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- December 3, 2007 Update
Dear Freedom Readers,
I am becoming nostalgic as I read our weekly highlights from weeks past. I have truly enjoyed hanging out with you during this time and hope your experiences have been worthwhile and stimulating.
Culminating word about censorship issues: Above all, choice rules; censorship roils.
When confronted with challenging parents, one thing to remember is you can rely on other faculty, administrative staff, as well as support staff in communicating with parents. You do not have to do it alone.
Literature Circles:
Please plan for next week with your Literature groups. Remember if you are doing the talking in your group, students will not own the conversation and will continue to rely on you to keep it going. Silence is OK. Do not feel obligated to fill in the silence for students. This will prove to students that they really do own the discussion-not you. Coach them to get to talk to each other. Encourage those who are quiet to take on a more talkative role. That means the ones who are usually vocal need to listen more.
If they are not reflecting about their communication, there is little chance for a change. Encourage reflection. Are they writing as they read? Are they using sticky notes on their pages? Are they using their journal?
I will bring the video recorder Dec. 3 to be shared between the two literature circles.
Possible Video taping scenario:
1. It would be good to introduce members of the literature circle, 2. talk about the book, characters and then the roles.
3. Mention the name of the book and the author. Zero in on the book cover with the camera.
4. Make sure students speak up.
5. Try leaving the room while students are talking with only the video recorder present.
On December 10 divide into literature circle groups in classroom. Meet with individual literature circle groups to touch base. Then we will make a big circle for sharing with both groups. Then pizza, drinks, cookies and cups. We can use cups from our UNM classroom or does Pizza Hut provide them? Richelle will be responsible for the Pizza delivery and Christy offered to make cookies -only if you have time.
Maxime should have some momentos to share with students, I hope!
The videos of Tomie DePaola, Jerry Spinelli and Magic School Bus Authors (Cole & Degen) will be available for viewing at Dawn's desk. Borrowing privilege is 2 days. If late, a fine of $1 a day will be imposed with money going toward the purchase of the pizza!
Dec. 3- After Literature Circles: IN UNM CLASSROOM
Review genre quizzle
Jillian - literary elements and anime/manga
WEBPAGE PRESENTATIONS by:
JILL
BEN
CHRISTY
RICHELLE
(Frances promises to button her lip)
DECEMBER 10
WEBPAGE PRESENTATIONS by:
SHAUN
TERRELL
CASSADY
ZANDRALYN
JEOPARDY GAME FINALE in CHARACTER!
For your webpage presentations, you will premier your webpage, share your author/illustrator and highlight of booklist. Now is time to put the finishing touches on your webpage.
One last page to be added will be your FINAL Evaluation, similar to your midterm, where you reflect on what you have learned across the five dimensions of learning and the grade you earned.
My page is almost completed; hope yours is also!->.........Frances
If you have any questions or concerns, talk to your character!
Only kidding, please let me know....................Frances
-
November 25, 2007 Update
Almost forgot to check in with you after Thanksgiving!
Today at Tibbetts we will introduce videotaping with your literature circles as a practice run. Next week we will tape the reel deal! Remember our goal is for students to talk about what they know about literature circles and the roles. This will be become a valuable anecdotal assessment.
We will review your genre quizzle and finish up with our genres and literary elements. Censorship will be discussed briefly.
On December 3, we might want to discuss how to bring closure with our literature circle groups. Do you want to watch the video and have pizza for the students? We will take time to talk this over in class.
December 10, our final class from 1-4pm, we will present our web sites, author & illustrators, booklists, play JEOPARDY and take a visit to Walden Books where an associate will talk to us about manga and anime. We will eat at the food court!
