Reflection Time

I can't believe it is the end of the semester! I feel like it was just yesterday when I was trying to figure out how to set up this blog. Now, I have had many successful posts, meaningful connections to literature and have learned a ton about picking the best books possible for my future students. I have really enjoyed all of the discussions that we had in class and also the different books that we were told to read for the class. I would have never been exposed to some of the books that I have if it weren't for this class. 

I really believe that this class has prepared me to become a better teacher. I also know that when it comes time to pick out books for my classroom library, there will be choices and I now have the confidence and strategies to make those choices. 

My favorite activity/project that we did would probably be the text set. I think this will be one of the most useful things I will use in the future. It has really opened my eyes to the fact that no matter what topic I want to expose my students to, there will be plenty of books to have this option. I really will keep this class in mind in the future and do my best when working with children's books! 

Togo

This picture book is about an undersized dog that has the determination to lead his team in a Serum Run, that later becomes known as the Iditarod. The team hits many difficult Alaskan storms and Togo leads the way with great courage. The inside cover, along with all the other Robert Blake books has the map of the Iditarod course, from Anchorage to Nome. The illustrations really help the reader image what the Alaskan conditions would be like. 

I can defiantly see myself   using this book in my future classroom along with other books on this topic. 

Akiak

This is a touching picture book about the determination of one particular sled dog, Akiak. This particular Iditarod was her last race because of the dog’s old age. During the beginning of the race she gets injured and is unable to continue with the team. During the night, she escapes the dog hospital and takes off into the Alaskan terrain to find her team and lead them to victory. She finally meets up with them and points them in the direction of the finish line, where the other team takes a different path. Akiak saves the team and leads them to a first place win for her final race. The illustrations were really interesting to look at while reading the book; they definitely keep the reader pulled into the story like all the other Robert Blake picture books. 

The overall message of never giving up and standing up for your friends and family to get them safe and the winning prize. I can see this book in a text set that I use about the Iditarod. The illustrations were wonderful too! 

Wind-Wild Dog

This picture book is about a dog names Ziva. She was born with two different color eyes which the mushers thought made her only half as fast as the other dogs. However, Ziva loved to run. One man decided to take a chance on her and he trained her with other dogs to run in the Iditarod. However, Ziva somehow got loose and chased after a wolf. In the end she reunites with her owner and they sleep besides each other during the long, cold Alaskan night. In the back of the book there is a vocabulary page of different words that relate to the Iditarod and that are used often in the race. 

Not only does this book teach about the Iditarod and would go great in a text set about the topic, it also is great to talk about diversity and the underdog. The illustrations are wonderful and keep readers attached to the book. The front cover for example, really drew me in and made me check out the book.

Black Star, Bright Dawn

This novel by Scott O'Dell was a very touching story that kept me wanting more to read. This story is about a teenager Eskimo girl named Bright Dawn. Her dad asked her to take his place in the big Iditarod and work as a team with Black star, part husky but mostly wolf. They had the confidence needed to make it to the finish line but no one would have expected the harsh Alaskan weather to turn on them and bring danger knocking at their door. This is a thrilling story that will have readers on the edge of their seats. It also gives a lot of insight to the actual Iditarod and the terrain of Alaska.

I think that this would be a perfect example of a read aloud book when studying the Iditarod. This would be a great addition to the text set because it can generate a lot of discussion form students. Being around the same age, I think this book would also be a good choice because a lot of the students in my class will be able to relate to Bright Dawn and her endeavors. Also, a lot of them maybe also able to relate to the strong bond between owner and dog.

I have read other Scott O'Dell books and really admire him as an author and can definitely see myself reading his books in my future classroom. 

Hansel and Gretel

This well known fairy tale is retold by Rachel Isadora. She sets the fairy tale in a lush African Forest and the a poor woodcutter needs to abandon his two children in the forest because he can no longer feed them, and their step mother wants them out. Hansel over hears his parents plan for their children and goes out in the middle of the night and collects pebbles. The next morning they are taken and left in the forest. But because Hansel dropped the pebbles he knew just where their house was and had a happy homecoming with their father, however, their stepmother was not too happy.

The next night they were left in the even darker and deeper part of the woods, but the birds ate the bread that they left to find their way home. Hansel and Gretel searched for three days, they finally came upon a house built of cake and sweets and started to eat it. An old woman came out and brought them inside and fed them a big meal. When she started to cook them, Gretel kicked her in the stove so she would burn and lite on fire. Then the two of them found their way home and rejoiced with their father, their stepmother died....

The illustrations in this book were absolutely gorgeous. They were really what made this book what it was for me. I thought that the way the illustrations were drawn really add to the over all story. I know I would defiantly have this story in my classroom in the future.

Yay!

I thought this book was the awful. I hated it and thought there was no point to it whatsoever. Something good would happen and the boy would say YAY! and then something bad would happen and the boy would say OH!...I really did not like this book and don't recommend it.