Monday, April 21, 2008

From An Author to the Apprenticing Students - The Treat of Jarrett Krosoczka's Visit!



My class and I had the wonderful treat of seeing Jarrett Krosoczka at our school today! I had already perused his books and enjoyed his website, so I was hoping that his presentation would be just as interesting. Jarrett certainly delivered! He is very techno savvy, and had a super presentation, which included him reading Punk Farm with the assistance of an electronic version of his book. He also showed a super example of a full page spread of art develop via the time lapse effect of photos of his layering of sketches and paints. This was an excellent manner of showing how an illustration takes time to be created in its entirety. I absolutely appreciated the fact that he began his presentation with a slide show on the computer projector of art and writing he did as a child, at the same age as my little ones, and how he developed and pursued his interests and passions as a high school and college student. Jarrett spoke to the students, author to author, reader to reader, and my kids were hanging on his every word. He said he was already an author and an illustrator when he was a kid. That’s just how I treat my students. I was just thrilled!

One of the author studies that we had early on in my class in the fall was on Helen Lester. She has written numerous picture books, including the Tacky the Penguin series. My favorite, however, is her book entitled Author: A True Story, which is indeed about her process on how she became a published writer. That story helped to set a tone of mutual respect and expectations for my students in September, and the chart that we created as a result has been quoted time and time again from memory. In particular, we have referred to her persistence as an author and how despite the fact that she faced so much rejection and self-doubt, she was persistent. Well, Jarrett also spoke of this, and the children and I made numerous connections to Helen’s truths, as well as to other authors who anchored our mindsets early in the school year. Jarrett faced so much rejection, but eventually he was noticed by someone at Random House, and the rest is history!

He also spoke to the children about how creativity leads to more creativity, and how ideas that he had years before were later reborn as new storylines, new versions of characters, and new voices. Jarrett showed them his sketch book of ideas and brainstorming, and my kids reveled in that, as they themselves jotted ideas and inspirations from his talk in their own “Fizzle and Sparks” notebooks, inspired by Helen Lester’s Fizzles box of ideas for later use. He even explained how after two years, he only had one sentence for the illustration he drew for the book idea for Annie Was Warned, but he eventually went back and completed it. (Talk about not giving up and persistence!) One of my students got to ask him a question and it was a good one for someone who was an official author and illustrator who makes it look so effortless and easy. She asked, “Do you ever get any help?” Jarrett said that he did from editors and an art director who both helped to make his good work even better. That’s the kind of insight that authors who are being apprenticed by pros need to hear.

When we got back to my class, I just had to buzz and recap with my kids for ten minutes before they moved on to interactive read aloud with my student teacher. My kids noticed and thought of the things I thought of, and referred to their notebooks for notations that they made. One of my students shared something that came to her mind that she had jotted: “Don’t stop looking for something that you believe in. Chase after your dream.” Another student said that writing a book is akin to the growth of a plant (which we had studied plenty recently in our Roots and Shoots gardening program.) She said that going through the process of publishing is like watching a seed of an idea grow into a plant, and when it flowers, it’s like being published, because that’s the most beautiful part of it all! How brilliant and insightful are these kids?!?

At the end, my class and I purposely lingered. As the kids gathered around me, knowing I wanted to say something softly to them, I asked them, “Do you think we should go up to him and say what we say to one another in appreciation in our classroom?” They all nodded yes in eager agreement, and we gathered in an orderly semi-circle around Jarrett. I told him that we had enjoyed him so much and that his presentation was fabulous. I also said that we have studied the craft of many authors and illustrators this year, and we wanted to say something to him that we say in our classroom community. He paused from signing books with a sincere smile on his face as we said to him: “Thank-you fellow author!” To which he appreciatively replied, “Well, you’re quite welcome fellow authors!” That was just one of those sparkling little moments of learning that I will remember from this special school year!



Be sure to explore his awesome website at: http://www.studiojjk.com/
It's very kid friendly and appealing, and I especially like how he shows steps in his illustration process. His bio write ups are hilarious for the grown-ups!

He blogs as well. Check it out at: http://thejjkblog.blogspot.com/

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Worth Its Weight in Gold - Insight on the Processes of Writing and Illustrating from the Pros!

