Title: Stuart’s Cape
Author: Sara Pennypacker
Every little boy wants to get into mischief and go on adventures, but truly amazing adventures only happen to people with capes. In Stuart’s Cape by Sara Pennypacker Stuart, a bored little boy, longs to go on adventures and see the world. He finds a box of old ties, and with a little creative imagination he builds the perfect cape to help him out. This easy transitional chapter book finds Stuart having just moved to a new town and getting very worried about the upcoming school year. He is bound and determined to get in some adventures before the new school year starts, and he gets lost going to the bathroom or won’t have any friends. Since he still has a couple days left of summer he dons his cape and amazing things happen. He has a dinosaur friend; he sleeps on toast and flies over the neighborhood all the while making some new friends on the way. This spectacular book will capture the interest of its reader and bring them into the whimsical world of Stuart and his wonderful cape.
Pennypacker, S. Stuart's Cape. Illus. Martin Matje. New York NY: Scholastic/Orchard Books, 2002.
Review Site: https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Book Of Choice Craft Lesson (The Magic School Bus)
Discussion:
One of my favorite books in elementary school was the Magic School Bus series. When I found this book again I realized why I loved it so much. These books are very fun to read but are also very educational. Each book is about a different topic having to do with science and the crazy adventures the students have with Mrs. Frizzle as they travel through hurricanes, tornadoes and tropical storms. The book in the series that I recently purchased is The Magic School Bus, Inside A Hurricane. I feel that this book would be great to use to introduce students to the different types of weather we will all experience.
How To Teach It:
I would read this book before I was going to teach a unit on weather in science. Anytime you can sneak in reading outside of actual reading time is always going to be a plus. This book teaches what forms hurricanes, the components of a hurricane, why there are tornados and the damages these types of weather can cause. I would use this book as a group read and each student will read a section of it aloud. After they finish the read each group will make their very own tornado in a bottle. Each group will need two one liter bottles with water, soap and glitter paper (debris) put in one. The two bottles will be connected with bottle connectors. They will swirl the bottles in a circular motion and then turn it upside down to create their very own tornado. After this project each group will write about what they have learned about tornadoes and hurricanes from this project and the book. Each group will make a presentation to the class about their new findings!
Cole, Joanna and Bruce Degen. The Magic School Bus: Inside A Hurricane. New York NY: Scholastic Inc., 1997.
One of my favorite books in elementary school was the Magic School Bus series. When I found this book again I realized why I loved it so much. These books are very fun to read but are also very educational. Each book is about a different topic having to do with science and the crazy adventures the students have with Mrs. Frizzle as they travel through hurricanes, tornadoes and tropical storms. The book in the series that I recently purchased is The Magic School Bus, Inside A Hurricane. I feel that this book would be great to use to introduce students to the different types of weather we will all experience.
How To Teach It:
I would read this book before I was going to teach a unit on weather in science. Anytime you can sneak in reading outside of actual reading time is always going to be a plus. This book teaches what forms hurricanes, the components of a hurricane, why there are tornados and the damages these types of weather can cause. I would use this book as a group read and each student will read a section of it aloud. After they finish the read each group will make their very own tornado in a bottle. Each group will need two one liter bottles with water, soap and glitter paper (debris) put in one. The two bottles will be connected with bottle connectors. They will swirl the bottles in a circular motion and then turn it upside down to create their very own tornado. After this project each group will write about what they have learned about tornadoes and hurricanes from this project and the book. Each group will make a presentation to the class about their new findings!
Cole, Joanna and Bruce Degen. The Magic School Bus: Inside A Hurricane. New York NY: Scholastic Inc., 1997.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Chapter 17
This chapter was amazing. I learned so much useful information for motivating students to read. This chapter dealt with everything from learning how to motivate students, organizing the classroom and creating a reading atmosphere, to finding out how to unmotivated students. One story that I found interesting was about the man whose daughter was a motivated reader but kept reading the Little House series over and over. By him telling her to choose something different it made her lose interest in reading all together. This story hit close to home for me because that is probably something I would have said if I encountered a student like that. Now I know the child will probably move on to a different title in his or her own time. We as teachers have such a difficult task to make sure that our students become motivated readers. I agree with the fact that we ourselves must be motivated readers before we can even talk about it to our students. Practice what we preach! I really enjoyed reading this chapter and found out some interesting things to do in my own classroom someday to create a great reading atmosphere.
Tunnell, Michael O. and James S. Jacobs. Children's Literature, Briefly. 4e. Upper Sadle River NJ: Pearson/Merrill Prentice Hall, 2008.
Tunnell, Michael O. and James S. Jacobs. Children's Literature, Briefly. 4e. Upper Sadle River NJ: Pearson/Merrill Prentice Hall, 2008.
