There are many activities that you can do with the book Double Trouble because the text is so basic you can change the story through the illustrations in numerous ways.
One thing you can do is have the children totally change the characters of the story. The text of the story never says that the characters are raccoons; you only know this by looking at the pictures. So the students can change the characters to anything they want to, humans, pigs, mice, cows, dogs, cats, lions, bears, the possibilities are endless.
They can also change the events by changing the pictures. The text is not very detailed, so the children can change the story by changing the pictures. For example, there is one page where the text says: Tim and Jim act alike. The illustration shows the two raccoons swinging on swings hanging off of a tree. They could change the illustration by making the two characters play basketball or be ice skating.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Double Trouble
Double Trouble by Rose Greydanus and illustrated by Roland Rodegast is one of my favorite picture books! It is about two racoons that look a like, sound a like, and act alike.
I like this book for many reasons. One is because the animals are racoons, and they are so adorable! The story line isn't much but it is funny. All of these good things happen and you dont know if it is Tim or if it is Jim who did them. But in the pictures one racoon is taking the credit for it and smiling while the other is frowning. However, bad things start happening. Like eating all the cookies and making a mess. Now you see the two boys pointing at each other, blaming the other one!
This reminds me so much of my younger brother and I. We aren't twins but we act like this. When one of us does something good we both try to take credit for it. But when something bad happens our fingers sure are pointing!
After our discussion of pictures and how they help create the story, I can really see how it works in this book. You can see things in the pictures that you don't get from just reading the text. The illustrations really add to the story.
I like this book for many reasons. One is because the animals are racoons, and they are so adorable! The story line isn't much but it is funny. All of these good things happen and you dont know if it is Tim or if it is Jim who did them. But in the pictures one racoon is taking the credit for it and smiling while the other is frowning. However, bad things start happening. Like eating all the cookies and making a mess. Now you see the two boys pointing at each other, blaming the other one!
This reminds me so much of my younger brother and I. We aren't twins but we act like this. When one of us does something good we both try to take credit for it. But when something bad happens our fingers sure are pointing!
After our discussion of pictures and how they help create the story, I can really see how it works in this book. You can see things in the pictures that you don't get from just reading the text. The illustrations really add to the story.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
poems
In my RDNG 302 class we had to write poetry. The type I had to write was Limericks. Here are some that I wrote:
There once was a cow named Tim
Who liked to play with Kim.
They ran about
And gave a shout
She fell in love with him.
There once was a frog named Dan
Who didn’t have a fan.
He got so hot
His skin started to spot
And he got a tan.
There once was a dog named Gail
Who liked to wag her tail
She played ball
And had a great fall
She liked to fetch the mail.
There once was a boy named Tum
Who liked to chew gum.
He was a sight
Because he wasn’t very bright
Some people called him a bum.
There once was a bride
Who had a cool ride.
She planned the wedding
With out even sweating
And then she went to hide.
There once was a cow named Tim
Who liked to play with Kim.
They ran about
And gave a shout
She fell in love with him.
There once was a frog named Dan
Who didn’t have a fan.
He got so hot
His skin started to spot
And he got a tan.
There once was a dog named Gail
Who liked to wag her tail
She played ball
And had a great fall
She liked to fetch the mail.
There once was a boy named Tum
Who liked to chew gum.
He was a sight
Because he wasn’t very bright
Some people called him a bum.
There once was a bride
Who had a cool ride.
She planned the wedding
With out even sweating
And then she went to hide.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
See Spot Run!!!!
After class on Friday I was reminded of how I learned to read in kindergarten. We had this set of books, and the one I remember the most is a green one. They were old, old, old! They had black electrical duct tape on the spine because they were falling apart, you could tell how used they were because the pages were tented yellow and the cover of the book was ripping at the edges. See, I’m from a small country town called Moulton, population is about 994 (I think). We are stuck in the old western times! Not really, but we really are a small country town and our school doesn’t really change much. Let me show you how.
I came home this weekend and I was telling my mom about my English professor asking if any one learned how to read from the Dick and Jane Books. My mom told me, “I learned how to read from those books. Actually the same copies you learned off of in school.” I was like WHAT? That is so horrible-my school didn’t even buy new books? Then my mom continued to tell me, “You know what they did?” I thought, no telling with Moulton. She said, “They found a company that restores books and they sent off all the copies and had them redone.” I was like WHAT? Really, you’re not joking? And she wasn’t! They are still reading those same books that I learned how to read from, that my mother learned how to read from!!!
See Spot. See Spot Run!!!
I came home this weekend and I was telling my mom about my English professor asking if any one learned how to read from the Dick and Jane Books. My mom told me, “I learned how to read from those books. Actually the same copies you learned off of in school.” I was like WHAT? That is so horrible-my school didn’t even buy new books? Then my mom continued to tell me, “You know what they did?” I thought, no telling with Moulton. She said, “They found a company that restores books and they sent off all the copies and had them redone.” I was like WHAT? Really, you’re not joking? And she wasn’t! They are still reading those same books that I learned how to read from, that my mother learned how to read from!!!
See Spot. See Spot Run!!!
Friday, April 18, 2008
activities for Fairy Tales Keepsake Collection
There are many activities that you can do with the book Fairy Tales Keepsake Collection.
You are sitting in your classroom and you have five minutes before the bell rings, the students are finished with their work- What am I going to do for the rest of the class? Pull out this book, select a student to come up, have them close their eyes and open the book. Whatever page they open the book to, that will be the story you read!
Another thing you can do is read one of the stories and have the students re write it in their own words, draw their own illustrations for the story or their own version of the story, or even rewrite the story changing the characters names and the sex of the characters or the setting of the story. The possibilities are endless!
You can also use this book when teaching lessons over author’s style or parts of a story. One specific example is the style called allusion. In the novel Ella Enchanted, the author alludes to the classic fairy tale of Cinderella. To teach allusion, you can have the students read Ella Enchanted then read the story Cinderella in this book. They can go back and forth between the stories and pick out the parts of Ella Enchanted that allude to Cinderella. For example, going to the balls!
You are sitting in your classroom and you have five minutes before the bell rings, the students are finished with their work- What am I going to do for the rest of the class? Pull out this book, select a student to come up, have them close their eyes and open the book. Whatever page they open the book to, that will be the story you read!
Another thing you can do is read one of the stories and have the students re write it in their own words, draw their own illustrations for the story or their own version of the story, or even rewrite the story changing the characters names and the sex of the characters or the setting of the story. The possibilities are endless!
You can also use this book when teaching lessons over author’s style or parts of a story. One specific example is the style called allusion. In the novel Ella Enchanted, the author alludes to the classic fairy tale of Cinderella. To teach allusion, you can have the students read Ella Enchanted then read the story Cinderella in this book. They can go back and forth between the stories and pick out the parts of Ella Enchanted that allude to Cinderella. For example, going to the balls!
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Fairy Tales Keepsake Collection
Fairy Tales Keepsake Collection from Publications International, ltd. is an amazing book. As the title says, it is a collection of fairy tales. The tales included in this specific book include: Rumpelstiltskin, King Midas, Beauty and the Beast, Rapunzel, Thumbelina, The Emperor’s New Clothes, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, Pinocchio, The Frog Prince, and Sleeping Beauty. Obviously I love this book because I love fairy tales, one day I’ll be Cinderella and get my prince (I hope!). But I think this is a very useful book to have.
One, when I have a family one day I wont have to have 11 different books, I can have one with all 11 stories in it! A big space saver! Also, the pictures are amazing and the font is big which makes it easy for smaller children.
This will be a great tool to use in my future classroom one day. Not every child grows up in a house where the parents read to them and tell them the fairy tales that I have grown up with. Therefore, I will have to take careful care when referring back to the fairy tales in my classroom. With this book, I will have easy access to eleven fairy tales. So, before I make reference to a fairy tale, I can pull out this book and read that specific fairy tale to the class. This way, the entire class has heard and experienced the story. This is will put all of the students on the same playing level.
I really like this book and plan to have it in my classroom one day!
One, when I have a family one day I wont have to have 11 different books, I can have one with all 11 stories in it! A big space saver! Also, the pictures are amazing and the font is big which makes it easy for smaller children.
This will be a great tool to use in my future classroom one day. Not every child grows up in a house where the parents read to them and tell them the fairy tales that I have grown up with. Therefore, I will have to take careful care when referring back to the fairy tales in my classroom. With this book, I will have easy access to eleven fairy tales. So, before I make reference to a fairy tale, I can pull out this book and read that specific fairy tale to the class. This way, the entire class has heard and experienced the story. This is will put all of the students on the same playing level.
I really like this book and plan to have it in my classroom one day!
Friday, April 11, 2008
Tim Tingle
I had the chance to see Tim Tingle speak at the Library on April 8. He is a Choctaw Indian and he tells stories around the world. He was amazing! He started off with the Choctaw Indian version of Amazing Grace, playing the beat on one of his awesome drums. Words cannot explain how wonderful of a storyteller he was. His stories were awesome and very heart touching. The part of his story that really caught my attention was the story about his trip to Alaska.
He went to Alaska to visit a school and while he was walking through the hallways, the principal told him, “You are about to see something you have never witnessed before.” While he was telling us this story I was thinking to myself, what in the world goes on at this school. Then Tim Tingle proceeded by telling us that at five minutes till ten, the secretary unplugged the phone and shut down her computer, the teachers came out of their rooms and got a cup of coffee, and the students moved to where they wanted to in the building. Each person had a book, every teacher, coach, secretary, administrator, and student had a book to read for fun. They could not read any book that had to do with their school subjects; it was purely reading for pleasure.
The school called it “The Sound of Reading.” I think this is amazing. They had an hour a day to read for pleasure! This is something that I think is very important. Reading opens so many doors; however, some people don’t explore those doors because they never have the chance to read for pleasure. I think this is a great way to get students back into reading and I really want to use this in my classroom one day.
