I believe that reading aloud is important because children not only enjoy this time with the teacher or whom ever is reading to them, but because memories are established at that moment. Starting to read-aloud to the very young is essential because these are the formative years. It's also the perfect time to instill good reading habits in children that can continue for a life time.
I believe some of the best series of books to read-aloud are The Dr. Seuss Series, The Eric Carle Series of Books, Clifford The Big Red Dog Series, and The Magic School Bus Series to name a few. These series of books have a rhythm sound that help the very young get used to sound alike words; others teach moral values, and still others teach about the world around them. Each of these series of books have connections to each book in the series. These connections help the children remember, relate, and connect the words to the author as well to the other books in the series.
Read-aloud is critical in all age groups because learning is a continual process in a persons life. "It is considered "seed money" in reaching tomorrow's parents." states Jim Trelease in his book The Read Aloud Handbook. Reading aloud to the very young before starting school develops several aspects of literacy such as: interest in reading, language development, building vocabulary, developing listening comprehension, understanding different kinds of sentence structures, learning how language is used in books, developing a sense of story, and fostering an awareness of the world.
It is never a waste of time to read-aloud to older children because as I said before learning is an on going process, and the benefits of it is increased listening comprehesion, and the introduction of new vocabulary words. Of course books for older children need to be carefully considered. These children need to be challenged and thier interests in the book / story stired up. The teacher must know the book she or he is going to read-aloud if that teacher is to bring a lesson out of it. Thus, the teacher must know what he or she wants to get out of it and why. Most importantly, the teacher must how to read-aloud, and it should not always be for learning either. Fun should have its place in the read-alouds "enjoyment of literature is key,but ways to learn more about it can flow naturally from carefully thinking through the prupose and intent of the read-aloud."
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
3321 MON. NIGHT CHAPTER 9
Nonfiction has come a long way. It has changed tremendously, today it includes maps, articles from the newspaper, how to do books, cookbooks, the Internet and much more. The authors of nonfiction have the same criteria as those who write fiction. I used to have trouble differentiating between fiction and nonfiction and now with the faction books it seems to add to the situation. Still, The books that are faction tell of so much. These are books that give information, that tell true stories about people and add fictional details to move the story along. They also introduce important facts and make the narrative more dramatic. The good part is that you are given hints to recognize if a book is nonfiction. Hints such as the area where the ISBN is located; if you see "juvenile literature" most likely it is nonfiction. Still the designation of a book being "juvenile literature" can mean it is a blending of both nonfiction and faction so watch out.
The elements of a nonfiction book are: The Format tells how it works as a whole. Size and Shape mirror what the book contains. The Book Covers and Endpapers help to draw the readers and the endpapers provide visual clues to the books content. The Typeface and Distinctive Markings are to enhance the appearance of a book. Visual Information is critical it helps the reader to clarify and understand the content. The Access Features helps readers acquire information regarding the book. Accuracy is considered the most important of the elements of a nonfiction book because that one book may be the only book from where a student can get information on a particular topic that is why it has to be accurate.
The Style is important was well; it has to draw a reader into the book and make it unforgettable. The Leads and Conclusions of a nonfiction book are important because the lead engages the reader while a good and effective conclusion helps the reader transition to the next chapter smoothly. The writers of nonfiction use Sentence Structure and Vocabulary so that the reader is not baffled by hard or difficult language and so the book is memorable and understandable to the reader. Figurative Language is used by each writer in his or her unique way and is used to give clarity and meaning to what is written. Clarity is important because without it a book may fail. Organization is critical because the writer has to know what structure is best for the book because it supports a reader's comprehension of the information he or she is getting from the book.
I like the Concept Books section because this information can be used to teach younger and special needs children the foundational elements that they will need later on in their education. I think the Informational Picture Storybooks can also be used in these classes as well. The example book Chicks & Chickens is a great book to use in regards to the Life Cycle series in a curriculum.
The elements of a nonfiction book are: The Format tells how it works as a whole. Size and Shape mirror what the book contains. The Book Covers and Endpapers help to draw the readers and the endpapers provide visual clues to the books content. The Typeface and Distinctive Markings are to enhance the appearance of a book. Visual Information is critical it helps the reader to clarify and understand the content. The Access Features helps readers acquire information regarding the book. Accuracy is considered the most important of the elements of a nonfiction book because that one book may be the only book from where a student can get information on a particular topic that is why it has to be accurate.
