A Note to Dr. Gibson

Dr. Gibson,

Thanks for a wonderful class!  I really appreciated the increased appreciation for other genres and reading in general that I gained from this class.  You have done a wonderful job and I hope that other students get as much out of this class as I did.  Thanks again and God bless!

Jerrid Neeley

Reflection of Observation

            1: 5 Hours (300 minutes)

            2.

·         I taught a lesson

·         Observed the teacher

·         Assisted teacher

·         Walked around room and helped students as needed

·         Helped students review

            3. Standard 4: The teacher implements and manages instruction.  Observation hours can give you a wonderful model of how to teach.  I really appreciated the time that I got to spend with the teacher I observed.  However, the real help came from teaching the lesson.  This lesson helped me to better learn how to set up a lesson, how to implement the material, and how to manage the class.  I really enjoyed getting to actually teach a lesson with a teacher there for support and help.  I think that it will definitely help me to become a great teacher someday.

4.  Observing students for a number of hours has taught me the importance of reading in learning.  If a student cannot read then they have lost a vital tool in the educational progress.  As a young child, my parents always pushed me to read.  This helped my reading comprehension to be fairly adept throughout my life.  In my opinion, Math and Reading are required to succeed at any job in the future.  These subjects, along with all others, should be incorporated into cross-curriculum lessons.  I intend on incorporating some Reading, English, History, Biology, and Math into my future Chemistry lessons to teach students the importance of subjects they may not find interesting or useful.  Observation experiences are important because it helps to teach a variety of lessons to a future teacher that will help both them, and their future students succeed. 

Reading Log and Wiki Checklist

Genre / Titles you read (Hit enter after each one and a new number should pop up)

             I.      Non-fiction/Informational (1 chapter book or photo essay book reflection required on blog)

1)      Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery by Russell Freedman

          II.      Poetry (1 chapter or picture book reflection required on blog)

1)      Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the Night by Joyce Sidman

       III.      Modern Fantasy (1 chapter book reflection required on blog)          

1)      I, Jack  by Patricia Finney. (required for discussion – do NOT use on blog)

2)      The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

3)      Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

4)      Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

5)      The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring by John R. R. Tolkien

6)      The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers by John R. R. Tolkien

7)      The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King by John R. R. Tolkien

8)      Brave New World by Alex Huxley

9)      Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

       IV.      Historical Fiction (1 reflection required on blog –can be a picture book)     

1)      The Teacher’s Funeral by Richard Peck. (required for discussion – do NOT use on blog)

2)      To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

3)      Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

          V.      Multicultural/Traditional (2 reflections required on blog – one can be a picture book)         

1)      Hiroshima: A Novella by Laurence Yep (required for discussion – do NOT use on blog)

2)      Black Like Me by John Griffin

3)      Rapunzel by the Brothers Grimm

4)      In the Beginning by Virginia Hamilton

       VI.      Realistic Fiction (1 chapter book reflection required on blog)

1)      Baby by Patricia MacLachlan. (required for discussion – do NOT use on blog)

2)      Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

    VII.      Picture Books (5 reflections required on blog during the first two weeks of class. There should be a total here of at least six.)

1)      The Wednesday Surprise by Eve Bunting. (required for discussion – do NOT use on blog)

2)      –The Rainbow Ribbon by William Hooks and Betty Boegehold

3)      –Smoky Night by Eve Bunting

4)      –The Funny Ride by Margaret Hillert

5)      –A House for Little Red by Margaret Hillert

6)      –The Funny Baby by Margaret Hillert

26 Total

Wiki Checklist

Instructions: Write the number of entries for each category you posted into on the Course Wiki (requirement is four total posts, in four different categories)

CHANGED TO ONLY 2 POSTS

____ Social Studies

____ Science

____ Math

____ Music

__1__ Art (In the Beginning)

__1__ Reading/Language Arts (The Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night)

____ Physical Education

____ Other

Week 8, Reflection; Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery

Freedman, R. (1993). Eleanor Roosevelt: A life of discovery. New York: Clarion Books.

Eleanor Roosevelt was a very inspirational figure in the world; not just for women.  The book follows the chronological structure.  It follows her life from beginning to end in order.  It also is interesting because it has pictures throughout her life so that you can visualize Eleanor.  This book is also written to be narrative writing because it tells the story of her life.  The book is also subdivided into chapters making it an informational chapter book.  This is a great book that is an inspiration to anyone who reads it.

Week 7, Book Talk; Bud, Not Buddy

Curtis, C. P. (1999). Bud, not Buddy. New York: Delacorte Press.

If you had just run away from your terrible adopted parents, where would you go?

In a world pitted against him, a tough 10 year-old boy must find a way to eat and a place to sleep.  However, with no family he has no place to go.  All he has in his possession is an old suitcase, some flyers of a music group his mother used to look at, and a picture of her.  Where will he go and what will he do?  Where would you go and what would you do?

Bud, Not Buddy is a historical fiction book written during the Great Depression.  The story of this young man will have the reader feeling his pain and struggles to find his place in life.


Link to audio folder:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/qomwdha4azcthua/Book%20Talk.wav

Week 6, Book Talk; Hatchet

Paulsen, G. (1987).  Hatchet. New York: Bradbury Press.

Bears, a moose… and skunks???

Although these seem like only television fears, how would you handle them?  Thirteen year-old Brian is cast into the Canadian wilderness after his pilot suffers a heart attack and the plane crashes.  His only tool is a hatchet.  Brian must overcome nature, hunger, and thirst in order to survive.  More importantly, how will Brian escape?

Hatchet is one of the greatest realistic fiction books of all time.  It creates a dynamic character cast into a difficult world.  Hatchet is a great read for all ages and audiences.

Week 5, Reflection 1: The Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the Night

Sidman, J., Allen, R., Houghton Mifflin Books for Children., & Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. (2010). Dark emperor & other poems of the night. Boston [Mass.: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children.

The Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the Night is one of the most intriguing poem books I have ever read.  It captures some of the classic elements of poems with beautiful artwork.  One of the items strewn throughout the book is rhyme.  This can be found with words such as creep, peep, and sleep.  A good portion of the poems contain this literary element.  Hyperbole is also found in a few of the poems.  An example would be moon-maker, saying that crickets can create an unstoppable and searing sound, etc.  Finally, figurative language is also present.  This can be seen in large quantity with phrases such as “like noses pink”, “like elfin hair”, and “like ancient cities.”  Overall, this poetry collection is well written and well illustrated.  I really enjoyed reading it and would recommend it to anyone.