I really can't believe how fast this semester went by. Looking back at how many posts I have made over the course of the semester, it is hard to believe that I read so many different books involving such a variety of issues. Because I am going into teaching, I feel that it is important to be able to analyze different types of text in order to make sure they are apporpriate and helpful for the students who will read them. This class has definitely helped me look at children's literature in a different way because of our papers and blogging. Through all the different issues we have covered in class, I feel that I have learned so much more than what I knew coming in.
One of these topics was the insider-outsider issue and how important this can be when choosing literature for your classroom. This is something that I did not consider nearly as much until I took class, and I'm glad that we covered it so much, and continued covering it as we went through semester with our texts. This issue alone was worth taking the class because of the different ways that people view things, and how to decipher the better texts from the bunch. It is very important to make sure that books are not stereotyping people, and reading the books that we read gave me examples of this to lean back on when I have to choose books individually when teaching.
I also really enjoyed the final project because I was able to see how disabilities were represented in texts further than what we covered in class. The books that we read in class also proved interesting to me, especially our class discussions. However, I was able to go out and find my own books on autism, which gave me some experience of what to look for in books and which ones will be good for my classroom. Experience is the one thing that I am most grateful for regarding this class because reading is one of the most important things for students, if the not the most important. The experiences that I had during this semester truly helped me and I hope that I will continue to learn about literature in a way that allows me to find the best books possible for my students.
Valerie, thank you so much for such a great semester. I could really tell that you know what you are talking about when you are running our class, and I hope to eventually get to a point where I can analyze and assess books half as well as you can. You really showed me the value of good literature in a classroom. Thank you very much!
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Reflection Post of Books as a Set
I believe that these three books bring up many issues about children with autism that people can learn from. First of all, I thought it was interesting that each book dealt with a male child with autism. I was kind of surprised at this because in my work with autistic children, I have seen females with this disability as well. While more males are diagnosed with autism than females, I thougth it was interesting that each book had the child with autism as a male. Also, each book brought up the fact that the child with autism was in their own little world much of the time. Each child needed their own personal space and this made them happy. If the space was to be invaded, they may feel uncomfortable and become very upset. Along with that, each child had something that they, in a way, had an obsession with in order to feel comfortable. Whether it be a yellow frisbee, soccer, or a straw, they felt much better when they had their comfort object around them. Next, the set as a whole deals with not only the child with autism, but how the people around the child react and learn to accept the differences of the individual. The stories deal with how people make exceptions and sacrifices, along with accepting who they are as an individual.
Overall, these books do a good job explaining some of the aspects of autism and how it causes children to act. This kind of information can be valuable to young learners reading these stories. It also shows how the autistic children react in certain situations, and also how regular education students may react to the autistic children. They may not understand everything at first, but with some explaining and being around the child, they eventually understand more of what is going on. I also think that these books promote caring among people, whether it is through family or friends. Each book has their own way of showing how someone cares for the autistic child, and I think that this is a very important aspect of these books. These types of lessons can go beyond just autistic children as caring for others and understanding them is a crucial aspect of life. I would definitely recommend these books because of the many areas that it covers and the different ways that they can be read to children. The questions and discussions that may arise from these books would promote meaningful learning for many students.
Overall, these books do a good job explaining some of the aspects of autism and how it causes children to act. This kind of information can be valuable to young learners reading these stories. It also shows how the autistic children react in certain situations, and also how regular education students may react to the autistic children. They may not understand everything at first, but with some explaining and being around the child, they eventually understand more of what is going on. I also think that these books promote caring among people, whether it is through family or friends. Each book has their own way of showing how someone cares for the autistic child, and I think that this is a very important aspect of these books. These types of lessons can go beyond just autistic children as caring for others and understanding them is a crucial aspect of life. I would definitely recommend these books because of the many areas that it covers and the different ways that they can be read to children. The questions and discussions that may arise from these books would promote meaningful learning for many students.
Critical Review
Sayers, Bonnie. "Review-Andy and His Yellow Frisbee." 2007 http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art33670.asp.
