Theme Versus Subject in Fiction

A common misconception – and sometimes even a challenge even for seasoned readers – is differentiating between a written work’s theme and subject. In order to help students understand a literary work’s theme, teachers must first make sure that the students understand what the subject is.

Early reading fiction usually keeps the subject simple. For example in We Share One World, the subject is about all children, from all nations, sharing one Earth. The author, Jane Hoffelt, throughout the story’s words and beautifully illustrated depictions of children of the world, crafts a theme, or reinforces an opinion or message of multicultural peace.

Young readers need to gain the important skill of differenting between the topic (subject) and author’s theme (opinion).  We as educators — and parents — must present subject and theme not as one-in-the-same but instead as related concepts, in order to increase critical thinking skills for young readers.

SUBJECT       VS         THEME

(topic)                             (Author’s opinion or main point)

For the younger children who are trying to grasp the subject, asking them, “What is the author saying?” is too abstract. One concrete approach is to ask “What details did the author provide?” For example, every page in We Share One World supports a multicultural theme of living in peace. The author reinforces her opinion (theme) through the book’s words (children all sing songs, play with friends, go explore nature) and Marty Husted’s illustrations of Asian, Africa, Arabian, and other children happily living indigenously and within a multicultural community. The author shows readers that as many nationalities and races share the physical world (air, land and sea), we also share universal traits – and living in peace is the central message.

More advanced fiction, however, may include a variety of subjects, and the theme about one of those subjects may not be so straightforward and, many times, even difficult to discern. Readers must dig deeper to understand what an author is saying about the subject – and not impose their own set of values and opinions onto an author’s work. It is important for teachers to communicate to students that a reader’s personal views may not be implicit in a work of literature, and may even be contrary to it. Also an author’s theme is not always a universal truth, it is merely one’s opinion. Knowing this is a cornerstone to critical thinking skills applied to reading comprehension.

What has worked for my students in literature-based writing classes is helping them separate the subject from the theme by setting up a rubric, drawing the line between both (see below). Fact gets a narrow column, whereas the author’s opinion about that subject gets a much larger column. When the theme is complex, sometimes we work on the third column (listing details) second – and can glean the theme after the details are in place. And this segways neatly as the basis of a theme-based essay assignment.

Celebrate National Train Day, May 8, 2010!

Who can resist the magic of a train? Saturday, May 8, 2010, is the third annual National Train Day. This is a day to celebrate America’s love of trains. There will be free nationwide events happening all over the country. If you are not able to attend, host your own National Train Day event using these helpful resources.

Check out Bellwether Publishing’s Bullet Train on Big Universe. This book is great for reinforcing text features: table of contents, headings, bold words, visual aids, glossary, & index.

Lesson Resources

On the Valdez Middle School Language Arts website , there are several resources to promote Informational Text reading comprehension skills. Use the “Unlocking the Mysteries of Informational Materials” PowerPoint to introduce or review text features. Then use the “Text Features PowerPoint (pdf)” to model the use of text features and move into a “Text Features Scavenger Hunt” included in this document.

Plan Your Own Big Universe Read-In

Families reading together during the Big Universe Read-In

This year’s 1st annual Big Universe Read-In was a tremendous success! Entire families visited the library media center and read books together on the Big Universe website.

This was a daunting task. This year was the first year implementing 1:1 laptop use in the library. Our students have been steadily building their confidence with using technology since we began this Fall. Up until this point, I had only used our mobile laptop lab with students during the school day. Big Universe is such a great resource that I just had to share it with our families. I share this information in hopes that YOU will create a Big Universe Read-In during your next family night or community celebration.

1. Begin with a whole class lesson. Model how to navigate to the Big Universe website and log in. I embedded the URL for the Big Universe Sign In page in our library website to make it easy for parents to click and immediately log in.
2. Choose your focus for the lesson. Don’t overwhelm your audience by introducing too many features of Big Universe too soon. I chose to focus on the READ tab. Parents want to support students with reading but always have questions about which books to choose when they visit the library or a bookstore. Our students know their reading level. Big Universe makes it easy for families to locate a variety of books at just the right reading level. I modeled how to search by reading level, select a book, turn pages, and close a book selection.
3. Model several ways to search for a book on the Big Universe website: entering keywords in the search box and advanced search methods (category, interest age, reading level, academic subject, language, fiction, and non-fiction).
4. Review laptop policies and procedures. Don’t assume parents know what to do in a computer lab. Review established rules and routines. Provide hand wipes or hand sanitizer for all family members before they move to the laptops.
5. Let the reading begin!

Sylvan Dell’s Standardized Science Books Rock!

If Sylvan Dell were a person, I’d be offering a bear hug right now! That’s how happy I am to see that this publisher’s science-related books have been added to Big Universe’s online bookshelves. I read one, then another, then another. All wonderful!

