The Boy of the Three-Year Nap

      There are several children's books that include beautiful illustrations and challenging text. However, one book in particular, The Boy of the Three-Year Nap, written by Dianne Snyder contains a meaningful story line.
      This story takes place on the banks of the river Nagara where a poor widow and her son, Taro, lived. The Widow’s occupation involved sewing silk kimonos for rich woman who lived in the town. While Taro’s mother worked all day, he lounged around and was very lazy. When Taro would nap, he would sleep for long periods of time. He gained his nickname, “The Boy of the Three-Year Nap”, due to his laziness. When Taro was nearly grown, a rich merchant moved to town and built an exquisite mansion. The merchant had a wife and a daughter who wore elegant kimonos. During Taro’s naps, he would observe the merchant’s property and wished that he could live the same life. Taro still remained lazy, and his mother strongly encouraged him to work for the rich merchant. Taro had a plan to become a priest, and he asked his mother to sew him a black kimono. Taro disguised himself as the ujugami and ordered to the merchant that it was time he marry off his daughter. Disguised as ujugami, Taro demanded that the merchant’s daughter should marry him. The merchant begged the ujugami to provide his daughter with a husband that was anyone else but the lazy Taro. However, ujugami threatened the merchant that if his daughter didn’t marry Taro, he would turn her into a cold clay pot. The next day, the merchant approached Taro’s mother and described what happened.  Taro’s mother stated that her house was much too poor for the daughter to live in with her son, so the merchant paid for Taro’s house to be rebuilt. Just as Taro thought that he wouldn’t have to work, the merchant assigned his to maintain his storehouse, which wasn’t a part of Taro’s plan. Taro’s marriage to the merchant’s daughter was successful. Taro became a working man, and everyone stopped referring to him as “The Boy of the Three-Year Nap.”
                                                             

      As a future teacher, I want to incorporate this book into one of my lessons. The moral of the story teaches children that lying to others doesn't get you what you want. Instead, lying usually leads to even more disappointment. This is expressed through Taro, as he assumed that he wouldn't have to work if he became married to the merchant's daughter. However, Taro was sadly mistaken when he had to take over the merchant's storehouse. 
     Furthermore, this story contained several images that expressed the character's and their emotions. Allen Say, the illustrator of this book, performed excellent work. He truly was able to express each character and their different emotions as the story progressed. I think it is important for children's books to contain illustrations so that children can create a clearer picture of the story. 

How Should Schools Address Emotional Education?

   

          As a future teacher, I strongly believe that Emotional Education should be addressed. Emotional Education should be addressed in schools due to differences in each student. Each student has different emotional needs. Furthermore, both genders have different emotional needs. For example, "According to Eisenberg et. al., “For instance, boys show

 more anger than girls beginning in the preschool years, and girls more often report feeling sad, fearful, and guilty beginning in the elementary grades" (McDevitt & Ormrod 424).  Both boys and girls handle stressful situations with different reactions. As a future teacher, I think is it important to be educated on the different reactions students have. For example, in previous fieldwork, I observed a small group of four students. A young boy and girl were arguing over who would write on the white sheet of paper. The girl grabbed the maker first, and she began to write on the white sheet of paper. Then, the boy ripped the marker out of her hand. The boy had a hard time understanding why he was wrong for grabbing the maker out of the girl's hand, and the girl quickly became upset. In situations similar to this one, it is important to understand the solutions that would resolve this problem between the boy and the girl. 

      Furthermore, as a future teacher, I think it is important to get to know my students. I need to know how each individual student reacts to certain situations. For example, in previous field work, I noticed that some students were more sensitive to certain situations than others. Also, some students were aggressive towards other students. I want to get to know my students and their reactions so that I can develop the best approach to help solve any emotional issue. If I approach a sensitive student sternly, instead of soft spoken, then I could potentially make the situation worse. To continue this point, I think it is important to understand each student's home life. There may be outside factors that are contributing to the child's behavior within the classroom. I need to gain some kind of awareness of each student's background and home life. This will also help me to decide the best way to approach each student's emotional needs. 

