Extra Final Thoughts

I just completed my text set and wanted to add this to the final reflection how much I really enjoyed creating a text set because it really got me thinking what kind of books I want to bring into my classroom. I spent a lot of time trying to find the perfect books that would match the goals of my unit and still be high-quality literature. I now feel that my finished text set is ready for me to transfer to my future classroom, and that makes me super excited. This is a great culminating project to end this class that ties everything together!

Final Reflection Statement

I decided to write this reflection statement after class today because I am still very excited about the activity we did in class today. It seems like a very simple idea to have students interpret a poem, adding motions, phrasing, and expression, but it gives kids unlimited directions to go. As a college students, I found my group exciting to rework and tweak different parts of the poem. Even if students all interpreted the same poem, I highly doubt any of the interpretations would be exactly the same. Many of the poems in Love That Dog I had read before in high school, but by creating our own interpretations, they became more relateable and accessible to students. In addition to the activity today, I have really enjoyed all the activities we have done in class throughout the semester that can transfer directly to the classroom. Even the simple concept of "buzzing" with the person next to you to check in helps a lot. It gets ideas flowing before starting a group discussion. Buzzing also ensures that every student's voice is heard. Some students may not be comfortable talking in front of the whole class, but talking to just one person provides a certain comfort level. I have also enjoyed the actvity two statements and a question. If the discussion gets stuck, this activity is something to refer to in order to continue conversation.

Also, I agree with your assessment that somehow children's literature needs to incorporate some type of "pizazz" these days, especially when there are so many other forms of entertainment besides books taking children's time. Technology can help with that. I feel that you should definitely include Glogster again next semester when doing the Author/Poet/Illustrator study because I found it to have enormous potential in the classroom. Also, I noted that there is an Edu Glogster so that could directly apply to the classroom. I can envision social studies project, literature studies, all about me projects, etc. incorporating Glogster. I am now on the lookout for other fun, free sites like this that I can bring into the classroom.

I can also see the benefit in using a paired text set. Reading The Year of Impossible Goodbyes and So Far From the Bamboo Grove showed me how there are so many different historical perspectives. More than one view of history exists. A textbook is one type of information, but a textbook is hard for students to relate to. These novels allow students to connect emotionally to a text and really understand the time period. Novel studies can serve as crosscurricular activities for historical time periods. I feel a text set for any major period in history can be beneficial so students gain a well-rounded view of history.

I feel because of this class I have more of a sense of both the types of activities to complete with students and the types of books that I can include in the curriculum. I also think read-alouds can add to the classroom schedule because so many different books can be covered even if not every student has a copy of the book. I have especially enjoyed all of the novels we have read in this class. Of course, this blogging experience has really added to my knowledge of children's literature too. I never thought I would be a blogger, but 60+ posts later, I can say I am now among the blogging population. Will I contiunue blogging after this class? Just maybe...

Love That Dog by Sharon Creech

It's hard to know how to classify this book- Is it a novel? A journal? A writer's notebook? A narrative? Whatever it is, it's a great read, and for those kids who don't like to read, this is a quick read for them. Sharon Creech's novel Love That Dog is not the typical formulaic novel. The setup of this novel is so unique that we develop alongside Jack as he comes to understand and love poetry. With few words per page, Jack slowly discovers the magic of poetry. At first, Jack is the stereotypical model of a student who is inexperienced with poetry. He has preconceived notions about its purpose and place in his life. He thinks poetry is girly and not for him. He thinks poetry has to fit a certain formula and prescription, but soon Jack realizes the versatility of poetry and the impact it can have on his life. Poetry allows an individual to express their emotions in a healthy way. It gives you a voice and chance to be heard.

The whole book is in poetry, which I found unique. As that silly little poem goes, Jack is a poet and doesn't even know it. When Jack mentioned different poems he read in class, I found myself looking at the back of the novel where the poems used in Miss Stretchberry's class are kept. It helped me better understand Jack's perspective. Many of the poems I read and analyzed in high school myself so it was interesting to view the poems from a child's perspective and what young students can get from a poem. I also found it interesting how Jack was hesitant to have people read his work. He desired to keep his poems anonymous, but as he progressed through poetry, Jack grows as a poet and likes have his working on display. He wants his work on that special yellow paper. As Jack learns different techniques in poetry, he applies it to his own writing. By seeing examples, Jack is inspired to write.