The Style is important was well; it has to draw a reader into the book and make it unforgettable. The Leads and Conclusions of a nonfiction book are important because the lead engages the reader while a good and effective conclusion helps the reader transition to the next chapter smoothly. The writers of nonfiction use Sentence Structure and Vocabulary so that the reader is not baffled by hard or difficult language and so the book is memorable and understandable to the reader. Figurative Language is used by each writer in his or her unique way and is used to give clarity and meaning to what is written. Clarity is important because without it a book may fail. Organization is critical because the writer has to know what structure is best for the book because it supports a reader's comprehension of the information he or she is getting from the book.
I like the Concept Books section because this information can be used to teach younger and special needs children the foundational elements that they will need later on in their education. I think the Informational Picture Storybooks can also be used in these classes as well. The example book Chicks & Chickens is a great book to use in regards to the Life Cycle series in a curriculum.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
3321 MON. NIGHT 33rd AUTHOR
The Magic School Bus series of books are written by Joanna Cole & Buce Degen. These books are informative and scientific books that teach children at a young age about their world. These books are Faction and for children 4-9 years of age.Some titles in this series are The Magic School Bus Lost in the Solar System, ... At the Waterworks, ... Inside the Earth, ... Inside the Human Body, ... On the Ocean Floor, ... In the time of the Dinosaurs, ... Inside a Beehive, and more. The cover of each book tells you right off what it is about. With clear, gigantic pictures, The Magic School Bus Inside the Earth starts at the beginning of the school day as each book does. As the teacher announces what the lesson for the day and the homework will be the students seem disappointed that it is not going to be something fun and exciting. As it turns out, the teacher Ms. Frizzle is no ordinary teacher. She is the type of teacher we all wish we had. She is fun, adventurous, cookie, she dresses funny, and yet, she is very knowledgeable about the topics she teaches, and she loves field trips.
In this book the students are suppose to bring a rock to school - this is their homework because their lesson is on earth science. Little do they know of the adventure Ms. Frizzle is about to take them on; talk about hands on learning. As a teacher you will appreciate the colorful and precise pictures, the facts on the topic, and the the easy to read dialogue and information given in not only in this book but in each book. It is worth having the collection of these books.
Joanna Cole has written over 250 books ranging from her first book Cockroach to her famous series Magic School Bus. Cole was born in Newark, New Jersey, and grew up in nearby East Orange. She loved science as a child, and had a teacher that was a little like Ms. Frizzle. She attended the University of Massachusetts and Indiana University before graduating from the City College of New York with a B.A. in psychology. After some graduate education courses, she spent a year as a librarian in a Brooklyn elementary school.
http://www.magicschoolbus.com/
http://www.scholastic.com/
Monday, October 26, 2009
3321 MON. NIGHT 32nd AUTHOR
The Ten Boom family were devoted Christians who dedicated their lives in service to their fellow man. Their home was always an "open house" for anyone in need. Through the decades the Ten Booms were very active in social work in Haarlem, and their faith inspired them to serve the religious community and society at large.During the Second World War, the Ten Boom home became a refuge, a hiding place, for fugitives and those hunted by the Nazis. By protecting these people, Casper and his daughters, Corrie and Betsie, risked their lives. This non-violent resistance against the Nazi-oppressors was the Ten Booms' way of living out their Christian faith. This faith led them to hide Jews, students who refused to cooperate with the Nazis, and members of the Dutch underground resistance movement.
On February 28, 1944, this family was betrayed and the Gestapo (the Nazi secret police) raided their home. The Gestapo set a trap and waited throughout the day, seizing everyone who came to the house. By evening about 30 people had been taken into custody! Casper, Corrie and Betsie were all arrested. Corrie’s brother Willem, sister Nollie, and nephew Peter were at the house that day, and were also taken to prison. Out of her family memebers, Corrie ten Boom was the only one to come out of the prison.
