Children’s Literature Group Book Choice January 31, 2010

The Keeping Quilt by Patricia Polacco

With this book I had to investigate whether or not it has been criticized or praised for its portrayal of characters and events. So my search began with the library chat help thing-a-ma-bob. You see while at home I could not get into any of the book reviews through the library sight so I had some help. A nice lady librarian in Indiana sent me one of the links I was looking for! (Our Library class is being more and more helpful!) On Tuesday the 20th of April I will be sharing what it is that I found and how there could be some concerns with using it in the classroom. Below is my review:

Title: The Keeping Quilt
Author: Patricia Polacco
Grade Level: PreK- 3
Publication Year: April 3, 2001
Publisher: Aladdin
Keywords: People & Places, Social Issues, Russia, Emigrants & Immigrants, Holidays, Festivals, & Religious

Summary: This is a story about the authors own Jewish family and how they made a quilt from all the past clothing of family members from Russia. The story goes on and tells the reader how that same quilt was used at many memorable occasions, generation after generation. The best thing is that this story is true, all the characters and events really happened.

Classroom Extensions: I feel that this book is a great way to start talking about people and cultures. Asking the question:” What can we learn from studying craft concerning cultures around the world?”, will bring kids to their own cultures and pasts. This will help students to identify multiple roles of families, differences and similarities between families and cultures. Having kids share their own family traditions or artifacts that are meaningful will make this lesson memorable. Plus, what a great way to incorporate art that is practical in the classroom.

Questions: How can we apply what was read to our lives? Can you analyze some similarities and differences between communities or cultures? If you had a family quilt what important dates, colors, pictures would be on it? What can we learn about people by looking at their quilt? How does this cross over to representation of art?

Integration: Art is the obvious one to insert but I was also thinking about math. If they were to build a classroom quilt they would have to measure how long the quilt needed to be, the size of squares so that everyone’s would fit, and also some geometric design. This book is also rich in vocabulary, you could integrate technology and have the students use the Visual Thesaurus online to look up the Russian words they might not know.

Children’s Literature January 29, 2010

In the “Book Reviews” category I will be showcasing 3 books. 2 of which are books I’ve chosen and 1 that is from a set list (The Keeping Quilt). I really enjoy children’s literature so this assignment is one that I am pretty excited about! I will put up pictures of the book along with some author links. My very favorite children’s literature author is Rachel Isadora- she has a very unique way of illustrating and always brings a new perspective to an old tale!

Title: Rapunzel
Author: Isadora, Rachel
Grade Level: PreK-3 (This is not to say that a person who is 23 wouldn’t enjoy it!)
Publication Year: October 16, 2008
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Keywords: Africa, Explore the World, Fairy Tales, Fiction, Folk Tales, Rapunzel.

Summary: The fairy tale of blonde Rapunzel gets a new twist when Rachel Isadora creates an African adaptation to the classic. Rapunzel must let down her long, beautiful black hair so the evil sorceress can climb in and out of the tower. The African setting and illustrations throughout this book are wild and colorful, this is a must read!

Classroom Extensions:
-Ice breaker for a discussion on cultures and how they are similar and different
-Taking a fairy tale and having students write their own life version of a classic
-Looking at the illustrations and discussing cultural art
-Viewing the identity of people, discovering race and uniqueness

Questions:
-How is this Rapunzel the same as the blonde Rapunzel?
-Is the moral of the story still the same? Explain?
-Why is Rapunzel locked away? Is this a form of racism? Discrimination?

Integration:
Science- Students could showcase different seasons within the story
Health- The prince looses his sight this is great time to bring up our five senses
Language Art- Drawing 5 scenes from the story and putting them in sequence
As with any book be sure to read it before you open it in front of your students. The illustration in this book are captivating and hold a lot of texture through each page. I would also be concerned if reading this book to a class of all one race but a single child. I worry that the students might explain their ideas and use the student of minority as an example. Be cautious of this and simply redirect your students into the direction you are going. Ask the students about their thoughts on the sorceress and her stealing the baby from the family. Is the sorceress a helpful person in the community? Because I know the kindergarden social study standards I would cover standards dealing with individuals having similarities and differences, being unique, cultural traditions, those that are helpful and that people have wants and needs. (K.SS.1.1.3| 1.1.4| 4.1.2| 4.3.1| 4.3.2| 5.1.1.)

Rachel Isadora Biography

The morning after… January 27, 2010

I’m not talking about Plan B… I’m talking about the morning after our “What is Social Studies?” discussion. (Although I have to say, my head sure felt like I had a second round at turning 21!) For reasons I don’t know my mind is still racing, I find myself talking about it to Sil during yoga. Before I tell her about all the ground we covered last night I asked her “What is social studies?” – mind you very causal. Her answer was straight from a text book!! “How we examine cultural norms throughout different societies during specific time periods”… I’m beginning to rethink CASUALLY talking about this. While in some downward animal pose I tell her that last night when that same question was asked family, religion, “heros”, timelines and even group classification all came into play. I try my best to explain the controversy cloud hanging about the room and also the stance some people took. By the end of class we were sweating and on a mission for a computer. There was one thing from last night that did not sit well will me or Sil- COLUMBUS.

Little did I know Columbus or should I say Colon did more bad than good. As I look at my Kindergarten standards one of my objectives is to describe holidays and why they are celebrated in the United States. Taking the perspectives idea from last night and incorporating more standards I feel it would be just as easy to tell the kids the textbook truth (Columbus came here yada yada yada) but also mention that when he got here people were killed (not mentioning MASS MURDER or RAPE) and that for some Columbus day is not a happy day but a day to remember those that died. Having the kids identify ways in which Columbus was helpful (standard K.SS.4.3.1), and how families might celebrate this day in different ways (standard K.S.S.1.1.2) not only starts the kids off on the right track but ALSO stays in line with curriculum, ethics, and most importantly my integrity as a professional teacher.

It’s all so new! January 20, 2010

2010 has brought a sense of newness! New job for the husband, new fung shui in the kitchen and most importantly a new look at social studies involving this blog. Let’s have some fun with it and enjoy the next 16 weeks!

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