He went to Alaska to visit a school and while he was walking through the hallways, the principal told him, “You are about to see something you have never witnessed before.” While he was telling us this story I was thinking to myself, what in the world goes on at this school. Then Tim Tingle proceeded by telling us that at five minutes till ten, the secretary unplugged the phone and shut down her computer, the teachers came out of their rooms and got a cup of coffee, and the students moved to where they wanted to in the building. Each person had a book, every teacher, coach, secretary, administrator, and student had a book to read for fun. They could not read any book that had to do with their school subjects; it was purely reading for pleasure.
The school called it “The Sound of Reading.” I think this is amazing. They had an hour a day to read for pleasure! This is something that I think is very important. Reading opens so many doors; however, some people don’t explore those doors because they never have the chance to read for pleasure. I think this is a great way to get students back into reading and I really want to use this in my classroom one day.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Esperanza Rising-Quiz
Esperanza Rising
QUIZ
What is the name of the ranch Esperanza grew up on?
a. El Rancho de las Rosas
b. El Rancho de las Uvas
c. El Rancho de las Papayas
What happened to Esperanza’s father?
a. he was killed by bandits
b. he drowned in a river
c. he was hurt while hunting
Who wanted to marry Esperanza’s mother after her father passed away?
a. Her uncle Tio Luis
b. Their servant Miguel
c. Their servant’s brother Juan
Where did Esperanza, her mother, and their servants immigrate to?
a. Texas
b. California
c. New York
What did Esperanza’s mother get sick with after the dust storm?
a. Valley Fever
b. Hay Fever
c. Scarlet Fever
What does Miguel and Alfonso water on their way to California?
a. their pet cat
b. the rose roots that they got out of Papa’s fields after the fire
c. the grape seeds they saved from Papa’s fields after the fire
Why doesn’t Isabelle when Queen?
a. because she was failing her classes
b. because she was Mexican
c. because she did run for it
True or False Esperanza’s mother does not survive Valley Fever and she passes away while in the hospital.
True or False Esperanza goes to work in the fields as soon as she gets to California.
True or False Miguel steels Esperanza’s money orders to get Abuelita from Mexico.
What does the title of every chapter of the book have in common?
a. they are the names of Esperanza’s dolls
b. they are the names of food that are grown in order
c. they are the names of the places Esperanza visits
Write three paragraphs, make sure you are using a topic sentence and conclusion sentence.
Paragraph one: What is your favorite part of the book?
Paragraph two: Explain why Esperanza, her mother, and their servants had to immigrate to California.
Paragraph three: How would you feel if you were Esperanza, experiencing the same situations she experienced?
QUIZ
What is the name of the ranch Esperanza grew up on?
a. El Rancho de las Rosas
b. El Rancho de las Uvas
c. El Rancho de las Papayas
What happened to Esperanza’s father?
a. he was killed by bandits
b. he drowned in a river
c. he was hurt while hunting
Who wanted to marry Esperanza’s mother after her father passed away?
a. Her uncle Tio Luis
b. Their servant Miguel
c. Their servant’s brother Juan
Where did Esperanza, her mother, and their servants immigrate to?
a. Texas
b. California
c. New York
What did Esperanza’s mother get sick with after the dust storm?
a. Valley Fever
b. Hay Fever
c. Scarlet Fever
What does Miguel and Alfonso water on their way to California?
a. their pet cat
b. the rose roots that they got out of Papa’s fields after the fire
c. the grape seeds they saved from Papa’s fields after the fire
Why doesn’t Isabelle when Queen?
a. because she was failing her classes
b. because she was Mexican
c. because she did run for it
True or False Esperanza’s mother does not survive Valley Fever and she passes away while in the hospital.
True or False Esperanza goes to work in the fields as soon as she gets to California.
True or False Miguel steels Esperanza’s money orders to get Abuelita from Mexico.
What does the title of every chapter of the book have in common?
a. they are the names of Esperanza’s dolls
b. they are the names of food that are grown in order
c. they are the names of the places Esperanza visits
Write three paragraphs, make sure you are using a topic sentence and conclusion sentence.
Paragraph one: What is your favorite part of the book?
Paragraph two: Explain why Esperanza, her mother, and their servants had to immigrate to California.
Paragraph three: How would you feel if you were Esperanza, experiencing the same situations she experienced?
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan
Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan is a Historical Fiction book set in the 30s during the Great Depression. Esperanza and her family live in Mexico on El Rancho de las Rosas. The night before Esperanza’s 13th birthday, her father is killed by bandits on a cattle drive. Then her uncle burns their house down after her mom refuses to marry him. Esperanza’s life is turned upside down as her and her mom immigrate to California to work with their servants family. Esperanza’s mother gets sick and put in the hospital and Esperanza grows up leaving her “royalty” life and turning into a hard working young girl. The hardships the immigrants in this book encounter are a clear-cut description of real life situations immigrants faced in the 30s.
Surprisingly I really liked this book. I am a fantasy person and I would rather read about flying into Neverland versus people dying and houses being destroyed. I think the author’s use of setting is what made me like this book so much. I felt like I could feel and see what Esperanza felt and saw.
My favorite part of the book was the connection Esperanza had with her father growing up. I am my dad’s baby girl and even though we never laid on the ground to listen to the Earth’s heart beat, we had many moments together that have made huge imprints in my heart. I love this book and recommend it to anyone to read!
Surprisingly I really liked this book. I am a fantasy person and I would rather read about flying into Neverland versus people dying and houses being destroyed. I think the author’s use of setting is what made me like this book so much. I felt like I could feel and see what Esperanza felt and saw.
My favorite part of the book was the connection Esperanza had with her father growing up. I am my dad’s baby girl and even though we never laid on the ground to listen to the Earth’s heart beat, we had many moments together that have made huge imprints in my heart. I love this book and recommend it to anyone to read!
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten
Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten by Joseph Slate and illustrated Ashley Wolff is an amazing book! The books takes you through the different things students do while they get ready for school, and it also shows what a teacher goes through to get ready for the first day of kindergarten.
This book can be used for many different things. One, it can be used to lighten the tension on the first day of school. But it can really be used for a teaching aide. It would be really good to use when teaching the alphabet. Each child’s name is a different letter of the alphabet and the letter is in a different color. For example, A is Adam, B is Brenda, and C is Christopher. Each character is an animal whose name starts with the same letter of the alphabet. For example: D is for Danny who is a dog, E is for Emily who is an elephant and F is for Fran who is a frog.
This book could also be used to teach rhyming. Each saying on the page rhymes which makes the book catchy and fun for young children. Well, I like rhyming books too, so maybe for everyone it’s catchy and fun! Some examples of the rhyming are “Gwen McGunny packs her bunny. Henry Fetter fights his sweater.”
Over all this is a great book to use in a classroom or to read to your kids on their first day of kindergarten.
This book can be used for many different things. One, it can be used to lighten the tension on the first day of school. But it can really be used for a teaching aide. It would be really good to use when teaching the alphabet. Each child’s name is a different letter of the alphabet and the letter is in a different color. For example, A is Adam, B is Brenda, and C is Christopher. Each character is an animal whose name starts with the same letter of the alphabet. For example: D is for Danny who is a dog, E is for Emily who is an elephant and F is for Fran who is a frog.
This book could also be used to teach rhyming. Each saying on the page rhymes which makes the book catchy and fun for young children. Well, I like rhyming books too, so maybe for everyone it’s catchy and fun! Some examples of the rhyming are “Gwen McGunny packs her bunny. Henry Fetter fights his sweater.”
Over all this is a great book to use in a classroom or to read to your kids on their first day of kindergarten.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Enchanted
Enchanted is a movie that puts a twist on our classic fairy tails. The princess is supposed to marry the prince until the wicked step-mother pushes her into the well where she ends up in New York City. While watching the movie, I noticed that there are a lot of things that tie back to the fairy tales. First of all, the princess and prince are obviously in just about every fairy tale. But we have the wicked step mother in this movie. She is the step mother of the prince and she plots to keep her prince from marrying the princess so she gets to keep the thrown.
Like in snow white, we have the evil step mother turning into an ugly old lady to defeat the princess. The first sign of her is at the beginning when she pushes the princess into the well and sends her to New York. Then we have three poison apples she uses to try to destroy her. The first one is given to the princess has a candy apple, but she throws it and never eats it. The second one is given to her as an apple martini, but the cute little chipmunk knocks it over. Then towards the end, when the wicked step mother comes to New York, she turns herself into an ugly old lady and she gets the princess to eat the last poisoned apple. The princess will die if she doesn’t get true love’s kiss by midnight. Then the prince from the fairy tale world kisses her and doesn’t wake her up; however, when her “prince” from New York kisses her she wakes up and lives.
There is also the “slaying of the dragon” in this movie like there is any many fairy tales. It just so happens to be that slayed dragon is a bus in New York City!
I really liked this movie and the more I watch it the more I see things from the classic fairy tales. My favorite part thing from the movie is the chipmunk! He is so adorably funny! What I find funny is how when they are in the park in New York, everyone knows the dance and there is like eight couples getting married in the park at that very time. I laughed just about the whole time; it is a very good movie!
Like in snow white, we have the evil step mother turning into an ugly old lady to defeat the princess. The first sign of her is at the beginning when she pushes the princess into the well and sends her to New York. Then we have three poison apples she uses to try to destroy her. The first one is given to the princess has a candy apple, but she throws it and never eats it. The second one is given to her as an apple martini, but the cute little chipmunk knocks it over. Then towards the end, when the wicked step mother comes to New York, she turns herself into an ugly old lady and she gets the princess to eat the last poisoned apple. The princess will die if she doesn’t get true love’s kiss by midnight. Then the prince from the fairy tale world kisses her and doesn’t wake her up; however, when her “prince” from New York kisses her she wakes up and lives.
There is also the “slaying of the dragon” in this movie like there is any many fairy tales. It just so happens to be that slayed dragon is a bus in New York City!
I really liked this movie and the more I watch it the more I see things from the classic fairy tales. My favorite part thing from the movie is the chipmunk! He is so adorably funny! What I find funny is how when they are in the park in New York, everyone knows the dance and there is like eight couples getting married in the park at that very time. I laughed just about the whole time; it is a very good movie!
