Thursday, May 7, 2009
Final Project Article Review
The article I chose to review has to do with, as the title implies, teaching children about learning disabilities through children’s literature. According to the article there are so many books available that portray characters with disabilities, and it is our duty as educators to make these texts available for students in the classroom. The article primarily focuses on first selecting quality literature and then promoting the understanding and acceptance that these texts bring into the classroom. In order to select quality literature the author of the article outlines key points to consider when approaching any text. These points include the features of literature, which are theme, characterization, setting, plot, point of view, and literary style. She also points out that quality literature is not only defined by text, but also illustrations. Most importantly she outlines, “How children’s literature that portrays learning disabilities can be used to promote awareness, understanding, and acceptance of individuals with learning disabilities” (Parter, Dyches, Johnstun 15). Not only does she outline how to select these texts, but how we can use them to promote the overall understanding of disabilities for young students everywhere.
Final Project Book Review 4
Book Review 4: The Peanut-Free Café by Gloria Koster
Koster, Gloria. The Peanut-Free Cafe. Morton Grove, Illinois: Albert
Whitman & Company, 2006. Print.
About one in twenty children suffer from a food allergy, and eggs, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, wheat, and soy cause most food allergies. In The Peanut-Free Café by Gloria Koster she illustrates how important it is that children with food allergies be understood, “everyone must understand that children with a food allergy can do everything that other children can do, except eat the food to which they are allergic”. In the story Grant, who is allergic to peanuts, is a new student to Nutley Elementary where peanut butter is a coveted food item. Simon, his newly found friend, is peanut butters’ biggest fan, but when he realizes the gravity of Grant’s allergy he must decide what to do when a Peanut-Free Café is established at his school. Simon struggles with giving up peanut butter and eating with his friend Grant. The illustrations in this story are humorous and time-telling fun for any young reader. Koster educates more than just children about food allergies, but also educators on what roles they must play in the understanding and preparation that coincides with providing a safe and happy environment for all students.
Koster, Gloria. The Peanut-Free Cafe. Morton Grove, Illinois: Albert
Whitman & Company, 2006. Print.
About one in twenty children suffer from a food allergy, and eggs, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, wheat, and soy cause most food allergies. In The Peanut-Free Café by Gloria Koster she illustrates how important it is that children with food allergies be understood, “everyone must understand that children with a food allergy can do everything that other children can do, except eat the food to which they are allergic”. In the story Grant, who is allergic to peanuts, is a new student to Nutley Elementary where peanut butter is a coveted food item. Simon, his newly found friend, is peanut butters’ biggest fan, but when he realizes the gravity of Grant’s allergy he must decide what to do when a Peanut-Free Café is established at his school. Simon struggles with giving up peanut butter and eating with his friend Grant. The illustrations in this story are humorous and time-telling fun for any young reader. Koster educates more than just children about food allergies, but also educators on what roles they must play in the understanding and preparation that coincides with providing a safe and happy environment for all students.
Final Project Book Review 3
Book Review 3: Sometimes My Mommy Gets Angry by Bebe Moore Campbell
Campbell, Bebe Moore. Sometimes My Mommy Gets Angry. New York:
Puffin Books, 2003. Print.
Mental illness doesn’t just affect the individual; it affects everyone connected with that individual including his or her family. In Bebe Moore Campbell’s Sometimes My Mommy Gets Angry, we as the reader get an inside look at how mental illness affects those we love. The story goes through one day in the life of Annie, a child whose mother suffers from depression. From the moment Annie wakes up and her mother asks, “who wants hot, golden circles?” (Campbell 1) to the moment she returns home from school and her mother says, “STOP ALL THAT SCREAMING…GET IN THIS HOUSE NOW” the reader is given a taste of how depression feels for everyone involved (Campbell 13). The book gives an amazing portrayal of families suffering from depression and how they battle it as one unit. On days like the one mentioned above, Annie knows what she must do; call her grandmother, eat a treat from her special snacks, and most importantly think happy thoughts. The reader is given an inside look at how individuals deal with depression and most importantly how they understand it. The message throughout the story is not just that people suffer from depression, but that those who do never stop loving their family whether some days are good or some days are bad.