Testing, one, two, three. We interrupted our precious and regularly scheduled literature circle time in Penny's classroom 11/19 to assist Title I Reading Coordinator Valerie Tulley, administer miscue analysis and reading comprehension tests as part of a pilot inquiry for choosing an appropriate reading program for the school. Sixth graders were asked to complete the brief tests and UNM students learned how to administer the tests after a brief and succinct orientation. It was fun to meet new students as each of us gave the test one-on-one. I commend Valerie Tulley for taking the time to use this testing as an assessment to see which reading program best fits the needs of the Tibbetts students.
We returned to our classroom in hopes of meeting the new UNM President David Schmidly at 4pm. However he was running late and so were we to get to our other classes. Christy and Cassady explained their genre forms of Poetry, Autobiography and Biography and discussed literary elements of Tone, Mood, External/Internal Conflict and Personification. Frances was stumped when she tried to figure out the difference between personification and Anthropomorphism.
We also talked about the Hero's Journey and the stages involved when a character has a question and seeks an answer which takes her on either a physical or psychological journey in finding the answer. Along the way, they are helped, there are challenges and people or objects that come to the aid of the character, finally returning home forever changed from the journey. Hero journey story structure is found in myths, fairy tales, epic tales up to contemporary realistic fiction. Look for it in your next chapter book you pick up to read.
-
Nov. 19 Children's Literature
THANK YOU IF YOU CAN COME A LITTLE EARLY TO HELP WITH THIS:
ANNOUNCEMENT from VAL TULLEY (FMS TITLE I READING COORDINATOR)
Requests UNM students HELP! who can come to Tibbetts on:
DATE: Monday, Nov. 19 and Tuesday, Nov. 20
TIME: 10:30am, 11:50am, 12:45 pm, OR 2:30pm
RE: Administer one-on-one Reading Screening (similar to running
records) with 6th grade students.
Val specifically asked for UNM students to help out on this.
Come a half-hour before the testing time so she can review the test
with you, if you can!
This would be a great experience and a way to meet Valerie Tulley
connected with FMS!
______________________________________________
Dear Readers,
1. First VIDEOTAPING (getting used-to it) experience- NOV. 19
Second videotaping - Nov. 26 videotaping of literature cirlces.
Students talk about what it is and the roles.
2. Make sure you are prepared for your literature circles, Nov. 19!
3. Course evaluations-will need to be completed on 11/19 also!
4. Afterwards we will focus on your GENRE & LITERARY ELEMENTS
presentations. Realistic Fiction, Auto/biography, Poetry, Anime,
Informational still left.
plus.........HERO JOURNEY & CENSORSHIP discussion.
5. Please see recent censorship issue at
A HAPPY DAY OF GIVING & RECEIVING THANKS.
You may appreciate this cartoon at
Frances
N.B. Al Capone Literature Circle, do we have books and clip boards from
all members?
-
November 5 Update
Dear Literary Luminators!
Than you for another fun-filled class on Monday!
I emailed Jeanne Whitehourse-Peterson with the NM Endowment for the
Humanities and I will keep you informed of her reply!
I got to meet Mike Artell at the FPL last Tuesday! He captured the
imagination of everyone in the audience as he guided us in the art of
cartooning!
His website is and he some valuable resources
for teachers! He writtes a lot of nonfiction books which you may want
to read for your booklist. He has a playful sense of humor and has
written a lot of word play game books, also. He worthy of knowing
about. Boys and reluctant readers would love his books!
Please make sure your literature circle group is prepared for next
Monday.
Please be ready for your Genre and Literary Element presentations with
examples. Remember to engage us in interesting ways!
Nov. 19 Heros's Tale and story structure.
Nov. 19 Censorship
Nov. 26 Behind the scenes of Illustrations
If we have time, I would like to show some videos of Tomie DePaola and
other authors/illustrators.
November 19 & 26 are dates to videotape your literature circles. I have
the videotape and tape; you and your group direct how you you want to
do it. The purpose of the videotape is an informational presentation
about literature circles what they are and how to conduct them,
including each of the roles. It shoud be student centered with students
doing most of the talking and explaining.