Corrie ten Boom received many tributes. She was knighted by the Queen of Holland. In 1968, the Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem (Yad Vashem) asked Corrie ten Boom to plant a tree in the Garden of Righteousness, in honor of the many Jewish lives her family saved. Her tree stands there today. In the early 1970's Corrie ten Boom's book THE HIDING PLACE became a best seller and World Wide Pictures released the major motion picture "The Hiding Place." Corrie went on to write many other inspiring books and make several evangelical videos. These books and videos tell of her family's life story and their work in serving the Lord.
This book is Historical Fiction and for the youth and -.
http://www.corrietenboom.com/
Sunday, October 25, 2009
3321 MON. NIGHT 31st AUTHOR
Chicken Soup for the Soul Series of books are written by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, and Kimberly Firberger is the editor of the series. These authors collaborate in putting together stories that touch peoples heart, minds, and lives. Some of the books in the series are: Chicken Soup for the Christian Soul, ... for the Kid's Soul, ... for the Mother's Soul, ... for the Pet Lover's Soul, ... for the Surviving Soul, ... for the Teenage Soul, ... for the Soul at Work, and ... for the Soul: The Cancer Book, and many more.
The reason I like these books is because the stories are stories that really could happen or happened to someone. Each book has several chapters on one topic. Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul for instance has 101 stories of life, love, and learning. These authors encourage for people such as you and I to send in our stories and they might be added to one of their books - depending on the topic. So we too have the opportunity to be writers though our life experiences. This book is Contempory Realistic Fiction and for the youth.
For more than 30 years, Mark Victor Hansen has focused solely on helping people and organizations, from all walks of life, reshape their personal vision of what's possible. His powerful messages of possibility, opportunity, and action have helped create startling and powerful change in thousands of organizations, and millions of individuals worldwide.
The Chicken Soup idea was just one of many that has propelled Mark into a worldwide spotlight as a sought-after keynote speaker, best-selling author and marketing maven. His credentials include a lifetime of entrepreneurial success, in addition to an extensive academic background.
He is also a prolific writer with many popular books such as The Power of Focus, The Aladdin Factor, Dare To Win, and others. Mark has also made a profound influence through his extensive library of audio programs, video programs and enriching articles in the areas of big thinking, sales achievement, publishing success and personal and professional development
3321 MON. NIGHT 30th AUTHOR
Come and See is written and illustrated by Linda Schaefer and it is about Mother Teresa. Mother Teresa was a devout Catholic Nun who was led to by God to serve Him in India. She started the Missionaries of Charity Organization through which she served God in comforting and caring for the needy, the sick, the poor, the lepers, and the dying."'Come and See is more than a phrase used by Mother Teresa - it is a challenge to enter a world that can be harsh, frightening, painful, disappointing, and seemingly never ending- and at the same time full of joy and hope.'" states Linda Schaefer. Mother Teresa not only started a Home for the dying within twenty-four hours where a time of devotions is also held, but she also lifted up an orphanage, and the Gandhiji Prem Nivas Leprosy Center in 1958. She also created villages where the lepers could live and work in peace be self-sufficient and raise their own food.
Though Mother Teresa died in 1997 at the age of 87, the Missionaries of Charity continues due to the devotion of the nuns Mother Teresa trained in Calcutta, India. Today the Missionaries of Charity organization is not only in Calcutta, India but all over the world. Through, Linda Schaefer's illustrations you can see the agony, hunger, as well as the peace the people receive from Mother Teresa and the nuns, love and compassion that is poured out to them. You can also see and read pages written by Mother Teresa from her daily journal. This book helps you to appreciate the world you have and to see that even the lowest of the low are not forgotten by God. It is Fiction and for 12 years old and older.
Linda Schaefer is a photographer by trade, and an artist by intuition is recognized by magazines and newspapers alike. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, Catholic Digest, Time and Newsweek, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Parade Magazine, Paris Match, GQ, the Los Angeles Times, and Stern to name a few. Her career started as a journalist for CNN in 1985, but she soon found that she couldn't’t loose her first love – still photography. While doing freelance for the Associated Press she decided this would be her full - time occupation. But her passion for documentary work, along with the fact that she had lived in Brazil during her childhood, led her to explore and photograph the Amazon.