No advice is more genuine and authentic than the words from people who have been where you are, and already gone through where you dream to go! Check out these sites, many of which are geared directly at the age of the children the books are written and illustrated for. To the right, I am building a collection of direct links to portions of author websites where they dispense advice to young writers, and children certainly appreciate being considered "authors." It is empowering for them, and it also shows a respect for the writing and creative processes the child goes through. Students rise to the occasion when they feel that their words are valued just as much as an adult's thoughts. :) Below are a few extra inspirational sites which are from author/illustrators as well. Enjoy!


Jan Brett - Author and Illustrator Jan Brett has recently posted numerous videos of "How to Draw" animals and other things, as well as author interview video posts! How perfect for a featured author/illustrator study!
http://www.janbrett.com/video/video_main_page.htm

Jarrett Krosoczka - Author and illustrator Jarrett Krosoczka shows from "Sketch to Finish" steps in his illustrative process. It's very kid friendly so they can explore on their own. (I can't wait to see him in person at our school in just a few weeks! I'll be sure to post. :) http://www.studiojjk.com/sketchtofinish.html

Loreen Leedy - Author and illustrator Loreen Leedy is a teacher favorite for her books that easily lend themselves to content area learning - and in a fun way! Check out her illustration process here. http://www.loreenleedy.com/books/35art.html

Janet Stevens: Author and Illustrator Janet Stevens shows the process of sketching and layering artwork in several sections of this page. http://www.janetstevens.com/today/index.htm

Aliki - Author and Illustrator Aliki illustrates the process of "How a Book is Made." The illustrations are from a book that was written with the same name. It's great to post on your classroom website for students to pull up at home with their parents to explain the process after the book has been shared at interactive read aloud in school. :)
http://www.harperchildrens.com/hch/picture/features/aliki/howabook/book1.asp

Henry Cole - Illustrator Henry Cole shows elements of the drawing process in a kid-friendly manner with the use of his creatively titled subsections: "Version-ometer," "Process-ometer," and "Detail-ometer." He uses the clicking of the computer's mouse to his illustrative advantage when showing children his process of sketching.

http://www.henrycole.net/main.php?link=artroom

Stephen Michael King - Illustrator Stephen Michael King shows how he draws a picture in under four minutes on this YouTube video found at the bottom of the linked page.

http://www.stephenmichaelking.com/index.htm

Monday, April 7, 2008

Happy Poem Savoring! It's National Poetry Month!

I love to share the emotions, laughter, and smiles of poetry with my students during April - National Poetry Month! In our class, we celebrate with a fresh selection of poetry books on display on our tall, "fancy" bookcases in the heart of our classroom media center. Of course, poetry has a home in our class library throughout the year, and new picks are featured and shared from time to time, ranging from fanciful fiction to non-fiction selections which illustrate with words descriptive visuals for my students to absorb. In April, I also make sure that read aloud starts off with a poem from either my student teacher or myself, and the children and I marinate in the precisely picked language. We also invite students to find a poem to share, or pen one of their own to help open up our special bonding time of interactive read aloud. What a great way to practice savoring language and reading fluently, without speeding through at the speed of sound? :)

Here are a few of the sites which I share with my students in class and on our class web page to further gear up the children about poetry. Check them out, and have fun exploring the richness of language when presented in the "petite package" of a poem!

Jack Prelutsky - Here the National Children's Poet Laureate Prelutsky presents a rather new website. It includes information about the "Make Poetry Happen" contest, which unfortunately the deadline just recently passed on April 1st. This means, mark your calendar for it next year! (I love the fact that he even posts the photo of his chocolate he won! Now that's MY kind of contest!)
http://www.jackprelutsky.com/

Giggle Poetry - which includes interviews and ideas from children's poets - great to share inspirations on author's and their crafting with the students :)
http://www.gigglepoetry.com/index.aspx

Kristine O'Connell George - This author has generously posted "Poetry Aloud!" where many of her own poetry works from her published books are available for your downloading and enjoyment. As she says, "Poetry is meant to be read aloud!" http://www.kristinegeorge.com/poetry_aloud.html

Brian P. Cleary - Cleary is an author of books on parts of speech, math, and, POETRY! This portion of his page is purely kid friendly, poetry playing fun. http://www.brianpcleary.com/

Nikki Grimes - Author Nikki Grimes has a "Poem To Go" section on her website, where she posts things such as her inspiration behind a poem idea, or a poem started for the reader to complete. http://www.nikkigrimes.com/poems.html

