One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia (historical fiction) AND Nappy Hair by Carolivia Herron5/29/2015
14 Comments
Rhiannon Conlon
7/30/2015 12:45:47 pm
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Ashley Craig
8/2/2015 01:53:31 pm
I agreed and pretty much wrote the same thoughts as you.
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Melissa Jaeger
7/30/2015 01:23:59 pm
Melissa Jaeger
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Teressa
8/1/2015 03:21:06 am
I found Nappy hair very interesting. The book tackled an issue or discussion dead on. Even though it was a book about hair, it addressed the whole idea of being true and natural. Working in IPS for 5 years this was discussed a lot among the girls, but also the boys and adults. Keeping the hair natural seemed to be a statement and acceptance of being black and in touch with your roots. Straightening was a gesture of wanting to be "more white" or "less black". Being white and having different hair styles does not seem to make any statement to our roots or heritage...interesting. Who knew a book about hair could cause such a discussion!
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Josh Stark
8/2/2015 02:51:41 am
I was not a huge fan of nappy hair when I read it. I do agree that it addressed an issue but I think it was written in a time when it only acted to stir up unneeded controversy. I think the book was written with the intention to bring to light the heritage of African Americans but it led more to discussions on the connotation of the word “nappy”. Just an internet search of the word brought up several links where the word was a negative term to describe slave’s hair to be like beaver fur. I want to teach my students and even my own daughter about American history no matter how good or bad the topics may be but I do not know if I would use this book in my classroom. I believe the point that was attempted to be made in the book was that intelligent black students were treated like they were unintelligent but the overall approach was bad. In a conference with the author she said that she read the book to a class where there was only one black child and he was uncomfortable and laid his head on his desk. A student should not have to feel like they have to live their lives based on the beliefs from the time of slavery. One crazy summer was a great book that was told from the eyes of a child. The book was much more relatable to children because they could picture what the little girl was experiencing. I would definitely use this book in my classroom to teach about African American culture and what that period in American history was like.
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Ashley Craig
8/2/2015 01:36:15 pm
I thought about your first quote about "reader to reader" but, I could only pick three quotes. However, I think that it is important to show our students that no matter what "level" of reading you are on it does not mean you should get discouraged. I know for sure I would be reading some of the picture books and my students would will be reading chapter books. So, it will be good for the students who are like me continue in their literacy development.
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Ashley Craig
7/31/2015 11:20:25 pm
“There is more anxiety about creating boy readers in a culture that assumes girls will take care of themselves when it comes to reading. It may also be that boys developmentally need more time with chapter books while girls move “up” faster” (Sutton and colleagues Pg. 109).
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Teressa
8/1/2015 03:29:51 am
The quote from pg 151...so true! I feel this is the case even from when I was in school. Society has new expectations about what is or is not acceptable. Not just socially, but also in school. For instance, what ever happened to receiving the "Thank You" note/card after giving a wedding, baby, graduation or birthday gift? I cant remember the last time I opened the mail got one? I perceive it as a little rude or ungrateful, but if society has accepted it, then it is ok...or is it? Reading books set in different times allow us a peek into that time.
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Josh Stark
8/2/2015 03:16:22 am
Ashley I think you hit the nail on the head with your comment that women can do anything they set their minds to do. Too often girls are told they can be nurses or stay at home mothers and they are led to believe they cannot be anything more. I think we need to encourage girls to strive to be more and support them when they choose to chase after a career that may not be conventional or along the beliefs of society. As a society we will never be able to break biases if we do not make an effort to change. I agree with your statements about honesty also, we need to teach our children to be honest and to not be scared to tell the truth. Your quote on the three points to good historical fiction could not be truer here. The stories this week give relatable experiences that can be pictured in a child’s mind. Ensuring we feed the imaginations and paint pictures in children’s minds so they can think about the stories even when they put the book down.
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Rhiannon Conlon
8/2/2015 12:11:55 pm
The last quote you discussed is very interesting! I think this is something I have thought of but not consciously. As times change, people of society also change. This example is described in One Crazy Summer. Even just the lifestyle from the late 60's when One Crazy Summer is set is different from todays.
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Ashley Craig
8/2/2015 01:45:16 pm
well i realized i forgot to mention some questions i would ask my students:
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teressa
8/1/2015 10:18:39 am
“Chapter books are a place where kids get to be on their own, both as readers and as characters...You can swap them and talk about them with your friends” (Sutton & Parravano). This quote is so true! I see it at school and with my own children. Once they begin reading chapter books they start to find their own likes and dislikes. While my children are reading their books they always share what is happening in the story. When they have finished the book, it is a small celebration and a bit of success that they completed it and want to tell me all about it. I hear them sharing this with some of their friends too. At school, the students seem to fight over certain books. They are never on shelf. They just go from crate to crate to crate until everyone in the class has read it. Strangely, the same book is not popular in every class.
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Josh Stark
8/1/2015 02:01:33 pm
“Books are currency among readers, creating community”. (Sutton and colleagues Pg. 109)
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Rhiannon Conlon
8/2/2015 12:15:47 pm
Your commentary on the second quote you picked out is very interesting! I also think this would be interesting to see and also study. It is unfortunate that reading is looked down upon even if it is unintentional.
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