Mini Research #5
The only example I thought of regarding children’s literature in the media was in the movie and TV series, Sex and the City. The main character, Carrie, has pursued the evasive, aloof Mr. Big since the beginning of the series. His extreme wealth and good looks place him into the Prince Charming role. In the final episode, he rescues Carrie from and ill-fated romance and brings her back to New York to live with him.
In the movie, Carrie plans an over the top wedding that never culminates because Mr. Big is a no show. He gets cold feet from the wedding pressure and decides to split. Carrie is destroyed and runs off to Mexico with her friends. While reading her friend’s daughter Cinderella, she jokes that “another one bites the dust.” Meaning that another girl has fallen for the dream of being rescued by the perfect mate. In the end, Mr. Big comes to his senses and decides to pursue Carrie once again. This time around they have a simple courthouse wedding and live a fairy tale happy ending.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Counter Narrative Text 10/22
My counter narrative text has been on the back burner for a few weeks. I wrote a first draft with a male, lead character. He is the Cinderella figure because he does all the chores for his family day after day. He longs to travel and decides to join an adventure club with his friend. His sisters are left to take care of the family home and discover that they are very capable, successful homemakers on their own.
I plan to rewrite my first version to add more depth to my characters and to make the story more interesting. I may find that trying to write from a male perspective might not work for me. As I sat down to write my first draft, I knew that
I did not want my counter narrative to be about a female character getting saved by a male. This rescue theme is prevalent in Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Red Riding Hood. It is not a message I would want young females to receive.
I plan to rewrite my first version to add more depth to my characters and to make the story more interesting. I may find that trying to write from a male perspective might not work for me. As I sat down to write my first draft, I knew that
I did not want my counter narrative to be about a female character getting saved by a male. This rescue theme is prevalent in Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Red Riding Hood. It is not a message I would want young females to receive.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Teacher Interview 10/29
Interview with Classroom Teacher
I did my interview with a first grade teacher in Montgomery County. She has taught first grade for three years.
What role does literature play in the classroom curriculum?
Literature is used in every subject area of the curriculum. We just read a book by Gail Gibbons about fossils for our rock unit. We read Time Magazine for Kids to learn about current events. Students do an author study each month in language arts and have daily silent and oral reading. Books are all around the classroom. I have a mix of fiction, nonfiction and a wide range of books for the many ability levels in my classroom. At the moment, I have one student reading on a 4th / 5th grade level. She is in her own reading group. It is very challenging finding books that are stimulating for her. Right now, I decided to have her read some biographies to help diversify the types of books she reads.
What kinds of books are chosen,Why and How?
Well, the first grade teachers work as a team with the Reading Initiative teachers to develop reading groups. Each reading group progresses through a series of books based on their reading level. The books are chosen because of the reading level and what we have available in the classroom. Beyond the reading program, teachers have autonomy over the books placed in the classroom and the books read to the class during story time. We have guest readers every week who choose the book they plan to share. The challenge in a mixed-ability classroom is having a wide range of books for all ability levels. At the moment I have a student from Japan who has very limited English. I want her to enjoy looking and experiencing books without being to bogged down by text. The librarian has been helping me find books for her.
Who decides what books are used in the classroom?
The teacher decides on the books used in the classroom except for the ones supplied for reading groups. These books have to have predetermined skill levels. The Reading Initiative program and the County dictate the choice of books in the reading program. Teachers have a lot of choice over the books for story time, silent reading, and content area reading. Most the books in my classroom library have been supplied to me through Scholastic orders. I also find books at the library related to the themes we are learning about.
What is the teacher’s theoretical perspective on teaching or specifically on using children’s literature in the curriculum?
This teacher emphasized having a language rich environment. She believes in exposing her class to a wide variety of reading materials. She uses literature across the curriculum primarily in science and social studies. She is enthusiastic about books and specific authors. She creates an environment where children enjoy learning to read.
I did my interview with a first grade teacher in Montgomery County. She has taught first grade for three years.