ZOOM Craft Lesson
Discussion:
This book is all about perspective and how all people see things so differently. I would use this book to show my students that each person’s perspective is different and just because they think a picture shows one thing another student will see it as being something totally opposite.
How To Teach It:
For this activity I would let each student have a copy of Zoom. I would not read the whole book first; instead I would go through each picture individually. Before we began I would explain to the students that each picture is part of something bigger. As we go through each picture each student would have a piece of paper and they would write down what they see in that picture. Their next task would be to think of where that picture fits in the next picture. As they flip the page they can see if they were right or not but they can not change what they wrote down. After we have done that with all the pictures they will switch with a partner and see if their perspectives of the pictures are the same.
Banyai, Istvan. Zoom. New York NY: Puffin Books, 1995.
This book is all about perspective and how all people see things so differently. I would use this book to show my students that each person’s perspective is different and just because they think a picture shows one thing another student will see it as being something totally opposite.
How To Teach It:
For this activity I would let each student have a copy of Zoom. I would not read the whole book first; instead I would go through each picture individually. Before we began I would explain to the students that each picture is part of something bigger. As we go through each picture each student would have a piece of paper and they would write down what they see in that picture. Their next task would be to think of where that picture fits in the next picture. As they flip the page they can see if they were right or not but they can not change what they wrote down. After we have done that with all the pictures they will switch with a partner and see if their perspectives of the pictures are the same.
Banyai, Istvan. Zoom. New York NY: Puffin Books, 1995.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Babymouse Craft Lesson
Holm, Jennifer L, and Matthew Holm. Babymouse Our Hero. New York: Random House, 2005.
Discussion
I think it is important for children to be exposed to all different types of writing. They should know that there is so much more out there than just the traditional way of writing a book and reading it. Some children may already be exposed to comic books, but, they may think that is not "real" reading. It is my hopes that by showing them Babymouse, they will understand how different writing can still be fun!
How To Teach It
After reading Babymouse with the whole class (each person will have their own copy), each person will make their own comic book. Before they begin writing I will introduce the right techniques and process for writing their comic book. Each person can make up a character, the plot, setting and storyline for their comic but they have to make sure that they are following the proper way to write a comic book. After everyone is finished with their story they will tell the class who their character is and the plot of their comic, they may then take it home to read and share with their parents!
Discussion
I think it is important for children to be exposed to all different types of writing. They should know that there is so much more out there than just the traditional way of writing a book and reading it. Some children may already be exposed to comic books, but, they may think that is not "real" reading. It is my hopes that by showing them Babymouse, they will understand how different writing can still be fun!
How To Teach It
After reading Babymouse with the whole class (each person will have their own copy), each person will make their own comic book. Before they begin writing I will introduce the right techniques and process for writing their comic book. Each person can make up a character, the plot, setting and storyline for their comic but they have to make sure that they are following the proper way to write a comic book. After everyone is finished with their story they will tell the class who their character is and the plot of their comic, they may then take it home to read and share with their parents!
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Zoom
Banyai, Istvan. Zoom. New York NY: Puffin Books, 1995.
I really didn't know what to expect when I began flipping through the pages, and after looking at Sidewalk Circus I was not to sure I would like this one either. I am happy to say that I was pleasently surprised. After flipping through the first several pages it was not what I expected at all. I liked seeing all the different perspectives on each page and it was fun to predict what the next page would bring. I had no idea this was the type of book it was going to be. I definently think this is a book that would be good to use to bring out creativity and prediction skills in students. I can say with confidence that this book will stay in my personal library.
I really didn't know what to expect when I began flipping through the pages, and after looking at Sidewalk Circus I was not to sure I would like this one either. I am happy to say that I was pleasently surprised. After flipping through the first several pages it was not what I expected at all. I liked seeing all the different perspectives on each page and it was fun to predict what the next page would bring. I had no idea this was the type of book it was going to be. I definently think this is a book that would be good to use to bring out creativity and prediction skills in students. I can say with confidence that this book will stay in my personal library.
Chapter 16
Tunnell, Michael O. and James S. Jacobs. Children's Literature, Briefly. 4e. Upper Sadle River NJ: Pearson/Merrill Prentice Hall, 2008.
I found this chapter very interesting! As teachers we have a big responsibility over what our students read. I really liked how this chapter went through some different books and the rucus they have caused in the past. We, as future teachers, have a huge responsibility for making sure the books we pick are right for our paticular students. I very much agree with the statement that if we aren't going to be prepared for backlash and be able to stand up for our arguement then we probably should not pick that book!
I found this chapter very interesting! As teachers we have a big responsibility over what our students read. I really liked how this chapter went through some different books and the rucus they have caused in the past. We, as future teachers, have a huge responsibility for making sure the books we pick are right for our paticular students. I very much agree with the statement that if we aren't going to be prepared for backlash and be able to stand up for our arguement then we probably should not pick that book!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)