Sylvan Dell Publishing is a South Carolina-based company on a serious mission to create science-related picture books that excite children’s imaginations, are artistically spectacular and have educational value. Each of their books offers fun and warm stories featuring science, math and nature themes and must pass inspection by a scientist or educator from NASA, NOAA, SeaWorld, Houston Zoo or other nature centers before they are published.

The company website lists each book’s alignment with national science and math standards in its searchable database, making lesson planning simpler. The ratings are based on the story text and each book’s “For Creative Minds” section. Each state has its own listing. Alignment ratings are based on:

• National Council of Teachers of Mathematic Standards
• National Science Education Standards
• National Geography Standards
• North American Association of Environmental Educators Standards (Pre-K to 4^th grade)

In addition, Sylvan Dell’s books are published in both English and Spanish versions. The company’s website features loads of teaching activities, quizzes and  information geared to teachers and librarians, as well as parents and homeschoolers. It even has a section for children, including animal webcams, word searches, crossword puzzles and scavenger hunts.

Big Universe has partnered with many other publishers contributing excellent science and technology picture books for children, too. Click here to go directly to the Big Universe science book shelf or browse by specific category.

Listed below are a few of the Sylvan Dell Publishing books that I have read on Big Universe so far. I couldn’t give them 5 out of 5 stars fast enough! They are good for reading at home or sharing during science time in a classroom setting via white board display.

• “Pandas’ Earthquake Escape“
• “Animals are Sleeping“
• “Mother Osprey: Nursery Rhymes for Buoys & Gulls“
• “Turtles In My Sandbox“
• “Julie the Rockhound“
• “Kersplatypus“
• “Saturn for My Birthday“
• “ABC Safari“

Books Introduce Black History Month Heroes

Stunted though it may be, February is an overachiever. Its 28 days are jam-packed with holidays, birthdays and observances – surely enough fodder to fill those bulletin boards with meaningful material all month long.

 While Groundhog’s Day may be a bit frivolous and Valentine’s Day a tad frilly, the Black History Month observance is fertile ground for broadening our children’s understanding of American history. It moves beyond waddling rodents and rotund cherubs with a fondness for archery. Rather, it provides the framework to introduce heroes, men and women with athletic, artistic and academic gifts and a vision for a better tomorrow.

 “In the centuries since African Americans first arrived on our shores, they have known the bitterness of slavery and oppression, the hope of progress, and the triumph of the American Dream. African American history is an essential thread of the American narrative that traces our nation’s enduring struggle to perfect itself. Each February, we recognize African American History Month as a moment to reflect upon how far we have come as a nation, and what challenges remain.”  – President Barack Obama

 What better tool to introduce this facet of American history than books? Who better to introduce the books than acclaimed poet and autobiographer Maya Angelou, who understands their power so well?

 “Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading – to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs – is good for him.”  –  Maya Angelou, African American poet

 A Starter List of Biographies for Kids

 –        “A Picture Book of Harriet Tubman,” by David A. Adler and Samuel Byrd, traces the life of Harriet Tubman, who escaped from slavery to become a conductor in the Underground Railroad. Grade 4. (Scholastic)

 –        “Jackie Robinson Graphic Biography” details the life of the first African-American Baseball Hall of Fame inductee. Grades 4-6. (Saddleback Educational Publishing)

 –        “George Washington Carver,” by Eva Moore and Alexander Anderson, tells the story of a man who overcame tough beginnings to become an accomplished botanist. Grades 3-5 (Scholastic)

–        “Rap a Tap Tap,” by Leo and Diane Dillon, is a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book about Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, a popular tap dancer from the 1920s-30s, who “talked with his feet.” (Blue Sky Press)

–        “Martin Luther King Jr. Graphic Biography” is a biography about an influential man who fought against prejudice and injustice. Grades 4-6. (Saddleback)

–        A Picture Book of Sojourner Truth,” by David A. Adler and Gershom Griffith, traces the life of a well-known abolitionist and crusader for the rights of African Americans in the United States. (Grade 4) (Scholastic)

–        “A Picture Book of Jesse Owens,” by David A. Adler and Robert Casilla, is a simple biography about track star Jesse Owens, who competed in the 1936 Berlin Olympics.  (Grade 5) (Scholastic)

–        “I Am Rosa Parks,” by Rosa Parks with Jim Haskins, tells the story of a brave woman who acted upon her convictions. Grades 1-3. (Puffin)

–        “A Picture Book of Frederick Douglass,” by David A. Adler and Samuel Byrd, explains the role of this escaped slave, who went on to become a writer, speaker and leader of the abolitionist movement. Grade 5. (Scholastic)

–        “A Picture Book of Thurgood Marshall,” by David A. Adler and Robert Casilla, lets children learn more about the life of the first African-American Supreme Court justice. Grade 5. (Scholastic)

–        Reading Rockets offers its own list of Black History Month reads. Check them out.