Sharon Creech did an amazing job combining how Jack learned to write poetry along with his story about his dog. Through poetry, Jack is able to slowly process his feelings about his dog and remember specific memories. Writing poetry gives Jack comfort. As future teachers, we can be like Miss Stretchberry by encouraging students to write and let everything out on paper. Writing can be a type of therapy, and while we might not explicitly tell students this, they may begin to realize this for themselves. Students can develop a list together about what purposes poetry (and writing in general) can serve in daily life. Only as Jack is given the opportunity to process his feelings does he begin to heal emotionally. Eventually, Jack mentions his dog's name, Sky. One of my favorite entries Jack wrote was April 26, which wasn't even about Sky. It was about an experience that commonly happen to anyone and everyone. "Sometimes when you are trying not to think about something it keeps coming back...you think about it and think about it and think about it until your brain feels like a squashed pea."Jack also uses poetry in letter form and shape form. Poetry does not have to rhyme. It does not have to have a rhythm. It doesn't even have to tell a story. Of course it can have any or all of these things, but really, poetry can be everything and anything. This is a great book for kids to find their inner poet. It's in all of us.

My Man Blue, Poems by Nikki Grimes, Illustrated by Jerome Lagarrigue

A great collection of poetry and artwork, this poetry picture book is especially powerful and moving. Connected through poems that tell a story, My Man Blue shares the story of the special bond between man and boy. Damon, an African American boy, develops a relationship with Blue, a friend of Damon's mom. Blue provides Damon a solid foundational base and develops the Damon's deep inner strength through their interactions. Blue becomes the father figure in Damon's life who will watch over him. In a rough neighborhood, Blue is well aware how some boys get lost to the streets. He has already lost his son Zeke to the streets, which makes Blue even more determined to prevent Damon from a similar fate. Blue tells Damon, "Your missing daddy also left a hole in you...If friendship fills it, there's less chance the streets will eat at you." Blue is an outlet for Damon by providing him with opportunities. Whether shooting hoops, climbing a tree, or eating hot dogs together, Blue provides Damon with chances to be a kid. Most of all, Blue takes it upon himself to keep Damon out of the trouble that threatens on the streets.

My Man Blue shows how we should not judge by looks alone. By just looking at Blue, one would see his gold and cracked teeth, his dark shades, his muscular build, and his black leather jacket and clothes, but beneath this tough guy exterior is Blue's "harmless gentle-giant side." He serves as the protector and watchdog over Damon. As an advocate for Damon, Blue also shows Damon how to rise above his situation by standing firm in his beliefs and teaching him high moral values. Damon resists fights on the playground knowing "It's guys who don't hit girls who're strong." After school while his mom is working, Damon is self-efficient cooking dinner and reading. He resists and ignores the comments made about him. Without Blue as positive male role model in his life, I do not think Damon would have developed as strong of a realization about the future opportunities he can have. He does not have to succumb to the street.

I also liked how Blue did not ignore the realities of Damon's life situation either. He realizes the world is tough, especially in their neighborhood. While teaching Damon how he can rise above his situation, he also teaches Damon self-defense skills. As Damon puts it, "He's just trying to keep me fit for this world." In Damon's school, Damon experiences death too. A boy gets shot at school. Damon is only beginning to understand the consequences of hate and fear and dangers that exist in today's society. As Nikki Grimes explores these topics, Jerome Lagarrrigue's illustrations are flawless. The acrylic paintings show the mutual relationship between boy and man. Their bond is emphasized even more through the illustrations.

Blue serves as a truly dedicated teacher and role model in Damon's life. If as a teacher I can provide the kind of support system Blue provided for Damon for even a few students, I would feel successful. This book made me think about the impact of programs such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters. Sometimes kids just need that positive influence in their life who they can talk to, knowing that they have someone who will listen and offer needed support and love. Besides being a tool to teach students about looking past physical appearances and the importance of having positive influences in one's life, My Man Blue is also a valuable tool for teachers to understand the funds of knowledge that students come with into the classroom. Students come from different backgrounds into the classroom. A student like Damon is part of a single-parent family who has never known his dad. I feel that getting to know both my future students and the community will only help guide me in being a better teacher and mentor to students.

