"Where the Wild Things Are" written & illustrated by Maurice Sendak Wordle

This is the Wordle a fifth grade student created in response to reading "Where the Wild Things Are". I told the student they could use key words or phrases from the story and how the story made them feel. The student loved creating the Wordle as the product is a creative visual representation of their thoughts. Incorporating this form of technology in the classroom would not be very hard as upper level elementary students can do this task on their own. The student was very engaged and involved in the activity and could not wait to see his final creation. I think it would be neat to publish student's Wordles on a class website or wiki. This would be a great way to incorporate two tools of technology.

Integration of Technology and Literature

1. http://eduscapes.com/ladders/themes/webquests.htm This great website gives tons of literature based webquests for students. Depending on the grade level and what students are reading, there are a bunch of different activities students can do using literature and technology. Webquests are good for students because it gives them a chance to explore on their own. It also allows them research using the internet, which helps them to become tech-savvy.
   
2. http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/bookcover/ This website actually allows students to create a new book cover for stories they read. They can also print out the book covers and place them over their books. I think this would be so much fun for students because it allows them to be creative. It makes students analyze the story, important events, and characters so they can create a new appropriate cover. This would be a great way to integrate technology with literature.
   
3. http://elementarywikis.pbwiki.com/Ideas-for-Elementary-Wikis This website lists ideas of how to use a wiki page in an elementary classroom. I think a class wiki page would be great for newsletters, posting homework assignments, and a great way to keep parents involved. I also think it would be a good way to conduct literature circles. Students could post their thoughts and comments about a story on their wiki page. Students could also write book reviews on a wiki page. It would also be a great place for students to post their other technology projects, for example a link to a students voicethread or wordle. This way the whole class could see and share them.
   

Voicethread of "Where The Wild Things Are" written and illustrated by Maurice Sendak

http://voicethread.com/share/419032/

I think a voicethread is a fun and easy way for children to write about stories they have read. They can type or record whatever they want about the story and add pictures. I think this would be a great way for students to respond to readings. It engages students while giving them a opportunity to use technology. I think students in 4th or 5th grade would definitely be able to figure this out on their own. The lower grades may need some help, but I still think it would be fun for them to record their thoughts. I think it would also be fun for students to create a class project using this and recording their voices. They could then share it with parents and family. Overall, I think this is a great tool of technology that can definitely be integrated into the classroom for education purposes.

"Friends of a Feather" written by Bill Cosby, illustrated by Erika Cosby

This book is about Feathers, who is a beautiful bird that loves to fly by the crowds at Beach by the Rock.The crowds swoon at his beauty. However, Hog, who his Feathers best friend, gets jealous that Feathers always gets all the attention. Hog decides it is his turn to impress the crowds with his amazing tricks. He can dive down into the water and come back up bringing a fish. This gets him all the attention, while Feathers gets a bit jealous. While Hog and Feathers are competing for the attention of the people, one of Hog's tricks goes wrong and he injures his wings. Like a true best friend, Feathers comes to his rescue and pops his wing back into place. The two realize how petty their fight was and decide to work together on their shows to the crowds.

This a good story for children to read because again, it has a great moral. I really love stories that have good morals because I believe chilren can learn so much from reading these kinds of stories. I think it also discusses topics that all children can relate to, friendship and jealousy. As we have discussed in class, it is important for children to make connections with stories. I believe children could with this story.

"Where Do Balloons Go? An Uplifting Mystery" written by Jamie Lee Curtis, illustrated by Laura Cornell

This children's book explores the mystery of where balloons go once they are let free. Do they go out to dinner? Get married? Meet up for a huge dance? Write letters? The book creatively explores what balloons do up in the sky once they are gone and we cannot see them anymore. It then takes the balloons and draws a parallel between holding onto them and holding onto your children, from a parent's perspective. It says to hold on tight before you have to let go. I think this is such a sweet book for teachers, parents, and students alike. I really like books that are creative and that let children explore with their imaginations. I believe this book does just this. The illustrations are also very vivid and interesting in this book. I think they do a great job of showing what balloons do when they are high up in the sky. 

"Pinkalicious"- written and illustrated by Victoria & Elizabeth Kann

I absolutely love the illustrations in this children's book. I think they are so unique and creative. This book is about a girl who is obsessed with the color pink. After eating too many pink cupcakes, she turns pink herself! She can't believe it, she has a very rare case of pinkititis. She loves it until bees, bugs, and butterflies start attacking her because they think she is a flower. However, once she gets back inside, she wants one more cupcake, which the doctor said she cannot eat anything pink. After sneaking just one more cupcake, she wakes up the next day and much to her surprise, she has turned red! In order to get her normal self back, she tries to eat as much green, healthy foods as she can. Eventually she eats so much green, she turns back into her regular, beautiful self.

I think this is a cute children's book for young girls. I do not think boys would like this book at all, as there is a little too much pink action going on. However, I think it is great for girls and I think it teaches them a good moral of being satisfied with who you are. 

"The Biggest Bear" written and illustrated by Lynd Ward

I chose to read this as one of my extra books in an attempt to read more boy-ish books. Johnny Orchard's family owned a farm, much like most people in his town. However, there was one thing that was missing from his that everyone else's had, a bearskin. Everytime Johnny would go into town, he felt embarassed and ashamed of his farm as he saw the bearskins on everyone's barns. One day on his way home, he stumbled upon a cub. He decided to feed it some maple sugar and just like that the two become best friends. Johnny took the cub home to his family where they were a little hesitant, but they did not resist. As the cub grew into a huge bear, he ate everything from everyone, which began to annoy the people of the town. Johnny's parents decided he must get rid of the bear. Johnny tried, but the bear always came back. So Johnny realized he must do the unthinkable, kill the bear. Before Johnny got the chance to, the two ended up in a cage set for the bear so he could be taken to the zoo. Johnny agreed to let him go there because he knew the bear would be given a great home. Now Johnny can visit the bear whenever he wants and bring him a piece of maple sugar.

Again, I really liked this book. I don't think it is too boy-ish for girls not to like it or appreciate it. I think this is a good book for students to read to show the unlikely bond that the boy and bear shared. The boy felt ashamed for not having what others had, a bearskin, but he realized it is not what others think about you. I think this is great moral and lesson for students to hear.