Thursday, April 3, 2008
The Tale of Two Grizzly Bears
Once upon a time in a far off forest, there lived two grizzly bears. The older one, Fido, was the biggest, meanest brown grizzly bear you have ever seen. He was the king of the forest and all of the animals feared him. The other one, Corky, was a medium sized bear who was friends with every creature in the forest. The grizzly bears spent their days roaming through the forest and Fido would command Corky to do things for him. See, Corky was cursed; he had to obey Fido no matter what. Fido would command Corky to do things like catch his fish, walk first to nock down the grass, and fight his battles as well. Corky tried and tried to break the spell, but he couldn’t. The harder he tried to break it, the more Fido commanded him. Fido liked the fact that Corky was under a spell and had to follow his every command, that’s why he made Corky’s life harder and harder every time he tried to break the curse.
One day, Fido commanded Corky to cross an old rotten log to get to the other side of the river where the trout were swimming. Corky begged and begged not to take the walk on the death bridge; however, Fido wouldn’t listen and commanded him to cross the rotten log. Well, the woodpecker in the sky overheard this command and rounded up all of the creatures in the forest. They all ran up to the log, right in front of Corky’s paws and built a barricade. Corky tried to push through them; he had to follow the command. But the animals would not let him pass. Fido commanded the animals to move at once, but they stood their ground like trees with roots in the ground. Once again Corky tried to break through the wall, but once again the animals wouldn’t move. All of a sudden, lightening and thundering filled the pitch-black sky. Scared half to death, the creatures continued to hold their ground. Fido commanded Corky to cross the log again and to everyone’s surprise Corky shouted no, I will not cross that log. With the help of the creatures, Corky broke the curse. The sky cleared up and the animals all gave a cheer as they chased Fido out of the forest; he was banished forever. Corky and the creatures of the forest lived happily ever after!
One day, Fido commanded Corky to cross an old rotten log to get to the other side of the river where the trout were swimming. Corky begged and begged not to take the walk on the death bridge; however, Fido wouldn’t listen and commanded him to cross the rotten log. Well, the woodpecker in the sky overheard this command and rounded up all of the creatures in the forest. They all ran up to the log, right in front of Corky’s paws and built a barricade. Corky tried to push through them; he had to follow the command. But the animals would not let him pass. Fido commanded the animals to move at once, but they stood their ground like trees with roots in the ground. Once again Corky tried to break through the wall, but once again the animals wouldn’t move. All of a sudden, lightening and thundering filled the pitch-black sky. Scared half to death, the creatures continued to hold their ground. Fido commanded Corky to cross the log again and to everyone’s surprise Corky shouted no, I will not cross that log. With the help of the creatures, Corky broke the curse. The sky cleared up and the animals all gave a cheer as they chased Fido out of the forest; he was banished forever. Corky and the creatures of the forest lived happily ever after!
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Because of Winn-Dixie Quiz
Because of Winn-Dixie Quiz
Who was Winn-Dixie and how did he get his name?
a. He was a dog named after the local grocery store.
b. He was the owner of the grocery store, and was named after his father.
c. He worked at Gertrude’s Pets, and had to change his name because he had previously been arrested.
What did Otis name Gertrude, and then bring to the party at the end of the book?
a. his jar of pickles
b. his guitar
c. the parrot from the pet store
What was Opal’s father’s occupation?
a. He was a preacher.
b. He worked at the post office.
c. He worked at the pet store.
What was Winn-Dixie’s fear in the book?
a. He was afraid of mice.
b. He was afraid of thunderstorms.
c. He was afraid of the preacher.
Why had Otis been previously arrested?
a. He wouldn’t stop playing his guitar in the streets, after being asked to stop by the police.
b. He didn’t pay his bills.
c. He stole food from a store.
What was the name of the candy that had a secret ingredient in it?
a. a Littmus Lozenge
b. a Sorrow Drop
c. a Strawberry Swirl
What was in Gloria Dump’s backyard?
a. the oldest tree in Naomi
b. a tree with bottles hanging from it
c. a shed where she sat to read
Why couldn’t Gloria Dump read?
a. Her eye sight was bad.
b. She never learned to read in school.
c. She had gone blind after a car accident.
What duties did Opal have at the pet store?
a. She would sweep, clean up, and help arrange shelves.
b. She walked the dogs.
c. She ordered supplies for the store.
What happened when Otis played guitar for the animals in the pet store?
a. The animals wrecked their cages.
b. Otis was asked to stop playing his guitar.
c. The animals seemed to listen to the music.
Who was Winn-Dixie and how did he get his name?
a. He was a dog named after the local grocery store.
b. He was the owner of the grocery store, and was named after his father.
c. He worked at Gertrude’s Pets, and had to change his name because he had previously been arrested.
What did Otis name Gertrude, and then bring to the party at the end of the book?
a. his jar of pickles
b. his guitar
c. the parrot from the pet store
What was Opal’s father’s occupation?
a. He was a preacher.
b. He worked at the post office.
c. He worked at the pet store.
What was Winn-Dixie’s fear in the book?
a. He was afraid of mice.
b. He was afraid of thunderstorms.
c. He was afraid of the preacher.
Why had Otis been previously arrested?
a. He wouldn’t stop playing his guitar in the streets, after being asked to stop by the police.
b. He didn’t pay his bills.
c. He stole food from a store.
What was the name of the candy that had a secret ingredient in it?
a. a Littmus Lozenge
b. a Sorrow Drop
c. a Strawberry Swirl
What was in Gloria Dump’s backyard?
a. the oldest tree in Naomi
b. a tree with bottles hanging from it
c. a shed where she sat to read
Why couldn’t Gloria Dump read?
a. Her eye sight was bad.
b. She never learned to read in school.
c. She had gone blind after a car accident.
What duties did Opal have at the pet store?
a. She would sweep, clean up, and help arrange shelves.
b. She walked the dogs.
c. She ordered supplies for the store.
What happened when Otis played guitar for the animals in the pet store?
a. The animals wrecked their cages.
b. Otis was asked to stop playing his guitar.
c. The animals seemed to listen to the music.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
This story shows how a young girl, India Opal Buloni, grows as she must learn some of the hardest lessons in life. Opal faces a daily struggle to understand more about her mother, who left when she was only three years old. She and her father have just moved to a new town. In the small town of Naomi, Florida, one trip to the local Winn-Dixie grocery store and the following summer’s adventures change Opal and help her through her struggles. Through the new people she meets, Opal learns about friendship, forgiveness, love, and life. The author really speaks to young reader through her book because they deal with some of he same struggles as Opal and the learn many of the same lessons.
My favorite part of the book was chapter 9. I think its funny how everyone thought a witch lived there and she would eat the dog; making the woman out to be a cruel, evil person. However, the lady turned out to be a nice sweet lady. My favorite line is, “Why don’t you go on and tell me everything about yourself, so as I can see you with my heart” (page 66). This made me smile because I grew up in a small town and everyone had their thoughts of each other, but no one really knew the truth. Kind of like don’t judge a book by its cover!
My favorite part of the book was chapter 9. I think its funny how everyone thought a witch lived there and she would eat the dog; making the woman out to be a cruel, evil person. However, the lady turned out to be a nice sweet lady. My favorite line is, “Why don’t you go on and tell me everything about yourself, so as I can see you with my heart” (page 66). This made me smile because I grew up in a small town and everyone had their thoughts of each other, but no one really knew the truth. Kind of like don’t judge a book by its cover!
Friday, March 28, 2008
Poetry Activity
On Easter weekend I went to the river with my family. My sister Danielle, my sister-in-law LaSae, my little brother's girlfriend Mary, and I were all sitting by the water under the trees. We were sitting there laughing together because I was reading poems to them out of A Child's Anthology of Poetry. We decided that our favorite poem was "Sick" by Shel Silverstein. Then LaSae said, "I wish I could write poetry." I told her, "Well in my Reading 302 class I wrote a poem and it goes like this: There once was a cow named Tim, Who likes to play with Kim. They ran about, And gave a shout, And she fell in love with him!" Everyone thought it was funny, so we started a game. LaSae said, "Oh how the trees sway," and I said, "Down by the bay." Danielle said, "Look at the bees," and Mary said, "High up in the trees!" And we continued with this for about an hour, it was one of the most fun we have had at the river in a long time!!!
The moral of this story: I think this would be a fun activity for my classroom one day. One part of poetry is poems that rhyme, and I think this would be a good way to work on rhyming. The class can sit in a circle and we can go one by one around the room and say lines that rhyme!
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Ella Enchanted
I am so glad I read the book Ella Enchanted before I watched the movie. i loved the book, absolutely loved it. Once I started it, I couldn't put it down; the second half of the book was like a lifetime movie! I thought for sure that the movie would be great. But it wasn't. The entire story was turned around. The plot was not the same at all, I think the only thing that was the same was the names of the people. There was a lot of things different in the movie, but here are the things that really got to me.
The book that Mandy gave to Ella in the movie was ridiculous. She turned her boyfriend into a book? Come on, for real. I didn't like how in the movie it made Mandy look like a clumsy fairy, and that she couldn't do anything right. I liked the novel so much better because Mandy was a good fairy who only did small magic; howeer, the movie turned her into a fairy that couldn't get anything right.
I also didn't like how the spell was broken. Ella was going to kill Char? Wrong! I liked the novel better because when she broke the curse it was because of true love, not because she was commanded to kill him.
I really did not like the movie at all!
The book that Mandy gave to Ella in the movie was ridiculous. She turned her boyfriend into a book? Come on, for real. I didn't like how in the movie it made Mandy look like a clumsy fairy, and that she couldn't do anything right. I liked the novel so much better because Mandy was a good fairy who only did small magic; howeer, the movie turned her into a fairy that couldn't get anything right.
I also didn't like how the spell was broken. Ella was going to kill Char? Wrong! I liked the novel better because when she broke the curse it was because of true love, not because she was commanded to kill him.
