologies that we have learned about in this class.
-Trainee teachers' use of blogs as private reflections for professional development.Citation Only Available By: Hramiak, Alison; Boulton, Helen; Irwin, Brian. Learning, Media, & Technology, Sep2009, Vol. 34 Issue 3, p259-269, 11p; DOI: 10.1080/17439880903141521; (AN 44263746)
Database: Academic Search Complete

An empirically grounded framework to guide blogging in higher education.Citation Only Available By: Kerawalla, L.; Minocha, S.; Kirkup, G.; Conole, G.. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, Feb2009, Vol. 25 Issue 1, p31-42, 12p; DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2729.2008.00286.x; (AN 36141845)
Database: Academic Search Complete
When Mentors and Mentees Switch Roles.Full Text Available By: Wagner, Cynthia G.. Futurist, Jan/Feb2009, Vol. 43 Issue 1, p6-7, 2p, 1 color; (AN 35537364)
2. Several of the unique features of records in this database:
-Filtering publications by date
-research starters for more advanced searching on topics related to initial search
-being able to limit search items by industry, geography
-related images listed

3. I type in (su)(children and computers) and (ge)Germany. The following article was the only hit.
Access, attitudes and the digital divide: children's attitudes towards computers in a technology-rich environment.Citation Only Available By: Lebens, M.; Graff, M.; Mayer, P.. Educational Media International, Sep2009, Vol. 46 Issue 3, p255-266, 12p; DOI: 10.1080/09523980903135467; (AN 44085255)
Database: Academic Search Complete
Related articles:
Implications of an experimental information technology curriculum for elementary studentsCitation Only Available By: Ching, Gregory S.. Computers & Education, Sep2009, Vol. 53 Issue 2, p419-428, 10p; DOI: 10.1016/j.compedu.2009.02.019; (AN 41582954)
Database: Academic Search Complete
compensating for computers.Full Text Available By: Monke, Lowell. Independent School, Winter2009, Vol. 68 Issue 2, p32-38, 6p; (AN 36308011)
Database: Academic Search Complete
4. If someone was learning how to use this database, I would give them these three steps to get started:
1. Start with searching by key words
2. Once the search results come up, then narrow the results, by publication type, such as academic journals or magazines.
3. Finally, I would filter even further by the dates of the publications.

Searching using LexisNexis

2009-10-20T17:55:00.001-07:00

Searching using LexisNexis
1. Unique features of this database
*being able to do either an easy search or a power search
*when using the power search setting-the user can choose natural language or terms and connectors
*being able to limit results by names of newspapers and dates of publications
2. To find the answer to the patron’s question, I started off with an easy search-children and computers. This brought up 999 hits. In order to narrow these overwhelming amounts, I chose to look at geography-Germany. This brought up 5 hits and none of these were relevant to my topic. I then decide to do a power search in terms and connectors-(lower socio-economic and children) and computers. This resulted in 443 hits, I further narrowed the results by geography. This time the area was Europe and it resulted in 44 hits.
The following are articles pertaining to the area of lower socio-economic children and how technology impacts their lives.

Poor kids far behind well-off classmates Study sees links between family status, school performance
The Toronto Star, April 18, 1997, Friday, METRO EDITION, NEWS; Pg. A1, 699 words, By Elaine Carey TORONTO STAR

Tackling the digital divide According to a recent report, increased access to technology training makes little difference in the participation levels of those from lower socio -economic backgrounds, what then is the answer to the digital divide?, asks Padraig Collins
The Irish Times, November 6, 2000, CITY EDITION; COMPUTIMES; Pg. 8, 843 words

We must help our kids navigate the choppy waters of school
The Irish Times, November 13, 2007 Tuesday, EDUCATION; Pg. 12, 1116 words
3.Learning how to use this resource:
-I would recommend that someone who is using this database for the first time to practice with some simple searches, with emphasis on the word simple. Do not try to put to many details in when doing an easy search.
-When looking articles from other countries, narrow by geography. Do not limit by language. After looking for the article from Germany, I tried to narrow by language and imagine my shock when everything was written in German.
-When in doubt about how to use this or any database, do not be afraid to use the tutorials or helps. LexisNexis is very user-friendly in this capacity.

