This was by far one of the most difficult sections for me to read. Although I absolutely loved Stargirl, Speak was definitely a tough book to take in. The Series of Unfortunate of Events is always a classic book, especially to use with elementary students. Even though I'm nearly 23, I still enjoy reading the Unfortunate Events series.
Don't get me wrong, I think Speak is an extremely important book and has some incredible themes in it, it's just that I feel like students in elementary school would necessarily find it amusing. Maybe students in middle school or high school should be reading it but definitely not kids in k-5.
As for Stargirl, this is an incredible book and by far one of my favorite Young Adult stories I've ever read so far. I'm not sure what it is about the book that I like. Maybe it's that I feel a little bit like the boy version of Stargirl. I generally walk around in pajamas and really don't care about what other people think of me.
However, I definitely will be combining the Book Club idea with the Young Adult section when I get to teaching in the classroom.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OFtBXyeTNU -- Speak movie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMoXMhql0L0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLF21JdpA_M&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_g59qukh_DE - Series of Unfortunate Events
Monday, May 17, 2010
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Shakespeare/Poetry
Alright, so here goes my blog about Shakespeare and Poetry.
Shakespeare
Admittedly, I had never read Midsummers Night Dream before. The only time I have heard of it was in the movie "Dead Poets Society" with Robin Williams.
I read some Shakespeare in High School and at my community college (Romeo and Juliet 9th grade, Much Ado About Nothing 10th grade, Hamlet 12th grade and Othello at my community college). However, I haven't read a whole lot else. It's not that I don't like reading his plays, it's that I feel like I know how each play is going to end. In every comedy, everybody ends up getting married and in his tragedies, everybody dies.
I absolutely loved how we went about understanding the play. We assigned each group a scene and the group had to come up with some fun and clever way of interpreting that scene (Jerry Springer, kids on a playground, etc.).
The one thing that I didn't enjoy was how much effort my group made. We came up with a script, and rehearsed (sort of) but I found it difficult to give input to my group. At times, people would disregard each other's ideas. Hopefully, as a future teacher, I can find some sort of way to work around this. Maybe having a minimum amount of rehearsal time each group needs to give.
Here are some good resources to use for teaching in the classroom:
Hobart Shakespeareans - www.pbs.org/pov/hobart
www.rsc.org.uk/exploringshakespeare
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DG7ah1FcqG8
Poetry
I loved loved loved "Love that Dog!" All I have to say Kim, is that you were right. I couldn't put it down and I was on the verge of tears at the end. The only thing I'm upset about is that we didn't spend enough time on poetry!
Generally, I hate reading and writing poetry but this book changed my mind! It's all fun and games to me now!
Here are some fun resources to use:
www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/jan-june00/poetryboxrules.html
readwritething.org/lesson_images/lesson169/TermsHandout.pdf
readwritething.org/lessons
Shakespeare
Admittedly, I had never read Midsummers Night Dream before. The only time I have heard of it was in the movie "Dead Poets Society" with Robin Williams.
I read some Shakespeare in High School and at my community college (Romeo and Juliet 9th grade, Much Ado About Nothing 10th grade, Hamlet 12th grade and Othello at my community college). However, I haven't read a whole lot else. It's not that I don't like reading his plays, it's that I feel like I know how each play is going to end. In every comedy, everybody ends up getting married and in his tragedies, everybody dies.
I absolutely loved how we went about understanding the play. We assigned each group a scene and the group had to come up with some fun and clever way of interpreting that scene (Jerry Springer, kids on a playground, etc.).
The one thing that I didn't enjoy was how much effort my group made. We came up with a script, and rehearsed (sort of) but I found it difficult to give input to my group. At times, people would disregard each other's ideas. Hopefully, as a future teacher, I can find some sort of way to work around this. Maybe having a minimum amount of rehearsal time each group needs to give.