What role does literature play in the classroom curriculum?
Literature is used in every subject area of the curriculum. We just read a book by Gail Gibbons about fossils for our rock unit. We read Time Magazine for Kids to learn about current events. Students do an author study each month in language arts and have daily silent and oral reading. Books are all around the classroom. I have a mix of fiction, nonfiction and a wide range of books for the many ability levels in my classroom. At the moment, I have one student reading on a 4th / 5th grade level. She is in her own reading group. It is very challenging finding books that are stimulating for her. Right now, I decided to have her read some biographies to help diversify the types of books she reads.
What kinds of books are chosen,Why and How?
Well, the first grade teachers work as a team with the Reading Initiative teachers to develop reading groups. Each reading group progresses through a series of books based on their reading level. The books are chosen because of the reading level and what we have available in the classroom. Beyond the reading program, teachers have autonomy over the books placed in the classroom and the books read to the class during story time. We have guest readers every week who choose the book they plan to share. The challenge in a mixed-ability classroom is having a wide range of books for all ability levels. At the moment I have a student from Japan who has very limited English. I want her to enjoy looking and experiencing books without being to bogged down by text. The librarian has been helping me find books for her.
Who decides what books are used in the classroom?
The teacher decides on the books used in the classroom except for the ones supplied for reading groups. These books have to have predetermined skill levels. The Reading Initiative program and the County dictate the choice of books in the reading program. Teachers have a lot of choice over the books for story time, silent reading, and content area reading. Most the books in my classroom library have been supplied to me through Scholastic orders. I also find books at the library related to the themes we are learning about.
What is the teacher’s theoretical perspective on teaching or specifically on using children’s literature in the curriculum?
This teacher emphasized having a language rich environment. She believes in exposing her class to a wide variety of reading materials. She uses literature across the curriculum primarily in science and social studies. She is enthusiastic about books and specific authors. She creates an environment where children enjoy learning to read.
Banned Book 10/22
The banned book I chose was Alice in Rapture, Sort of by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. The Alice series is very comparable to Judy Blume’s books, Forever and Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. In this story Alice is having a summer romance with her first boyfriend, Patrick. There is a little kissing and one discussion about whether kissing was a venial sin or a mortal sin. In one scene the girls contemplate whether or not they are going to hell for making out with boys. This seems to be the most controversial part of Alice in Rapture. The Alice books have been banned for “sexual content and offensive language.” The Alice series is mostly about Alice trying to fit in and attract friends and boyfriends. The challenge in Alice’s life is that she has to go through these awkward and humiliating preteen years without a mother.
Sociopolitical Book 10/22
Oct. 22
The sociopolitical book I chose was The People Could Fly by Virginia Hamilton. It is an African American folktale illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon. It is a mystical story of how the African people knew how to fly but forgot the magical words that released them into flight when they were brought to the new world.
One day in the cotton fields, a man named Toby spoke the forgotten, magical words to the exhausted slaves enabling them to fly away. I interpreted the flying away in the folktale as a metaphor for escaping. According to the Author’s Note there are many references to flying in black folktales.
I found myself spending more time looking at the illustrations than reading this story. The pictures depict African people captured as slaves, on slave ships and in cotton fields. I think the art in the book is as powerful as Virginia Hamilton’s words. This is book that would captivate students and stimulate many discussions about history, folklore, and artistry.
The sociopolitical book I chose was The People Could Fly by Virginia Hamilton. It is an African American folktale illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon. It is a mystical story of how the African people knew how to fly but forgot the magical words that released them into flight when they were brought to the new world.
One day in the cotton fields, a man named Toby spoke the forgotten, magical words to the exhausted slaves enabling them to fly away. I interpreted the flying away in the folktale as a metaphor for escaping. According to the Author’s Note there are many references to flying in black folktales.