Campbell, Bebe Moore. Sometimes My Mommy Gets Angry. New York:
Puffin Books, 2003. Print.
Mental illness doesn’t just affect the individual; it affects everyone connected with that individual including his or her family. In Bebe Moore Campbell’s Sometimes My Mommy Gets Angry, we as the reader get an inside look at how mental illness affects those we love. The story goes through one day in the life of Annie, a child whose mother suffers from depression. From the moment Annie wakes up and her mother asks, “who wants hot, golden circles?” (Campbell 1) to the moment she returns home from school and her mother says, “STOP ALL THAT SCREAMING…GET IN THIS HOUSE NOW” the reader is given a taste of how depression feels for everyone involved (Campbell 13). The book gives an amazing portrayal of families suffering from depression and how they battle it as one unit. On days like the one mentioned above, Annie knows what she must do; call her grandmother, eat a treat from her special snacks, and most importantly think happy thoughts. The reader is given an inside look at how individuals deal with depression and most importantly how they understand it. The message throughout the story is not just that people suffer from depression, but that those who do never stop loving their family whether some days are good or some days are bad.
Final Project Book Review 2
Book Review 2: Thank you, Mr Falker by Patricia Polacco
Polacco, Patricia. Thank you, Mr. Falker. New York: Philomel Books, 1998.
Print.
Reading is a profound concentration in education, especially in the early grades. Many books students read do not touch on the struggle of reading that many students can relate to, except Patricia Polacco’s Thank you Mr. Falker. Trisha is a new and struggling learner to her California school ready to hand in the towel. She has struggled reading in her past school, battled the ranting and bullying of her classmates, and is plain sick and tired of being different. Trisha cannot help but struggle with what many children her age face, not only reading, but also the blurred line between what is said and what is done. Coming from loving grandparents telling her “to be different is the miracle of life” and then being bullied for being different, Trisha begins to hate school (Polacco 8). It is not until Trisha meets Mr. Falker and he works one-on-one with her that she begins to realize she is not dumb, and can and will learn to read. This story of a child with dyslexia isn’t just about a girl who can’t see letters or numbers the way others do, it is about a child who sees the world differently and invites the reader into it. As the reader we get to see what it’s like to have dyslexia, how people with dyslexia learn to read, and how dyslexic kids might need extra help.
Polacco, Patricia. Thank you, Mr. Falker. New York: Philomel Books, 1998.
Print.
Reading is a profound concentration in education, especially in the early grades. Many books students read do not touch on the struggle of reading that many students can relate to, except Patricia Polacco’s Thank you Mr. Falker. Trisha is a new and struggling learner to her California school ready to hand in the towel. She has struggled reading in her past school, battled the ranting and bullying of her classmates, and is plain sick and tired of being different. Trisha cannot help but struggle with what many children her age face, not only reading, but also the blurred line between what is said and what is done. Coming from loving grandparents telling her “to be different is the miracle of life” and then being bullied for being different, Trisha begins to hate school (Polacco 8). It is not until Trisha meets Mr. Falker and he works one-on-one with her that she begins to realize she is not dumb, and can and will learn to read. This story of a child with dyslexia isn’t just about a girl who can’t see letters or numbers the way others do, it is about a child who sees the world differently and invites the reader into it. As the reader we get to see what it’s like to have dyslexia, how people with dyslexia learn to read, and how dyslexic kids might need extra help.
Final Project Book Review 1
Book Review 1: Kathy’s Hats: A Story of Hope by Trudy Krisher
Krisher, Trudy. Kathy's Hats: A Story of Hope. Morton Grove, Illinois:
Albert Whitman & Company, Print.