Robert Munsch - Author Robert Munsch shares some of the poetry which he says he writes for some of the children who write him letters. How cool is that!?!http://www.robertmunsch.com/poems.cfm

Eileen Spinelli - This author/illustrator has a portion of her website where she posts a "Poem of the Month." Perfect for shared reading activities with a whole group! http://www.eileenspinelli.com/heart_009.htm

Janet Wong - Hear author Janet Wong read poetry via the audio feature by clicking on the microphone! I especially appreciate how she writes about her relationship with poetry and its power in the main text of this page. http://www.janetwong.com/poems/index.cfm

Scholastic - Poetry writing for kids - with Jack Prelutsky!
http://www.teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/poetry/jack_home.htm

The Poetry Foundation - This link leads you to their children's portion of their site, although it's all interesting! A special feature is poet laureate Jack Prelutsky's tips to hear!
http://poetryfoundation.org/programs/children.html

Shel Silverstein - Classic children's poet Silverstein's clever, and often offbeat wit, is treasured by children generation after generation. Check out his website to see more of his creativeness!
http://www.shelsilverstein.com/indexSite.html

Children's Book Council - At the Children's Book Council site, peek here for tips on celebrating Poetry Month with children. Also, be sure to search "poetry" in the site's search engine to find some informative poetry related articles for you as a professional.
http://www.cbcbooks.org/yppw/celebrate/

PBS for Teachers - Explore the offerings of instructional ideas this portion of the PBS website has to offer in the realm of poetry: http://www.pbs.org/teachers/search/results.html?q=poetry

Pine Tree Poetry - A book company that, yes, sells books for profit. Our school did it for the first time last year, and some of my very own students were selected to be in the volume! Our school will soon hold a reception for those young authors, and the pride those students feel based on their peers' adoring reactions is pretty special. :)
http://www.pinetreepoetry.com/

International Reading Association's Lee Bennett Hopkins Promising Poet Award Listing:
http://www.reading.org/association/awards/childrens_hopkins.html

Pennsylvania's Center for the Book - Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award: http://pabook.libraries.psu.edu/activities/hopkins/

National Council of the Teachers of English - --Experimenting with Writing Poetry Instructional Tips: http://www.ncte.org/elem/content/129414.htm

--Celebrate Poets! More resources and teaching tie-ins: http://www.ncte.org/elem/content/129415.htm

Hope that these sites serve as inspiration for you! :) Enjoy!

Sunday, April 6, 2008

Delving Into the Lives and Inspirations of Authors and Illustrators Via Their Personal Blogs!

As you can see on the side of my blog, I enjoy collecting numerous links and placing them on my blog for "one stop shopping." I enjoy finding websites created by authors and illustrators, as well as webpages, blogs, and wikis related to children's literature. One aspect of children's literature that I have noticed slowly growing is blogging done by authors themselves. I think that this serves as an excellent way to keep the fan base up to date with finding out about the author/illustrator's current work in progress. Author/illustrator blogs also serve as a fabulous way to learn about the artist and their craft, whether it is in the way of words or illustrations. A reader can find out the sources of inspiration for the author/illustrator, and about their thought processes. Those readers who also dabble in the world of writing or creating art themselves, whether on a professional or amateur level, can certainly take small sparks of inspiration from their opportunity to peer into the mind of the blogger to create and explore new paths of their own. Blogs of professional illustrators and authors of children's literature can also serve as complementary means of sharing about the author's process of crafting with students, often in partnership with literature that is currently being shared in class as well as those with informative, well created websites. I am going to begin to collect blogs of authors in their own department on the side, but here's a few which got me started. I hope you enjoy exploring them just as I did!


