Non-Fiction Blog

Field Exp Summary

What an overwhelming job as teachers, media specialists, support staff and even students have in the educational world today. Throughout my field experience in my undergraduate classes, I learned that most of the time you tend to go where you are comfortable and are most confident in building your lessons. With this class I stepped out of my comfort zone and ventured into the world of middle school! Eerie I know haha! Through meeting with various reading specialist teachers and media specialists I have come to learn that planning for this age group can be quit simple once you are used to it. I met many wonderful teachers and support staff who were a wealth of knowledge and a new asset to my career.

This particular field experience helped me to grow as a teacher/educator by seeing many new ways to incorporate technology into the classroom, ways to manage instruction in this type of setting, but most importantly ways to communicate the results to parents. At this age group, kids are usually hiding their reports, work, praises, etc. from their parents, the teachers and staff that I encountered this past bi-term are amazing and have shown me many ways to hopefully overcome this barrier if I ever am to cross it! :)

Reading Log

Reading Log (30+ titles)

Genres/Titles you read

1.    Non-fiction/Informational (1 reflection required on blog)

a.    Go Ask Alice by Anonymous

b.    A Child Called It by D. Pelzer

c.    Learn to Tell Time with the Munch Bunch by A. Mitson

d.   How to be a Nature Detective by J.E. Keats

e.    I Want to be a Policeman by C. Greene     

 

2.   Poetry (1 reflection required on blog)

a.    Witness by Karen Hesse  -  (Required for discussion)

b.    A Light In The Attic – S. Silverstein

 

3.   Modern Fantasy (1 reflection required on blog)

a.    The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer – (Required for discussion)

b.    The Hunger Games by S. Collins

c.    The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

d.   Wayside Schools Gets A Little Stranger by L. Sachar

e.    Harry Potter and the Socerer’s Stone by J. K. Rowling

f.    Catching Fire by S. Collins

g.   Mockingjay by S. Collins

 

4.   Historical Fiction (1 reflection required on blog)

a.    A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck  - (Require for discussion)

b.    The Value of Creativity: The Story of Thomas Edison by A. Johnson

c.    Queen Elizabeth II, World Leader by S. Auerbach

 

5.   Multicultural/Traditional (2 reflections required on blog)

a.    Jessi Ramsey, Pet-sitter by A. Martin

b.    Lon PoPo: A Red Riding Hood Story from China by E. Young    

c.    November Blues by P. Draper

d.   Music, Music for Everyone by V. Williams          

 

6.   Realistic Fiction (1 reflection required on blog)

a.    The Last Safe Place on Earth by Rickard Peck  - (Required for discussion)

b.    Junie B. First Grader, Boo and I MEAN IT! by B. Park

c.    Amber Brown Wants Extra Credit by P. Danzinger

d.   Junie B., First Grader Turkeys We Have Loved and Eaten (and Other Thankful Stuff) by B. Park

e.    Hatchet by G. Paulsen

 

7.   Picture Books (5 reflections require on blog)

a.    Flossie & the Fox by Patricia McKissack  -   (Required for discussion)

b.    Spookley the Square Pumpkin by M. Zander

c.    The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by J. Scieska

d.   Where the Wild Things Are by M. Sendak

e.    If You Give A Pig A Party by L. Numeroff

f.    The Berenstein Bears Go to the Doctor by S. & J. Berenstein

g.   The Very Hungry Caterpillar by E. Carle

h.    Faithful Elephants by Y. Tsuchiya

i.     The Sweetest Fig by C. Van Allsburg

 

 

 

 

 

Wiki Checklist

          Art  -- The Very Hungry Caterpillar

          Social Studies – The Other Side

          Math – Spaghetti and Meatballs for Everyone

          Language Arts – November Blues

 

Historical Fiction

Johnson, A. (1984). The value of creativity: The story of thomas edison. La Jolla, California: Value Communications.

 

What better way to inspire your students to never give up on their dreams, no matter how many times they are unsuccessful, especially if it's from a historical fiction book? The story of Thomas Edison is a wonderful way to introduce your students to historical fiction and most importantly give a deep, insightful lesson!

The Value of Creativity: The Story of Thomas Edison is a themed book in which young Thomas is taught to never give up on your dreams, no matter how many times he may be unsuccessful! Readers are able to meet the character through his trial and error process. We are also familiarized with this character thourhg the elaborate illustrations. While young Thomas deals with person vs. self conflict, he soon learns that constant failure will cause him to give up on himself, which no child should ever feel!!

The story seems to have a fairy tale feel to it as it begins, but is based on historical facts in which a young child is known for his ability to take things apart and make them work either again or better!! A wonderful story to accompany a science fair or as a supplemental to a writing project, this story is a must read for all classrooms!