I really did not like the movie at all!
Friday, March 21, 2008
Activity
There are many activities you can do with this book.
One activity can be a simple naming activity. You can point to a picture of an animal and the student has to tell you what the animal is. For example, if you are doing a farm animal unit, you can turn to the page that has the poem, “Quack!” Said the Billy Goat by Charles Causley. It has a picture of different animals that can be found on a farm. You could also use this poem for a matching game. Above each farm animal there is a bubble with the sounds that animals make, but the sounds don’t match up with the right animals. So you could have the students match the sounds with the right animals.
Another activity you can do is have the children write their own poems. They can go through the book and look at the different poems, then write their own.
You can also use this book for an informational text. For example, there is a poem, Sparrow by Kaye Starbird that talks about many different birds. You can read the poem and discuss each bird and then make a little quiz over it. This is a great book and the possibilities for activities are endless!
One activity can be a simple naming activity. You can point to a picture of an animal and the student has to tell you what the animal is. For example, if you are doing a farm animal unit, you can turn to the page that has the poem, “Quack!” Said the Billy Goat by Charles Causley. It has a picture of different animals that can be found on a farm. You could also use this poem for a matching game. Above each farm animal there is a bubble with the sounds that animals make, but the sounds don’t match up with the right animals. So you could have the students match the sounds with the right animals.
Another activity you can do is have the children write their own poems. They can go through the book and look at the different poems, then write their own.
You can also use this book for an informational text. For example, there is a poem, Sparrow by Kaye Starbird that talks about many different birds. You can read the poem and discuss each bird and then make a little quiz over it. This is a great book and the possibilities for activities are endless!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Eric Carle's Animals Animals
This book is a must have for any one! This book is a collection of poems about animals and they are illustrated by Eric Carle. If you know any thing about Eric Carle, you know his illustrations are amazing! You can use this book for so many different things. An English lesson, a science lesson, a social studies lesson, even math lesson. Some of the poems are just funny and others are very informative.
My favorite one is the one by Mary Ann Hoberman called Giraffes. I love this poem and I love this illustration!
Another one I like is by Lucy W. Rhu called Enigma Sartorial, it’s about penguins. “Dressed in his dinner clothes Permanently. You never can tell when you see him about, If he’s just coming in Or just going out!” I love penguins and that is so funny!
This book can be used while teaching an insect unit. There are poems about insects in general, called Every Insect, and then there are poems about ants, crickets, bees, etc. One of the illustrations for the Every Insect poem has a picture of an insect with the parts broken apart and labeled, very informative.
The collection of poems covers animals from all areas. Zoo animals, farm animals, birds, insects, wildlife, reptiles…everything!
I will definitely use this book in my classroom one day, and I recommend it to everyone!
My favorite one is the one by Mary Ann Hoberman called Giraffes. I love this poem and I love this illustration!
Another one I like is by Lucy W. Rhu called Enigma Sartorial, it’s about penguins. “Dressed in his dinner clothes Permanently. You never can tell when you see him about, If he’s just coming in Or just going out!” I love penguins and that is so funny!
This book can be used while teaching an insect unit. There are poems about insects in general, called Every Insect, and then there are poems about ants, crickets, bees, etc. One of the illustrations for the Every Insect poem has a picture of an insect with the parts broken apart and labeled, very informative.
The collection of poems covers animals from all areas. Zoo animals, farm animals, birds, insects, wildlife, reptiles…everything!
I will definitely use this book in my classroom one day, and I recommend it to everyone!
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Questions for Peter Pan
Questions for Peter Pan
What are Wendy’s brothers’ names?
How was Peter trying to put his shadow back on?
How did Wendy get Peter’s shadow back on?
What saved Wendy’s life when Tinker told the lost boys to shoot her?
What bird gave Peter their nest in order to save his life?
What animal ate Hook’s hand?
How did they know when this animal was around?
What did the lost boys call Wendy besides her name?
How did the lost boys get into their underground house?
What did they build for Wendy to live in?
What does Peter do to save Tiger Lily?
What happens to the lost boys when Wendy and her brothers go home?
After Wendy grows up, who goes back to help Peter with spring cleaning?
What was your favorite part of the book?
What are Wendy’s brothers’ names?
How was Peter trying to put his shadow back on?
How did Wendy get Peter’s shadow back on?
What saved Wendy’s life when Tinker told the lost boys to shoot her?
What bird gave Peter their nest in order to save his life?
What animal ate Hook’s hand?
How did they know when this animal was around?
What did the lost boys call Wendy besides her name?
How did the lost boys get into their underground house?
What did they build for Wendy to live in?
What does Peter do to save Tiger Lily?
What happens to the lost boys when Wendy and her brothers go home?
After Wendy grows up, who goes back to help Peter with spring cleaning?
What was your favorite part of the book?
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Peter Pan
Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie is by far one of my favorite books! Peter Pan and the lost boys live in Neverland. One night Peter brings back Wendy and her two brothers, Michael and John, back to Neverland so Wendy can be their mother. Their adventures are endless, everything from the mermaid lagoon to fighting off pirates!
There are so many parts of the books that I just loved. One of my favorites was in chapter 8 when Peter is imitating Captain Hook’s voice to free Tiger Lily. Smee is so funny because he knows that Hook wouldn’t want him to untie her and let her go, but he does it anyways! Another part was in chapter 7 when Wendy gives the lost boys quizzes about their mothers and fathers. I found it funny how Slightly answered every single question because he wanted to come out on top, but every one of his answers were ridiculous. Another one is in chapter 10, on page 92 when it discusses the rule that they have established. “There was a fixed rule that they must never hit back at meals, but should refer the matter of dispute to Wendy b raising the right arm politely and saying, “I complain of so-and-so;” but what usually happened was that they forgot to do this or did it too much.” Then, on the next page you read how every single one of them, one after another, say they complain of…. They complain of…. They complain of….
I think why I like this book so much is because it is so funny! I laughed and laughed when I was reading it. Also I like it because I’ve felt like Peter Pan and the lost boys. There was times when I was little that I didn’t want to grow up! Oh wait, I still don’t want to grow up! I really liked this book and will one day use it in my classroom!
There are so many parts of the books that I just loved. One of my favorites was in chapter 8 when Peter is imitating Captain Hook’s voice to free Tiger Lily. Smee is so funny because he knows that Hook wouldn’t want him to untie her and let her go, but he does it anyways! Another part was in chapter 7 when Wendy gives the lost boys quizzes about their mothers and fathers. I found it funny how Slightly answered every single question because he wanted to come out on top, but every one of his answers were ridiculous. Another one is in chapter 10, on page 92 when it discusses the rule that they have established. “There was a fixed rule that they must never hit back at meals, but should refer the matter of dispute to Wendy b raising the right arm politely and saying, “I complain of so-and-so;” but what usually happened was that they forgot to do this or did it too much.” Then, on the next page you read how every single one of them, one after another, say they complain of…. They complain of…. They complain of….
I think why I like this book so much is because it is so funny! I laughed and laughed when I was reading it. Also I like it because I’ve felt like Peter Pan and the lost boys. There was times when I was little that I didn’t want to grow up! Oh wait, I still don’t want to grow up! I really liked this book and will one day use it in my classroom!
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Poetry
I have experienced first hand how people connect to different books. You can always seem to find a connection in just about any book you read. Whether it’s feeling like a doll like Ella, not knowing who you are like Alice, or not wanting to grow up like Peter Pan, you can find a way to connect to a book. One type of text that I haven’t really thought about before until here recently is poetry. Growing up I hated poetry, my teachers made us write poems and I hated it, hated it, hated it. This semester one of my professors made us bring our favorite poem to class and I was like, “I don’t like poetry, I don’t have a favorite poem.” Then I went looking through some of my old stuff and I had a box of stuff from my “first love.” He passed away when I was fifteen and at his funeral there was this poem read. After the funeral they typed it up and passed it around as an email and I had printed it out. While I was reading through the yellowed papers I realized, duh, I love this poem. I don’t know the name of it, nor the author, but this is what it was:
If tears could build a stairway,
And memories a bridge,
I’d walk right up to heaven,
To bring you home again…
No farewell words were spoken,
No time to say goodbye,
You were gone before I knew it,
And only God knows why…
Our hearts still ache in sadness,
And secret tears still flow…
What it meant to lose you,
No one will ever know…
Because without your smile or laugh,
Life is too hard to carry on…
-unknown
This experience has made me realize that you can connect to poetry just like you can connect to a novel. I hope that as a future teacher, I can instill in my students a love for poetry, not a hatred that I had towards it. And now I will always remember this poem, this poem that described how I felt the day we buried Clayton Lee Koehne and the poem that describes how I still feel today.
If tears could build a stairway,
And memories a bridge,
I’d walk right up to heaven,
To bring you home again…
No farewell words were spoken,
No time to say goodbye,
You were gone before I knew it,
And only God knows why…
Our hearts still ache in sadness,
And secret tears still flow…
What it meant to lose you,
No one will ever know…
Because without your smile or laugh,
Life is too hard to carry on…
-unknown
This experience has made me realize that you can connect to poetry just like you can connect to a novel. I hope that as a future teacher, I can instill in my students a love for poetry, not a hatred that I had towards it. And now I will always remember this poem, this poem that described how I felt the day we buried Clayton Lee Koehne and the poem that describes how I still feel today.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Identity
In the book Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, identity is a major theme identified through out the book. I really didn’t like this book because Alice was extremely ditsy, and I really don’t like ditsy people! But I could relate to this book when it comes to identity.
When I was younger, before my freshman year of high school, I was known as Eric Rother’s baby sister. I was never Tawnya, I was never the 4-H member, I was never the all A student, or the girl who did every sport, I was Eric Rother’s baby sister. Then I started high school and I was no longer Eric Rother’s baby sister, I was Danielle’s little sister. All my life I was known to people by my older brother and sister, it was so confusing to me. When some one would ask me, “Who are you,” I automatically replied, “Oh I’m Eric’s baby sister and Danielle’s little sister.”
