Week 7

LAST BLOG POST! 😱

How are we already at the end of this class?! I seriously can't believe it. Our summer is flying by... such a scary thought! 

I have really enjoyed this class. Right now I'm a stay at home mom, so I always kinda look forward to Wednesday nights with some adult conversation. I should really join a book club or something haha. But seriously... you guys have been awesome! I've had several of you in other classes, but I like how the discussion posts and especially these blogs have allowed me to really learn about each of you and your journey to becoming a teacher. We're gonna rock it ladies! I'm so proud of all of us and I look forward to (hopefully) having more classes with you. And to those who are finished... CONGRATULATIONS! So awesome! 

Language Arts has always been my favorite subject, so I really liked the content of this class and the direction a lot of our conversations went. I really hope to make reading and writing fun and exciting for my students and I feel like I learned a lot of valuable strategies in this class to do just that. I especially liked the 100 questions assignment. I really think that helped me narrow in on exactly what I want my students to be thinking about during my lessons. I definitely think that is something I will do in the future. 

To summarize....

1. This class went by extremely fast. 
2. I loved having all of you in class and really enjoyed our conversations! 
3. This class gave me so many ideas for my Language Arts teacher toolbox.
4. We're on our way to becoming amazing teachers! 

Questions: What was your favorite moment of this class? What are you doing during the rest of your summer!? 

Book List

Fiction & Nonfiction Unit Book List

Third Grade

1. Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett

I would use this book as part of my fiction lessons. It has excellent
examples of imagery but yet is short enough to use as an example in class (can be read out loud)

2. One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

This book is phenomenal. Seriously.. if you haven't read it - do so. It can be used in so many
important conversations with students. I would use it as an example of
a fantasy fiction book - however it is based on a true story.

3. The Wall by Eve Bunting

Ugh. This book is so good. Perfect example of historical fiction and is a total conversation
starter. Brings diversity to the classroom (is about Japanese prison camps after Pearl Harbor bombing)
and is also an excellent example of imagery. Brings tears to my eyes every time I read it! 

4. Max: Best Friend. Hero. Marine. by Jennifer Li Shotz

Another example of historical fiction. I think a lot of boys would like this book
and since the movie came out not too long ago I think they could
relate to it.

5. Velma Gratch and the Way Cool Butterfly by Alan Madison

Super cute science fiction book. It is about the metamorphasis of a butterfly - but also
of how Velma transforms from a timid student to
a confident scientist.

 

6. Once, I Laughed My Socks Off - Poems for Kids by Steve Attewell

I'd use this for my poetry lesson. Students so easily write off poetry
as being boring - but this shows the fun side of it.

7. Who Was Walt Disney? by Whitney Stewart 

Love this as an example of a biography because
students will be so familiar with Disney stuff
AND it is a bonus that he's from Missouri!

8. Knots in My Yo-Yo String: The Autobiography of a Kid by Jerry Spinelli 

A cute example of an autobiography. It is about an
author that students this age should be familiar of! Or can
at least check out his work after they read this! 

9. How People Learned to Fly by Fran Hodgkins 

An interesting nonfiction book that students might not pick up on their own,
but answers a lot of curious questions that I'm sure
they have thought about at some point. 

10. Bat Loves the Night by Nicola Davies 

Students pick up so many nonfiction books on animals: cats, monkeys, dogs,
birds, etc. Not many will pick one up on a bat - but this one
is really informative and relates a mother bat's behavior
to human behavior. Really neat book!

I love finding books that I think students will enjoy. How many of these books have you heard of? Was this blog post assignment helpful for your unit plan?