Bonnie Sayers, who is the editor for BellaOnline's Autism Spectrum Disorders, writes this review and immediately makes a connection to her two sons. She says that they do not have a fascination with spinning objects, but she has heard that many autistic children do. She also says, "From the very first sentence, 'Andy was a real puzzle to Sarah.' I get a sense that the author knows first hand the trials and tribulations of raising a child with autism, since the autism ribbon is known as a 'puzzle'." I agree with this statement because of how the author writes about Andy in a knowledgable way. Sayers also talks about the type of sibling that Rosie is in the book, explaining how caring she is and how she looks after her brother, Andy. She leaves her soccer game in order to make sure he is alright when she realizes that Sarah may be getting a little too close. I completely agree with Sayers in that Rosie portrays a good older sibling, one that is helpful and a positive influence on a younger sibling's life, especially one with autism.
Sayers also discusses how Sarah realizes something about Andy in that her teddy bear is similar to his yellow frisbee: they both provide comfort for the individual. This shows a child's understanding of someone such as Andy, which is a big deal on its own. She tries to connect with him by bring in her own frisbee, even though she does not understand everything behing Andy having his frisbee. Finally, Sayers talks about how the book portrays Andy as "carefree" and that he fits in with the other kids in the book, not making him seem like an outsider. I feel that this, too, is important aspect of the book because these students deserve the same type of attention and respect that all other students receive.
I think that this article is a good piece in that it explains the positive aspects of the story. There is much to be taken out of this book when reading it to young readers, and there are many questions that can be asked to help further their understanding of autism. I agree with many of her points about the book and believe that it would be a good book to read to students when you are trying to explain to them some of the differences that people have in the world.
Bonnie Sayers, who is the editor for BellaOnline's Autism Spectrum Disorders, writes this review and immediately makes a connection to her two sons. She says that they do not have a fascination with spinning objects, but she has heard that many autistic children do. She also says, "From the very first sentence, 'Andy was a real puzzle to Sarah.' I get a sense that the author knows first hand the trials and tribulations of raising a child with autism, since the autism ribbon is known as a 'puzzle'." I agree with this statement because of how the author writes about Andy in a knowledgable way. Sayers also talks about the type of sibling that Rosie is in the book, explaining how caring she is and how she looks after her brother, Andy. She leaves her soccer game in order to make sure he is alright when she realizes that Sarah may be getting a little too close. I completely agree with Sayers in that Rosie portrays a good older sibling, one that is helpful and a positive influence on a younger sibling's life, especially one with autism.
Sayers also discusses how Sarah realizes something about Andy in that her teddy bear is similar to his yellow frisbee: they both provide comfort for the individual. This shows a child's understanding of someone such as Andy, which is a big deal on its own. She tries to connect with him by bring in her own frisbee, even though she does not understand everything behing Andy having his frisbee. Finally, Sayers talks about how the book portrays Andy as "carefree" and that he fits in with the other kids in the book, not making him seem like an outsider. I feel that this, too, is important aspect of the book because these students deserve the same type of attention and respect that all other students receive.
I think that this article is a good piece in that it explains the positive aspects of the story. There is much to be taken out of this book when reading it to young readers, and there are many questions that can be asked to help further their understanding of autism. I agree with many of her points about the book and believe that it would be a good book to read to students when you are trying to explain to them some of the differences that people have in the world.
"Russell is Extra Special" Review
Amenta III, Charles. Russell is Extra Special. New York: Magination Press, 1992.
This book is about an autistic child Russell and how he goes through his day and how it involves his family. His two younger brothers love Russell, but when they ask their father why Russell is autistic, he says there is no answer. It goes on to mention how Russell has trouble making friends, which is something his brothers do not have problems doing. He can not talk, instead using "actions" to get what he wants from his parents or whoever is around. Russell also likes to carry a plastic straw wherever he goes. While Russell may make things difficult for his family at times, his family still loves him very much, thinking he is "extra special."