Thank you, Cassady, for scribing and posting our session highlights!
Oh, and thank you for remembering to bring your writing implements with
you. You never know when I may need to borrow one of yours!-O Frances
-
November 29 Special News
Dear Readers of Children's Literature,
Check this out. Does this remind you of anything?
(Uma Krishnaswami's presentation, authenticity, authentic voice,
cultural sensitivity, cultural appropriation, reconceptualism)
F.Y.I........................Enjoy........................Frances
Loriene Roy wrote:
Thank you, Rachel, for considering the comments on the AILA list. I look
forward to seeing a revised calendar that I can endorse with the other
fine products available through ALA Graphics.
Cheers,
Loriene Roy
ALA President
On Fri, 26 Oct 2007, Satia Orange wrote:
Below is a message from Rachel Johnson re: stated concerns about the
poster in the ALA Graphics catalog:
"Thank you for responding yesterday with very thoughtful and
constructive criticism of the American Indian culture poster and
bookmark produced by ALA Graphics. I have waited a day to respond to
your comments, as I wanted to read all of them carefully and reply with
the same thoughtfulness. ALA Graphics, in its desire to celebrate
American Indian heritage reached out to native publishers and
organizations. We were unable, in the short time we had, to find a
partner to donate suitable art for a poster. As a result, we did an
independent search and selected the art of Paul Goble.
We regret that greater consideration was not given to the implication
of the art chosen. We understand that this image is not reflective of
indigenous culture and that an image by a Native artist would have more
appropriately expressed appreciation for the values of the American
Indian community. We are consequently withdrawing the poster from our
January catalog and website.
Furthermore, I am asking for suggestions of Native artists so that ALA
Graphics can begin research for the creation of a new poster. I ask
that
you email me, Rachel Johnson, directly at rjohnson@ala.org. Please put
*American Indian Poster* in the subject line, so that I may keep
track of your ideas. With your input, and the advice of AILA members,
we
>> hope to create something to make everyone proud. We hope that the American Indian library community can accept our apologies."
Rachel Johnson Director, ALA Graphics
Satia Marshall Orange, Director
Office for Literacy & Outreach Services
American Library Association
40 East Huron Street
Chicago, IL 60611
312-280-4295
ALA President.
Presidential Initiatives Focus on Libraries: Celebrating Community,
Collaboration,
and Culture
ALA-Allied Professional Association President.
Professor
School of Information, The University of Texas at Austin
1 University Station D7000 Austin, TX 78712-0390
Professor
Center for Women's and Gender Studies
The University of Texas at Austin
Phone: (512) 471-3959; Fax: (512) 471-3971; E-mail:
loriene@ischool.utexas.edu
Faculty website:
ALA, ALA-APA President website:
Blog:
Project Director, "If I Can Read, I Can Do Anything", a national reading
club for Native children:
Principal Investigator: "Honoring Generations": Developing the Next
Generation of Native Librarians. Funded by the U.S. Institute of
Museum and Library Services, a federal agency that fosters
innovation, leadership, and a lifetime of learning:
-
Mon, 29 Oct 2007
Dear Readers of Children's Literature,
(this is going to be a long one........)
Your literature circles at Tibbetts are becoming more comfortable as
you develop a rapport and relationship with your students. Figure
what's working and what's not and adjust and revise as you plan and
talk among yourselves. This is what teaching is all about-adjusting,
revising and adapting.
We will make time next week for you to talk and plan for your
subsequent visit to Tibbetts. I hope Harvey Daniels's video was helpful.
Something to remember:
Literature Circles is only one of countless ways to connect students to
stories they read, hear or see. Reading and writing go hand in hand.
1. Literature Circles do not have to be done every week and are more
effective at pivotal points in your reading.
2. Sticky notes are effective ways to "post and go" while reading to
return to parts to share, question, highlight.
3. Journaling after, during, or before reading are effective ways to
stop and think. Make sure students share what they write.