Come to My Party and Other Shape Poems by Heidi B. Roemer, Illustrated by Hideko Takahashi

Some books just put you in a bright, happy mood, and this is one of those books. With very colorful pictures and very imaginative poems, Come to My Party and Other Shape Poems can take the reader to their "happy place." There are a lot of poems out there about the seasons, and yes, this book is one of them. Divided into the four seasons, each season has approximately 8-10 poems associated with it. What makes these poems unique though is that these poems have extra pizazz because they're shape poems. Also known as concrete poems, these poems incorporate a shape and mold the words of the poem into or around that particular shape. Here's a quick list of some of the seasonal shapes incorproated into the poems in this book:
Spring: a jumprope, a ladybug, birds' beaks, a kite, a birthday hat
Summer: ocean waves, a watermelon, the American flag, a tent
Fall: a spider's web, pumpkins, a wishbone, a piece of pumpkin pie
Winter: a sledding hill, mittens, a Christmas tree, an igloo, icicles

Not only are the words of the poem in the shape of the object, but the words are often in the color of the object. One of my favorite examples of this was Watermelon. In the shape of a watermelon, a majority of the letters are red, but a few letters are black, showing the watermelon seeds. The green rind of the watermelon is also shown. The final line of this poem reads, "And when I'm done, I pucker my lips; I'm ready! I aim and I... spit. The word spit is written in black as though it's a watermelon seed, and it's separated from the rest of the poem (because it has been spit out). In another poem, Marshmallow Treat, the poem uses three marshmallow roasters over a fire to to shape the poem. One line of the poem is written followed by the repetition of a word three times. For example, "Spear a 'mallow, spongy sweet; fun, fun, fun." The first part of that sentence is written in black to show the marshmallow roaster. Fun, fun, fun is written in white to show the actual marshmallow. I could go on and on with examples because the possibilities are endless. For this book in particular, I feel as though the illustrator has the harder job because the essence of shape poems comes from the picture while the words support the picture.

There are so many fun things to do with shape poems. I feel like kids would get a kick out of making their own shape poem because they can use their imagination and create a poem centered around an object they love or enjoy. Any ordinary object works, and the more creative students are the better. Also, this activity amay make poetry seem less intimidating for students when they are using a drawing as the basis of their poem. This book contains plenty of examples for students to see the possibilities for a shape poem. If a student gets inspired, perhaps they can come up with their own theme (sports or holidays for example) and make a whole collection of shape poems. Metaphors and similes could also be introduced while teaching shape poems. As another idea, shape poems could be used early in the school year as an introductory activity. After reading this book or showing students example of shape poems, students can write, illustrate, and decorate their own shape poem that represents something about them-an interest, a hobby, a fun fact, etc. Shape poems are ideal so kids can learn to have fun with words! Enjoy!

Dirt on My Shirt by Jeff Foxworthy, Illustrated by Steve Bjorkman

Who knew that Jeff Foxworthy writes books, let alone poetry? I was surprised to find his name on the shelves as I was browsing at the library, but sure enough, it was him. As the largest-selling comedy-recording artist in history, I had high expectations for this book with the main expectation being that I would laugh and find it funny. Dirt on My Shirt didn't disappoint. I found the title, Dirt on My Shirt, to be very appropriate for this book. Ths book gets into the nit and grit of what it means to be a kid. What do kids think? What do kids like to do? Who do these kids like to spend time with? Poems in this book address each of these questions with poems ranging from playing pretend, experiencing nature, making friends, to spending time with loved ones.

The pictures add even more humor of the story. Steve Bjorkman's illustrations support Foxworthy's poems. With a cartoon-like feel in all of his pictures, this book made me consider some of those common childhood experiences every kid goes through. For example, Lost Hat describes the experience of a boy looking all over and destroying his house in the process of finding his hat. Of course, it turns out to be on his head. I think kids can relate to this by thinking about a time when they too thought they had lost something only to find that it was exactly where they had left it (maybe even on their head). Foxworthy's poems and Bjorkman's pictures also transported me back in time to recalling some of my favorite summer memories. Playing hide-and-seek, going on a family vacation my sister and me chanting, "Are we there yet?" every few minutes, and finding that harmless roly-poly on a hot, summer day. Kids can easily releate to many of these experiences.