I found myself spending more time looking at the illustrations than reading this story. The pictures depict African people captured as slaves, on slave ships and in cotton fields. I think the art in the book is as powerful as Virginia Hamilton’s words. This is book that would captivate students and stimulate many discussions about history, folklore, and artistry.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Web Review
My last job was working for PBS Kids Interactive doing Web content for teachers and students. One project I worked on was the Reading Rainbow Web site. Reading Rainbow was a popular program in the 80’s and 90’s. Every episode showcased a different children’s book. Then school-age kids would appear on camera to recommend other related books. The site still exists with an amazing book list http://pbskids.org/readingrainbow/books/index.html. The only problem is that it is not a searchable database. The books are chosen because their diverse subject matters and ability to attract readers. In the Cleveland Park Library they have a section with Reading Rainbow books by the librarian’s desk. These all have Reading Rainbow stickers on the cover. If you are a new teacher or parent, this is a good place to find high-quality books.
When I was looking at the Reading Rainbow site, which is quite dated, I discovered another PBS resource:
http://www.pbs.org/parents/bookfinder/. Wow, what a find. You can search books by age and theme. Some of the many themes are special needs, African American, multiculturalism, and friends. Each book has a description, jpeg of the cover, age recommendation and list of awards the book may have won.
Another site with a searchable database is http://www.commonsensemedia.org. I thought this was a good site for parents and teachers. It reviews children’s books, movies, video games, music, TV, and Web sites. Books and other media are rated for age appropriateness and are reviewed by parents, kids and the site producer: CSM. Books are searchable by age range, title/author and subject matter. Some reviews are very detailed and helpful. However, it seems unclear to me how books are selected for the database. There is a mix of new releases and classics. On the main page for books there is a list of top picks from parents, kids and the CSM organization. The site also has articles for parents such as “How Can Parents Manage Media in Their Home,” “Kids and Scary Movies” and “Politics and Your Tween.” This is an article to help parents explain political ads and the electoral process to their kids. I thought this was a great subject to tackle in the classroom. Overall, I felt the site described a wide array of books diverse in subject matter and authorship.
One site I enjoyed visiting was http://www.bookwink.com. There is a book review / podcast on the main page with links to find books by title, subject, and grade. In the podcast, Lost Treasure of the Inca by Peter Lourie was reviewed by a woman visiting the Andes mountains. There are around 500 book reviews for grade levels (3-8). Books were very diverse in subject matter and genre. Some are classics but others are new releases. When I did a subject search, the site provided 16 subject areas with many more specific subtitles. Some of the subjects were: Problems in Society, Funny, Countries and Cultures, Families (all kinds), Friendship, etc.
The mission of http://www.bookwink.com is to “inspire kids to read.” The creators of the site are a middle school librarian and high school English teacher. They update the site with their “newest favorite books” and do podcasts of their book reviews. I liked the scale of the site; it wasn’t an overwhelming amount of information. It had just enough to help parents and teachers choose books for their children. I would recommend this site to others.
When I was looking at the Reading Rainbow site, which is quite dated, I discovered another PBS resource:
http://www.pbs.org/parents/bookfinder/. Wow, what a find. You can search books by age and theme. Some of the many themes are special needs, African American, multiculturalism, and friends. Each book has a description, jpeg of the cover, age recommendation and list of awards the book may have won.
Another site with a searchable database is http://www.commonsensemedia.org. I thought this was a good site for parents and teachers. It reviews children’s books, movies, video games, music, TV, and Web sites. Books and other media are rated for age appropriateness and are reviewed by parents, kids and the site producer: CSM. Books are searchable by age range, title/author and subject matter. Some reviews are very detailed and helpful. However, it seems unclear to me how books are selected for the database. There is a mix of new releases and classics. On the main page for books there is a list of top picks from parents, kids and the CSM organization. The site also has articles for parents such as “How Can Parents Manage Media in Their Home,” “Kids and Scary Movies” and “Politics and Your Tween.” This is an article to help parents explain political ads and the electoral process to their kids. I thought this was a great subject to tackle in the classroom. Overall, I felt the site described a wide array of books diverse in subject matter and authorship.