Other African Americans making significant contributions to our society include neurosurgeon Ben Carson, sports legend Bill Russell, Pulitzer Prize poet Gwendolyn Brooks, Tuskegee Institute director Booker T. Washington, Medal of Honor soldier Vernon Baker, baseball legend Buck O’Neil, surgical technique pioneer Vivien Thomas, track great Wilma Rudolph, Oscar-winning actress Hattie McDaniel, choreographer Alvin Ailey, and too many others to count.

Big Universe, an online children’s picture books website, has lots to offer to supplement Black History Month discussions. Let your students explore the Bill of Rights by reading “What Are Citizens’ Basic Rights?” Grades 4-6 (Weekly Reader), or read  “Civil Rights: An Acrostic Poem”  by Big Universe member BlockB. “Slavery in America” and ”Reconstruction” are other options for older students. 

February: Lanterns ‘n Tigers and Mandarin…Oh My!

Valentine’s Day is Feb. 14, but did you know it’s the first day of the Chinese New Year, too?  Yup – the  Year of the Tiger is upon us! Maybe your child or class would have fun with some global fusion  –  half hearts, half dragons.

 Kids like quirky, well, most of them anyway. Hang Chinese lanterns from the ceiling and cut and paste valentines. Mix in talk of tigers, dragons and firecrackers and you are sure to engage the boys, as well.

I figure most of you have the Valentine’s Day theme down pat, so I’ll give you a few hints on how to use the Chinese New Year celebration as a spring board for learning.

Get to Know and Appreciate China

• Make Chinese paper lanterns to string in a doorway or from the ceiling. Very festive.
• Read “China” by Gisela Lee, who writes about this influential country’s rich history and vibrant modern-day culture. The book posted online by Big Universe has a map, colorful pictures and a good vocabulary list aimed at sixth-graders. (Teacher Created Materials Publishing)
• Fly a kite, bring collapsible umbrellas to school or play dominoes. They were all invented by the Chinese.
• Use “Kingka,” an award-winning board game, as a class supplement. Created by New Jersey educator, mom and children’s book author Sholeen Lou-Hsaio, the Mandarin-language matching game resembles bingo and introduces the 54 basic Chinese characters. It uses “the spirited nature of a memory game to encourage effective learning. It takes away the fear students have of learning Chinese,” said Lou-Hsiao.
• Learn more about giant pandas by clicking on this link, or read “Pandas’ Earthquake Escape” at Big Universe. (Sylvan Dell)
• “Confucius, Chinese Philosopher”  is another Big Universe book by Gisela Lee, who collaborated with Wendy Conklin to write this biography. (Teacher Created Materials Publishing)
• Look at “Holidays”  by author Dona Herweck Rice. It’s aimed at younger children with simple text and great pictures. Keep an eye out for the Chinese New Year street parade picture. (Teacher Created Materials Publishing)
• Go to Page 33 in the book “Animal World,” published by Saddleback Educational Publishing.  It offers a little zoology on the tiger – with colorful photographs and a fun “factoscope” box. Or read “What Tigers Do,” a beginner book written by Kris Bonnell and published by Reading Reading Books, LLC.
• Print out this coloring page of a tiger, a boy in traditional holiday clothing, or one of men dressed to do the Chinese New Year lion dance.

Friday the 13th – My ‘Kind’ of Day

The word “Paraskevidekatriaphobia” is enough to scare anybody, but never fear – I bring good tidings on this Friday, the 13^th day of November. While some lay low all day trying to avoid attracting the attention of Bad Luck, I was out spreading the word that it also happens to be World Kindness Day!

I was the grateful recipient of an act of kindness while vacationing at Edisto Beach, S.C., this past week, which fell smack dab in the middle of World Kindness Week, 9-15^th. I had driven my car to a sandy overlook to watch the wild waves left over from Hurricane Ida. In my reverie, I inadvertently ran down my car’s battery. A kind stranger helped me out of my fix!

Humans have a unique capacity for exhibiting kindness, but it’s a trait that needs to be demonstrated, encouraged and nurtured in childhood. Parents and teachers have such an opportunity to teach children to extend a helping hand and a kind word. So, I was excited when I ran across an extensive resource of ideas on how to incorporate kindness projects into lesson plans. Just go to the Acts of Kindness website and click on the teacher’s guide and various classroom activity PDFs.

Kindness can be as simple as a smile, a wave, a kind word, giving up your seat, sharing a toy, writing a note or splitting a treat. These behaviors can be reinforced in children with verbal praise, sticker charts or books with kindness-themed stories.

