Video Book Talk 2: Dumpster Diver by Janet Wong and Illustrated by David Robert

Reading Journal: Ruby Lu, Brave and true

Reading Journal: Ruby Lu, Brave and true by Lenore Look, Illustrated by Anne Wilsdorf

Ruby is a lovely, smart, cheerful, and brave girl, and above all, she really loves her baby brother. Her family is Chinese American, and she lives nearby her grandparents. In this story, there are two main events: Driving the real car by herself with her young brother in the backseat, and arguing and then making up with a California girl, Cristina. When I read the driving part, I was really shocked. I have seen on the news that a four year old boy drove his parents’ car to the video shop. I believe that many young children hope they can drive the car. The more they have driving experience through the computer game or toy, the more they could have confidence about driving. Thus, the parents and teachers need to let children know how different real driving is from a game and how real driving is dangerous.
This book shows various aspects of young girl’s daily life such as her family’s culture, relationship with sibling, friends, and parents, using different language, and so forth.

Craft Lesson 3

Title: Connecting the story to my experience (Comprehension and Writing)

Resource: Ruby Lu, Brave and True by Lenore Look, Illustrated by Anne Wilsdorf

According to TEKS: (9) Reading/comprehension. The student uses a variety of strategies to comprehend selections read aloud. The student is expected to: (A) use prior knowledge to anticipate meaning and make sense of texts (K-3); (C) retell or act out the order of important events in stories (K-3). (15) Writing/composition. The student composes original texts. The student is expected to: (C) write to record ideas and reflections (K-3)

Discussion: There are many writing topics to choose from. However, it is not easy to find the topic that I want to write about. As one of good writing topics, I think that a book review or reflection can be a good topic for writing. After students read a book, if they need to write about what they read, they would read the book as a writer, as well as a reader. If they read a book as a writer, they would try harder to comprehend the text during their reading. In addition, when they write about what they read, they would have time to rethink and find what they missed during their reading. I think a book review or reflection is very helpful for students improve their comprehension and writing.

How to teach (2nd – 3rd grade): As homework, students would read two or three chapters of this book per day. Before they start to read, the teacher will let them know that when they finish reading this book, they are going to have time to write about this book. The teacher also would hand out a chart to the students. Whenever the students finish reading one chapter, they would write the main event of the chapter on the chart. After they finish reading the whole chapter, children would have time to share their chart. Then, the teacher would hand out several questions related to comprehension of this book for children. Children would write down the answers and hand them in to be graded by the teacher. The teacher would analyze what students hand in, and if there are specific parts that children do not comprehend well, the teacher would have time to discuss that part of the story in more detail. In addition, the teacher would give two main discussion topics to the students: Trouble with Christina and Ruby’s driving. Through this discussion, the students have time to think about friends and the danger of driving. Also, they can present their experiences related to these topics. After that, the teacher would let children write the reflection about this book or their discussion. Children also can choose their writing topic among their main event chart.

Reading Journal: Stuart Goes To School

Stuart Goes To School by Sara Pennypacker, Illustrated by Martin Matje

Though this book, I could better understand my son’s first day of starting a new grade and also be reminded of my own schooldays. The main character in this book, Stuart, is so cute. When his mother prepared his new clothes for his first day of second grade, he was worried with several funny imaginations. By mistake, he wears only his underwear with his feather cape. The picture of this scene made me laugh so much. Besides, there are several fun scenes in this story and every page’s illustration brings more fun to the story. I think every student might be nervous like Stuart on their first day of school, and the author has a good grip on children’s situations and thoughts. I also believe that when students read this book, they could know they are not only one who is worried before the first day of school.

Reading Journal: What Do you Do With a Tail Like This?

What Do you Do With a Tail Like This? by Steve Jenkins & Robin Page

This book shows several animals’ characteristics categorized by body part. On the first page, this book shows only body parts and makes children guess which animal it is. The next page reveals the animals’ identity and explains the special features of the body parts from the previous page. From this book, I also learned several interesting facts about animals which I had not known before. The use of collage makes this book more attractive and lifelike in expressing animals’ characteristics. Most children might love this book because this book would enhance children’s curiosity related to animals. Also, this book provides more information in a glossary, and I believe this can compensate children’s remaining curiosity.

Video Book Talk 1: Into the forest by Anthony Browne

Craft Lesson 2

Title: Make a song and draw a picture

Resource: Take Me out of the Bathtub and Other Silly Dilly Songs by Alan Katz, Illustrated by David Cartrow.

According to TEKS: “(10) Reading/variety of texts. The student reads widely for different purposes in varied sources. The student is expected to: (A) read fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, including classic and contemporary works, for pleasure and/or information, (12) Reading/comprehension. The student uses a variety of strategies to comprehend selections read aloud and selections read independently. (13) Reading/literary response. The student responds to various texts. (C) respond through talk, movement, music, art, drama, and writing to a variety of stories and poems in ways that reflect understanding and interpretation.”

Discussion: Not only children but also adults enjoy reading a funny story. If children are interested in reading, they can get more benefits from their reading. The book which I select for my craft lesson, “Take Me Out of the Bathtub,” is really funny. In addition, each song is actually set to the tune of well-known children’s songs, such as “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,” or “Yankee Doodle.” This book shows a different aspect from other regular children’s books. For children’s language education, educators often use songs because using songs help students memorize easily and make them have more interest. For example, the alphabet song which is based on the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” is recognized worldwide, and I believe most children in the world begin to start learn their English alphabet with this tune. Thus, I believe that this book can provide fun to children in their reading.

How to teach (1st – 2nd grade): The teacher would not read all of the songs to children at one time. The teacher would show a couple of songs per week using a PowerPoint presentation. When the teacher shows the words of the song, she does not let them know which tune goes with the song. After they read the song as a whole group, the teacher would let them know the tune that goes with the song. Then, children would sing the tune with the words of the new song. After singing, children would have time to discuss: If they like this song or not, why and which part they like or dislike, and so on. Then, children would have time to make their own new songs by using the tunes of short and well-known children’s song, such as “Row, Row, Row Your Boat.” When they write their songs, each group would decide the title of their song and draw some pictures based on their song. Then, each group will sing their new song in front of their classmate and teacher. The classroom teacher would invite other teachers, show children’s work to them without names, and they would award first, second, and third place.

Reading Journal: Take Me Out of the Bathtub

Take Me Out of the Bathtub by Alan Katz, Illustrated by David Catrow

I cannot help laughing at this silly picture on the cover page. Not only the first page but also each page is fun to see. Overall the pictures of this book are exaggerated, and this kind of exaggeration expresses the important characteristics of what the author wants to say. I greatly enjoyed “I Have a Baby-sitter Here with Me.” When I read the last paragraph of this song—“Wait till my parents come home, what a fit / Bet they’ll never ask her back to si-it. / Oh no, what am I saying? I’d miss her / She’s ….my sister!”— I laughed out insanely.
Actually, I do not know many American children’s songs. I tried to sing these silly songs but I only knew a couple of the tunes. Then, I also shared this book with my sons, and my first son sang all of these silly songs with laughter. I and my two sons much enjoyed this book.