Now I’m in college and identity is still an issue for me. Am I Tawnya, the secretary at St. Joseph Hospital, am I Tawnya, the girl who studies to much, am I Tawnya, the future teacher or the future principal?
While reading this book, it really made me think, if someone asked me today who am I, what would I reply?
Having this first hand experience of connecting to literature will surely help me in my classroom one day. Someone can connect to a text in many different ways. For me, it was being confused about who I am, just like Alice was.
When I was younger, before my freshman year of high school, I was known as Eric Rother’s baby sister. I was never Tawnya, I was never the 4-H member, I was never the all A student, or the girl who did every sport, I was Eric Rother’s baby sister. Then I started high school and I was no longer Eric Rother’s baby sister, I was Danielle’s little sister. All my life I was known to people by my older brother and sister, it was so confusing to me. When some one would ask me, “Who are you,” I automatically replied, “Oh I’m Eric’s baby sister and Danielle’s little sister.”
Now I’m in college and identity is still an issue for me. Am I Tawnya, the secretary at St. Joseph Hospital, am I Tawnya, the girl who studies to much, am I Tawnya, the future teacher or the future principal?
While reading this book, it really made me think, if someone asked me today who am I, what would I reply?
Having this first hand experience of connecting to literature will surely help me in my classroom one day. Someone can connect to a text in many different ways. For me, it was being confused about who I am, just like Alice was.
Activity!
As a future teacher, I am constantly thinking of things I can do in my classroom. With the book, In the Small, Small Pond by Denise Fleming, I can teach a lesson about verbs. After the children read the book, they will go through each page and discuss each verb. They will use the illustrations as reinforcement for the meaning of the words. Then they will be given a blank sheet of paper where they will illustrate each word. They will write the word, for example waddle, and the definition of it on the top of the page, then they will illustrate the word.
I can also use this book to teach about animals. The pictures of the different animals are very vivid, which makes them great reinforcement! We will go through the book and talk about each animal talked about. We will look at the pictures of them, discuss what they look like, what they do, and where they live (in the water, out of the water, both). Then they will draw their own picture of the animals that are found in this book.
I can also use this book to teach about animals. The pictures of the different animals are very vivid, which makes them great reinforcement! We will go through the book and talk about each animal talked about. We will look at the pictures of them, discuss what they look like, what they do, and where they live (in the water, out of the water, both). Then they will draw their own picture of the animals that are found in this book.
Friday, February 29, 2008
In the Small, Small Pond
Denise Fleming does an amazing job showing what the animals that live in and near the pond do. I think that this book is just amazing. The verbs used with each different animal are very vivid. One of my favorite parts of the book is that there is a frog that is printed on each page, in a different spot. So you could use this book for little kids to find where the frog is at on each page. This book has won a Caldecott Honor, so of course the pictures are just wonderful. The pictures are full-page pictures, with the words floating around in random places on the page. I can’t even describe the pictures; the colors are so bright and rich that the illustrations jump off of the page. My favorite pages of the book are the raccoon pages. The raccoon is sitting on the edge of the water with his paws in the water, adorable!
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Childhood memories
Growing up I loved hearing stories. Made up stories, stories about my family, stories out of a book, any kind of stories, I loved them all. I can remember sitting in my bed with my father on one side and my mother on the other, and they would read story after story to me. Sometimes we had a family story night and we would all sit on or around the couch. It would be my older brother, my older sister, my little brother, my mom, my dad, and I, and we would spend the entire evening telling stories or reading stories. My little brother was the best story teller. He would tell us stories about how last night he chased a coyote all the way down to the river and then our dog, Buck, came and killed the coyote. Then he tried to carry the coyote back up to the house but it melted and disappeared. Unrealistic stories, but hilarious to hear.
I keep reflecting back to growing up and the importance that stories and literature had in my life. Regardless if a kid is hearing a story, help reading a story, or making up a story, they are having valuable interactions with literature which is very important.
One day when I start my own family I hope I can have a story night like we did.
Also, when I have my classroom one day, I hope to give my students opportunities to make memories like I have.
I keep reflecting back to growing up and the importance that stories and literature had in my life. Regardless if a kid is hearing a story, help reading a story, or making up a story, they are having valuable interactions with literature which is very important.
One day when I start my own family I hope I can have a story night like we did.
Also, when I have my classroom one day, I hope to give my students opportunities to make memories like I have.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble
I really like this book for many reasons. I think that it shows a myriad of different points. Obviously, the main one would be, be careful what you wish for.
I think it shows parents’ love for their children. This is portrayed while Sylvester’s parents stay up all night wondering what had happened, and how they went about asking all the neighbors, all the children, and even the police.
I think it shows community support when they dogs of Oatsdale go about searching for him behind every rock, tree, and blade of grass.
It also talks about the seasons. The days grew colder and the leaves changed color during the fall. The winds blew and it snowed during the winter. The Earth warmed up, the snow melted, the sun came out and the flowers grew during the spring.
My favorite part would have to be the last page. “Mr. Duncan put the magic pebble in an iron safe. Some day they might want to use it, but really, for now, what more could they wish for? They all had all that they wanted.” This shows that all you really need to be happy is your family and love.
I will definitely use this book in my classroom one day.
I think it shows parents’ love for their children. This is portrayed while Sylvester’s parents stay up all night wondering what had happened, and how they went about asking all the neighbors, all the children, and even the police.
I think it shows community support when they dogs of Oatsdale go about searching for him behind every rock, tree, and blade of grass.
It also talks about the seasons. The days grew colder and the leaves changed color during the fall. The winds blew and it snowed during the winter. The Earth warmed up, the snow melted, the sun came out and the flowers grew during the spring.
My favorite part would have to be the last page. “Mr. Duncan put the magic pebble in an iron safe. Some day they might want to use it, but really, for now, what more could they wish for? They all had all that they wanted.” This shows that all you really need to be happy is your family and love.
I will definitely use this book in my classroom one day.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Wild Hogs
Once upon a time, in far off woods, there lived a family of wild hogs. There were a set of twins in this family; they were the babies of the bunch. One of them, Kris, was the big, black, bulky one that was so strong he could nock over full-grown trees with his head. The other twin, Trey, was the scrawny one that had less strength than a bird. Now Trey was skinny, so skinny that he could fit into anything he found in the woods, through fences, through vines, and into the tiniest holes. One night, on a cold, gloomy night, the twins were running around the forest. Kris, with his “I’m the best at everything” attitude, tried to show off when they came across a group of gilts, female hogs. The leader of the gilts batted her eyes because she loved attention. Kris, with his macho attitude, took off and tried to plow over a full-grown tree with his head. To his surprise, when he hit the tree he didn’t stop, he kept running and running and running until he hit a fence. He was so big that he stuck between the wires of the fence. While Kris was trying to wiggle his broad shoulders free, Trey was spending his time showing the leader of the gilts his secret hiding place that only him and her could fit in. Trey and the leader of the gilts spent the rest of their days rummaging through the forest finding their own little hiding spots, while Kris spent the rest of his days stuck in a fence.
Just goes to show how the little guys can come out on top and it’s not always the best thing to be big and macho.
Just goes to show how the little guys can come out on top and it’s not always the best thing to be big and macho.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Ever After
I really enjoyed the movie Ever After that we watched in class. I think I really liked it because I love the Cinderella story, and this was a Cinderella story with out the magic that makes the happy ending.
Danielle was a strong woman through out the entire movie. She stood up for herself against her stepmother and her horrid stepsister. With the help of the other servants, she could deceive her stepfamily and spend an entire day at a time with the prince, yet the stepfamily wasn’t smart enough to figure it out. The Queen had to tell them. I thought this was funny; the step-mom was very strict on Danielle, yet she had no clue that she would disappear all day with the Prince. How do you not know where one of your servants is?
I really liked this movie because for once the male in the movie was almost useless. He didn’t save Danielle one time. He ran from his home like a little child. In a lot of movies, the guy is the one that saves the girl over and over again; yet in this movie, Danielle was the rescuer for herself and sometimes for him as well.
My favorite lines out of the movie were: “I’m just here for the food!” (I thought it was really funny!) Also, at the end when Danielle says that she wants shown to her stepmother the same gratitude she had shown her. The look on the stepmothers face was priceless.
The stepmother and the horrible blonde-haired sister were the two characters that I disliked. They were so cruel and so stupid at times, they looked like complete idiots when they ran in at the end of the movie all dressed up, thinking the Prince was going to ask for her hand in marriage. The ending was really great!
Danielle was a strong woman through out the entire movie. She stood up for herself against her stepmother and her horrid stepsister. With the help of the other servants, she could deceive her stepfamily and spend an entire day at a time with the prince, yet the stepfamily wasn’t smart enough to figure it out. The Queen had to tell them. I thought this was funny; the step-mom was very strict on Danielle, yet she had no clue that she would disappear all day with the Prince. How do you not know where one of your servants is?
I really liked this movie because for once the male in the movie was almost useless. He didn’t save Danielle one time. He ran from his home like a little child. In a lot of movies, the guy is the one that saves the girl over and over again; yet in this movie, Danielle was the rescuer for herself and sometimes for him as well.
My favorite lines out of the movie were: “I’m just here for the food!” (I thought it was really funny!) Also, at the end when Danielle says that she wants shown to her stepmother the same gratitude she had shown her. The look on the stepmothers face was priceless.
The stepmother and the horrible blonde-haired sister were the two characters that I disliked. They were so cruel and so stupid at times, they looked like complete idiots when they ran in at the end of the movie all dressed up, thinking the Prince was going to ask for her hand in marriage. The ending was really great!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Reading
I spend a lot of time thinking about different things. One thing I think about often is literature in children’s lives. Is it important to make sure that children are exposed to books at an early age? I think it is. I believe that children need to be exposed to books, any kind of books, early in life. Reading is something that you have to learn, not something that will just magically happen; therefore, before children can actually read the words on a page of a book, a child needs to act like a reader. Holding the book right and turning the pages are the very first stages of being a reader. I can remember as a little girl, my parents used to read to me every night. I couldn’t tell you the names of the books, but I can remember sitting in my bed with my brothers and sister and my parents and listening to story after story. My mom always tells me, “I remember when you were a little girl, you used to pick up the books and turn the pages, like you were actually reading. All you wanted to do was learn how to read.” Now I love to read, except text books. But otherwise, I love to read!