 “One Smile” by Cindy McKinley tells the tale of a little girl and the far-reaching effects of her sweet smile. With one small gesture she manages to touch the lives of many people in her community.

In “Oranges for Everybody,” written by Daiga Zake, a boy named Jimmy struggles with selfishness and generosity – an inner battle that even adults have to fight. This book gives a balanced look at the real emotions that can come into play. Big Universe offers this book online in several languages.

“Dolls are just like people. They need to be loved, held tenderly, and always respected for their uniqueness,” writes H. Elizabeth Collins in her book, “The Doll Lady,” based on a real-life story. If you are giving a doll to a child this holiday season, you might like to give this book as a companion piece. It tells the tale of a woman who created extraordinary dolls and taught an important life lesson each time she gave one away.

Richard F. Schubert, former president of The Points of Light service foundation, sums up the power of kindness rather nicely: “Giving of ourselves is the way we change the world at the end of our fingertips.”

*FYI: While I do not have a superstitious bone in my body, I do like words. Roughly speaking, in Greek “Paraskevi” means Friday, “dekatreís” means 13, and “phobia” means, well, fear. …But none of that, ya hear!

Picture Book Read

Try this reading activity with your students.  I used it when teaching sixth grade.  Select book titles that will be appropriate for your level.

Have students in groups of 4.  Use one of Spencer Kagan’s Cooperative Learning
suggestions to group students.

Number group members 1 to 4.

Place one book in each group, approximately 8 books needed for class of 32.  Use laptops
and use picture books from BigUniverse.com.

Students will read one page and pass the book, starting with person #1.
Show illustrations.  Be conscious of story line.  Shoulder pair assist in
oral reading.  Teacher circulates to be certain students are following
directions and are on task.

After story is read,  students are to complete recording sheet.  Use record
sheet at end of read time.  Record sheet should be designed to have students
recall the literary elements; title, author, characters, main idea, and so
forth.

RoundTable should be used for recording information so all students writing
is represented.  In RoundTable, students record information and pass the paper around until all have added to the record sheet.  If time available, have students discuss another ending for
the story, or add another character or draw a picture to go with the story.

Rotate the book to a new group and repeat activity up to 8 rotations.
Students should be asked to explain how the illustrations added to the book.

Cooperative Learning is successful when resources are shared and all contribute to an end product.  When time is up, all will have read 8 books and you will have 8 papers to check.  Having students sign their names by their individual entries or using different colored pencils helps in identifying the individual’s work.

Carbs for Everyone: Everybody Cooks Rice.

How about a trip with your family this summer? Open the pages of Everybody Cooks Rice by Norah Dooley and join Carrie in her neighborhood in which every home is inhabited by a family from a different culture. Carrie is always happy to find her brother at dinnertime, because she ends up in a neighbor’s house sampling native foods!

The text of Everybody Cooks Rice is appropriate for students who have just begun reading, while the cross-cultural words will challenge experienced readers. Why not read this book together as a family? Put a map on the wall and pretend that you are visiting the many lands represented in the book. Use the cultures as a jumping off point to create research opportunities for your children: go to the library or search the web to find out more information about each country, books that bring the cultures to life through other characters, or find out more about the cultures of the people in your own neighborhood.

The best surprise of all: the recipe for each dish is provided in this narrative/cookbook! Home lesson, here we come. What fun you will have visiting markets to locate special ingredients. Have your children read the recipes in order to create shopping lists, and practice math skills while you buy and measure ingredients. Before you know it, it’s dinnertime. Whose turn is it to set the table?

Don’t say Boo to a Goose: Mem Fox and Wonderful Writing with Children

I’m really not sure which I prefer: Mem Fox’s books for adults or her imaginative, engaging, playful books for children. The author of such well-known favorites  as Hattie and the Fox and Koala Lou, Mem Fox is just someone you will want to know well if you teach writing or reading to children.

She summarizes her advice about teaching writing in her book, Radical Reflections: “Children develop language through interaction, not action. They learn to talk by talking to someone who responds. They must therefore learn to write by writing to someone who responds.”

Fox’s books invite response. Students of all ages will respond to her sense of humor and vivid images. Her book, Boo to a Goose, is a fanciful rhyme study that invites young children or older children with special needs to practice the skill of phonemic awareness. As children and adults read the book together, they are drawn in to the rhyming pattern.

“I’d feed my pajamas to giant piranhas
But I wouldn’t say “Boo” to a goose.

Funny, playful, and creative, Fox’s book is everything we hope our students’ writing will be.

In addition, the paper-cut illustrations of David Miller add to the inspiration of the well-chosen words by Fox.

I would imagine that children would jump out of their seats in order to continue the word patterns created by Fox with their own contributions to the pattern. This book would be a great inspiration for student-created books utilizing both the wonderful word patterns of the author and the engaging illustrations as well.