Trudy Krisher tips her hats to young cancer patients everywhere in her heartwarming story of a child battling the daily struggles of a cancer patient; the pain from chemotherapy, losing hair, missing school, being different from her peers. Kathy’s Hats: A Story of Hope gives an interesting portrayal of cancer and the young character that has it. Kathy’s story begins with the first hat she receives, a ribbon her mother placed atop her head after she was born to the first hat she wears after losing her hair due to chemotherapy treatments. Kathy not only battles with how much cancer has changed her physically, but also emotionally. She begins to reevaluate what she likes most, hats. It isn’t until her mother introduces the most important hat of all, a thinking cap. “My mother says that the most important thing about a person is the way she thinks about things” (Krisher 19). This book is a beautiful portrayal of adolescence and the many challenges youngsters must face and ultimately overcome.
Krisher, Trudy. Kathy's Hats: A Story of Hope. Morton Grove, Illinois:
Albert Whitman & Company, Print.
Trudy Krisher tips her hats to young cancer patients everywhere in her heartwarming story of a child battling the daily struggles of a cancer patient; the pain from chemotherapy, losing hair, missing school, being different from her peers. Kathy’s Hats: A Story of Hope gives an interesting portrayal of cancer and the young character that has it. Kathy’s story begins with the first hat she receives, a ribbon her mother placed atop her head after she was born to the first hat she wears after losing her hair due to chemotherapy treatments. Kathy not only battles with how much cancer has changed her physically, but also emotionally. She begins to reevaluate what she likes most, hats. It isn’t until her mother introduces the most important hat of all, a thinking cap. “My mother says that the most important thing about a person is the way she thinks about things” (Krisher 19). This book is a beautiful portrayal of adolescence and the many challenges youngsters must face and ultimately overcome.
Final Project Introduction
As I write this paper, I think to myself “I’ve got one left in me” as a graduating senior of MSU. More importantly I consider the true depth of knowledge I’ve gained from this class and this assignment as I embark on my career as an educator.
For my TE448 project, I decided to focus on individuals with disabilities in quality literature. As a future educator, whether teaching all students or teaching students with disabilities, I want to have an open voice for all children in my classroom. I want a diverse range of literature in my classroom for a diverse population of students. Above all, I want inclusion for all students present in my classroom. In doing so my students will be able to learn about individuals like them self and not like themselves in the same sense. As this course has taught me throughout the semester it is important for children to learn from literature and to be given that opportunity to learn. Students need rich, quality literature from an insider or outsider point of view in order to be able to relate to characters in the text or learn from them.
For my TE448 project, I decided to focus on individuals with disabilities in quality literature. As a future educator, whether teaching all students or teaching students with disabilities, I want to have an open voice for all children in my classroom. I want a diverse range of literature in my classroom for a diverse population of students. Above all, I want inclusion for all students present in my classroom. In doing so my students will be able to learn about individuals like them self and not like themselves in the same sense. As this course has taught me throughout the semester it is important for children to learn from literature and to be given that opportunity to learn. Students need rich, quality literature from an insider or outsider point of view in order to be able to relate to characters in the text or learn from them.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Kevjumba
So today I was fooling around on youtube when I found this cool video by this kid named Kevjumba. I was looking up graduation videos (I'm getting a little sentimental) and I ran into one of his blogs. He has created a series of videos about his life, sometimes talking about serious issues and others just having fun. In one he flies a paper air plane off the Golden Gate Brigde and in another he is talking about issues of race. In this particular video, he is talking about how he is upset how his childhood hero cartoon-character who is Asian is going to be played by a white caucasian actor. It's really funny and interesting. I like how he has created these blogs, they've become so popular he has made a site where when people watch his video so many times he will get paid and then send the money to a charity of viewers choice-pretty cool eh!?! Well, I think this video is hilarious, at least Kevjumba is! Check em out!
Monday, April 27, 2009
PC for Eskimos?