     Emotional needs are important to address. Each student is different and it is important for the teacher to be aware of that. In my future classroom, I want to address emotional education weekly. I think it is important for students to feel comfortable with their own emotions. Furthermore, students need to be aware of their peer's emotions. Students should be able to express themselves. It is important for me to make my student feel as if they can come to me with any emotional needs. 

Folk Literature: Is it beneficial towards student's learning?

         Folk literature is beneficial to children for several reasons. According to an article written by Young et al., “Folk literature introduces students to many cultures, and it quickly becomes apparent that virtues such as honesty, hard work, mercy, and forgiveness, gratitude, kindness, and learning are honored across cultures.” Folk literature covers a wide variety of topics that are beneficial for children to learn about. These topics teach children to become self aware, and aware of other’s values and beliefs. As a future teacher, I would like to include several folk literature books within my lessons. On top of teaching children self awareness and different values/beliefs, these books also teach children good morals. For example, Turtle’s Race with the Beaver teaches children how to share. When the Turtle beats Beaver in a race, Beaver rethinks his selfish behaviors and learns how to share the pond with the turtle.

            Furthermore, folk literature books create great discussions within the classroom. Folk literature books encourages students to make predictions, identify the moral of the story, and helps children to understand language, such as in the nursery rhyme, Mother Goose. As a future teacher, I know that it is important to incorporate meaningful books into my lesson plans. A typical lesson would consist of reading one book to the students. As I read, I would pause and ask the students to predict, identify any changes within the characters, and to prepare for discussion. After the book is read, I would use the remaining time to have a classroom discussion. The discussion would include any of the student’s thoughts, comparison of predictions, lessons that were taught, and so on. I think folk literature is one of the best genres to teach students. 

A Very Hungry Caterpillar

      As a child, I loved playing outside on my favorite swing set and looking at the nature that surrounded me. I was fascinated by butterflies, in particular, Monarchs. In first grade, my class completed a science project in which we watched the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly. I was so intrigued by the transformation, that I created an interest in caterpillars.
      Due to my fascinations with caterpillars and their transformation, I fell in love with the picture book, A Very Hungry Caterpillar. The colorful images and story line caught my attention from the beginning. I was interested in the hungry caterpillar's large appetite, and his transformation. In this book, the images are full of color. From the different fruits that the caterpillar ate, to his beautiful shades within his wings, the book is filled with color. This book inspired me to keep my interest in science.
      A Very Hungry Caterpillar touched my life because it encouraged me to continue my interest in science and the development of nature. Through elementary school, middle school, and high school, I loved to participate in extracurricular activities that involved science. In particular, this book relates to a middle school science project that I completed about the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly. I had to complete a detailed poster that included factual information about caterpillars. In my presentation, I made several references to A Very Hungry Caterpillar. Furthermore, today, I still enjoy looking back at this book. As a future teacher, I would love to incorporate this book into my lesson plans. I hope that my students enjoy this book as much as I do.

Original Piece of Poetry

     There are several aspects of poetry that help a child increase their ability to write at an appropriate level. These aspects include: structure of writing, sounds, use of consonants and vowels, alliteration, assonance, and so on. Furthermore, poetry is a great tool for children to use to express their emotions. In Elementary School, I began to write poetry and I enjoyed the process. Today, as a junior in college, I still write several pieces of poetry. As a future teacher, I want to strongly encourage my students to express their emotions through poetry. Below is an original piece of writing that I completed in college. 

Yellow

It’s seen on the neck and chest

On a Rufous-capped Warbler

As it soars over the anhydrous crops

On a summer day in Tucson,

Where the Warbler grasps

Onto a stranded corn cob

With dried kernels,

Exposed from its husk leaves,

 And continues to fly above

 A bed of vibrant sunflowers,

Swaying back and forth

In the afternoon’s breeze,

But quickly changes its path

 To avoid

The yellow raised ranch

Surrounded—

In furious flames.