Conversations among themselves is key to lit circles. You want them to
be relaxed and comfortable to talk to one another.
4. Remember to invite circle members to reflect on the quality of their
communication skills. Are they seeing a difference in the way they talk
among themselves? Are they talking. Use their communication reflection
in their clip board. See attachment
You are all engaging in effective ways to scaffold sixth grade students
in becoming more independent.
Thank you for being so patient in presenting your literary elements and
genres. Thank you for providing your explanations and examples AND your
JEOPARDY QUESTIONS.
What do you think about Nov. 19 and 26 for videotaping your literature
circles and having your students talk about what they are. December 3
we can have our last class session with web site presentations.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FROM KATHY SCHLAPP................
Mike Artell, author/illustrator will be at the Farmington Public
Library on TUESDAY, NOV. 6 at 10AM
Extra credit for attending
AND THAT'S NOT ALL..............
Eleanor Schick, author/illustrator will be at the Farmington Public
Library on
MONDAY, NOV. 12 at 9:30am AND 4pm (cookies & cocoa)
TUESDAY, NOV. 13 at 9:30am
extra credit for attending
Both are notable children's authors & illustrators and would be quite
an opportunity for you to meet them and even have them autograph a book
of theirs for you!
Please show your support of Kathy and her effort to bring these top
notch authors to our town!
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Please keep up your reading and your otherwise good work. Remember you
are aiming for an A all the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Happy to be working with all of you..................Frances
-
October 22, 2007
Children's Lit class update
Dear Weary Readers,
Please take care of yourselves during this stressful midterm time.
Remember to take your vitamins, rest, drink plenty of fluids, wash your
hands often and BREATHE. Remember our exercise-take a deep breath and
hold for 3-5 seconds-do 3 times. Do this breathing exercise when you
are feeling tired. It provides more oxygen to the brain so you can
think better. Remember children's literature is the 'no stress' class.
IMPORTANT!
Richelle offered to take Cassady's place as the scribe today since
Cassady was sick.Thank you for your generosity, Richelle. We missed
Terrill and Joanne also in class today.
We watched Maurice Sendak video today and Terrill, Joanne & Cassady can
arrange to see it at a later date-just ask!
October 29 after literature circles in Penny's class we will meet at
the café entrance to the SJC library upstairs at 2pm.
Since there were 1/3 of our class members missing today, it was agreed
to wait to present genres and literary elements next Monday. Those who
present (including Joanne & Zandralyn), please provide examples of
literary elements and genres to reinforce your concepts (as with any
good lesson, yes!?) including JEOPARDY QUESTIONS & ANWERS for genres
and literary elements. The more the merrier! Your presentation will not
be complete without all of these 'elements'.
Concerning Literature Circles:
Routines should be established by now-
1. getting books,
2. clipboards,
3. who meets in the library and who stays in Penny's classroom
(alternating),
4. returning books and clipboards at the end of the session.
Ideas for lit circle process:
1. Watch and see if students in book groups talk and look at each other
vs. directing their answers to UNM students.
2. Think about before, during and after reading opportunities to engage
students in making connections with characters, events, situations.
BEFORE: If you were Luke what would you do all day up in the attic to
pass the time of day? What does Moose mean when he says "I want to be
on Alcatraz like I want poison oak on my private parts. Is this a
figure of speech? What are some things that you dislike; can you state
it with a metaphor? DURING: Stop reading during the chapter and ask:
what are you thinking about now-write in your blue journal. AFTER:
Predicting-what do you think will happen next? Have students share
their written ideas with each other. Your job is to observe, make
anecdotal notes, ask leading questions for the group to consider, stay
out of their way.
3. The goal is to complete the book with a culminating literature
circle. However, you may assign students to read a chapter in between
meetings and share summaries and move on to the next.
4. Take opportunities for UNM students to model lit circle roles for
students similar to what Tom & I did.
