EDRG 3321- Chapter 9

Nonfiction is important for all levels of readers. Nonfiction offers the students to put themselves in another's shoes using autobiographies. I believe these types of books is what most are familiar with. Nonfiction is unveiling to our students to be able to understand and relate to the real life situations some people or families face such as Queen Elizabeth or the Diary of Anne Frank. Some may not see the importance, but if a child can learn how to really benefit from reading and enjoying a nonfiction book versus reading a text book, they may learn more than what is expected. Something interesting the chapter mentioned was a nonfiction scavenger hunt. I believe htis would be fun in any classroom. There is so much to learn through literature and nonfiction opens doors for students to actually enjoy the learning experience in subjects they may not favor.

Author Profile

Jan and Stan Berenstain are authors that have built a book dynasty. This is one book I remember as a child, their books center around the lives of bears and include a full series. The website provides games, theatre role play, activities, and writing a letter to the bears. It's amazing, here's the website: http://www.berenstainbears.com/. Everyone has seen one of these remarkable books.

EDRG 3344-Expository Rough Draft

These steps are accompanied with pictures in a honeybee hive for the steps taken to make honey.

First the worker bees gather nectar.
Then they mix the nectar in their body
with enzymes in special pouches
on their body.

The bee carries the nectar mixture
back to the hive, as you can see this
is when pollen is carried and
transferred as well.

The mixture is then placed into the
honeycomb cells that the bees have made.

Next, all the worker bees in the hive flap
their wings and evaporate much of the water
in the hive. The honey once was made up
of 90 percent water and now is only 19 percent water.

Finally, once the bees have made honey,
they cover the top of each cell with beeswax.
This is honey, ready for the beekeeper to
gather.

EDRG 3321- Chapter 8

Fiction offers children a chance to understand the world we live in. There are many types of fiction that has given children information such as life during past wars in the world, different lives of people and how they lived rich or poor, nice or mean, etc. Fiction can make us reconsider what actually is realty. Some do believe fiction is fake, like I was taught, but that isn't always true. In most cases, fiction opens doors for students as does any reading. Fantasy is a step further. Fantasy allows us as humans to adventure to other places and other cultures. For instance, I'm not sure about the movie, but I know the previews for Avatar are very appealing because they are based in this fantasy world of other creatures. It's amazing what writers do with fantasy, whether a book, play, or movie.

Author Profile

Caroline Arnold is a world known author who write about animals, life, and kids. A book that she has written is A Polar Bear's World, she focuses on animals. Her website provides activities, games, and a chance to arrange her at school as well. Her website is http://www.carolinearnoldbooks.com/.

EDRG 3344~Persuasive Rough Draft

This will be a cereal box with facts about bees, a quote from Einstein, and a nutritional label about honey.

EDRG 3321~Ch. 7 Picture Books

In chapter 7, I found the meaning of picture books to be more intriguing than I had imagined. Knowing the hard work that the authors and illustrators put into the meaning of their unique piece is amazing. These books give student's a chance not to just interpret from words in a book, but pictures as well. In picture books, as a children, we form our first memorable pieces of literature. I enjoy reading books such as Mama do you love me?, this book had few words and is a hard book, but my son enjoys me reading to him, he even point out pictures of the penquins or the clothing that they are wearing. Picture books not only provide another way to link the reader to the book, but also allows the reader to explore within the book to other cultures or ways of life other than their own. These types of open ended books, or short books with picures allows the reader to crically think outside of the box.

Author Profile

David Adler has produced book for children maintaining a focus on nonfiction. I believe this is incredibly important to make an adventurous approach for students. One of the books he has written is. His website is: http://www.davidaadler.com/. A book he has written is Don't Talk to Me about the War.