This story is very informational in that it tells a lot about what goes on in the daily life of an autistic child. It goes through the kinds of things that an autistic child will do to get attention, how they react to certain situations, how they like their own private space most of the time, etc. It also shows the comparison to his brothers and how they live some aspects of their lives. Along with that, it shows the family's committment and love for Russell. There are many sacrifices that they have to make in order to make things work, but they do it because of how much they love Russell. I think that this book is a good book when showing a child a pretty detailed overview of what occurs throughout the day for an autistic child. The fact that it shows how important the family is in his life, and how important he is to the family, is an excellent lesson for a young child to learn.
This book is about an autistic child Russell and how he goes through his day and how it involves his family. His two younger brothers love Russell, but when they ask their father why Russell is autistic, he says there is no answer. It goes on to mention how Russell has trouble making friends, which is something his brothers do not have problems doing. He can not talk, instead using "actions" to get what he wants from his parents or whoever is around. Russell also likes to carry a plastic straw wherever he goes. While Russell may make things difficult for his family at times, his family still loves him very much, thinking he is "extra special."
This story is very informational in that it tells a lot about what goes on in the daily life of an autistic child. It goes through the kinds of things that an autistic child will do to get attention, how they react to certain situations, how they like their own private space most of the time, etc. It also shows the comparison to his brothers and how they live some aspects of their lives. Along with that, it shows the family's committment and love for Russell. There are many sacrifices that they have to make in order to make things work, but they do it because of how much they love Russell. I think that this book is a good book when showing a child a pretty detailed overview of what occurs throughout the day for an autistic child. The fact that it shows how important the family is in his life, and how important he is to the family, is an excellent lesson for a young child to learn.
"Looking After Louis" Review
Ely, Louis. Looking After Louis. Morton Grove: Albert Whitman & Company, 2004.
Looking After Louis is a story about a boy names Louis who has autism. A young girl in his class talks to him, but Louis just responds by repeating what she says. When they go outside for recess, some of the students ask Louis if he wants to play, but he just repeats what they say or does not move. One day at recess Louis runs out onto the field where the other boys are playing soccer and started chasing a boy, Sam, playfully around the field. Later that day Louis drew a picture of him playing soccer, so the teacher let him and Sam go play soccer outside. The young girl asks why Louis is allowed to go outside and play during school time, and she learns that you're "allowed to break the rules for special people."
I liked this story and the fact that it promoted the idea of accepting and understanding the differences within people. The little girl learns why Louis is allowed to go outside, and more importantly, understands it. Sam also accepts Louis and lets him play in their soccer game. I think that it shows that you should accept people for who they are and that, when given the chance, they can surprise you. I also like how the author incorporates different aspects of autism into the story. Someone who reads this story can begin to understand some of the characteristics of autism, and some of their tendencies as individuals. It also shows how Louis is in his own world at times, which is something that autistic kids tend to do. The one thing that bothered me, and I actually had to read the story very slowly and carefully to make sure, is that it does not mention that Louis has autism. I feel like that for someone, like the little girl in the story, to truly understand what is going on, they need to know what the disability is. At the end of the story, there is a section explaining that Louis has autism, and it also talks about what it is. However, I would have liked to see some of this information in the actual story.
Looking After Louis is a story about a boy names Louis who has autism. A young girl in his class talks to him, but Louis just responds by repeating what she says. When they go outside for recess, some of the students ask Louis if he wants to play, but he just repeats what they say or does not move. One day at recess Louis runs out onto the field where the other boys are playing soccer and started chasing a boy, Sam, playfully around the field. Later that day Louis drew a picture of him playing soccer, so the teacher let him and Sam go play soccer outside. The young girl asks why Louis is allowed to go outside and play during school time, and she learns that you're "allowed to break the rules for special people."