5. Plan at the end of each session what you are going to do the
following week so everyone in your UNM group knows how to prepare. UNM
students need to all be on the same planning page, yes! You are
professionals in this setting.
6. Practice reading out loud and with expression.
We revised the due date for the Author/Illustrator focus on your web
sites to Nov. 26.
Farmington Public Library ANNOUNCEMENT:
AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR MIKE ARTELL will be at the FPLon November 6 10am &
2pm;
ELEANOR SCHICK on November 12 & 13 at 9:30am. Great opportunities to
meet authors and illustrators up close and personal. They may have some
of their books for autographing.
I am reading your midterms and looking at your web sites. Remember to
publish to web when you are adding or editing your website.
Continue to add your reading reflections and literature circle
reflections weekly. Enter books to your booklist weekly so you do not
fall behind. Consider books on tape/DVDs, as well!
Please print this and save for future reference.
Call me if you have any problems or concerns!-)........Frances
-
October 17 Update
Dear Literary Illuminators,
Thank you for your midterm reflections. I enjoyed reading them. Thank
you also for having hard copies. Please remember to post them to your
webpages!
Preface Definition:
The introductory portion of the book that usually explains why the book
was written, what it is about or how to use it.
(Source:writers.aalbc.com/publishing_glossary.htm)
May also include brief explanations of each book chapter.
_______________
We will continue with our lively presentations and discussions of your
GENRES & LITERARY ELEMENTS. DO NOT FORGET TO BRING in your Jeopardy
Questions and your children's literature textbook with you. Examples of
books and literary excerpts really assist in our understanding during
your presentation. Above all, enjoy sharing what you know!
Literature Circles for Penny's sixth graders- please prepare for next
Monday with your partners. Who will read? How will you help them
process roles, and give the conversation back to them. How are they
communicating. Will you give them feedback about the quality of their
interacting/communicating? How do you set the scene for your lit circle
group and get out of the way so they can converse among themselves.
These are some guiding questions to consider when you plan for next
week and subsequent weeks.
Remember to:
1. record your reflections on your 443 webpage weekly (Tibbetts and
your own weekly reflections). Keep up your booklists. I will be viewing
your pages regularly now that you are established webpage designers!
2. post your Storytelling Reflections on your webpage, too!
Richelle, thank you for forwarding to Jillian! I am still investigating
the email mystery!
Thank you, all................Frances
NEXT WEEK WE WILL MEET IN OUR CLASSROOM - VIDEOS to watch!!!!
PRINT & SAVE for your files..............Thank you............Frances
-
October 11 Update
Dear Readers,
I met with the two literature Circle groups in Penny's classroom this
past Wednesday. We reviewed communication skills and introduced the
literature circle roles. The students are really fun to work with!
So in preparation for your literature circles, read your respective
books (Among the Hidden & Al Capone) and decide who is going to read.
It is fine that you read to the sixth graders. However, following the
reading, let them talk among themselves, with you listening on the
periphery-jotting anecdotal notes about examples of good communication,
literature roles to comment on for debriefing.
Remind students to talk to each other-not to you, which is why you want
to be moving around almost as if you are not there. As you listen you
will hear if they are understanding the roles. Feel free to clarify
roles, communication interaction when needed. Discuss with your peers
planning for reading and preparation each week. With each lit session,
they will become more confident and focused. It will be interesting to
see. All the books are in Penny's classroom now.
Please remember to do your midterm reflections including your midterm
grade and any suggestions for me! The dimensions of learning are in
your syllabus. Please post them to your webpage and have a hard copy
for discussion during your individual conference on October 15. We will
meet at the Farmington Public Library after Tibbett's. Genres &
Literary Elements-remember your jeopardy answers and questions. Please
provide examples of books for genres and examples of literary elements.
Also remember to return your heavy and cumbersome children's literature
textbooks when you present.
Continue to add to your websites and I will be checking in on a more
regular basis now that you are more comfortable with your webpages.