Today I learned about the Inuit people, commonly referred to as Eskimos. I found it interesting to learn that Eskimos is a negative way to refer to these people of the north, because "Eskimo" means "eater of raw fish". This name first originated from the Algonquian family in Indian languages. Because these Algonquian languages were the first the English heard first, this is how "Eskimo" got added to the English language. I found this presentation interesting and these group of people interesting. Like discussions of other group cultures in class, I wondered if Inuits are upset about how they were being referred to as "eater of raw fish" as opposed to Inuits, which means "the people". Overall I found this information interesting because we are always talking about unrepresented groups and I think Inuits are one of these groups. Inuits are not Indians as many commonly believe, they are a separate group of people with a culture and language of their own. Some Inuits still live day-to-day as their ancestors have before them while others lead more modern lives.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
California Milk
Yesterday I watched the movie MILK, a movie about Harvey Milk who was the first openly gay individual to hold public office in California. Harvey Milk was a Public Supervisor in the late seventies and he triumphed over great adversity in order to hold that position.
Watching this movie made me think back to our discussion in class last Wednesday and about Miss California's response about same sex marriage. I wondered if her response was taken more to heart and affected more people because she represents California. California is a state that has had a lot to do with the Gay Rights Movement. Many people came to San Francisco in the mid-seventies for this very reason. Everyone in class had said, "Miss California is entitled to her own opinion" and had felt that the audience, Perez Hilton, and the general public gave her too hard of a time for expressing it. But, getting a brush on my history of the Gay Rights Movement I can understand why more people would have expected a different response from Miss California.
Watching this movie made me think back to our discussion in class last Wednesday and about Miss California's response about same sex marriage. I wondered if her response was taken more to heart and affected more people because she represents California. California is a state that has had a lot to do with the Gay Rights Movement. Many people came to San Francisco in the mid-seventies for this very reason. Everyone in class had said, "Miss California is entitled to her own opinion" and had felt that the audience, Perez Hilton, and the general public gave her too hard of a time for expressing it. But, getting a brush on my history of the Gay Rights Movement I can understand why more people would have expected a different response from Miss California.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
LGBTQ Terms
Just in case you wanted to know... (taken from http://glbt.appstate.edu/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=4)
Straight - A term often used by LGBT people to identify persons who are thought to be heterosexual.
Transgender - 1. a broad term for all individuals whose gender anatomy and identity are incongruent. For example, a person who possesses a female gender anatomy yet experiences their gender identity as male.
2. an umbrella term for transsexuals, cross-dressers (transvestites), transgenderists, intersexuals (hermaphrodites), transgender butches, and people who identify as neither female nor male. Transgender is not gender/sexual orientation as are straight, gay, lesbian and bisexual. Being transgender stems from understanding and accepting the authenticity of one's gender identity.
Transgender Butch - Masculine lesbians who do not identify as women, but may not identify as men either.
Transgenderist - a person who lives either full time, or most of the time, in the gender role opposite the role associated with their biological or chromosomal sex.
Transition - a complicated, multi-step process that can take years as transsexuals align their gender anatomy with their gender identity, this process may ultimately include sex reassignment surgery.
Transsexual - Individual whose gender identity is that of the opposite sex. There are female-to-male and male-to-female transsexuals. A transsexual may or may not have had sex reassignment surgery.
Straight - A term often used by LGBT people to identify persons who are thought to be heterosexual.
Transgender - 1. a broad term for all individuals whose gender anatomy and identity are incongruent. For example, a person who possesses a female gender anatomy yet experiences their gender identity as male.
2. an umbrella term for transsexuals, cross-dressers (transvestites), transgenderists, intersexuals (hermaphrodites), transgender butches, and people who identify as neither female nor male. Transgender is not gender/sexual orientation as are straight, gay, lesbian and bisexual. Being transgender stems from understanding and accepting the authenticity of one's gender identity.
Transgender Butch - Masculine lesbians who do not identify as women, but may not identify as men either.
Transgenderist - a person who lives either full time, or most of the time, in the gender role opposite the role associated with their biological or chromosomal sex.
Transition - a complicated, multi-step process that can take years as transsexuals align their gender anatomy with their gender identity, this process may ultimately include sex reassignment surgery.