I liked this story and the fact that it promoted the idea of accepting and understanding the differences within people. The little girl learns why Louis is allowed to go outside, and more importantly, understands it. Sam also accepts Louis and lets him play in their soccer game. I think that it shows that you should accept people for who they are and that, when given the chance, they can surprise you. I also like how the author incorporates different aspects of autism into the story. Someone who reads this story can begin to understand some of the characteristics of autism, and some of their tendencies as individuals. It also shows how Louis is in his own world at times, which is something that autistic kids tend to do. The one thing that bothered me, and I actually had to read the story very slowly and carefully to make sure, is that it does not mention that Louis has autism. I feel like that for someone, like the little girl in the story, to truly understand what is going on, they need to know what the disability is. At the end of the story, there is a section explaining that Louis has autism, and it also talks about what it is. However, I would have liked to see some of this information in the actual story.
"Andy and His Yellow Frisbee" Review
Thompson, Mary. Andy and His Yellow Frisbee. Bethesda: Woodbine
House, 1996.
Andy and His Yellow Frisbee is about a boy with autism who is constantly spinning his yellow frisbee at recess. A new girl in school, Sarah, sees him and decides that she is going to bring her own pink frisbee to play with at recess, along with trying to talk to Andy. When Sarah tries talking to Andy, his sister, Rosie, sees them and worries that Andy will not know how to respond or handle the situation. Andy ends up moving over a little to continue spinning his frisbee. When Sarah gets up to walk away, saying "How about another time," she sees Rosie and they end up playing catch together. Rosie ends up wondering if Andy, maybe one day, would show Sarah how to spin the frisbee like he does because of how close Andy let Sarah get.
From my experience with kids with autism, I think that Thompson does a good job explaining some their characteristics and actions. She mentions that Andy has autism, and then goes into explaining how children with autism might act. Having young children know how other kids with autism act is important so that they do not do something that would bother anyone, and the author explains these characteristics. It shows how Andy likes to do things on his own, and how he likes to focus almost all of his attention on one thing, in this case, a spinning object. The book portrays Andy as both a normal kid and one who is different, which is how children with autism should be treated. While they have their differences, they also deserve to be treated nicely, which is portrayed by Sarah's kindness to Andy. This story also shows his sister Rosie's care for her brother. I have a sister with special needs, and I can relate to how Rosie reacted when she realized that her brother may be in an incomfortable situation. The very end of the book has a section called "What is Autism?" that can be helpful in explaining the information to children. It also explains that Mary Thompson has four kids, with one of the four having disabilities.
House, 1996.
Andy and His Yellow Frisbee is about a boy with autism who is constantly spinning his yellow frisbee at recess. A new girl in school, Sarah, sees him and decides that she is going to bring her own pink frisbee to play with at recess, along with trying to talk to Andy. When Sarah tries talking to Andy, his sister, Rosie, sees them and worries that Andy will not know how to respond or handle the situation. Andy ends up moving over a little to continue spinning his frisbee. When Sarah gets up to walk away, saying "How about another time," she sees Rosie and they end up playing catch together. Rosie ends up wondering if Andy, maybe one day, would show Sarah how to spin the frisbee like he does because of how close Andy let Sarah get.
From my experience with kids with autism, I think that Thompson does a good job explaining some their characteristics and actions. She mentions that Andy has autism, and then goes into explaining how children with autism might act. Having young children know how other kids with autism act is important so that they do not do something that would bother anyone, and the author explains these characteristics. It shows how Andy likes to do things on his own, and how he likes to focus almost all of his attention on one thing, in this case, a spinning object. The book portrays Andy as both a normal kid and one who is different, which is how children with autism should be treated. While they have their differences, they also deserve to be treated nicely, which is portrayed by Sarah's kindness to Andy. This story also shows his sister Rosie's care for her brother. I have a sister with special needs, and I can relate to how Rosie reacted when she realized that her brother may be in an incomfortable situation. The very end of the book has a section called "What is Autism?" that can be helpful in explaining the information to children. It also explains that Mary Thompson has four kids, with one of the four having disabilities.
