Castle

This is more for the adults who follow. The newest season of "Castle" has started. Currently I am reading the novel published from Richard Castle's first go round with Detective Beckett. When I am finished I will let you know how it was. I am predicting good things though. If you haven't had a chance to view "Castle" yet, please do so. It is on Monday nights at 9 p.m. I don't usually recommend shows but this one is a MUST SEE.

Have a great weekend and GO HAWKS!! BEAT MICHIGAN!!

Checking In

I know that it has been awhile since I have posted on here. However, I am hoping to change all of that. Just to give an update. . . . . I graduated in May with a degree in Elementary Education with emphasis in Reading and Social Studies. I was unable to find a full time teaching job so I am subbing right now. I am fortunate enough to have several WONDERFUL school districts within decent driving distance. Between all of my friends in Iowa City, Clear Creek/Amana, Solon and Regina, I have been staying VERY busy. While subbing is not my ideal situation, it is allowing me the opportunity to see how I would and would not want my classroom to run. It is also giving me strength in my Classroom Management.

On a personal note, my girls are in school full time now. Emma started 2nd grade and Jillian started Kindergarten at Regina Elementary this fall. Ed is very busy with work and is traveling much more than he did when he worked with Monsanto.

My main goal of this blog is to keep everyone posted on Children and Young Childrens Literature. I will do my best to post about books that I have read, any recommendations that I receive regarding new books. I may also post, from time to time, on books that I have personally read for adults. These books may be teaching books or adult books read for leisure (you know FUN!). Please let me know of any books that you may have heard of or read. I would love to have them included on my blog.

Have a great week,
Jen

Where I Am

It is difficult for me to write this particular blog entry. I have just come to realize that my time in this class is almost up. I have really enjoyed my time in this class. Our discussion after we have read books has been very productive and encourages one to talk the time to evaluate what we have read and why we are drawn to certain books.

I find myself taking extra time when picking out books for not only my daughters to read but myself as well. I no longer just grab books off of the shelf. I like to take the time and flip through books. I am now looking at children's literature through the eyes of a future teacher instead of just a parent. Books that I may have shied away from in the past because of their subject matter are now ones I take extra time and review. I have discovered new genres that in the past I would not have even given a second glance too (Captain Underpants for example).

When looking at books for purchase I find myself wondering how I may make that book work or utilized in my future classroom. I believe that this is the intention of this course. As far as the blogging goes, I fully intend on keeping up on my blog as I start to work through my practicum courses. I feel compelled to express my opinions on children's literature. I have already found that this blog makes me more critical of the books I choose to read. I can only hope that any followers of this blog feel that I have helped them look at children's literature a little more closely than just the picture on the cover. Thanks for a great time.

Money Madness by David A. Adler; Illustrated by Edward Miller (Holiday Press, 2009)

Another great book to use in when working with the concept of money in your math class. This book examines the history of money. Why we use it? How it was developed? It also introduces your students to the concepts of trading and bartering. Money Madness puts math into relateable terms for children. It also introduces students to monetary names used throughout the world.

David Adler is a former math teacher who has written several books on math concepts that students can relate too. He wants kids to see that math can be fun and aims to make his book easy to understand and follow. The illustrations offered by Mr. Miller are very bright and clearly state the message that Mr. Adler is trying to convey. Overall this book is a fun and interesting way to introduce the concept into the elementary school classroom.

Intended audience: Ages 4-8

What is a Princess?

Princess Grace by Mary Hoffman; Illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu ( Scholastic, 2007)

"Grace had wanted to be a princess for as long as she could remember." This is the first line of the absolutely amazing book Princess Grace. Luckily for Grace she had a Grandma and mother who encouraged her to follow her dreams. Grace is over the moon when her school announces that not only will there be a queen in this year's parade but two princesses as well. The princesses will be picked from her class. Of course the little girls practiced their waves and bows in hopes of being picked, while the boys thought "being a Princess was boring." Grace runs home to tell her family about the parade but is confronted with a question from her Grandmother that she was not expecting. "You can be a princess as long as you tell me what a princess wears." This question confused Grace. On the advice of her Grandmother she asks her teacher for help. That is when he opinion of princesses start to change.

Grace starting seeing Princesses in a whole new light. They were not all found in pink, floral and frilly dresses. Some princesses were warriors, spy's and some were even athletes. Grace decided that she needed to challenge the picture of a princess so she convinced her class to enter a float in the parade that promoted all sorts of princesses (and princes).

What really made this book for me was the multicultural nature of the book. As you can tell by the cover, Grace is an African American girl. Her friends are Hispanic, English and Hindi. The teacher in the book encouraged Grace to research a subject that she felt strongly about and did not persuade her in on direction or the other while Grace was discussing what she was finding. This book is an excellent book to introduce perspective and to challenge stereotypes.

Intended audience: Grades 2-4

Picture Day Horror

Bedhead by Margie Palatini; Illustrated by Jack E. Davis (Scholastic, 2000)

Admit it. Who has not had a bad hair day for picture day? If you raised your hand you are fooling yourself. You can honestly tell me that you have looked back through all of your school pictures and you are 100% satisfied with every one you see? If so, congratulations. You are in the minority.

Bedhead is a delightful book about a boy and his unruly hair. He wakes up one morning to find that his hair will not cooperate for anything. His parents and sister try everything they can to get the hair to be controlled but, no luck. He finally decides to wear a hat to school but is called out by the class "know-it-all" and cannot wear his hat. To top it all off the teacher reminds the class that it is picture day. Right as the picture is taken his hair goes back to it original state. Everyone laughs and becomes upset. Poor kid is humiliated on one of the most important days of his early school career.

What really makes this story is the over-exaggeration of the characters heads. The illustrations allow for you to see the pain and agony on every one's faces when Oliver is forced to remove his hat an expose his hair to more problems. Been there. Done that.

Intended audience: Grades 2-4

Absentee Dad

Molly and her Dad by Jan Ormerod; Illustrated by Carol Thompson (Roaring Book Press, 2008)

I hate to admit it but the only thing I liked about this book was the illustrations. I was really hoping from the title that this book would be about a stay-at-home Dad watching over his daughter. NOT AT ALL!!!

Molly lives with her mother and has not seen her Dad since she was a baby. She often dreams of what he would be like. What does he do for a living? Am I anything like him? All very valid questions that she deserves the answers too. However, she is constantly lying and making up stories of what her father is like to please her friends at school. Miraculously one day, Molly's mother has to go out of town for a week and, viola! her Dad shows up to take care of her. Why on God's green earth would her mother allow for this to happen. This man has never shown an ounce of interest in your child and now you are allowing him to spend a whole week with her? Seems a little far fetched if you ask me. The book is filled with all sorts of warm and fuzzies as Molly and her Dad start to see just how alike they are. But low and behold and the end of the week her Dad is on the first plane out of town. This message worries me a little.

I infer from this book that Molly ends their week together longing for a closer relationship to her father and he decides to leave. Way to get her hopes up. Now I have not not recommended a lot of books this semester but this is one I would caution using. You must really know your students and their family situation before you read this book in your classroom.

Intended audience: Preschool through Grade 2