Transsexual - Individual whose gender identity is that of the opposite sex. There are female-to-male and male-to-female transsexuals. A transsexual may or may not have had sex reassignment surgery.
Boy Meets Boy
I was really floored by David Levithan's Boy Meets Boy. I loved the language he used while writing, almost at times like he was pairing his lyrics alongside a song. When he says things like, "I see trees of green and dresses of white...what a wonderful world" to in the acknowledgments where he says, "all the umbrellas in London couldn't stop me from showering my editor praise" he just has an amazing way of hitting the reader with the right words. I even love how the narrator has a familiar voice that youn can connect with and the comic relief in every turn of a page. I love the scene where Joni kisses Paul and they both say "what are you doing" and Paul says, "I'm gay" and Joni says, "okay cool". This scene and others make me laugh and make me relate back to my own friendships.
I also enjoyed reading Levithan's article addressed to librarians and their important roles in society. I never thought of a librarian as having such a vital role in society, but now I know exactly what is is. I love how Levithan says librarians don't hold a collection of books, but a representation of books. They alone control the flow of books on display and can help students realize their identity. He also talks about how people how people have homophobias that keep others from accessing important and rich literature and how it is no different than discrimination. I agree, and I am further agree that many people don't consider homophobia as a form of discrimination. More importantly, not just people but our society as a whole. I am still appalled to this day that hate crimes have not been added to legislation just as Levithan mentions people not considering homophobia as a means of representing it in the classroom. This really aggravates me, homosexuality is not an issues like Levithan says...it's an identity.
I also enjoyed reading Levithan's article addressed to librarians and their important roles in society. I never thought of a librarian as having such a vital role in society, but now I know exactly what is is. I love how Levithan says librarians don't hold a collection of books, but a representation of books. They alone control the flow of books on display and can help students realize their identity. He also talks about how people how people have homophobias that keep others from accessing important and rich literature and how it is no different than discrimination. I agree, and I am further agree that many people don't consider homophobia as a form of discrimination. More importantly, not just people but our society as a whole. I am still appalled to this day that hate crimes have not been added to legislation just as Levithan mentions people not considering homophobia as a means of representing it in the classroom. This really aggravates me, homosexuality is not an issues like Levithan says...it's an identity.
Monday, April 6, 2009
We're All Human
I wanted to comment on this for a while now, but due to hashing out a battle with this blog I couldn't sign in till now. I mentioned class last week about Obama's comment about Special Olympics in a joke on Jay Leno last week in class. When I first heard of his comment I was driving in my friend's car and I felt so hurt and let down by Obama. Up until this point he was virtually a perfect leader in my eyes and the radio had said "I guess the Democrats can finally take that!" And I began to think about this with a friend, how yes this was the first "slip up" on Obama's part that we've seen thus far. I began to think about what he had said, but more importantly on what I have said as a student about to become a Special Education teacher. Just the other day I said "what are you retarded!?" to a friend and I am embarrassed to admit repeating it now. I can't imagine someone taping it and putting it on national television! There are so many times that I say things because they have been droned into my everyday language. I remember back when I was in Elementary and I used to always say "that's so gay" until one day my mom had said to me "do you realize what you are saying?" and we had a long discussion over it. Thinking back to what Obama said, I sympathize more with him now than scold him for what he had said. This only makes him more human, like someone pointed out in our class last week. More importantly, what he said has forced me to reexamine what I say everyday and to alter the vocabulary that has been associated with my language for so long.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Pura Belpre Award-Group Presentation Information
Information on the Pura Belpre Award:
-The award was established in 1996
-“It is presented to a Latino/Latina writer and/or illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.” -Association for Library Service to Children
Presented every two years to author and illustrator
-Committee members-follow intense criteria
-1993- Oralia Garza de Cortes, Sandra Rios Balderrama and Toni Bissessar of REFORMA and Linda Perkins, President of ALSC proposed joint book award