database analysis-representation language

2009-10-18T19:14:00.001-07:00

Book index with Reviews-Representation Language

The database that I have chosen use natural language instead of controlled vocabulary. The basic search does not include the Boolean operators, but the advanced search does. The advanced search also allows for Smart text searching. This allows the user to type as much text as they want to include in the search, from a phrase to a sentence or even more if necessary.
Basic search-I chose to see what quantity of results that I would get for children’s literature. Children’s literature received 3500 hits.
Spelling test
To test whether or not this database understands misspellings, I tested several terms pertaining to books.
1. Junir fiction- this produce no results, but I was asked whether I meant junior fiction, junji fiction, or jauntier fiction.
2. Bigrphy- this also produced no results, I was then asked whether I meant biography or biographee.
3. Fction-this actually produced one result, the terms given as options were faction, factions, or fiction
4. Colour-this British word produced about 33,028 hits and then I tried the American spelling-color. The exact same hits were retrieved and it did not question my spelling.
Synonym Test
For this specific test, I used the advanced search.
1.(su)children’s literature-3006 hits
(su)books for kids-0 hits

After adding the Boolean operator and
(su) books and (su)kids-15 hits

(ti) math and (ti)kids-121 hits
(ti) arithmetic and (ti)kids-0 hits

(ti)math-8263 hits
(ti)arithmetic-1680 hits

(su)spiders-5504 hits
(su)arachnids-28 hits
***My favorite book is Charlotte’s Web.

When using this database, either the basic search or the advanced search would be fruitful. This specific database offers suggestions for misspelled words but does not offer synonyms. Therefore the user would have to know the synonyms for their search terms. Some synonyms produced quality results, while others did not.

Using different search retrieval techniques-module 6

2009-10-11T14:13:00.000-07:00

Using different search retrieval techniques
I was very surprised when trying the new search retrieval techniques from the weekly reading assignment. The Boolean operators and, or and not made a surprising difference in the amount of results on each database. I found that when I used or, the amount of results was indeed substantial . However, some of those results were about other topics. Therefore, I had to do some weeding out of excess information.
ERIC
My topic is on the tiered reading approach.
(tx) tiered reading and education-1 hit
(kw)tiered reading and elementary and intermediate-273 hits
Families R Us: Building a Parent/School Partnership.
Author(s):
Sussell, Ardis; And Others
Source:
TEACHING Exceptional Children, v28 n4 p53-57 Sum 1996.
ISSN:
0040-0599
Descriptors:
Disabilities, Elementary Secondary Education, Family Needs, Family Programs, Needs Assessment, Parent Participation, Parent Role, Parent School Relationship, Program Development, Special Needs Students, Elementary Secondary Education
Identifiers:
Washtenaw Intermediate School District MI
Abstract:
The Family Support Services program of the Washtenaw Intermediate School District in Michigan encourages active collaboration between parents of children with special needs and professionals. This article addresses the history and philosophy of parent involvement; a district survey of family needs which identified information as the highest ranked need; guidelines for starting such a program; and benefits of the program for all. (DB)
Language:
English
Intended Audience:
Practitioners
Publication Type:
Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Availability:
Not available from ERIC
Journal Code:
CIJSEP1996
Entry Date:
1996

World cat
(kw) tiered reading and education – 18 hits
(kw) tiered reading and elementary or intermediate-114,187 hits
(kw) tiered reading and elementary and research -2 hits
A three-tiered instructional approach to reading instruction /
Jodi Gennodie
2008
English Book iv, 49 leaves : ill., tables ; 29 cm.
Salem, MA : Salem State College Dept. of Education,
GET THIS ITEM
Availability: Check the catalogs in your library.
• Libraries worldwide that own item: 1
• Connect to the catalog at Texas Woman's University Library

External Resources: • Request Item
• Cite This Item

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More Like This: Search for versions with same title and author | Advanced options ...

Find Items About: Salem State College. (25)

Title: A three-tiered instructional approach to reading instruction /
Author(s): Gennodie, Jodi.