Why do I read? What do I read?

     Why do I read?

     I try to ask myself that question, and only supply one answer. However, I've had so many positive experiences with reading that I just can't provide one simple response. In grade school, I was crazy about reading. I had so many positive experiences that encouraged me to read on my spare time. For example, in elementary school, every Friday my mother would visit for "Fun Friday Reading." I can still remember that I would look forward to every Friday afternoon for reading. I was allowed to curl up in a corner, and whisper to my Mother as I read. Also, my teachers filled the classroom with several age appropriate novels that drew my attention. I would love to read Goosebumps, The Magic Tree House, and several mystery novels. All of these novels attracted my attention. I enjoyed reading because it was exciting and unpredictable. My favorite genre was and still is mystery, because there is always a turn in events. 

     Currently, as a college junior, I still enjoy to read on my spare time. However, my reasons for reading differ from my reasons from my childhood. For example, now I enjoy reading because I like to learn new vocabulary. As humans, I do believe that we are "sponges," and I believe that we should absorb as much knowledge as humanly possible. Reading not only allows me to extend my vocabulary, but it has also improved my grammar and pronunciation. For me, reading is relaxing and educational at the same time. So, I thoroughly enjoy it in my spare time, and I constantly encourage my peers to read as well.

     What do I read?

     Well, typically I enjoy reading any novel that falls in the genre of mystery. I typically enjoy the genre of mystery because the events are always unpredictable. I find myself more intrigued and determined to solve the "crime" in a novel. Some of my favorite mystery novels include Eye of the Needle by Ken Follett, and The Choirboys by Joseph Wambaugh. These novels absolutely blew my mind away. I read both books in a span of four days. I couldn't help myself.

      Also, I do enjoy reading historical novels. One of our greatest senses as humans is the ability to see. I enjoy viewing old photographs that relate to a person's history. These photographs could range from sixty years ago to two hundred years ago. Furthermore, I enjoy pictures of famous historical leaders that have had an impact on our society, such as President Abe Lincoln. I find many historical novels that include pictures of these figures. I find it so fascinating to not only view these historical images, but also read about these images. Overall, reading is one of my favorite hobbies. As a future teacher, I will strongly encourage my students to read on their spare time, and to enjoy reading as much as I do.

Picture Books Contribute to a Child's Learning

     Currently, in EDU 307, our class is working on a paper and a short story for Reader's workshop. One of categories, in which we can write our stories in relation to, are picture books. Pictures books are a great way for students to develop social study concepts. An article written by Pamela J. Farris and Carol J. Fuhler, "Developing social studies concepts through picture books," explains how picture books are important to a child's learning. Unfortunately, picture books are relied on for teachers who have a classroom of young students. Picture books typically aren't use for older children. However, picture books can easily help a child develop social study concepts.
     Images are useful for young children's education because they are able to picture the scenario in their own minds. The article states, "First, they can add depth to a specific topic by providing detailed information that is often missing from textbooks." Picture books allow children to explore their imaginations. When they are able to see images, they are able to gain a better knowledge of an event, instead of just reading about that event in a text book.
 Furthermore, the article states, "Second, picture books also lend themselves to presenting sometimes difficult or sensitive concepts to children in a palatable manner." For example, a book about a man who was enslaved, can be easily presented to children. Along with addressing slavery, picture books can create images of characters, settings, and even inventions that were created by men such as Elijah McCoy. This way, the students are being educated on all aspects of a person's life in an educational and interesting manner.

     This article contains several other points that highlight the importance of using picture books when teaching. In my own classroom, I would definitely include picture books for my students to use. During at least one literacy block per week, I would have my students only choose from picture books. I think picture books are important to a student's learning because these books use images to represent text. Also, I think that picture books help students explore their imaginations. Overall, picture books should be included in every teacher's classroom to help children learn.