As a teacher, one day I hope to instill a love of reading into my students, the kind of love that I had and still have for reading.
As a teacher, one day I hope to instill a love of reading into my students, the kind of love that I had and still have for reading.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
I love all the Walt Disney stories. I have more of those movies than anything else! As one of my picture books, I read Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Happy, Dopey, Grumpy, Sneezy, Bashful, Doc, and Sleepy, just hearing the names make me smile! In this book, I really like the illustrations, they make the story come to life. My favorite part is when they are giving Grumpy a bath, his face is hilarious.
Everyone knows about the story line, so I won't bore you with a summary!
I'm going to school to be a teacher so I always think of things to use in my classroom. I think I will use this book for a Picture Walk. I will cover the words of the story and let the children tell the story by the illustrations.
I can also cover the illustrations and let the children write the story in their own words.
Everyone knows about the story line, so I won't bore you with a summary!
I'm going to school to be a teacher so I always think of things to use in my classroom. I think I will use this book for a Picture Walk. I will cover the words of the story and let the children tell the story by the illustrations.
I can also cover the illustrations and let the children write the story in their own words.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Cinderella
I love Cinderella, it is by far my favorite story! I watch the Walt Disney Cinderella like monthly! As childish as that sounds, I really love the move and story. Out of all the Cinderella stories we read, my favorite was Cinderella and the Glass Slipper by George Cruikshank.
I found it very humorous how the step mother was a gambler and that she brought the family into poverty. I don’t know why, I just found it hilarious. But I think the main reason I liked this story so much was that it had so many parts that the Disney Cinderella has. In the Disney Cinderella the Fairy Godmother just appears magically while Cinderella is crying, in this story Cinderella is crying and the Godmother just so happens to come over.
Another comparison was how the Godmother turned the pumpkin into a carriage, mushrooms into wheels, six white mice into horses, green lizards into servants and rats into a driver. In the movie she turns a pumpkin and mice and a dog into the carriage and the team.
Bibbity-bobbity-boo. My favorite part of the movie! I even have that song on my cell phone as a ringer, but shhh, that’s a secret! In this story the song is, “Now, pumpkin, mushrooms, rat, and mice, and lizards, all change! To a coach-and six, with servants strong and tall, to make my darling daughter to the Royal Ball.”
Then the dress, of course there is the dress. “She found all her dingy, rough-working dress changed, in an instant, into one of the most beautiful dresses that can be imagined; her stomacher studded with diamonds, and her neck and arms encircled with the most costly jewels.” In the movie Cinderella has the prettiest dress on; it’s white and silver, fit for a princess.
In both the story and the movie, Cinderella must leave the palace before the clock strikes twelve, or the charm will be broken. And the glass slipper is also the same in each story.
I really enjoyed reading Cinderella and the Glass Slipper because it reminded me of my favorite movie!
I found it very humorous how the step mother was a gambler and that she brought the family into poverty. I don’t know why, I just found it hilarious. But I think the main reason I liked this story so much was that it had so many parts that the Disney Cinderella has. In the Disney Cinderella the Fairy Godmother just appears magically while Cinderella is crying, in this story Cinderella is crying and the Godmother just so happens to come over.
Another comparison was how the Godmother turned the pumpkin into a carriage, mushrooms into wheels, six white mice into horses, green lizards into servants and rats into a driver. In the movie she turns a pumpkin and mice and a dog into the carriage and the team.
Bibbity-bobbity-boo. My favorite part of the movie! I even have that song on my cell phone as a ringer, but shhh, that’s a secret! In this story the song is, “Now, pumpkin, mushrooms, rat, and mice, and lizards, all change! To a coach-and six, with servants strong and tall, to make my darling daughter to the Royal Ball.”
Then the dress, of course there is the dress. “She found all her dingy, rough-working dress changed, in an instant, into one of the most beautiful dresses that can be imagined; her stomacher studded with diamonds, and her neck and arms encircled with the most costly jewels.” In the movie Cinderella has the prettiest dress on; it’s white and silver, fit for a princess.
In both the story and the movie, Cinderella must leave the palace before the clock strikes twelve, or the charm will be broken. And the glass slipper is also the same in each story.
I really enjoyed reading Cinderella and the Glass Slipper because it reminded me of my favorite movie!
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Hank the Cowdog by John R. Erickson
Summary: One night on the farm, there was a murder. A white chicken was killed by the chicken house. Hank the Cowdog, the head of security, and his helper Drover tried to solve the case. Hank got sprayed by a porcupine. So the next night they had a stake out, and another chicken was killed. Hank was found the next morning with feathers all around him because he had eaten the chicken that was murdered. Loper and Sally May found him and tied the chicken head around his neck and hollered at him. Hank got upset so he ran away to be wild. He joined the coyote clan and lived with them. Then the coyotes decided to have a raid on the farm and kill Drover and all the chickens. As soon as they got to the farm, Hank joined Drover and they started fighting against the coyotes. Loper came out and shot his shotgun in the air twice and all of the coyotes ran off. Loper and Sally May were so excited that Hank came back the farm and Hank and Drover went back to running the security department at the ranch.
I loved this book as a little kid. I read every single one in the series over and over and over again! As a kid, I loved this book because everything took place on a farm or in the wild. I love the country and on our farm we had so many cowdogs, I felt that I related to this book. Because the book is narrated by Hank, it’s like you are there in the story the entire time. I laughed and laughed when I was rereading this book. Now that I have reread this book, I saw so many things that I didn’t pick up on as a little kid. One of my new favorite part of the book starts on page 96. Hank and two coyotes, Rip and Snort, were going carousing and they went to the silage pit. Silage is fermented and they were eating it all day, and they got drunk! It talks about how they were running down a cow path and it “kept wiggling around” and Hank had “a devil of a time trying to stay on it.” I thought it was pretty funny! I loved this book when I was in elementary school, and now that I’m in college I still love it just as much!
I loved this book as a little kid. I read every single one in the series over and over and over again! As a kid, I loved this book because everything took place on a farm or in the wild. I love the country and on our farm we had so many cowdogs, I felt that I related to this book. Because the book is narrated by Hank, it’s like you are there in the story the entire time. I laughed and laughed when I was rereading this book. Now that I have reread this book, I saw so many things that I didn’t pick up on as a little kid. One of my new favorite part of the book starts on page 96. Hank and two coyotes, Rip and Snort, were going carousing and they went to the silage pit. Silage is fermented and they were eating it all day, and they got drunk! It talks about how they were running down a cow path and it “kept wiggling around” and Hank had “a devil of a time trying to stay on it.” I thought it was pretty funny! I loved this book when I was in elementary school, and now that I’m in college I still love it just as much!
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
The Big City Apartment and the Big Farm
One upon a time, there were two cats. The first one, Princess Sofia, lived in a big city apartment where she spent the day laying in her soft cat bed and watching television. The other cat, Sandra, lived on a big farm where she spent the day chasing off mice from the barns and shops on the farm.
One day at the exact same time, Princess Sofia in the big city apartment and Sandra on the big farm said, “I don’t like my life, how I long to be somewhere else.”
Princess Sofia continued, “I am so bored sitting in the house all by lonesome, I wish I could live somewhere where I could spend the day running around.”
Sandra said, “I am so tired of working all the time. I am exhausted from running around all day, I wish I lived somewhere where I could lay around all day and do nothing.”
At that exact moment the ground start shaking, the cats screamed, and all of a sudden everything went black.
Once the cats woke up they realized their lives were changed forever. Princess Sofia woke up and found herself sleeping in a pile of hay. Sandra woke up and found herself in the softest bed she has every felt before. Because of their wishes, they switched places in life!
Princess Sofia saw a mouse shoot across the barn floor and with out hesitating she chased after the mouse until it was out of the barn, into the pasture, on the other side of the forest.
“Wow! What fun! I never want to go back to the city, ever!” exclaimed Princess Sofia as she chased another mouse, and another, and another. She spent the entire day chasing mice.
Sandra was busy changing the television channels from the Disney channel, to the Food Network channel, to TBS. She said, “Oh what the life! I could lay around and do nothing all day long. I never want to go back to the farm!” Sandra spent the rest of the day watching television and taking naps.
Now this went on for months. Princess Sofia chased mice all day long, all week long. Sandra spent her days laying in her soft bed and watching television. They both thought they were living the life.
After a while, Sandra said, “I am so bored. Everything on television is re-runs and I haven’t ran in six months.” She started to find her self missing her farm and working, she was really sad.
Meanwhile, on the farm, Princess Sofia started to cry. “I am so tired. All I do all day long is run and chase mice. I just want to sit in my soft bed and do nothing all day long.”
One day at the exact same time, Sandra in the big city apartment and Princess Sofia on the big farm said, “I am miserable! I should have never wished to change my life. What I would do to be back at home!”
At that exact moment the ground started shaking, the cats screamed, and all of a sudden everything went black.
When they woke up, Princess Sofia was in her soft bed in the big city apartment and Sandra was in her pile of hay in the barn on the big farm.
They lived happily ever after and never wished to live any where else again!
One day at the exact same time, Princess Sofia in the big city apartment and Sandra on the big farm said, “I don’t like my life, how I long to be somewhere else.”
Princess Sofia continued, “I am so bored sitting in the house all by lonesome, I wish I could live somewhere where I could spend the day running around.”
Sandra said, “I am so tired of working all the time. I am exhausted from running around all day, I wish I lived somewhere where I could lay around all day and do nothing.”
At that exact moment the ground start shaking, the cats screamed, and all of a sudden everything went black.
Once the cats woke up they realized their lives were changed forever. Princess Sofia woke up and found herself sleeping in a pile of hay. Sandra woke up and found herself in the softest bed she has every felt before. Because of their wishes, they switched places in life!