Boy Meets Boy
When I read this book, I had a hard time thinking of it as any kind of realistic because of the situations that present themselves. The idea of a gay community such as this one, where it's not a huge issue and many of the characters/people are gay, did not seem realistic to me at all. Infinite Darlene is the character that stands out most to me because of her status as a star football player. This is something that is barely touched on in the book, but I feel would be a huge deal. How does she get along with her teammates on and off the field? However, after our discussion in class, I can see how someone would take this book in a different way. Why couldn't a community like this exist? The fact that it seems so unrealistic is perhaps a problem because people who are gay should be able to live lives like Paul lives. It's an overall very interesting topic that is brought up and one that I will respect when similar issues are brought up in my future.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Confessions of a Closet Catholic
Confessions of a Closet Catholic was a very interesting novel that brought different things to my mind as I read it. Throughout the book it was interesting to see how Justine dealt with trying to figure out who she was and who she wanted to be as an individual. As I was reading, it reminded me of the previous book we read, Project Mulberry. Both of the main characters are trying to figure out who they are, as well as accepting who they are within their family. They both question following their families in their beliefs or overall history. Julia in Project Mulberry had to deal with her familys' "wierdness" with the traditional things that they did, such as the food that she did not like. Justine has to deal with her being Jewish and everything that comes with, which makes her rethink her beliefs in the story. Both characters, at least initially, would trade places with their best friends because they feel that their families are more "normal." The question of identity is a huge issue for young people of this age, and seeing it from two different angles in these two books is interesting. One involves her families overall heritage and history while the other deals with their religion. Both characters learn throughout the book the positives of their respective traditions and realize how lucky they are to be in the situations they are in. Overall, Confessions is a good book that deals with a sensitive issue, and through the main character's learning the reader can learn as well.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Becoming Naomi Leon
Reading this book made me very angry, mainly because of how irrational Skyla was being throughout the entire novel. I really do not have any connections with this book involving my own life, except for how Skyla treats Owen, but it just makes me angry at how she acts and treats everyone. The fact that she feels like she has a right to come back and then, one month later, take her child away and move to Las Vegas is just rediculous to me. It bothers me even more that situations like this have actually happened to children and that they have had to deal with. Naomi and Owen are obviously in much better care with there great grandmother, not to mention all of the support that they have in the community around them. I really hope to never witness someone being as selfish as Skyla is in this book.
The treatment of Owen is also something that really bothers because I compare it to how children with special needs may be treated. Owen is obviously a bright student, but Skyla can not see all that is within him. She defines who he is only by his physical limitations. I have seen this when I was in grade school with students with special needs. People need to get to know the person before judging them and who they are. I upsets me when someone makes a small comment in the wrong way about a person with special needs. The way that Skyla so blatantly dislikes Owen because of his physical appearance is just horrendous. This book brings up good points in many different ways, and it obviously got to my emotions as I read the story because of how I felt when I read how Skyla acted.
The treatment of Owen is also something that really bothers because I compare it to how children with special needs may be treated. Owen is obviously a bright student, but Skyla can not see all that is within him. She defines who he is only by his physical limitations. I have seen this when I was in grade school with students with special needs. People need to get to know the person before judging them and who they are. I upsets me when someone makes a small comment in the wrong way about a person with special needs. The way that Skyla so blatantly dislikes Owen because of his physical appearance is just horrendous. This book brings up good points in many different ways, and it obviously got to my emotions as I read the story because of how I felt when I read how Skyla acted.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Asian-Pacific American Award
Asian/Pacific American Award Purpose: The goal of the Asian Pacific American Award for Literature (APAAL) is to honor and recognize individual work about Asian/ Pacific Americans and their heritage, based on literary and artistic merit.Selection Criteria:
Works eligible must have had premier publication during the calendar years from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2007, and must have been published for general commercial release in the U.S.
Award categories are:
Adult (fiction and nonfiction)
Young Readers fiction and nonfiction – for text
Young Readers fiction and nonfiction - for illustrations-->
Works must be related to Asian/Pacific Heritage, not necessarily written by or illustrated by an Asian/Pacific American. The individual must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Works must have been published by a large publishing house, trade or small press/publisher located in the United States or one of its territories. Self-published works and exclusive internet publications are not eligible.
-->Anthologies or books containing the work of more than one author are not eligible.
-->Works must be originally written in English.