Author and Illustrator Mo Williems:
Author Judy Blume:
Author Jarrett Krosoczka:
Illustrator Guy Francis:
Illustrator Catherine Stock:
Illustrator Rob Scotton:
Author Esme Raji Codell:
Author Elizabeth Partridge:
Author Mary Pope Osborne
Auhtor Laurie B. Friedman
Author Betty Birney
Author Frances O'Roark Dowell
Author Jason Lethcoe
Author Deborah Wiles

Saturday, March 15, 2008

The History of My Childhood - Captured By the Purple Ink of Ditto Machines :)

Well, my personal lifetime is now fit for a portion of American history, at least according to the minds at American Girls. Author Megan McDonald, also known for the Judy Moody series, released the set of books which illustrates with words (and pictures) the fictional life of one of the newest American Girl dolls, Julie. This new character's childhood takes places around the year of 1974. As with all American Girl books, I appreciate looking back in the “past” in the non-fiction section at the end of each book’s main feature of a realistic fiction story. Well, one of my students who recently finished reading a book from Megan McDonald entitled Julie Tells Her Story came to ask me some questions which made me realize that I am growing old, such as:

“Black ink wasn’t invented yet? Because it says here that they used purple ditto machines that they had to use by hand, and was that like the printing press in colonial times?”

“And filmstrips? What are those?!?! How did you even watch movies if there were no DVDs? Did you at least have movie theaters? ”

“You mean to tell me that there weren’t computers?!?! Ms. M! What did YOU do? No wonder you love to use your computer sooo much! Life must have been so hard before you had your computer.”

Yes, I’m officially old. Thanks Ms. McDonald, for making my childhood ancient enough to be considered history!” LOL

Sunday, March 9, 2008

Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal Bridges Cultures and Tales from Around the World


My class has recently enjoyed welcoming our wonderful student teacher to our classroom as a full-time fixture to our learning lives until mid-May. One of the things that I feel any student teacher needs the most practice in implementing is interactive read aloud (IRA.) I admit that it's the hardest thing for me to hand over to let anyone else teach but me, because I obviously love sharing the wonder and appreciation of children's literature, and it is always a special bonding time of the day with my students. She is doing a very nice job of developing the sophisticated skills that IRA requires of an instructor, and I know practice, practice, practice allows any developing teacher grow with experience and techniques. I still feel that way about myself after over 15 years of educating children! I am a firm believer that I am a life time learner, and that I challenge myself on a daily basis to become more knowledgeable in life.

I had my student teacher do an featured author study of Demi recently to coincide with our Ancient China studies, and we are transitioning into folk tales and legends from around the world. I had the opportunity to do interactive read aloud on Friday. I have missed it so! It's such a special bonding time of our lives. Well, I read Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal to be a perfect bridge from our previous genre study of fairy tales and Chinese influenced writing, to the "journey" around the world with various folk tales and legends. I was tickled pink to see that our school media center had acquired two copies of this Paul Fleischman book, and I wanted to have the perfect opportunity to read it. It just seemed to lend itself as a great book to bridge and expand connectively to other texts with. I placed the book in the read aloud basket for over a week as a purposeful teaser, and I had told the kids that I would get to read it to them. Well, they asked about it everyday - "Is today the day we are going to read that?" ;) They connected the wood block type of illustrating to Snowflake Bentley, and to international variations of stories, like similar concepts explored with our China studies. They got it! :) I had the kids help me label the "places" we traveled on the class globe, and sat the globe next to the book. The book indeed bridged thinking amongst genres, and I look forward to traveling the globe with the students with our upcoming folk tales and legends from around the world!

Saturday, March 1, 2008

Thanks to Inspiration from The Landry News By: Andrew Clements, "The Turnursttimes" Student Newspaper Has Gone Online!

I received a lovely email today from one of my parents that I had last year in my second grade class. Her son and a classmate took to becoming writing buddies last year. They clicked as friends, because they enjoyed and appreciated each other's sense of humor and the messages that they had to share as writers. They are now 3rd graders, but have continued to be amazingly self-motivated writers who have been working on a publication they call "The Turnursttimes" (which is quite a tongue twister! :) Their first three issues were hard copies, but they have become technology savvy and environmentally friendly by publishing online, beginning with their fourth issue. Their site is complete with FAQs, a logo, and an email. Impressive! I especially like that they explained their inspiration was from reading The Landry News by Andrew Clements as second graders last year. Reading indeed inspires the stories of real life! I am very proud to have taught and known these two students!