Corp Author(s): Ayers Ryal Side Elementary School (Beverly, Mass.) ; Salem State College.; Graduate School of Education.

Publication: Salem, MA : Salem State College Dept. of Education,
Year: 2008
Description: iv, 49 leaves : ill., tables ; 29 cm.
Dissertation: Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Educational Leadership, May, 2008.
Language: English
Series: C.A.G.S. Action report;
SUBJECT(S)
Descriptor: Reading -- Language experience approach -- Massachusetts -- Case studies.
Reading -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- Massachusetts -- Case studies.
Literacy -- Massachusetts -- Case studies.
Reading -- Research -- Massachusetts -- Case studies.
Action research in education.
Education -- Research.
Dissertations, Academic.

Note(s): Includes bibliographical references (leaves 36-39).
Class Descriptors: LC: LB1573.33

Responsibility: an C.A.G.S. Action Research report presented by Jodi Gennodie.
Material Type: Thesis/dissertation (deg)
Document Type: Book
Entry: 20090507
Update: 20090507
Accession No: OCLC: 320463036
Database: WorldCat
Books in Print(BIP)
(kw) tiered reading and education-17 hits
(kw) tiered reading and elementary or intermediate-0 hits
(kw) tiered reading and elementary not intermediate-0 hits
(kw) tiered reading and elementary and research- 7hits
Title: Using RTI for School Improvement: Raising Every Student's Achievement Scores
Author: Cara Shores

Kim Chester

Publication Date: August 2008
Publisher: Corwin Press

Country of Publication: United States
Market: United States
ISBN: 1-4129-6641-8
ISBN13: 978-1-4129-6641-2
EAN: 9781412966412
Item Status: Active Record (Readily Available)
Binding Format: Trade Paper
Pages: 232
Price: $33.95 (USD Retail) SAGE Publications, Incorporated (Distributor)

Also Available Through: Baker & Taylor Books; Blackwell; Brodart Company; Copyright Clearance Center, Incorporated; Gardners Books Limited; Ingram Book Company; Matthews Medical Book Company
Current Language: English
Audience: Scholarly & Professional
Bowker Subjects: SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS
REMEDIAL TEACHING

General Subjects (BISAC): EDUCATION / Aims & Objectives
EDUCATION / Teaching Methods & Materials / General

LCCN: 2008-031148
LC Class #: LB2822.82.S45 2009
Dewey #: 371.010973
Synopsis/Annotation: "Does a good job of addressing the issues and challenges I have experienced during my career as teacher, staff developer, and administrator. The authors seek to inform and establish understanding." -Susan N. Imamura, Retired Principal Hawaii State Department of Education"Shores and Chester offer clear instructions and sage advice that will fast-forward the widespread adoption of RTI, ultimately providing ALL children with better chances for academic success." -Jim Grant, Educational Consultant, Author Staff Development for EducatorsA step-by-step approach for implementing RTI to improve schoolwide achievement!Principals and administrators have only scratched the surface of how Response to Intervention (RTI) can maximize school performance and student achievement. This book gives school and district leaders a comprehensive vision and framework for implementing RTI schoolwide and includes interventions and assessments for teachers.Cara Shores and Kim Chester help educators identify students at risk, pinpoint highly effective strategies that address students' individual needs, and use assessment to monitor progress and adjust instruction. The book offers an overview of RTI and takes readers through each level of a three-tiered RTI pyramid geared to provide effective teaching practices for all learners and develop interventions for at-risk and nonresponding students. The book presents: Charts, figures, and diagrams to illustrate points throughout each chapter Guidelines for developing action plans at the school or district level Practical suggestions for partnering with parents Reflective questions to help readers apply the information to their schoolsCombining a "big picture" approach with research-based strategies, Using RTI for School Improvement illustrates how RTI can transform schools into highly effective, motivating learning environments.