Princess Sofia saw a mouse shoot across the barn floor and with out hesitating she chased after the mouse until it was out of the barn, into the pasture, on the other side of the forest.
“Wow! What fun! I never want to go back to the city, ever!” exclaimed Princess Sofia as she chased another mouse, and another, and another. She spent the entire day chasing mice.
Sandra was busy changing the television channels from the Disney channel, to the Food Network channel, to TBS. She said, “Oh what the life! I could lay around and do nothing all day long. I never want to go back to the farm!” Sandra spent the rest of the day watching television and taking naps.
Now this went on for months. Princess Sofia chased mice all day long, all week long. Sandra spent her days laying in her soft bed and watching television. They both thought they were living the life.
After a while, Sandra said, “I am so bored. Everything on television is re-runs and I haven’t ran in six months.” She started to find her self missing her farm and working, she was really sad.
Meanwhile, on the farm, Princess Sofia started to cry. “I am so tired. All I do all day long is run and chase mice. I just want to sit in my soft bed and do nothing all day long.”
One day at the exact same time, Sandra in the big city apartment and Princess Sofia on the big farm said, “I am miserable! I should have never wished to change my life. What I would do to be back at home!”
At that exact moment the ground started shaking, the cats screamed, and all of a sudden everything went black.
When they woke up, Princess Sofia was in her soft bed in the big city apartment and Sandra was in her pile of hay in the barn on the big farm.
They lived happily ever after and never wished to live any where else again!
Friday, February 1, 2008
The Jolly Barnyard Activity
Since I am going to be a teacher one day, I try to think of activities I can use in my classroom. One idea I have thought of goes along with The Jolly Barnyard by Annie North Bedford. It would be for kindergarten level and I would read the book to the students and give a lesson on the different farm animals, their names, and the sound they each make. Then I would have a hands on activity they could do that involves classification of animals and using fine motor skills. The children will have a sheet that has pictures of different farm animals attached by Velcro. The students will also have a chart broken up into different categories labeled by the names and the sound the animal makes with spots of Velcro to reattach the pictures. The students’ job would be to move all the pictures of the cows onto the cow/moo row, all the pictures of the sheep onto the sheep/baa row, and so forth. I think The Jolly Barnyard would be a great story to use with this activity because it goes through the names of each animal and the sound that they make. Using the book to introduce the lesson and help aid the students will result in great success of the activity.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
The Jolly Barnyard
Summary: It’s Farmer Brown’s birthday and he makes his daily rounds feeding each of his animals. Then the animals decide what they can do for him on his birthday. The horse and colt pull his load with out a jolt, the cow will give him milk, the sheep will give him wool, the turkey will decorate his Thanksgiving table, the hen will give him eggs, the rooster will wake him up, the duck will give him eggs, the drake will swim on his pond for luck, the dog will guard his house, and the cat and kitten will catch his mice. When Farmer Brown gets inside, his wife has a birthday cake for him!
The Jolly Barnyard is one of my favorite books! Of course I like this book because I grew up on a farm. I also love this book because of its illustrations. They make it seem so real, like you are actually on the farm. Another reason I like it is because it rhymes on every page. For example, “First he took a pan of oats, of course, to the baby colt and the mother horse.” The rhyming it uses makes it fun to read and fun for children to listen to. Another reason I like this book is because I think it is a great book to use to teach a farm animal lesson. It talks about the different animals on the farm and their names. It also mentions what each one eats. And one of the more important things it teaches is the sound the animals make. Once I have my own classroom, I will definitely use this book to help teach my farm lesson!
The Jolly Barnyard is one of my favorite books! Of course I like this book because I grew up on a farm. I also love this book because of its illustrations. They make it seem so real, like you are actually on the farm. Another reason I like it is because it rhymes on every page. For example, “First he took a pan of oats, of course, to the baby colt and the mother horse.” The rhyming it uses makes it fun to read and fun for children to listen to. Another reason I like this book is because I think it is a great book to use to teach a farm animal lesson. It talks about the different animals on the farm and their names. It also mentions what each one eats. And one of the more important things it teaches is the sound the animals make. Once I have my own classroom, I will definitely use this book to help teach my farm lesson!
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Sydney White
So I rented Sydney White because it looked like a funny movie, my favorite quote off the preview was, “Sydney White must die a social death.” Who wouldn’t you want to see that, that’s funny! I guess I’m not the sharpest crayon in the box because on the front of the movie it has a picture of Sydney White and a picture of her “Prince” and a picture of the “7 dorks,” yet I didn’t catch on that this was a “college version” of Snow White until one of the “7 dorks” says, “It’s looking grim brothers.” I sat up and thought where do I know that from? That’s when I realized, my English 360 class. So I restarted the movie and watched it closer, sure enough it is a spin off of Snow White.
Summary of the movie: Sydney White’s mother dies when she is young, so she grows up with her father and her father’s co-workers. Her father is a plumber so all of his co-workers are male. Her mom went to SAU and was a member of the Kappa sorority, which makes Sydney a legacy. Sydney moves to college to follow in her mother’s footsteps. The president of Kappa, Rachel, doesn’t like Sydney because the guy she likes, Tyler Prince, was talking to Sydney. So Rachel arranges a way to keep Sydney out of Kappa. Well Sydney ends up living in the Vortex with the “7 dorks” that are all guys that are considered outsiders with no other place to live. Sydney decides that she wants the guys to run for student council president. So they start a campaign, and of course Rachel is the other component and she sabotages the guy that was running for president. So then Sydney decides to be president, running for the Power of 7 and supporting all of the outsiders at the school, in this case the outsiders where those not involved in a sorority or fraternity. Rachel tries to sabotage her some more; however, Sydney wins!
This movies connects to Snow White in many different ways. One of the underlying issues in Snow White is jealousy of beauty, and in this movie, that is also a problem. Rachel is jealous of Sydney because Tyler Prince likes Sydney and Rachel. Also, Sydney moves to number on the SAU Hot or Not. The Hot or Not is on MySpace and it’s like the mirror in Snow White, the students of SAU vote on who they thing is the prettiest. One time Rachel looks at Hot or Not and says, “Still the fairest of them all.” In this movie Rachel is like the step mom, she is the one who plots against Sydney White. She says, again the funniest line I think, “Sydney White must die a social death.” So even though we aren’t talking about actually killing someone, the dieing part is there, just like in Snow White. The 7 dorks in the movie take the place of the 7 dwarfs in Snow White. When Rachel gets kicked out of the Kappa’s, it’s raining and she is sitting on the curb in front of the Vortex, and the 7 dorks take her in and let her stay with them. The prince in this movie is the handsome Tyler Prince. And there is also the kiss. Rachel sabotages Sydney’s computer by getting someone to hack into it and delete her history paper and her debate speech, which is all suppose to happen the next day. So Sydney spends an all nighter in the library finishing her paper and her speech and then she has time for a nap so she falls asleep. Well the debate starts and Sydney is no where to be found. Tyler Prince runs up the library stairs finds her asleep in the chair and kisses her, and of course she wakes up, runs down to the debate, and beats Rachel.
Summary of the movie: Sydney White’s mother dies when she is young, so she grows up with her father and her father’s co-workers. Her father is a plumber so all of his co-workers are male. Her mom went to SAU and was a member of the Kappa sorority, which makes Sydney a legacy. Sydney moves to college to follow in her mother’s footsteps. The president of Kappa, Rachel, doesn’t like Sydney because the guy she likes, Tyler Prince, was talking to Sydney. So Rachel arranges a way to keep Sydney out of Kappa. Well Sydney ends up living in the Vortex with the “7 dorks” that are all guys that are considered outsiders with no other place to live. Sydney decides that she wants the guys to run for student council president. So they start a campaign, and of course Rachel is the other component and she sabotages the guy that was running for president. So then Sydney decides to be president, running for the Power of 7 and supporting all of the outsiders at the school, in this case the outsiders where those not involved in a sorority or fraternity. Rachel tries to sabotage her some more; however, Sydney wins!
This movies connects to Snow White in many different ways. One of the underlying issues in Snow White is jealousy of beauty, and in this movie, that is also a problem. Rachel is jealous of Sydney because Tyler Prince likes Sydney and Rachel. Also, Sydney moves to number on the SAU Hot or Not. The Hot or Not is on MySpace and it’s like the mirror in Snow White, the students of SAU vote on who they thing is the prettiest. One time Rachel looks at Hot or Not and says, “Still the fairest of them all.” In this movie Rachel is like the step mom, she is the one who plots against Sydney White. She says, again the funniest line I think, “Sydney White must die a social death.” So even though we aren’t talking about actually killing someone, the dieing part is there, just like in Snow White. The 7 dorks in the movie take the place of the 7 dwarfs in Snow White. When Rachel gets kicked out of the Kappa’s, it’s raining and she is sitting on the curb in front of the Vortex, and the 7 dorks take her in and let her stay with them. The prince in this movie is the handsome Tyler Prince. And there is also the kiss. Rachel sabotages Sydney’s computer by getting someone to hack into it and delete her history paper and her debate speech, which is all suppose to happen the next day. So Sydney spends an all nighter in the library finishing her paper and her speech and then she has time for a nap so she falls asleep. Well the debate starts and Sydney is no where to be found. Tyler Prince runs up the library stairs finds her asleep in the chair and kisses her, and of course she wakes up, runs down to the debate, and beats Rachel.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Garfield books!
As a little girl I loved to read. I would read or pretend to read anything I could put my hands on. My favorite thing in school was the “Book Fair!” My mom let me buy five books each time our school had one. I remember one year I bought a couple of Garfield books because my little brother loved Garfield. When I brought the books home from school my brother’s face just lit up! I bet I read those books about a hundred times to him because he loved hearing the stories. I am going to school to be a teacher and here lately I have been thinking about my school experiences growing up. I hope that one day I can instill a love for reading into my students like my teachers did with me!
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Booya Ranch!
I love the outdoors and wildlife. So I decided to have some fun and write a story about deer cartoon characters!