Check out their site, and watch these writers bloom throughout the year!
http://theturnursttimes.googlepages.com/theturnursttimes

Sunday, January 6, 2008

Poetry Inspired By the Striking Illustrations and Fabulous, Descriptive Vocabulary Found in Snowflake Bentley and Owl Moon




Snowflakes
Sparkling, frosting white
Flowers falling from the sky
Different ways,
Different shapes and sizes.
Someone has cut paper,
Drifting gently,
Down,
Down,
Down.
--Thea


Winter
Owl up drifting, watching,
Licking of fast deer,
Moon covered with snow.
Ice hard – skate and split.
All quiet, all soft.
-Thea


Snowflakes
I found the most perfect snowflake.
I took a picture of it,
Its softness of melting,
Like the petals of a sunflower.
I wish there were more.
-
Philip


Snowflakes
At January,
I caught two little snowflakes
That landed on my back.
Both of them were
Skinny, blinking,
And soft like a dandelion.
-
Philip


Snowflakes
Snowflakes, icicles,
Falling gently,
Gracefully,
Shivering cold –
Brrr!
Melting –
Yikes!
There goes the snow mountain!
-
Abby


Snow
Flakes
Gently
Beautifully
Gracefully
Shivering cold
Flying down
Melting
-
Abby


Snowflakes
Gracefully falling,
Toward, backward,
Twirling around…
Enjoying wind,
Having fun –
Wow!
-
Gillian

Icicles and Snow
Icicles dripping,
Drip drop…
Drip drop…
Snow crunching,
Crunch,
Crunch,
Crunch.
Icicles melting,
Snow melting,
BYE-BYE!
-
Gillian


Snow
Icy Icicles,
Snowballs,
Crisp snowflakes.
Stormy blizzard!
Freezing cold,
Feeling like
An abominable snowman,
Bundled up
BIG!
-
Stanley


Snow
Snow is white as clouds
Snow is white as cold
Drifting through the hard snow
Listening for owls
This is nice and cute,
Chasing after birds.
-
Tavia


If I Was a Snowflake
If I was a snowflake,
I would be falling from the sky,
I’d be fuzz falling from no where,
I’d be somewhere in that
Bowl of milk.
-
Emma


Snowflake
The flake is as cold as ice.
When your quiet –
Droop,
Droop.
The flake is as soft as yarn.
When it melts, it looks like
Gooey,
Gooey
Marshmallows.
-
Zion


Snowflakes
Snowflakes fall like leaves.
They’re as white as clear water.
Snowflakes are light like a rabbit.
They shine like a chandelier
And sparkle like the moon.
-
Zion


Snowflakes
They shine like a light bulb,
They glow like a star.
Most of all,
They fly like a bird.
You will be delighted by the snow.
Snow is the BEST!
-
Daniel


Snowflakes
Snow is falling!
Where did it come from?
It is as white as sweet candy!
It covers everything.
I love the prettiness of snow!
-
Gus


Snowflake
My snowflake
Likes winter,
Being in a snowball,
Is frozen,
Part of a snowman,
And is always cold.
-
Zyeem


My Snowflake
My snowflake in my hand,
I imagine what if it could be alive?
I bet it would be a boy,
Who loves hamburgers and fries,
And likes to play basketball.
He must love winter!
-Zyeem


Snow
Dancing in the sky, swirling all around,
Gracefully going,
Gently coming down.
I go outside, step in the snow,
It’s like I’m stepping in crunchy Cheerios.
When I look at the snow,
It looks whiter than a glass of milk.
-
Hannah


Snow
I jump out of bed and get my sled
When I see the snow outside.
When I am outside,
Dazzling down comes snowflakes
All around me.
When I get inside, I sit down, and
I say I want hot chocolate today.
-
Hannah


Snowflakes
The snowflakes are white as milk.
She hops and pops like popcorn.
Wishes and kisses goodnight.
White like clouds up above,
Dancing and prancing in the night.
-
Kiera


Snowflake
The snowflakes are as white as paper.
I’m walking and talking to my snow friends.
When I step, I hear the snow crunch.
I catch a snowflake in my hand.
I imagine that she has six baby girls and a boy.
I blow it away from my hand,
Because I smell the wind of
My favorite food – pie!
-
Kiera


Snowflakes
Pushing to get out of the cloud,
Beautifully floating through the air.
Puffed up and frosting on the ground.
Rolled up in tree balls with
A hat and a scarf.
Cristally, sparkly on the grass.
-
Madison


Snow
Majorly cold,
Our feet crunched over the crisp snow,
The little gray footprints follow behind.
Freezingly being smashed in kids’ faces.
Way to go snow!
-Madison