Enjoy the Storytelling Festival this weekend!
PRIME TIME at Bloomfield Early Childhood Center (BECC) is concluding
its last two sessions on Mondays, October 15 and 22 6-7pm.
Any questions, concerns, give me a holler!
Take care & a good weekend to you all!-)................Frances
N.B. PRINT THIS OUT AND KEEP IT AS A REFERENCE!
-
October 3, 2007 Update
Dear Post Colonial Readers,
I sent a Thank you ecard to Uma Krishnaswami with the following note:
Thank you again for disrupting our 'childlike' view of children's
literature and showing us its vulnerable underbelly.
There once was a young girl named Nelly, who had a nylon belly.
The skin was so thin that you could see right in.
It was full of custard and jelly!
We will continue to read with delicious delight while critically
identifying the specific ingredients, herbs and seasonings placed upon
our contemporary and discriminating reading palates.
_________Uma's new book will be titled "MARIA HALF AND HALF"
1.________
Please add a reflection about Uma's visit to your weekly reading
reflection considering:
What did you get out of the presentation?
Questions generated by the speaker?
How you are going to use this information?
Value of the speaker-why-why not?
2._________
Please read our course BLOG at
for updates on our assignment listings of weekly scribe schedules,
literary elements/genres and literature circles.
3. _________
REMEMBER to post your reflections about your Tibbetts visit on your web
page. You will continue to reflect weekly about your work with students
in the literature circles. (That will be two reflections weekly-your
reading reflection and your Tibbetts literature circle reflection -
posted on your web page.)
4. __________
Thank you, Richelle, for your initiative and assistance in securing
multiple copies of AL CAPONE. We hope to have copies for Monday,
October 8. In preparation for your first Literature Circle, research
about Alcatraz, trivia, known facts, maps, pictures, anything your
curious minds want to know. You can share this information with your
sixlets (as sixth graders at Tibbetts are known) as background info to
set the stage for reading.
AMONG THE HIDDEN readers, please read your book in preparation. Perhaps
begin a discussion about futuristic thinking. 'What ifs". What do they
know about global warming and will the effects of global warming alter
our life-plants, animlas, land, water.
Know your sixlets' names you will be working with.
We will talk about Literature Circles on October 8 and begin with the
art of conversation and listening which will include: fairness of
listening and speaking, openess, freedom, value, respect, safety.
5. __________
After class we will meet at Kiwanis Park as agreed. Please be ready to
group into your reading groups. I have the Prince of the Pond book.
Someone in LLSS 315 please ask me on Thursday for it for your reading
group. We will conduct our own Literature Circle on the book you are
reading. If time permits, be prepared to present your genre and
Literary Elements. Please remember to provide examples of genres and
literary elements and to have your JEOPARDY ANSWERS & QUESTIONS ready
to submit for our JEOPARDY GAME.
6.___________
N.B. PRINT THIS OUT AND SAVE WITH YOUR CLASS NOTES FOR FUTURE REFERENCE!
7._____________ THANK YOU & THAT'S ALL FOLKS!-)...........Frances
-
September 10, 2007 Update
Dear Website owners!
This was only our second class and you kept up remarkably well today
with all the loose ends that needed to be discussed and assigned. Thank
you!
You did a great job in navigating your way around in tripod.com free
web hosting this afternoon. You are all now published on the web!
Tripod allows you free blogging, too! So you can do your own personal
blogging! Since it your personal website, explore it and use it for
your own professional as well as personal purposes.
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR WEBSITE ADDRESS & TRIPOD LOG IN ID & PASSWORD
RECORDED IN A SAFE PLACE so you can find it when you need it!
Apologies for the confusion about the dates of Scribes. I took the
liberty of resending our email of August 27 which has the original
dates. WE WILL GO BY THESE. (SHAUN was Sept. 10, TODAY's SCRIBE!-)
Some Reminders:
1. email me at abiyoyoyo@yahoo.com (our children's lit email)your
website addresses and I will link them to our children's lit blog.
