02 Feb Are you planning to take

Unit 1 discussion

Storytelling

Once you have reviewed the unit’s resources, share your experiences with the art of storytelling.

You may speak from the perspective of a child, an adult, as the storyteller and/or as part of an audience listening to a professional storyteller. Describe for us how the experience made you feel?

Think about the skills and techniques applied by Diane Ferlatte in her retelling of B’rer Rabbit. What are the implications of these techniques for those who share literature with children? Discuss how this art might help children learn.

In responses to your peers, discuss the similarities and differences between your experiences.

Unit 2 discussion

DQ1 Literary Elements

Select one of the literary elements discussed in Chapter 3. Identify a book you enjoyed as a child and re-read it. What did/do you like about this book? Do you use this book with children today? Now please explain how you would teach the chosen literary element using the book you selected.

Adapted from: MyEducationKit. Through the Eyes of a Child. Donna Norton. Pearson Learning, 2011.

DQ2 Illustrations

The Very Hungry Caterpillar is one of the most popular children’s books ever published. Eric Carle has been writing and illustrating children’s books for over 40 years. Describe the artist’s tools that he employs to support the caterpillar story. Discuss specifically how the illustrations support the text and how he applies ‘visual grammar’ to his books.

Source: MyEducationKit. Through the Eyes of a Child. Donna Norton. Pearson Learning, 2011.

Unit 3 discussion

DQ1 Picture Books

Staying abreast of new children’s books is virtually impossible unless you are at the library every day. However, this video reviews 20 new books for the first half of 2015. Please watch the video titled Top 20 Children’s Books of 2015 in the Readings and Resources and then read the book of your choice.

In your discussion please identify your chosen book and author, discuss the story elements (character, plot, setting, problem and solution), appropriate age group, and highlight a related language activity that you would create.

DQ2 Lemon the Duck

Watch the reading of Lemon the Duck provided in the Readings and Resources. As you are watching pay particular attention to the illustrations and jot down ways you might use this book to teach one of the literary elements.

Compare the illustrations and text of Lemon the Duck. How are they mutually supportive? Choose at least one specific example.

Would you teach character, setting, problem, or solution using this book?

What activity would you create? Please be explicit.

Unit 4 discussion

DQ1 Traditional Literature

For this discussion choose a type of Traditional Literature based on your last name and the criteria below:

A – E: Folktales

F – J: Fables

K – O: Fairytales

P – T: Legends

U – Z: Myths

Select a story representing that type of Traditional Literature. Read it in text form and then find a video on YouTube that depicts the same. Compare and contrast the text with its video representation. State why you feel that this piece of literature reflects your genre type. Finally, identify the story elements that specifically pertain to your literature selection. Be specific.

DQ2 Fantasy Genre

Visit this National Geographic website about the Brothers Grimm in the above Readings and Resources. Select and view at least one of the stories available. Then discuss the “magic” elements of the story. Also, discuss the appropriateness of this story (as written on the video) for young children. How would you use this with young children? How might the children relate to this story? How is aligned to the benefits of traditional literature for children and teachers? Please be specific.

Unit 5 discussion

DQ1 Poetry

After reviewing the Readings and Resources provided, please construct an original poem of any variety. It can be as simple or as complex as you desire, but it must be your own creation. Post your completed poem to this discussion board.

In replies to your peers, share your thoughts on what others have contributed.

DQ2 Fantasy

In the Readings and Resources section, please view the two YouTube videos of Where the Wild Things Are with the critical lens of being developmentally appropriate.

Discuss from the perspectives of storyline, illustrations and narration quality. Think of all that we have shared about story telling. Would you share either of these with children? Why or why not? What age?

Self-select another “fantasy” video for young children. How does it compare to Where the Wild Things Are? Would you share this new video with children? Why or why not? What age?

In responses to your peers, discuss the similarities and differences between your viewpoints.

Unit 6 discussion

Graphic Organizer

We have studied two genres this week, therefore the group is being split into two groups for book selections – using last names this time!

If your last name begins with A-M: Realistic Fiction.

If your last name begins with N-Z: Historical Fiction.

Please review the variety of graphic organizers presented in the Readings and Resources section, then choose either a concept map or a story map organizer that will support children’s learning for week’s assignment: Activity Plan #2. The graphic organizer that you selected should relate to the activity you developed AND the book that you selected.

For this discussion:

Share the book and organizer that you chose.

Explain why you think mapping out story elements for children can be a good tool to use.

Explain why this particular organizer was helpful for this book.

In responses to your peers, share your thoughts on what others have contributed.

Unit 7 discussion

DQ1 Biography

For this week’s discussion board, you will create a biography for an author or illustrator that you favor. For reference view the biographical video of Chris Van Allsburg in the Readings and Resources section. Your presentation does not need to be a video presentation such as this! However, be sure to include typical biographical information as well as a representative sample of your author’s or illustrator’s work.

In the responses to your peers share your thoughts on what others have contributed.

DQ2 Registration

You are strongly encouraged to post a response in this ungraded forum. However, there is no need to reply to others.

“Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.” – Tony Robbins

Think about the above quote and how it might apply to your academic goals. Then, answer the following questions:

Are you on track with your degree plan?

Are you planning to take another course next mod and have your registered?

Please reach out to your Academic Success Counselor/Academic Advisor if you need help with registration!

Unit 8 discussion

Personal Connection

What is your personal connection to expository texts?

Did you have a favorite as a child? Do you have a favorite as an adult (yes, it could be a textbook)? Please identify the book and author. Detail why this text was/is important to you or how it influenced your thinking in some way. Then, identify the text structure of the selected book. Tell us the characteristics of this structure that you found in your book. Be specific!