--> Works that have previously won other prizes or recognition are eligible.
--> If no books are found to meet the selection criteria, no award will be given. Sponsor: Asian/ Pacific American Librarians AssociationSelection Committee qualifications: Members of the APALA. Membership is open to all librarians/ information specialists of Asain/ Pacific decent working in U.S. library/ information centers and related institutions/organizations, and to others who support the goals and purpose of the APALA.Book Examples:2005 Award Winners:The Firekeeper's Son by Linda Sue ParkKira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata2006 Award Winners:Nothing but the Truth (and a few white lies) by Justina Chen HeadleyThe Year of the Dog by Grace LinHonorable MentionProject Mulberry by Linda Sue ParkSources:www.apalaweb.org
Works eligible must have had premier publication during the calendar years from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2007, and must have been published for general commercial release in the U.S.
Award categories are:
Adult (fiction and nonfiction)
Young Readers fiction and nonfiction – for text
Young Readers fiction and nonfiction - for illustrations-->
Works must be related to Asian/Pacific Heritage, not necessarily written by or illustrated by an Asian/Pacific American. The individual must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Works must have been published by a large publishing house, trade or small press/publisher located in the United States or one of its territories. Self-published works and exclusive internet publications are not eligible.
-->Anthologies or books containing the work of more than one author are not eligible.
-->Works must be originally written in English.
--> Works that have previously won other prizes or recognition are eligible.
--> If no books are found to meet the selection criteria, no award will be given. Sponsor: Asian/ Pacific American Librarians AssociationSelection Committee qualifications: Members of the APALA. Membership is open to all librarians/ information specialists of Asain/ Pacific decent working in U.S. library/ information centers and related institutions/organizations, and to others who support the goals and purpose of the APALA.Book Examples:2005 Award Winners:The Firekeeper's Son by Linda Sue ParkKira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata2006 Award Winners:Nothing but the Truth (and a few white lies) by Justina Chen HeadleyThe Year of the Dog by Grace LinHonorable MentionProject Mulberry by Linda Sue ParkSources:www.apalaweb.org
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
The Insider-Outsider Issue
After reading the articles for this week, I find myself more confused than I was before I read. Each author makes good points, even though at times it seems like an ongoing argument that kind of annoyed me. When I really think about, I believe a few things about the insider-outsider debate. Shannon questions that because he is a "privelged, white male," does that exclude him from the debate of multiculturalism? Sims Bishop responds by saying, "I think it puts him at the center of the storm." I agree with this statement by Sims Bishop because white people, at least in the past, have not always been the most accepting people when it comes to those different than them, and I think that this definitely relates to multicultural literature. An example of this is our discussion last week involving sports teams named after Indians and how disrespected they feel from most of our interpretations. I think that we need to make sure that whoever is reading a book is doing so open-mindedly and not believing every word that is written as fact. That said, I do think that outsiders can write a story on another culture. Of course, they have to be careful what they write about and, in my opinion, they must do more than adequate research to make sure they are not including false information. If they can do this than I believe they can write a piece of literature that can be very successful. At the same time, insiders may produce a more in-depth story or novel, again because they have more experience or "research." There may be small aspects of a culture than an outsider will just not understand and those small points may alone may make a more in-depth and interesting book. However, being an insider does not automatically qualify you to write a book on your own culture. They can easily make some of the same mistakes that an outsider can make if they are not informed enough. Overall, I am still a little confused on the issue as I try to take a more definite position, but at least for now I believe that an outsider, as long as they are "qualified," can write about another culture just as an insider can.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Who I am
My name is Ryan Guimont and I am a student at Michigan State University in the College of Education. My two majors are special education with learning disabilities and English. I am interested in diverse literature because as a teacher, you never know what range of students you will have. Therefore, you must be prepared for anything and everything, and that includes literature. Making sure that there are books in the classroom that any child can relate to personally is extremely important for many reasons. There really isn't any one question that I have for this course, I would just like to increase my knowledge of which books will be helpful in the classroom and which books I should not include in my classroom library.
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