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Library Lit
(kw) tiered reading and education-1 hit
(kw) tiered reading and elementary or intermediate-153 hits
(kw) tiered reading and elementary not intermediate-0 hits
(kw) tiered reading and elementary and research-0 hits
(kw) tiered reading and education and research-0 hits
Reaching Struggling Readers in the Intermediate Grades with Books they Can and Want to ReadPersonal Author:Rog, Lori Jamison; Kropp, PaulJournal Name:School Libraries in Canada (Online)Source:School Libraries in Canada (Online) v. 25 no. 1 (2005) p. 44-9E-Journal Article:E-Journal Full TextPublication Year:2005Subject(s):Children's reading/Aims and objectives; Readability and readable books/EvaluationPeer Reviewed Journal: ISSN:1710-8535Language of Document:EnglishDocument Type:Feature ArticleDatabase:Library & Information ScienceAccession Number:200500108944009Persistent URL:Click to copy the HTML full text article link

competency-Lib Lit and BIP

2009-10-04T15:54:00.000-07:00

Competency- Library Lit and Books in Print
Topic –Tiered reading
Books in Print(BIP)
Keyword- 72 results
Keyword in title-2 results
Exact title-0 results
I then added the word research, making my topic more specific
Topic –Tiered reading research
Keyword-21 results
Exact title-0 results

Title: Using RTI for School Improvement: Raising Every Student's Achievement Scores
Author: Cara Shores

Kim Chester

Publication Date: August 2008
Publisher: Corwin Press

Country of Publication: United States
Market: United States
ISBN: 1-4129-6641-8
ISBN13: 978-1-4129-6641-2
EAN: 9781412966412
Item Status: Active Record (Readily Available)
Binding Format: Trade Paper
Pages: 232
Price: $33.95 (USD Retail) SAGE Publications, Incorporated (Distributor)
Also Available Through: Baker & Taylor Books; Blackwell; Brodart Company; Copyright Clearance Center, Incorporated; Gardners Books Limited; Ingram Book Company; Matthews Medical Book Company
Current Language: English
Audience: Scholarly & Professional
Bowker Subjects: SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS
REMEDIAL TEACHING

General Subjects (BISAC): EDUCATION / Aims & Objectives
EDUCATION / Teaching Methods & Materials / General

LCCN: 2008-031148
LC Class #: LB2822.82.S45 2009
Dewey #: 371.010973
Synopsis/Annotation: "Does a good job of addressing the issues and challenges I have experienced during my career as teacher, staff developer, and administrator. The authors seek to inform and establish understanding." -Susan N. Imamura, Retired Principal Hawaii State Department of Education"Shores and Chester offer clear instructions and sage advice that will fast-forward the widespread adoption of RTI, ultimately providing ALL children with better chances for academic success." -Jim Grant, Educational Consultant, Author Staff Development for EducatorsA step-by-step approach for implementing RTI to improve schoolwide achievement!Principals and administrators have only scratched the surface of how Response to Intervention (RTI) can maximize school performance and student achievement. This book gives school and district leaders a comprehensive vision and framework for implementing RTI schoolwide and includes interventions and assessments for teachers.Cara Shores and Kim Chester help educators identify students at risk, pinpoint highly effective strategies that address students' individual needs, and use assessment to monitor progress and adjust instruction. The book offers an overview of RTI and takes readers through each level of a three-tiered RTI pyramid geared to provide effective teaching practices for all learners and develop interventions for at-risk and nonresponding students. The book presents: Charts, figures, and diagrams to illustrate points throughout each chapter Guidelines for developing action plans at the school or district level Practical suggestions for partnering with parents Reflective questions to help readers apply the information to their schoolsCombining a "big picture" approach with resea

Library Lit(full text articles)
Title-4 results
Relevance-4 results
Keyword-4 results
Subject-0 results
Abstract-2 results
After adding the word research,
Keyword-0 results
Subject-0 results
Title:The Social Life of BooksOther Titles:A conversation with Ben VershbowPersonal Author:Albanese, RichardJournal Name:Library Journal (1976)Source:Library Journal (1976) v. 131 no. 9 (May 15 2006) p. 28-30Publication Year:2006Abstract:An interview with Ben Vershbow, a fellow of the Institute for the Future of the Book, is provided. Among other topics, Vershbow discusses his book blog "The Book is Reading You," what he means by "the social life" of books, his vision for the future of the book, how the e-book ventures launched by Google and Amazon may affect books, the inherent danger of a tiered system on the Internet, and the future of the print book.Subject(s):Internet; Books; Vershbow, Ben/InterviewsPhysical Description:PortraitISSN:0363-0277Language of Document:EnglishDocument Type:InterviewDatabase:Education; Library & Information ScienceAccession Number:200613501872029

I was very surprised at the lack of results when I searched on Library Literature. Tiered reading is a teaching strategy being used by many school districts nationwide. Maybe the newness of this topic has not caught up with journals found in this specific database.

