Textbook Reflection Chapters 1-5
Chapter 1:
Why We Share Literature with Children:
As a reading teacher, the chapter on sharing literature with children really spoke to me. Read aloud and shared reading are my two favorite parts of the school day. It is a time where all readers, no matter what their reading level, can come together and share a love of reading, while having a discussion and opinion on characters, and altering or confirming their views on life due to a story's theme and events (aesthetic experiences). Reading to children also allows them to activate their imagination as they visualize the events in the book.
I really liked the discussion and examples on the difference between sympathy and empathy. I am a firm believer that the more fiction stories you read, the more empathy you have for others and the more culturally aware we all become. As a reader myself, I have an empathetic bond to the book Wonder. Before I even read this with my students four years ago, I read it myself because I loved the theme of compassion. We all tend to put ourselves in the character's shoes and we can imagine what they're going through. As Dr. Lesesne stated, "They understand how it feels." I'd like to pose a challenge for my fourth graders this year: to find a book that they have an empathetic bond with. I think this will be a great discussion that will bring along compassion and understanding of others. I appreciated Dr. Perry's mention of serial reading and how to ask questions after a student has finished a book and they are stuck on what to read next. Serial reading is a great way to build lifelong readers. Another way to build lifelong readers is when students are able to read autobiographical books: stories related to their experiences in life. The reader can really connect and identify with the character in the story. Dr. Perry also mentioned that students should also be reading books where they might not share the same experiences as the character (vicarious experiences). Students are able to look into the "window" of a character who is going through experiences different from their own. She states, "I can see their experiences without having to do them myself." This is important in building cultural and social awareness. The chart on reading for 20 minutes and language acquisition is something that I show my parents each year at orientation and literacy night. I tell my students that each MINUTE that you read builds your reading skills and improves vocabulary. I really want to find that interactive spinning wheel that shows parents how minutes read correlates to their child's reading success. That was really cool and I bet eye opening for many parents!
Chapter 2:
Divisions of Young People
Literature for young people is broken up into four categories:
Children's Literature: This category covers age ranges newborn to 8 years old. There are different types of books in this group such as wordless board books, easy readers, picture books, illustrated chapter books and finally, introductory novels such as Charlotte's Web.
Middle Grade/Tween: This category covers age ranges 8 to 12 years old. It is important to remember that middle grade is not only for middle school readers (ages 11-13). Several of the books in this category approach more difficult issues and/or social/cultural topics such as transgenders and abusive parents.
Young Adult: This group covers age ranges 13 to 18 years old. These books are not middle school grade because the books involve language and more mature topics such as violence and sex.
New Adult: This group covers age ranges 18 to 30 years old. These books sometimes cover a student's experience as they leave high school for a college experience and encounter adult issues for the first time.
Chapter 3:
Anatomy of a Book
Who knew that there were more parts to a book than just the spine, cover and pages? NOT me.
Here is an image of what I learned about the various parts of a book:
(Text boxes with words and description were created by me, but image of book is from http://www.chroniclebooks.com/blog/2017/07/13/the-anatomy-of-a-book/)
Chapter 4:
Genres and Formats
This chapter was very informative and taught me about new sub-genres that I wasn't aware of! This was helpful to me when I read the various YA books this semester and I was able to categorize them into its particular sub-genre. I also learned that there were some categories that I thought were genres, but they are really subjects, such as horror and classics. The two main genres are fiction and nonfiction. From there, it branches off into sub-genres.
Fiction:
Realism- Realistic, modern, contemporary, historical
Fantasy- modern and traditional
Modern fantasy includes high and low fantasy as well as hard and soft science fiction. Hard science fiction is where science is the main part of the story. In soft science fiction, science is in the story, but the characters are the main focus. High fantasy is where a whole new world has been created, sometimes with its own language, such as Avatar or Lord of the Rings. Low fantasy takes place in a more recognizable or ordinary world with some impossible events or aspects still included, such as talking animals or magic.
Traditional fantasy is composed of fairy tales, folktales, myths, fables, legends and ballads.
Nonfiction:
Informational- Expository, Narrative nonfiction
Biography, Autobiography and Memoir
The difference between an autobiography and memoir is that an autobiography covers a person's whole life, but a memoir usually just focuses on one major event.
Narrative nonfiction is nonfiction written like a story. Expository nonfiction is written to solely provide facts and information.
Formats:
These are types of books, such as graphic novels, short stories, picture books, novels, etc. Here's an example to understand the difference between genre and format: a historical fiction (genre) book about the Titanic written in graphic novel format.
I agree with Dr. Perry said about genrefying a library. In one way, it makes it easy for users to find what they are looking for. On the other hand, it might create an uncomfortable feeling with some of the users if a book is placed in a section they wouldn't want to walk up to.
Chapter 5:
What is YA Literature?
This chapter states characteristics of Young Adult Literature. Some features of YA Lit is that it has an independent, youthful main character going through a key change in their life. It is written from a young adult's perspective and highlights a gradual change in the main character. Two of the most important characteristics is that YA Lit covers a contemporary issue and involves the idea of how young adults develop.