One site I enjoyed visiting was http://www.bookwink.com. There is a book review / podcast on the main page with links to find books by title, subject, and grade. In the podcast, Lost Treasure of the Inca by Peter Lourie was reviewed by a woman visiting the Andes mountains. There are around 500 book reviews for grade levels (3-8). Books were very diverse in subject matter and genre. Some are classics but others are new releases. When I did a subject search, the site provided 16 subject areas with many more specific subtitles. Some of the subjects were: Problems in Society, Funny, Countries and Cultures, Families (all kinds), Friendship, etc.
The mission of http://www.bookwink.com is to “inspire kids to read.” The creators of the site are a middle school librarian and high school English teacher. They update the site with their “newest favorite books” and do podcasts of their book reviews. I liked the scale of the site; it wasn’t an overwhelming amount of information. It had just enough to help parents and teachers choose books for their children. I would recommend this site to others.
Library Visit
I visited Little Falls Library in Bethesda. This is a middle or upper middle class area of Montgomery County. I was impressed with their children’s collection, specifically the wide selection of text representing diverse cultures. Sections containing these texts were: Spanish, Juvenile Fiction, Picture Books, Biography, Encyclopedias / Reference Books, Holidays, Native Americans and Geography.
Most books representing diverse cultures were in the Geography and Biography sections. There were many books about different countries and peoples. The population in this part of Bethesda has many international families who are employed by the World Bank or embassies in the area. My son’s first grade class, located a mile from the library, has students from Japan, the U.K. and Columbia. The geography section has books representing almost every country in the world. I found books about Myanmar, Yemen, Sri Lanka, the Ivory Coast, and Uzbekistan. It was truly impressive to see so many countries represented.
The library is very accessible by bus and has parking (unlike most DC libraries). However, it is not Metro accessible. The children’s area is on the first floor and the adult section is on the second. I like that the two floors are separated because children are freer to explore and make noise. There is a reading area with tables and a floor area for playing. Computers are available as well.
As I looked for books that may portray cultural stereotypes a few series stood out to me. One is the Lois Lenski books: The Little Fire Engine, The Little Train, Farmer Small, Papa Small, etc. These are lovely books with simple illustrations for young children. The series was published in the 1930’s and 1940’s which why all the women are moms and all the dads are workers. Her books feature Captain Small, Cowboy Small, Pilot Small and Policeman Small doing their jobs. There are no people of color in her books. Despite the stereotyped roles, I love these books because of their simplicity. However, I am always reluctant to read them to my children because I don’t want them to think that all women stay home with children (like their mother and their mother’s friends.) The Froggy series by Jonathan London also has Froggy’s mom in aprons and curlers even though she is a frog. This is a very funny set of books and my kids love them but sometimes I think they perpetuate the stereotype of all women as stay-at-home moms.
Some of the books that I found represented diverse cultures are:
Freedom Walkers, The Story of Montgomery Bus Boycott by Russell Freeman
Like many of Russell Freeman’s books, there are many historic photos. There are many images of the Segregated South. He has included photos of signs that say, “Waiting Room for Colored People” or “Whites Only” and others of blacks sitting in the back of the bus and protests against segregation.
The Kids Book of World Religions by Jennifer Glossop
Illustrations of festivals and temples are included with descriptions of the world’s religions: Sikhism, Buddhism, Baha’I, Hinduism, to name a few.
Series of books on different ethnicities in America: East Indians, Italians, Chinese, etc. by Lerner Publications
This somewhat dated collection was remarkable because the amount of cultural groups covered by the series. It was interesting to look at the many photos of these distinctive communities within the United States.
Hank Aaron: Brave in Every Way by Peter Golenbeck
This biography discusses how Hank Aaron faced hate mail and death threats as he surpassed Babe Ruth’s homerun record.
Visual Geography Series presents books on many different countries even less recognized ones: Pakistan, Yemen, Iran, Uzbekistan, Myanmar, etc.