2. The purpose of your children's literature textbooks is to use it as
a resource to research about your specific genre. Look in the table of
contents or the index for your Genre Name (Historical Fiction, Picture,
etc. and read about your particualr genre. Share with your peers the
highlights of the genre and what are the characteristics/qualities of
that genre. Also you will write JEOPARDY STYLE ANSWER about your Genre
with QUESTION.
(Example: Category-GENRE-"Pictures and words are considered are
considered a symbiotic relationship where one cannot be separated from
the other." What is Picture Book Genre.
You will present this orally on the days assigned below:
Zandralyn - Picture (9/17)
Ben- Folkore (9/17)
Shaun - Fantasy (10/1)
Terrill - Realistic Fiction (10/1)
Christy - Poetry ((10/8)
Joanne - Historical Fiction (10/8)
Jillian - Anime/Manga (10/15)
Richelle - Science Fiction (10/15)
Cassady - Autobiography/Biography (10/22)
Frances - Informational (10/22)
3. Use our blog as a resource to
research your LITERARY ELEMENTS. Of course you can look elsewhere and
the references on the blog are intended as a convenient help in your
locating the information and not the only source. Also you will write
JEOPARDY STYLE ANSWERS about your Literary Element with QUESTION. You
will also deliver oral presentations to your peers.
3. Read your books for your booktalk to present to Penny Smith's
students. Become familiar with their names (10). (See session #3, Sept.
10 class notes). We will take our leads from the students to choose
which books they want to read in their Literature Circles.
4. Now that you have your webpage, begin to add your weekly Reading
Reflections to it. You are responsible for posting them, to your
webpage. These reflections include anything you are thinking about,
questioning, discovering as you read outside of class, hear in class.
(Please refer to your syllabus for detailed information.)
When we begin Oct. 1 in Ms. Smith's classroom, you may begin your
LITERATURE SHARING JOURNALS (Literature Circle Reflections about the
students you are coaching at Tibbetts).
5. I promise we will review our course syllabus next week. Please look
it over and come with your questions.
6. Print this out for your records!
Holler if you need anything!
Take care-----------------------Frances
The END for now...
-
_______________________
August 27, 2007 Update
Dear Children Literature Library Patrons,
We had a super-deluxe tour of the library today of which we should all
feel quite honored and exhausted! Thank you for your endurance and
patience during our extnded tour de force!
I am quite aware that we did not have time to get to our syllabus and
other things on our agenda which we will 'attack' on Sept. 10.
SEPTEMBER 3, next Monday is LABOR DAY, so please stay home because we
will not be meeting.
On SEPTEMBER 10, we will meet in our UNM classroom to review our
syllabus, etc. so come prepared with questions for clarification. At
2:30 we have the SMARTLAB computer lab reserved to register for our
tripod accounts and begin our webpages.
Please read our session highlights, scribed and posted by Defiant Lee
for Aug. 20 & 27 on our course blog at
(see comments under Session Highlights)
If you are experiencing any difficulty getting onto our course webpage,
please double check web address spelling and punctuation. Try copying
<>
and pasting it in the URL address bar and click on ENTER and see if
that works. Let me know if you are getting frustrated and still cannot
access our course blog.
What you should be doing so far:
1. PRINT THIS EMAIL OUT FOR YOUR RECORDS
2. posted comments to Maxime
3. started reading whatever children's books you can find (NO GOLDEN
BOOKS OR DISNEY BOOKS-there is too much quality literature out there -
and not enough time to read it - to waste on Disney or Golden books.
4.Weekly reflections-keep a record of what your thinking is about what
we talk about in class or did so far. Do you have questions,
reservations, insights, memories about reading, references made in
class, upcoming assignments, good books you're reading, etc. You will
eventually be adding your weekly reflections to your web page. IN THE
MEANTIME, record them somewhere.