Why We Share Literature with Children:
As a reading teacher, the chapter on sharing literature with children really spoke to me. Read aloud and shared reading are my two favorite parts of the school day. It is a time where all readers, no matter what their reading level, can come together and share a love of reading, while having a discussion and opinion on characters, and altering or confirming their views on life due to a story's theme and events (aesthetic experiences). Reading to children also allows them to activate their imagination as they visualize the events in the book.
I really liked the discussion and examples on the difference between sympathy and empathy. I am a firm believer that the more fiction stories you read, the more empathy you have for others and the more culturally aware we all become. As a reader myself, I have an empathetic bond to the book Wonder. Before I even read this with my students four years ago, I read it myself because I loved the theme of compassion. We all tend to put ourselves in the character's shoes and we can imagine what they're going through. As Dr. Lesesne stated, "They understand how it feels." I'd like to pose a challenge for my fourth graders this year: to find a book that they have an empathetic bond with. I think this will be a great discussion that will bring along compassion and understanding of others. I appreciated Dr. Perry's mention of serial reading and how to ask questions after a student has finished a book and they are stuck on what to read next. Serial reading is a great way to build lifelong readers. Another way to build lifelong readers is when students are able to read autobiographical books: stories related to their experiences in life. The reader can really connect and identify with the character in the story. Dr. Perry also mentioned that students should also be reading books where they might not share the same experiences as the character (vicarious experiences). Students are able to look into the "window" of a character who is going through experiences different from their own. She states, "I can see their experiences without having to do them myself." This is important in building cultural and social awareness. The chart on reading for 20 minutes and language acquisition is something that I show my parents each year at orientation and literacy night. I tell my students that each MINUTE that you read builds your reading skills and improves vocabulary. I really want to find that interactive spinning wheel that shows parents how minutes read correlates to their child's reading success. That was really cool and I bet eye opening for many parents!
Chapter 2:
Divisions of Young People
Literature for young people is broken up into four categories:
Children's Literature: This category covers age ranges newborn to 8 years old. There are different types of books in this group such as wordless board books, easy readers, picture books, illustrated chapter books and finally, introductory novels such as Charlotte's Web.
Middle Grade/Tween: This category covers age ranges 8 to 12 years old. It is important to remember that middle grade is not only for middle school readers (ages 11-13). Several of the books in this category approach more difficult issues and/or social/cultural topics such as transgenders and abusive parents.
Young Adult: This group covers age ranges 13 to 18 years old. These books are not middle school grade because the books involve language and more mature topics such as violence and sex.
New Adult: This group covers age ranges 18 to 30 years old. These books sometimes cover a student's experience as they leave high school for a college experience and encounter adult issues for the first time.
Chapter 3:
Anatomy of a Book
Who knew that there were more parts to a book than just the spine, cover and pages? NOT me.
Here is an image of what I learned about the various parts of a book:
(Text boxes with words and description were created by me, but image of book is from http://www.chroniclebooks.com/blog/2017/07/13/the-anatomy-of-a-book/)
Genres and Formats
This chapter was very informative and taught me about new sub-genres that I wasn't aware of! This was helpful to me when I read the various YA books this semester and I was able to categorize them into its particular sub-genre. I also learned that there were some categories that I thought were genres, but they are really subjects, such as horror and classics. The two main genres are fiction and nonfiction. From there, it branches off into sub-genres.
Fiction:
Realism- Realistic, modern, contemporary, historical
Fantasy- modern and traditional
Modern fantasy includes high and low fantasy as well as hard and soft science fiction. Hard science fiction is where science is the main part of the story. In soft science fiction, science is in the story, but the characters are the main focus. High fantasy is where a whole new world has been created, sometimes with its own language, such as Avatar or Lord of the Rings. Low fantasy takes place in a more recognizable or ordinary world with some impossible events or aspects still included, such as talking animals or magic.
Traditional fantasy is composed of fairy tales, folktales, myths, fables, legends and ballads.
Nonfiction:
Informational- Expository, Narrative nonfiction
Biography, Autobiography and Memoir
The difference between an autobiography and memoir is that an autobiography covers a person's whole life, but a memoir usually just focuses on one major event.
Narrative nonfiction is nonfiction written like a story. Expository nonfiction is written to solely provide facts and information.
Formats:
These are types of books, such as graphic novels, short stories, picture books, novels, etc. Here's an example to understand the difference between genre and format: a historical fiction (genre) book about the Titanic written in graphic novel format.
I agree with Dr. Perry said about genrefying a library. In one way, it makes it easy for users to find what they are looking for. On the other hand, it might create an uncomfortable feeling with some of the users if a book is placed in a section they wouldn't want to walk up to.
Chapter 5:
What is YA Literature?
This chapter states characteristics of Young Adult Literature. Some features of YA Lit is that it has an independent, youthful main character going through a key change in their life. It is written from a young adult's perspective and highlights a gradual change in the main character. Two of the most important characteristics is that YA Lit covers a contemporary issue and involves the idea of how young adults develop.
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