Raymond Bial’s Lifeways Series is an informative set of books about many different American Indian tribes. I counted 21 tribe. Some of the groups he writes about are: The Huron, The Ojbwe, The Sioux, The Wampanoag, etc.
Oryx – Multicultural Cookbook of Life Cycle Celebrations by Lois Sinaiko Webb has many recipes from all over the world. She describes when and why certain cultures prepare dishes and includes descriptions of the countries represented.
The American Ethnic Cookbook for Students by Mark Zanger was another interesting collection of recipes. Groups represented in the book are Dutch, Finnish, Polish, Portuguese, and Vietnamese.
Most books representing diverse cultures were in the Geography and Biography sections. There were many books about different countries and peoples. The population in this part of Bethesda has many international families who are employed by the World Bank or embassies in the area. My son’s first grade class, located a mile from the library, has students from Japan, the U.K. and Columbia. The geography section has books representing almost every country in the world. I found books about Myanmar, Yemen, Sri Lanka, the Ivory Coast, and Uzbekistan. It was truly impressive to see so many countries represented.
The library is very accessible by bus and has parking (unlike most DC libraries). However, it is not Metro accessible. The children’s area is on the first floor and the adult section is on the second. I like that the two floors are separated because children are freer to explore and make noise. There is a reading area with tables and a floor area for playing. Computers are available as well.
As I looked for books that may portray cultural stereotypes a few series stood out to me. One is the Lois Lenski books: The Little Fire Engine, The Little Train, Farmer Small, Papa Small, etc. These are lovely books with simple illustrations for young children. The series was published in the 1930’s and 1940’s which why all the women are moms and all the dads are workers. Her books feature Captain Small, Cowboy Small, Pilot Small and Policeman Small doing their jobs. There are no people of color in her books. Despite the stereotyped roles, I love these books because of their simplicity. However, I am always reluctant to read them to my children because I don’t want them to think that all women stay home with children (like their mother and their mother’s friends.) The Froggy series by Jonathan London also has Froggy’s mom in aprons and curlers even though she is a frog. This is a very funny set of books and my kids love them but sometimes I think they perpetuate the stereotype of all women as stay-at-home moms.
Some of the books that I found represented diverse cultures are:
Freedom Walkers, The Story of Montgomery Bus Boycott by Russell Freeman
Like many of Russell Freeman’s books, there are many historic photos. There are many images of the Segregated South. He has included photos of signs that say, “Waiting Room for Colored People” or “Whites Only” and others of blacks sitting in the back of the bus and protests against segregation.
The Kids Book of World Religions by Jennifer Glossop
Illustrations of festivals and temples are included with descriptions of the world’s religions: Sikhism, Buddhism, Baha’I, Hinduism, to name a few.
Series of books on different ethnicities in America: East Indians, Italians, Chinese, etc. by Lerner Publications
This somewhat dated collection was remarkable because the amount of cultural groups covered by the series. It was interesting to look at the many photos of these distinctive communities within the United States.
Hank Aaron: Brave in Every Way by Peter Golenbeck
This biography discusses how Hank Aaron faced hate mail and death threats as he surpassed Babe Ruth’s homerun record.
Visual Geography Series presents books on many different countries even less recognized ones: Pakistan, Yemen, Iran, Uzbekistan, Myanmar, etc.
Raymond Bial’s Lifeways Series is an informative set of books about many different American Indian tribes. I counted 21 tribe. Some of the groups he writes about are: The Huron, The Ojbwe, The Sioux, The Wampanoag, etc.
Oryx – Multicultural Cookbook of Life Cycle Celebrations by Lois Sinaiko Webb has many recipes from all over the world. She describes when and why certain cultures prepare dishes and includes descriptions of the countries represented.
The American Ethnic Cookbook for Students by Mark Zanger was another interesting collection of recipes. Groups represented in the book are Dutch, Finnish, Polish, Portuguese, and Vietnamese.
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