EDRG 3344-Rough Draft Narrative

When I wake up I get ready to jump
Jump out the hive with my wings running quite rapid
With my wings running fast I ride the wind
Riding the wind to set out and find a flower to land
When I land on the flower I use my proboscis like a plower
Like a plower I lift the nectar and down to my stomach it goes
In my stomach, the nectar meets the enzymes and is ready to go back to the hive
At the hive the nectar is kept in wax cells and then evaporates
When the nectar evaporates, it is then honey
The wearying work we do everyday is to make honey
When we make honey, we also pollinate
We pollinate using the pollen baskets on the back of our legs
Our legs carry pollen and some may fall when we land on other flowers
When we land on other flowers some pollen may fall in their pistils
When pollen falls in different flowers, cross pollination takes place
Cross pollination helps crops and plants reproduce
Reproduction is vital for plant life on earth
Cross pollination and honey making is all in a day's work for me

EDRG 3321-Fairy Tale Opinion

I believe some fairy tales did begin graphic or at least not the way we see or hear them today. I did some reasearch on the internet and found that Hansel and Gredel may have been a cover up for an actual murder. Unfortunately we don't have police reports, or news stories to actually see what was happening during this time period. Luckily, I did not learn the actual Cinderella or Hansel and Gredel stories that were not pleasant. I don't favor horror, and thankfully my children will not have to hear it either. I know it's good to know, but I don't want to know too much about the actual medieval times either. I enjoy fairy tales as they are described today and am thankful for Disney. I really enjoy Disney characters and art, it's beautiful and amazing.

Author Profile

Sharon Draper won the 2008 Coreeta Scott King for Copper Sun. The website found offered study guides to use her books, a space to ask questions if needed, and it offers her schedule and an option to choose to have her consider visiting your school. Her website is: http://sharondraper.com/.

Traci C. Jones is an upcoming author who was recognized with a Correst Scott King award. Some of the books she has written are Finding My Place and her award was for Standing Against the Wind. Her website is fresh and new with her thoughts on the world and her perspectives on life including a biography and book reviews. Her website is: http://www.traciljones.com/.

EDRG 3344- Importance of Interaction

It is very important to have the interaction within the classroom. Discussions between the students allow them to explore and build on their own knowledge or ideas. It offers an opportunity to other students to expand their thoughts and think outside of their box. Also, they build their language and deepen concepts being taught. Interaction stimulates their learning and comprehension with the involvement between each other. The students then are able to understand what they may have not before when their fellow classmates can explain their interpretation with them. Interaction is critical for the students and allows the teacher time get to know her students by seeing how the communicate or if they do. There is also discussion between students with the entire classroom as a whole. This may again allow for communication and social development or understanding. Allowing the students to take over in my opinion is better than the teacher telling her class what to do in a strictly lecture environment. Allowing the students to feel ownership makes the material meaningful to thm. When feedback is lost or discussion amongst the students, the student may not leave with any new knowledge. Talking is essential to learning.

EDRG 3321-Maya Angelou

I absolutely loved the quote by Terence, "I am a human being, nothing human is alient to me." Wow, that was awesome!!! I looked up other quotes by Mr. Terence and found one more that appealed to me, "Where there's life, there's hope." Amen, I couldn't agree more. Where life has begun, there is hope for the future and well being of that life, from the birth of a child to the birth of a companion waiting to meet it's friend for life, man's best friend (canine). Maya Angelou quoted a great man from 170BC. It was so long ago he spoke these words, yet we can relate to them now, still, years later. Which brings another quote, "In fact nothing is said that has not been said before." Is that not the truth? Okay Terence was great for his deep thoughts, but Maya Angelou had much more insight to offer. She stated that poetry can lift you out of depression, I agree again. Words are so powerful. Shakesphere? I could not believe she was able to relate to him at such a young age. When she told of her story, it made sense. After hearing her triump in life, and the words of Shakesphere, it indeed sounded like it was her as a young girl. I adored the "Negro love song" she spoke of. It was so vivid in words, like the couple on the porch was standing right before me. To finish, I'd like to quote Maya Angelou, "Liberation of the human mind and spirit beginning with my own....." We are our only enemy, our mind and spirit must meet and find grace here on earth in order for us to live a life of peace and happiness.

Author Profile

I figured since I had wrote about Ms. Maya Angelou, I would do an author profile on her. Her website has her biography, interviews, films, and other works Maya has participated in so that you can incorporate the technology in the classroom. Her website is: http://mayaangelou.com/.

Peter Sis wrote a book titled The Wall: Growing up Behind the Ironed Curtain which allowed him to be an honorary for the 2008 Randolph Caldecott Medal. His website had information about himself, games, and other books he has produced. His website is: http://www.petersis.com/index2.html.