-According to the American Library Association the award is intended to “encourage Latino authors and illustrators in their efforts to produce children’s works celebrating the Latino experience in the United States”
-The award is also co-sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA), the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), and the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking (REFORMA)
Award inspired by:
-First Latina librarian from The New York Public Library
-Children’s librarian, storyteller, puppeteer and distinguished author for over sixty years
-Born in Cidra, Puerto Rico in 1899
-Moved to New York in 1930’s
-Attended the Library School of The New York Public Library and Columbia University
Criteria
-Original work that portrays, affirms and celebrates the Latino cultural experience
-Must be published in the U.S. or Puerto Rico during past 2 years
-Recipient must be resident/citizen of U.S. or Puerto Rico
-Nonfiction and fiction in Spanish, English, or bilingual forms acceptable
-Honor books
-Possible to present now award-none found
Works Cited
"The Pura Belpre Award Committee Manual." Association for Library Service to Children . 2004. American Library Association. 25 Feb 2009 http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/belpremedal/Belpre_Manual_Aug05.pdf
CONTACT
-Main website ALA-American Library Association
-Main libraries that pop up are in New York and Texas when you search via internet
COMMITTEE
-This selection committee is made up of seven members, including chair
-3 are reps of the Association of Library Services for Children
-3 are from REFORMA
-The chair alternates from ALSC and REFORMA
-majority are librarians, but all have background in literature
-The award was established in 1996
-“It is presented to a Latino/Latina writer and/or illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.” -Association for Library Service to Children
Presented every two years to author and illustrator
-Committee members-follow intense criteria
-1993- Oralia Garza de Cortes, Sandra Rios Balderrama and Toni Bissessar of REFORMA and Linda Perkins, President of ALSC proposed joint book award
-According to the American Library Association the award is intended to “encourage Latino authors and illustrators in their efforts to produce children’s works celebrating the Latino experience in the United States”
-The award is also co-sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA), the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), and the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking (REFORMA)
Award inspired by:
-First Latina librarian from The New York Public Library
-Children’s librarian, storyteller, puppeteer and distinguished author for over sixty years
-Born in Cidra, Puerto Rico in 1899
-Moved to New York in 1930’s
-Attended the Library School of The New York Public Library and Columbia University
Criteria
-Original work that portrays, affirms and celebrates the Latino cultural experience
-Must be published in the U.S. or Puerto Rico during past 2 years
-Recipient must be resident/citizen of U.S. or Puerto Rico
-Nonfiction and fiction in Spanish, English, or bilingual forms acceptable
-Honor books
-Possible to present now award-none found
Works Cited
"The Pura Belpre Award Committee Manual." Association for Library Service to Children . 2004. American Library Association. 25 Feb 2009 http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/belpremedal/Belpre_Manual_Aug05.pdf
CONTACT
-Main website ALA-American Library Association
-Main libraries that pop up are in New York and Texas when you search via internet
COMMITTEE
-This selection committee is made up of seven members, including chair
-3 are reps of the Association of Library Services for Children
-3 are from REFORMA
-The chair alternates from ALSC and REFORMA
-majority are librarians, but all have background in literature
Monday, February 23, 2009
Today I was a little shocked to hear my friend tell me that some woman in an interview asked her "what are you?" My friend Michelle and I always joke around about how people think she is bi-racial when in actuality she is a white-caucasian female. It is funny to us because people won't even let her open her mouth sometimes before they ask her if she is and she doesn't know why. This really made me think back to our discussion last week in class when one of our class members said someone asked her if she was Native American because she had dark hair. I think that a lot of people will say things like this and it is offensive. I don't think it is offensive in the sense that my friend cares that people find her bi-racial, but the fact that people feel they have the permission to just ask. I don't go up to people asking them is they are gay or if they are black. To me it isn't relevant either way so why ask?
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Testing the waters...
So here is my first blog entry for TE 448! I am very excited to start a blog for this class because I have never blogged before, which may explain my lack of quality blog right now. I can't wait to learn more about this blogging-thing and test it out completely!
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