5. Weekly SCRIBE ASSIGNMENTS ARE BELOW:
Apu=Sept. 10
Annalise _Sept. 17
Eloise=October 1
Grandmom Betty=October 8
Larry=October 15
Cassady=October 22
Cindy=October 29
Whitney=November 5
Arnold=November 12
Defiant Lee=November 19
We will depend upon each of you to be a responsible scribe reporting
the session highlights for each week. Post your highlights on the blog
by the following Monday.
6. Please read your emails regularly! Following each class, I will
regularly email you about reminders and updates in between our sessions.
7. Above all, enjoy your time to focus on reading children's literature
to augment your own reading repertoire!
Enjoy..........................Frances -
Friday, September 7, 2007
Dear Children's Literature Readers,
Haven't emailed you in a while. Hope you had a workless Labor Day!
Some highlights of our Monday, Sept. 10 class:
Meet in our UNM classroom to talk about
....Genres/Literary Elements
....6th Grade Literature Circles Project
....Syllabus continue to review
....Session Highlight sign up
....Library visit (2-4pm) to create Tripod webpages
UMA KRISHNASWAMI will be our guest visitor on OCT. 1 from 2-4pm on
"Now that we're all Free: How come the Empire still Speaks in
Children's Books"
That's all for now!
- August 24, 2007
Hey, Henny Penny!
How is your first week back? I will try to stop by today to see you.
I would like to get a list of your 6th grade students' names and the
time period they meet. Also I must ask Kirstine Emerson again if we
could use the library!
Do you think Maxime should come again this year to 'kick' the project
off?
I wanted to get Dr. Smagacz' blessing on collaborating again this year
with your class. We have 8 students in our Children's Literature class
this semester. Some of the books on the 'lighter side' that we are
considering are:
Among the Hidden by Haddox
Prince of the Pond Donna Jo Napoli
Locomotion Jacqueline Woodson
Miracle Boys Jacqueline Woodson
Number the Stars Lois Lowry
Diary of Anne Frank
Langston Hughes by Alice Walker
Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Curtis
So B it by Sara Weeks
Inside my Feet by Richard Kennedy
Talk to you soon, Penny! - )..........................Frances
- August 22, 2007 Update
Thank you, Children's Literature Characters!
It was truly a fun experience during our class last Monday. You are
playful characters-all of you! I applaud all of you for 'jumping right
in' and improvising and playing along!
I am checking your emails to make sure I have entered them correctly.
PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU DO NOT GET THIS EMAIL (Smile).
I read your expectations of the instructor and I thank you for your
honesty in letting me know your needs. I think I can meet all of your
expectations in our course this semester. Please know that I am honest,
fair and upfront. I enjoy sharing children's literature with you and
working with Penny Smith's 6th grade class at Tibbetts Middle School
will be a great experience where we will be learning alongside each
other!
________________________________________
Just some gentle reminders:
1. Review the syllabus
2. Peruse our course blog at to see
what you can find of interest to you.
3. Post your comments about meeting and working with Maxime on our
course blog. (If you don't, I will be subject to his sniveling and
theatrics! Spare me, please that suffering!)
4. We will meet at the Farmington Public Library (FPL) at 1pm next
Monday. (You will have time to check out some books, too!)
5. I will post Monday session highlights on the blog so stay tuned!
Thank you & Here's to more fun ahead!-)...................Frances
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PLEASE READ CAREFULLY:
P.S. Please do not fall into the habit of thinking that because this is
a 'fun' class you can do as little, poorly or not work up to your
potential. Never misconstrue fun with laziness and taking advantage of
a situation. In a relaxed environment we all learn better, trust each
other and can create a a creative community. This involves individual
accountability and responsibility not only to yourself but to each
other. We are all now bound to each other in the art of 'PLAY'! This is
the kind of community you want to create in your own classrooms!