Building A Classroom Library What makes a “good” collection of books?

Free powerpoint template: 2 Objectives What makes a quality piece of children’s literature? What kinds of books are in a high-quality classroom library in Grades 3-6?

Free powerpoint template: 3 Scenario: Your Classroom Library What is good about your collection? What is not so good about your collection? What else might you want in your collection?

Free powerpoint template: 4 What makes a “good” classroom library? What kinds of books should you choose? X Y Z

Free powerpoint template: 5 How Do We Recognize “Quality” Children’s literature? Good books: –expand awareness & empathy (diverse experiences and perspectives they can “label”) –provide an enjoyable read that doesn’t overly teach or moralize (show rather than tell) –tell the truth (true to life characters with a human experience) –embody quality (words, plot, characters, descriptions) –have integrity (fit together into a satisfying whole) –show originality (unique characters & situations that stretch thinking about possibilities)

Children’s Literature Awards

Free powerpoint template: 7 For the Book: John Newbery Award –The book judged to be the most distinguished contribution to children’s literature published in the U.S. during the previous year. Sarah, Plain and Tall, by Patricia MacLachlan The Whipping Boy, by Sid Fleischman Holes, by Louis Sachar Boston Globe-Horn Book Award –One outstanding example of Fiction and Nonfiction Fiction: Poppy, by Avi; Missing May, by Cynthia Rylant Non-Fiction: Sojourner Truth: Ain’t I a Woman, by Patricia & Fredrick McKissack

Free powerpoint template: 8 For the Illustrations: Randolph Caldecott Award –Awarded to the illustrator of the most distinguished children’s book published the previous year Officer Buckle and Gloria, by Peggy Rathman Owl Moon, by Jane Yolen Boston Globe-Horn Book Award –One outstanding example of illustration Grandfather’s Journey, by Alan Say Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters, by John Steptoe

Free powerpoint template: 9 For “New Talent” in Children’s Writing International Reading Association Children’s Book Award –One author who writes for older readers Letters from Rifka, by Karen Hesse –One author who writes for younger readers Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt, by Deborah Hopkinson, Illustrated by James Ransome –One author who writes informational books Brooklyn Bridge, by Elizabeth Mann Ezra Jack Keats New Writer’s Award –Promising new writer who has had six or fewer children’s books published Tar Beach, by Faith Ringgold

Free powerpoint template: 10 African American Authors/Illustrators Coretta Scott King Award –For books that encourage understanding and appreciation of people of all cultures and the pursuit of “the American Dream” The Friendship, by Mildred Taylor The Young Landlords, by Walter Dean Myers

Free powerpoint template: 11 To Author/Illustrator for Entire Body of Work: Hans Christian Andersen Award –One author and one illustrator in recognition of an entire body of work Authors: Paula Fox, Virginia Hamilton, Scott O’Dell Illustrators: Mitsumasa Anno, Lisbeth Zwerger Laura Ingalls Wilder Award –Author or illustrator whose works have made a substantial and lasting contribution to children’s literature over a period of years Dr. Seuss, Virginia Hamilton, E. B. White

Creating a Classroom Library

Free powerpoint template: 13 A Well-Rounded, Interesting Classroom Library modern, realistic literature as well as more traditional literature books with different types of themes books of varying difficulty a variety of genres informational books and reference books books whose characters realistically depict various cultural groups and life circumstances books that meet students’ reading interests

Free powerpoint template: 14 Scenario: Your Classroom Library Share/exchange with another group to make BOTH of your collections better. What did you select to improve your collection?

Free powerpoint template: 15 Genres Traditional Literature –Myths and religious stories –Fables (proverbs explicitly stated at the end) –Folktales (word of mouth, unknown origins) –Pourquoi Tales (explain phenomena) –Tall Tales and Legends (greatly exaggerated accounts of heros and legends) –Cumulative tales (repeating and adding lines) –Fairy tales (folktales that involve magic) –Apprenticeship/Hero tales (character rises from a lowly to high estate, or from ignored/ threatened to recognized/rewarded for good qualities

Free powerpoint template: 16 Genres Realistic fiction Historical fiction Fantasy and science fiction Biography (depending on structure) Drama Diaries Personal narrative

Free powerpoint template: 17 Different types of texts require different ways of understanding and recalling the most important ideas… Narrative? Expository?

Narrative Texts

19 What is a narrative text? Tells a story Based on life experiences Person-oriented using dialogue and familiar language (written in first, second, or third person)

20 Purpose(s) To entertain To tell a story To Provide an aesthetic experience

21 Genres Traditional Literature –Myths and religious stories –Fables (proverbs explicitly stated at the end) –Folktales (word of mouth, unknown origins) –Pourquoi Tales (explain phenomena) –Tall Tales and Legends (greatly exaggerated accounts of heros and legends) –Cumulative tales (repeating and adding lines) –Fairy tales (folktales that involve magic) –Apprenticeship/Hero tales (character rises from a lowly to high estate, or from ignored/threatened to recognized/rewarded for good qualities)

22 More Genres… Realistic fiction Historical fiction Fantasy and science fiction Biography (depending on structure) Drama Diaries Personal narrative

23 Organization Story Grammar/Story Structure Characters Setting Problem Events Resolution Theme

24 Less Complex Story Grammar Beginning (characters, setting, problem) Middle (events) End (resolution)

25 More Complex Story Grammar Beginning: –characters (antagonist/protagonist), setting, problem (conflict), initiating event Middle: –turning points, crisis, rising action, climax, subplot, parallel episodes End: –resolution, falling action, ending

26 Expository Texts Non fiction Provide information [“Communicate information about the natural or social world” (Duke, 2000)] Use non-text features, such as charts, pictures, diagrams May contain captions with graphics Contain timeless verb constructions (“Tigers are strong animals”) Structured differently than stories –Cause/effect –Compare/contrast –Description –Time order/sequence –Problem/solution –Enumerative/listing

Is It Really That Easy? 27

What About… History books Biography Autobiography May be classified as narrative because (1) they follow narrative structure, (2) they inform about people rather than “the natural or social world” 28

Hybrid Texts Author wants to convey information about natural or social world, but does so in a way that is perhaps considered more humorous and entertaining Combines elements of narrative and exposition Example: Magic School Bus Series; Magic Tree House Books 29

Homework Read Magic Tree House Book –Think about qualities that make this a good book –Think about possibilities for cross-curricular connections –Review Book Activity 2 assignment on wiki and bring questions to class for Thursday 30

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