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Prompt 8

This week I used the hashtag picturebooks on Instagram. There are many differences between the Instagram search results the results found on Tumblr. While Tumblr often offered description of the books presented, and quotes from various authors, Instagram would have a picture of a book, without much description. One other noticeable difference on Instagram was that many of the pictures were of small children holding the particular book, this didn’t really occur on Tumblr.

It is possible to use the hashtag search in numerous websites to find information about whatever the class is learning about. This method search can help teachers come up with creative new ideas for lesson plans. However, if you were to use this method for research it can be difficult to find out which facts are true and which are peoples opinion.

As for using this method for classroom research, it is important to approach with caution as it is difficult to mediate what will appear when you use a hashtag search, for example I accidently typed ‘picture’ rather than ‘picture books’ on Instagram and the results were not appropriate for primary school children. As for Wikipedia and other websites again it is difficult to make sure the facts presented are correct and age appropriate.

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Prompt 7

There were numerous interesting discoveries through the picture books tag. It was clear through my research that people were able to proudly advertise their work in a manner that didn’t exist prior to Tumblr or Facebook. It is clear through the hashtag that Tumblr offers authors an opportunity to not only show their work but also have a line of communication to people who buy their work. I was able to discover several interesting new picture books that I haven’t seen before, one depicted the characters as ice-cream cones where the cone was their hat. I also read about a different authors journey to publish their book about a robot on a sparrow. Both of these stories/ cover I was able to reblog. Through the search I was also able to discover peoples, ideologies about picture books and their importance. I was able to reblog a couple peoples point of view.

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Prompt 6

According to the description from the video ‘Dancing the Torres Strait winds to life: Kuki’ the Torres Strait islanders believe that the wind is connected to the sacred knowledge of the weather patterns, the sea currents and spiritual journeys.  Because of this this particular video could be used at a front-loading activity for many different Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander picture books. This video could be used to introduce students to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander belief system, or how they often used dance to tell stories as depicted in the video. Through the video the students could look at the movements of the dance and the man’s outfit and body paintings. These could all be explored through front-loading activities. Once possible activity could include the students coming up with their own story of the wind and see if they could create movements for it. This video is a great introduction for helping students gain an understanding of the connections between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the land.

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Prompt 5

·         The story of Clarke has always been a tragic one, though people now tell it like a ghost story. I remember when I first heard of her story, the sadness in my mother’s voice as she described, her voice hollow, of a young woman who had died to save her love. I’ll never forget the silence that followed, or the way that my mother and I picked at our food during dinner that night. I guess the one thing that bring me comfort about this tragic tale, is that there are stories, whispers really, that always occur whenever someone gets lost in the woods surrounding our little town. They speak of when cold has left them with no strength and they are just about to give up. It is then that they see her, the transparent light, shaped like a woman, that guides them home.

 ·         It is amazing how some people are able to turn a blind eye to the realities to our world.

 ·         For a short frontloading activity, the students as a class will brainstorm various thoughts or feelings that are provoked when they are presented with a page from the text. Based on the words provided the students will create a short poem. The students will also be able to draw a picture based off the words provided. The picture can be used either to further their point of support different students learning needs or abilities.

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We are better off teaching children that scary things can be defeated than we are lying to them and telling them that there is nothing bad out there.

Neil Gaiman in Exclusive TOON Q&A on Hansel and Gretel, co-created with Lorenzo Mattotti, pre-order now for Halloween! (via toon-books)

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A thrilling picture book not only makes beautiful single images or sequential images, but also allows us to become aware of a book’s unique physical structure, by bringing our attention, once again, to that momentous moment: the turning of the page.

Remy Charlip (via abcofreading)

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Wayne Thiebaud

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Introducing: Little Bot & Sparrow!

My new book from Roaring Brook Press comes out in September. Way back in Jan of 2014 I posted that my goal that year was to get a children’s book made of these two. Over two years later I’m thrilled to finally share this book with you! It’s been a long crazy road, and I’ll tell the story sometime, but I’m glad to finally be here!

To celebrate I’ll be doing art drops of two Little Bot & Sparrow drawings while I’m in Chicago this week. If you’re in the Chicago area or know someone who is, one of my drawings could be yours! I’ll post more on that tomorrow.

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Week 4 Prompt.

I was placed in a high school during my placement. While most of the classroom had little to no work on the walls there were some with posters about the Hunger Games. These posters created by the students were fantastic and I often looked at them during class time. The images depicted are clearly about the survival aspect of the book and the students have clearly had many discussions and were able to create detailed work. One of the most interesting posters displayed was the incorporation of Facebook and the Hunger Games. The students had taken one of the characters and given her a Facebook page. The page contained not only pictures of the character, Rue, but also what the students believed her district looked. The students had even posted comments on what they believed Rues attitude was prior to the games. I though this was a creative and insightful way of showing the students understanding of the character. 

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Week 3 Prompt.

Over the last week I have read from a variety of different sources.

I have read lesson plans for both mathematics and literacy provided by the teacher that I volunteer for. Along with some of my assignment templates, I have read various Deakin readings for my units including one on the events leading up to the French revolution. I have read an article provided by one of my tutors on marriage equality and religious freedom. I have read numerous emails, texts, Facebook conversations and Tumblr posts over the past week. I have read a couple recipes on how to slow cook a roast chicken and looked up directions to a friend’s birthday party.

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Short Listed for the 2015 CBCA Book of the Year for Older Readers.

Are You Seeing Me? by Darren Groth, Random House Australia isbn:9780857984739

Week two prompt

 The prediction activity will revolve around the cover page of Darren Groth’s book ‘Are you seeing me’. The activity will begin as a whole class activity. The students will look at the cover and discuss what they believe currently occurring on the cover and how they believe that it will relate to the book. The teacher will offer prompting questions such as ‘do you believe that the thing in to corner with many eyes is good or bad? Why do you believe that?’ or ‘what do you believe is happening on the cover?’ The class will also explore what genera they believe the book will belong to and why. They will also discuss the colours. Once a variety of different options have been discussed, the students will return to their desks and create a short (between 4-8 slides) comic on either what they believe is happening in the cover or what they believe will happen in the book based on the previous discussion. For this activity students may work in pairs.

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Week one prompt.

While I have a vague memory of my teacher reading Artemis Fowl to my class in primary school I don’t recall being particularly interested. Most likely throughout the reading time I daydreamed and pretended to be interested whenever my teacher looked at me. However, within a year or so of this event, my mother sat myself and two of my younger siblings down on the bed and opened up Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. It didn’t take long for the four of us to become completely hooked by the magical world that J.K Rowling had created. Soon mum moved onto the second book with equal enthusiasm and I found myself, with a new love of reading, going back over the first book and rereading the words, just to learn more about this magical place.