Tagging

2009-10-04T15:00:00.000-07:00

http://www.librarything.com/profile/KarlaPhipps (profile)
http://www.librarything.com/catalog/KarlaPhipps (library)

Mashing tags

Holocaust (Includes: Holocaust, holocost, Holocausto, förintelsen, Halocaust, holocast, Hollocaust, Holcaust, holocasut, Hollcaust)

children (Includes: children, childern, chidlren)

My reasoning for choosing this specific topic: I have always been very interested in the World War 2 era. As a teacher, personally,I have read many of the books geared toward this topic. My daughter is a sixth grader and she will be spending a six weeks studying this area of history. The sixth graders are privileged to be able to have a trunk sent to their campus from the Holocaust Museum. This trunk is filled with memorabilia to give the students a glimpse of life during this period of history.

Rss feed

2009-09-27T16:07:00.000-07:00

I chose a RSS feed that deals with changes in services to children. I hope to be able to use this feed regularly as a librarian and I can also utilize it as a grad student and a teacher.
http://wikis.ala.org/alsc/index.php/Special:Recentchanges

ERIC/WORLDCAT COMPETENCY

2009-09-27T15:03:00.000-07:00

Competency:World Cat and Eric

My Topic: Tiered reading

*My reason for choosing this specific topic is because I am a first grade teacher and I use the three tiered reading approach with my students. I have received quite a bit of training in this specific approach and I feel like I need to keep learning as much as I can.

Eric

Tiered reading-(keyword) :39 records

Tiered reading-(abstract): 9 records

Tiered reading-(Title): 0 records

Tiered reading-(Target Audience): 0 records

Tiers of Intervention in Kindergarten Through Third Grade Source: Journal of Learning Disabilities v38 n6 p532-538 Nov-Dec 2005 (7 pages)
Additional Info: PRO-ED, Inc., 8700 Shoal Creek Boulevard, Austin, TX 78757-6897. Tel: 800-897-3202 (Toll Free).; http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2226/content/proedcw/jld

I then tried adding the word research-

Tiered reading research-(keyword): 14 records

Field-Based Evaluation of Two-Tiered Instruction for Enhancing Kindergarten Phonological Awareness

C Melanie Schuele; Laura M Justice; Sonia Q Cabell; Kathy Knighton; Beverly Kingery; Marvin W Lee

2008

English Article (EJ) 27

Early Education and Development, v19 n5 p726-752 Sep 2008

Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals

Research Findings: This study reports on the outcomes of a multisite, two-tiered, response-to-intervention instructional model for delivering phonological awareness instruction and intervention to kindergartners. Fifty-seven kindergartners from 3 classrooms participated in a supplemental phonological awareness program, and 56 kindergartners from 3 classrooms received the prevailing school-adopted literacy curriculum...

World cat

Tiered reading-(keyword): 29 records

Tiered reading-(Title): 5 records

Tiered reading-(Material type): 0 records

Tiered reading-(Publisher): 0 records

Research-based education and intervention :
what we need to know.

Sylvia O Richardson; Jeffrey W Gilger

2005

English Book [iv], 139 p. ; 22 cm.

Baltimore, Md. : International Dyslexia Association, ; ISBN: 9780892140619 (pbk.) 0892140615 (pbk.)

Once again, I added the word research.

Tiered reading research-(keyword): 16 records

Evidence-based reading practices for response to intervention /

Diane Haager; Janette K Klingner; Sharon Vaughn

2007

English Book xiv, 336 p. : ill. ; 23 cm.