In June of 1995, Linda Schaefer had her first contact with Mother Teresa, who was visiting Atlanta. Schaefer Traveled to Calcutta several months after meeting Mother Teresa, and had the rare opportunity to document the work of the Missionaries of Charity. Thousands of photographs later, select images of that experience were selected for inclusion in this book.
http://www.lindaschaefer.com/
http://www.motherteresaofcalcutta.com/
Saturday, October 17, 2009
3321 MON. NIGHT CHAPTER 8
For the first time I am understanding what Fiction is, how important it is to read, and how important it is to have books that students can relate to. I think books that are Fiction, Contemporary Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction, and Science Fiction are about the most important books students can read.
Fiction, for instance, is important because it illuminates truth. Many of the books that are fiction are written from the authors life, what he or she has learned from experience they have walked through, and what he or she has learned from investigating and researching a certain topic. Still, fiction can be imaginative, but how true to life it is is determined by the genre.
In Contemporary Realistic Fiction there is a wider range that is covered. For instance, in its genre people, animals, and events are included because of the possibility that the people and animals could actually exist, and the events could actually occur. Another reason I think this type of book is important is that students like to read about other children who are similar to themselves and what they might be going through or have gone through. It helps them feel like they are not alone.
Historical Fiction is a gem, I think, because it keeps the past alive. Those who write historical fiction have a deep love and respect for the past. They want to keep it alive by doing extensive research to acquire detailed information to write the truth about people, an event, or a place to enrich the book. And when an illustrator creates the pictures to an Historical Fiction book the book comes alive and draws the reader into the book.
Science Fiction offers the possibility that it could happen. Though writers have a tough assignment in this area of writing, they accept the challenge and "they speculate about future technology and advances in human knowledge while writing a plausible story."pg. 180. The writers imagination, creativity, and adventurous attitude must be in line with their writing to make their story attract and keep the reader. Their description of the topic of their story must be believable so that the readers believes the whole story and no dump the book half way.
As I read this chapter I see that there is Fiction for every level of readers. As well for every topic a reader might enjoy. I really like the section of Good Critical Questioning and Word Sorts; it helps to have a list of questions ready and an activity for the reading time in case I should be absent. I can also see how I can use the Storyboards to help my students remember elements of the book and story. Making reading time fun helps keep the students attention and interest in reading alive. That is why I like the Literature-Based Board Games section on page 210. Figure 8.7 gives great information on the Literature-Based Board Games, and it starts on page 210 - 211 and it includes adaptions which are needed for Special Needs students.
Fiction, for instance, is important because it illuminates truth. Many of the books that are fiction are written from the authors life, what he or she has learned from experience they have walked through, and what he or she has learned from investigating and researching a certain topic. Still, fiction can be imaginative, but how true to life it is is determined by the genre.
In Contemporary Realistic Fiction there is a wider range that is covered. For instance, in its genre people, animals, and events are included because of the possibility that the people and animals could actually exist, and the events could actually occur. Another reason I think this type of book is important is that students like to read about other children who are similar to themselves and what they might be going through or have gone through. It helps them feel like they are not alone.
Historical Fiction is a gem, I think, because it keeps the past alive. Those who write historical fiction have a deep love and respect for the past. They want to keep it alive by doing extensive research to acquire detailed information to write the truth about people, an event, or a place to enrich the book. And when an illustrator creates the pictures to an Historical Fiction book the book comes alive and draws the reader into the book.
Science Fiction offers the possibility that it could happen. Though writers have a tough assignment in this area of writing, they accept the challenge and "they speculate about future technology and advances in human knowledge while writing a plausible story."pg. 180. The writers imagination, creativity, and adventurous attitude must be in line with their writing to make their story attract and keep the reader. Their description of the topic of their story must be believable so that the readers believes the whole story and no dump the book half way.
As I read this chapter I see that there is Fiction for every level of readers. As well for every topic a reader might enjoy. I really like the section of Good Critical Questioning and Word Sorts; it helps to have a list of questions ready and an activity for the reading time in case I should be absent. I can also see how I can use the Storyboards to help my students remember elements of the book and story. Making reading time fun helps keep the students attention and interest in reading alive. That is why I like the Literature-Based Board Games section on page 210. Figure 8.7 gives great information on the Literature-Based Board Games, and it starts on page 210 - 211 and it includes adaptions which are needed for Special Needs students.
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