Once upon a time in far off woods on Booya Ranch, there lived two herds of deer. The dominating group was known as the Wranglers and the other herd was called Rustlers. It was forbidden to have friends that weren’t from your herd. If the leader found out that you were friends with the others, you would be banished from Booya Ranch and had to make it on your own. Well one day, Sally, a deer from the Wranglers group was drinking water by herself. Now Sally is the daughter of the leader, so a lot is expected from her and she has to obey all the rules. While she was drinking water from the pond something caught her eye from the other side of the water. Trying not to stare, she sees a handsome young buck drinking water from the same pond. She starts to blush as the buck walks around the pond to her.
In a deep masculine voice he says, “Howdy! Sure is a nice day, don’t you think?”
Stuttering Sally replies, “W-w-why yes it is a beautiful day.” Clearing her throat she asks, “Are you new here? I’ve never seen you before.”
The buck replies, “Why yes I am new here. I have no family in these parts of the woods. My name is John. John Deere. What is your name?”
Battering her eyelids Sally replies, “My name is Sally.”
They stayed at the pond till dark, running, playing, and talking until they had to go home.
Every morning after that, they would meet and play together all day. One day John told Sally that the leader of the Rustlers asked him to join their herd.
Sally’s voice cracked as she said, “But, but if you join them then we can’t be friends any more.”
John told her, “Well I haven’t been offered a place on the Wranglers herd.”
They spent the rest of the evening crying. The next morning when Sally went to meet John she had a brilliant idea. She ran up to John to share her thought.
“John! John! I have an idea. It’s perfect! Please say you will.”
John said, “Hold on Sally, you haven’t even told me the idea, what is it?”
Sally exclaimed, “Why don’t you come home and meet my father? He is the leader of the Wranglers and if you come home with me I can convince him to offer you a spot in our herd.”
With out blinking an eye John hollered, “Of course I will, let’s go right now!”
So Sally takes John to meet her father and the rest of the herd and everyone fell in love with the handsome buck.
Sally asked her father, “Can John join the herd? He is really nice daddy, he is my friend.”
Looking down at his daughter, he just couldn’t tell her no. “Why of course honey, we will have a ceremony for him tonight!”
That night the Wrangler herd partied as they welcomed John Deere. Sally and John were best friends forever.
Once upon a time in far off woods on Booya Ranch, there lived two herds of deer. The dominating group was known as the Wranglers and the other herd was called Rustlers. It was forbidden to have friends that weren’t from your herd. If the leader found out that you were friends with the others, you would be banished from Booya Ranch and had to make it on your own. Well one day, Sally, a deer from the Wranglers group was drinking water by herself. Now Sally is the daughter of the leader, so a lot is expected from her and she has to obey all the rules. While she was drinking water from the pond something caught her eye from the other side of the water. Trying not to stare, she sees a handsome young buck drinking water from the same pond. She starts to blush as the buck walks around the pond to her.
In a deep masculine voice he says, “Howdy! Sure is a nice day, don’t you think?”
Stuttering Sally replies, “W-w-why yes it is a beautiful day.” Clearing her throat she asks, “Are you new here? I’ve never seen you before.”
The buck replies, “Why yes I am new here. I have no family in these parts of the woods. My name is John. John Deere. What is your name?”
Battering her eyelids Sally replies, “My name is Sally.”
They stayed at the pond till dark, running, playing, and talking until they had to go home.
Every morning after that, they would meet and play together all day. One day John told Sally that the leader of the Rustlers asked him to join their herd.
Sally’s voice cracked as she said, “But, but if you join them then we can’t be friends any more.”
John told her, “Well I haven’t been offered a place on the Wranglers herd.”
They spent the rest of the evening crying. The next morning when Sally went to meet John she had a brilliant idea. She ran up to John to share her thought.
“John! John! I have an idea. It’s perfect! Please say you will.”
John said, “Hold on Sally, you haven’t even told me the idea, what is it?”
Sally exclaimed, “Why don’t you come home and meet my father? He is the leader of the Wranglers and if you come home with me I can convince him to offer you a spot in our herd.”
With out blinking an eye John hollered, “Of course I will, let’s go right now!”
So Sally takes John to meet her father and the rest of the herd and everyone fell in love with the handsome buck.
Sally asked her father, “Can John join the herd? He is really nice daddy, he is my friend.”
Looking down at his daughter, he just couldn’t tell her no. “Why of course honey, we will have a ceremony for him tonight!”
That night the Wrangler herd partied as they welcomed John Deere. Sally and John were best friends forever.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan
Sarah, Plain and Tall is about a family that lost their mother. Anna and Caleb are the children who live with their father, Jacob. Jacob puts an advertisement in the newspapers for a wife. The response he gets is from a lady named Sarah who lives by the sea. So when she comes out to the country, she goes through a phase where she missed her family and her home. Then she gets Jacob to teach her how to ride a horse and drive the wagon by herself. Meanwhile, Anna and Caleb get attached to Sarah. One day Sarah takes the wagon to town and Anna and Caleb are afraid she won't come back. Sarah does come back to the farm and marries Jacob.
I absolutely loved this book! I actually read it in one sitting because I thought it was so good. I think the main thing for me was that it was based in the country, which is where I grew up and a place that I absolutely love. The lessons that were brought out in this book were things that everyone can relate to. Sarah moves from the sea and leaves her brother and her aunts and everything she loves and goes to the country where everything is different, or so it seemed. I really liked how this book would show how Sarah missed this or missed that and then she found the equivalent of it in the country. For example, when she was talking about the dunes she used to slide down into the sea, Anna and Caleb showed her their dune, a tall stack of hay that they slid down.
My favorite line out of this book is the one that Maggie tells Sarah. "There is always something to miss, no matter where you are." These words are so true, especially for me. I was born and raised in the country and I love everything about the country. So when I moved to College Station I was miserable, red lights were my enemy! Well, after spending time up here when I would go back home I was shocked by what I felt. I missed College Station! While I was reading these words of wisdom from Maggie I felt like she was talking to me. I felt like I could relate to Sarah and how she felt. Sarah missed the sea and I missed the country, but if either one of us would leave, we would miss that too!
I absolutely loved this book! I actually read it in one sitting because I thought it was so good. I think the main thing for me was that it was based in the country, which is where I grew up and a place that I absolutely love. The lessons that were brought out in this book were things that everyone can relate to. Sarah moves from the sea and leaves her brother and her aunts and everything she loves and goes to the country where everything is different, or so it seemed. I really liked how this book would show how Sarah missed this or missed that and then she found the equivalent of it in the country. For example, when she was talking about the dunes she used to slide down into the sea, Anna and Caleb showed her their dune, a tall stack of hay that they slid down.
My favorite line out of this book is the one that Maggie tells Sarah. "There is always something to miss, no matter where you are." These words are so true, especially for me. I was born and raised in the country and I love everything about the country. So when I moved to College Station I was miserable, red lights were my enemy! Well, after spending time up here when I would go back home I was shocked by what I felt. I missed College Station! While I was reading these words of wisdom from Maggie I felt like she was talking to me. I felt like I could relate to Sarah and how she felt. Sarah missed the sea and I missed the country, but if either one of us would leave, we would miss that too!
Outside Reading List
Outside Reading List
Book 1:
Title- Sarah, Plain and Tall
Author- Patricia Mac Lachlan
Picture Book? no
Posting date and/or number- January 22 (2)
Book 2:
Title - The Jolly Barnyard
Author - Annie North Bedford
Picture Book? yes
Posting date and/or number? January 31 (6)
Book 3:
Title- The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog
Author- John R. Erickson
Picture Book? no
Posting date and/or number- February 9 (9 )
Book 4:
Title- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Author- Walt Disney
Picture Book? yes
Posting date and/or number- February 13 (11)
Book 5:
Title- Sylvester and the Magic Pebble
Author- William Steig
Picture Book? yes
Posting date and/or number- February 21 (15)
Book 6:
Title- In the Small, Small Pond
Author- Denise Fleming
Picture Book? yes
Posting date and/or number- February 29 (17)
Book 7:
Title- Peter Pan
Author- J.M. Barrie
Picture Book? no
Posting date and/or number- March 8 (21)
Book 8:
Title- Eric Carle's Animals Animals
Author- Eric Carle
Picture Book? yes
Posting date and/or number- March 20 (23)
Book 9:
Title- Becaues of Winn-Dixie
Author- Kate DiCamillo
Picture Book? no
Posting date and/or number- March 29 (27)
Book 10:
Title- Esperanza Rising
Author- Pam Munoz Ryan
Picture Book? no
Posting date and/or number- April 9 (32)
Book 1:
Title- Sarah, Plain and Tall
Author- Patricia Mac Lachlan
Picture Book? no
Posting date and/or number- January 22 (2)
Book 2:
Title - The Jolly Barnyard
Author - Annie North Bedford
Picture Book? yes
Posting date and/or number? January 31 (6)
Book 3:
Title- The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog
Author- John R. Erickson
Picture Book? no
Posting date and/or number- February 9 (9 )
Book 4:
Title- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Author- Walt Disney
Picture Book? yes
Posting date and/or number- February 13 (11)
Book 5:
Title- Sylvester and the Magic Pebble
Author- William Steig
Picture Book? yes
Posting date and/or number- February 21 (15)
Book 6:
Title- In the Small, Small Pond
Author- Denise Fleming
Picture Book? yes
Posting date and/or number- February 29 (17)
Book 7:
Title- Peter Pan
Author- J.M. Barrie
Picture Book? no
Posting date and/or number- March 8 (21)
Book 8:
Title- Eric Carle's Animals Animals
Author- Eric Carle
Picture Book? yes
Posting date and/or number- March 20 (23)
Book 9:
Title- Becaues of Winn-Dixie
Author- Kate DiCamillo
Picture Book? no
Posting date and/or number- March 29 (27)
Book 10:
Title- Esperanza Rising
Author- Pam Munoz Ryan
Picture Book? no
Posting date and/or number- April 9 (32)
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