I also enjoyed how Foxworthy wrote several poems about different family members. I think every kid and adult has a bit of an eccentric family. No family is 100% 'normal' (whatever normal is in the first place). All families have their quirks and their family stories. Often relatives are known for one distinguishing feature perhaps a physical characteristic as in the poem Uncle Moe where Uncle Moe has a long mustache, or perhaps a talent that family member has such as eating corn really fast as told in Uncle Keith. Whatever the case, Foxworthy captures the admiration and affection kids have towards their relatives and how they often think in different terms than adults. It's interesting to note what kids recognize.

This book offers kids a variety of ideas for topics to write about. Perhaps students can write about a favorite activity, perhaps they can write what they like about being a kid, or perhaps what they like doing with their grandpa or grandma when go visit them. When kids are stuck and at a loss for words on the page, especially during a poetry unit, I would suggest this book to them. It can provide a solid jumping off point for students. Before I close this post, I can't help but mention two of my favorite poems in this children's poetry book, Dirt on My Shirt, because again, it's something every child faces. Remember when you lost hold of a balloon, and it floated away-then read the poem Escape? Remember when you were up wandering around at a time of night you should have been asleep? Just take a moment now and think about yourself as a kid...Oh, the good ol' days!

Timothy Tunny Swallowed a Bunny by Bill Grossman, Illustrated by Kevin Hawkes

Caught in ridicuclous and quirky situations, Timothy Tunny Swallowed a Bunny is a very enjoyable read. I found myself laughing at the absurdity of the situations. The situations are so unlikely that they are funny. With a collection of 18 poems, each poem tells a new story. A sing-songy, quick rhythm accompanies each poem. Each poem is as witty as the next. The This book again shows students how an idea can expand to create a variety of poems with a common thread holding them together. In this case, a reader must stretch a bit to see the connection that people are caught in unusual circumstances. The characters described have unique traits distinguishing each one from the enxt. Timothy Tunny is only the first among several memorable characters mentioned. These characters range from Walter Lackwards whose head is on backwards to Kevin T. Moses, a man with seventeen noses.

One poem that I found particularly entertaining was Joe Tate who always "became what he ate." On the day he ate nothing, "poof! he was no longer there." Another was The Barber who accidentally cuts off her clients' ears. When she tells him what happened, he says "What?" because obviously without his ears he can't hear. Based on these examples, it becomes apparent that this book contains very silly humor with unrealistic scenarios. Still, the sense of the impossible is always fun to read about in books.

I enjoyed the poems, but more than the poems, I enjoyed the pictures accompanying the poems because they added another dimension to many of the poems. In The Woman in Town, the woman is afraid she'll drown if her nose gets wet so she wears a small scuba suit on her nose, which is believed to work because she still hasn't drowned. Ironically, the woman lives in a desert. She's surrounded by cactus and sand and sitting in an empty boat without any sign of water. Without the picture, I don't feel that this book would have had the same intended effect. The setting of the poem highlights the absurdity of the situation. Similarly, in Kevin T. Moses, he's a man with seventeen noses who grows a new nose each birthday. Seeing Kevin with seventeen noses was entertaining, but it was even more so because in the picture he stands amongst a whole field of red and yellow tulips. Imagine the potent smell of the flowers if you had seventeen noses. Yikes! No wonder he carries around tissues with him, and his noses are red at their tips.

Grossman often uses double meanings in his poems that makes this book adult-friendly as well as kids-friendly. I don't think kids would pick up all these subtle language clues in their first reading. In Bill Hackbar, Bill works at a snack shack all four years of college. Although he gained little knowledge he did end up "very well rounded." In the picture, Bill Hackbar is a very round, plump man in undersized clothes. With similar rhyming patterns in each poem, each character's name corresponds to the first set of rhymes in the poem. This is one of those books that students might keep coming back to because I read through it 3 times just so I would catch all the subtleties in both the language and the pictures. It's humorous; it's fun; it's absurd- a perfect combination for that student with a wild imagination and a sense of the extraordinary!