Here are some good resources to use for teaching in the classroom:
Hobart Shakespeareans - www.pbs.org/pov/hobart
www.rsc.org.uk/exploringshakespeare
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DG7ah1FcqG8
Poetry
I loved loved loved "Love that Dog!" All I have to say Kim, is that you were right. I couldn't put it down and I was on the verge of tears at the end. The only thing I'm upset about is that we didn't spend enough time on poetry!
Generally, I hate reading and writing poetry but this book changed my mind! It's all fun and games to me now!
Here are some fun resources to use:
www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/jan-june00/poetryboxrules.html
readwritething.org/lesson_images/lesson169/TermsHandout.pdf
readwritething.org/lessons
Monday, February 22, 2010
Fairy Tale Unit
I found the fairy tale unit quite strange. To be perfectly frank, I feel like most of these stories are geared towards women. I understand that the class is at least 90 percent female but come on. The only time men are mentioned in these stories, they are portrayed as beasts, whiny, ugly, or cannibles.
However, on the flip side, it definitely opens up a new perspective on how I think about fairy tales. Since I have a perception of Disney movies as being the only way of making a fairy tale, I now know that not every fair tale is so "happily ever after." I feel like I just found out all over again that The Lion King is a remake of Hamlet. I was actually quite shocked.
Anyways, here are some awesome links, some of which were generously provided by Kim Jaxon and others that were provided by the wonderful invention of the Internet.
http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/~spok/grimmtmp/
http://www.pacificnet.net/~johnr/aesop/
http://www.darsie.net/talesofwonder/
http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/f/fairy_tale.asp
http://directory.google.com/Top/Society/Folklore/Literature/Tales/Fairy_Tales/
However, on the flip side, it definitely opens up a new perspective on how I think about fairy tales. Since I have a perception of Disney movies as being the only way of making a fairy tale, I now know that not every fair tale is so "happily ever after." I feel like I just found out all over again that The Lion King is a remake of Hamlet. I was actually quite shocked.
Anyways, here are some awesome links, some of which were generously provided by Kim Jaxon and others that were provided by the wonderful invention of the Internet.
http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/~spok/grimmtmp/
http://www.pacificnet.net/~johnr/aesop/
http://www.darsie.net/talesofwonder/
http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/f/fairy_tale.asp
http://directory.google.com/Top/Society/Folklore/Literature/Tales/Fairy_Tales/
Sunday, January 31, 2010
About Myself/ Why I want to be a teacher/etc.
Well, I've never blogged before so here it goes! I'm a liberal studies major and this is my fifth year of school (only my second year at Chico State). The last three summers have been absolutely wonderful because I have worked at a summer camp in Portola, CA. Portola is in the middle of nowhere and the town has only one street light. That's right, one street light. Anyways, working with children has been a passion of mine and I want to work with them as a career, and I believe that teaching is most worthwhile.
I'm currently working for the Orion newspaper and I worked with them a year ago as well. Also, starting last semester, I started working in the Residence Halls as a Resident Advisor. I work with lots of freshmen in Shasta Hall in order for them to make their first year of college a success. As a matter of fact, a few residents from my building are in the class as well.
I expect this class to be a lot of fun. After seeing Ms. Jaxon's enthusiasm and love of literature, I can't wait to get reading. A few years ago, I had lots of trouble reading and writing and I never considered myself as a reader or writer. Since coming to Chico State, my writing skills have improved exponentially and I hope that during this class my reading skills will improve as well.
I'm currently working for the Orion newspaper and I worked with them a year ago as well. Also, starting last semester, I started working in the Residence Halls as a Resident Advisor. I work with lots of freshmen in Shasta Hall in order for them to make their first year of college a success. As a matter of fact, a few residents from my building are in the class as well.
I expect this class to be a lot of fun. After seeing Ms. Jaxon's enthusiasm and love of literature, I can't wait to get reading. A few years ago, I had lots of trouble reading and writing and I never considered myself as a reader or writer. Since coming to Chico State, my writing skills have improved exponentially and I hope that during this class my reading skills will improve as well.
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