Baltimore : P. H. Brookes Pub. Co., ; ISBN: 1557668280 (pbk.) 9781557668288 (pbk.)

my podcast

2009-09-19T20:15:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kW19W-B9KvA#
The name of my podcast is

How to Teach Children to Read : Favorite Children's Authors

I chose this podcast because as a teacher and a future librarian, I feel that children will read books that they are interested in and they want to have a choice in what they are reading. This podcast introduces both children and parents to popular children's book authors. I really enjoyed watching it because I like to do different author studies in my own classroom and I feel that it helps the students better connect with the story if they know some information about the author. I located this podcast by searching youtube.com and then searching under children's literature.

Indexing in terms that my family can understand-revised

2009-09-13T20:23:00.000-07:00

In response to the weekly readings in our text, I chose to write about indexing. I have gone over this section countless times and this one section seems to be the one that I am having the most difficulty with. So, in terms that are easier to understand.
Information needs to be represented before it can be retrieved. Indexing is a widely adopted method for information representation. It uses terms to represent important facets of the original document.
1. Indexing is done based on how terms are obtained or chosen.
2.There are two types of indexing: derivative indexing and assignment indexing. Derivative indexing, also known as keyword indexing, means that terms are derived from or taken from the document. Assignment indexing means that the terms are assigned to the document.
3.Assignment indexing uses a controlled vocabulary to choose appropriate terms. Derivative indexing or free indexing obtains the terms directly from the the text.
An example would be if someone was trying to find a recipe for pumpkin pie. Derivative indexing would allow the user to use the term pumpkin or certain ingredients to locate a specific recipe. Assignment indexing means that someone could look up types of pies to obtain the recipe of their choice.
Chu, Heting. (2005). Information Representation and Retrieval in the Digital Age. Medford, New Jersey. Information Today, Inc.

Indexing in terms that my family can understand

2009-09-13T14:23:00.000-07:00

In response to the weekly readings in our text, I chose to write about indexing. I have gone over this section countless times and this one section seems to be the one that I am having the most difficulty with. So, in terms that are easier to understand.
1. Indexing is done based on how terms are obtained or chosen.
2.There are two types of indexing: derivative indexing and assignment indexing. Derivative indexing, also known as keyword indexing, means that terms are derived from or taken from the document. Assignment indexing means that the terms are assigned to the document.
3.Assignment indexing uses a controlled vocabulary to choose appropriate terms. Derivative indexing or free indexing obtains the terms directly from the the text.
An example would be if someone was trying to find a recipe for pumpkin pie. Derivative indexing would allow the user to use the term pumpkin or certain ingredients to locate a specific recipe. Assignment indexing means that someone could look up types of pies to obtain the recipe of their choice.

the journey

2009-09-12T15:40:00.000-07:00

I am very interested in children's literature and I decided that I would like to find a blog site that focused on that. I used googleBlog http://blogsearch.google.com/. I typed in childrens' literature. This blog site was listed and I explored and really enjoyed it. This site was created for adults who enjoy childrens' literature. I really enjoyed the movie trailer of Cloudy with a chance of meatballs. My reasoning behind choosing this specific site is because I am a first grade teacher and I am currently in my 18th year of teaching.

Related blog-http://childlitbookclub.blogspot.com

2009-09-12T15:23:00.000-07:00

Monday, June 15, 2009

http://childlitbookclub.blogspot.com/

Terrible Yellow Eyes

Am I the last one to hear of the blog Terrible Yellow Eyes? Illustrator Cory Godbey says Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak has always been tremendously important to him. He decided to contact many of his favorite artist in hopes to curate a collection of paintings as a tribute to the book and he displays them all on the blog

All I can say is, "Wow!" You have to go straight to the blog to see it for yourself. I want a copy of each and everyone. And many more are still coming! Here are a few of my favorites to prove to you that you need to go straight to the site. Godbey says it's like a visual love letter to the book and I have to agree.

slowly but surely

2009-09-07T19:05:00.000-07:00

I am learning slowly but surely how to manage this blog.

Learning something new

2009-09-07T17:40:00.000-07:00

This blog is about learning something new and being able to share that with others. I have never done anything like this and it is both scary and exciting. I am interest in the area of children's literature and I am hoping one day to be a librarian at the primary level. I love this age group and the literature geared toward this group.