Rapunzel's Story

Back in the fall, I won some tickets to see Disney's Tangled when it previewed in theaters.

I was unable to go!

Don't worry, the tickets were put to great use by some friends, but I was so bummed by the circumstances and have been dying to see the movie ever since.  The day it came out, I purchased it, movie unseen.  And it was totally worth it.

I love fairy tales.  

But it did get me thinking.  The stories (ok the pretty versions) of Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and all of those are fairly well known.  Of course Disney always gives it a twist from the original -- most do.  But Rapunzel's story is not one that I was too familiar with.

So I channeled some Hermione Granger and went to the library!

I found this Rapunzel by Paul O. Zelinsky.

First of all, beautifully illustrated story book -- and the pictures in fairy tales have to completely do it justice or it goes back on the shelf!  Secondly, he does explain that it is a retelling of the original.  But it's pretty close I guess (I need to read the Grimm original really . . . ).  Rapunzel is an herb.  Ok not the girl, the name.  And, like most Grimm books, the ending is pretty grim (haha) before it gets good again.  Because there is a happy ending after the disturbing parts.  There is a witch-slash-sorceress-slash-old lady who is pretty much the villain and there is long golden hair.

Then I read Cameron Dokey's Golden.

The elements that I am now becoming familiar with as the bones of the true (in this case original) story are there but there is a unique twist that makes love and acceptance the central moral of the tale.  It was a quick read, kept me engaged, is really geared towards teenagers, and is totally appropriate -- no violence, language, or sex!  How fabulous is that?

And now, when I watch Tangled again (because you know I will -- you know, for the sake of my 3-year old, hehe), I can see the bones even better in them but I can really appreciate the Disney elements.  And I love the Disney elements: the lanterns, the character and her strength and goodness, the family "stuff", and the humor.  I laughed, I cried, I sighed with contentment and I will do all of those things most likely every time I see it.  I tend to be emotional.

But now I'm curious about the Grimm stories . . . 

Happy Birthday Thomas Jefferson!

Ahhh, the founding fathers.  You know, despite the fact that Jefferson indeed was once a President of the United States, I don't think that he is typically included in President's Day.  We tend to think about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln on that day.  But Jefferson was also incredibly influential in our nation's building so Happy Birthday!

I love American history.  Despite a relatively short history in terms of nations across the country, we have certainly managed to pack in some extraordinary things.  And the beginning of our nation is one of those.  I truly believe that students should study it more.  If you like American history and that beginning time period, there are two excellent books to look into:

The first is Bowen's Miracle at Philadelphia.  An adult book obviously, it is an easy read (for political nonfiction anyway) and incredibly informative.  This book was assigned reading in my Advanced Placement U.S. History class when I was in high school (with Mrs. Snyder -- I wonder if she's still around, love that woman!) and it was a fascinating, yet fairly concise look at the Constitutional Convention.

But if you're looking for something a little less serious . . . 

Lane Smith's book is fantastic!  She has a clever way of looking at John (Hancock), Paul (Revere), George (Washington) and Ben (Franklin) (and oh yeah, Tom Jefferson too) and portraying them as children.  But there is a great fact sheet at the end about the myths of the founding fathers and which are true and which are false.  

And it's fun because we never think of these men as children.

And her humor is wonderful.  Something about really big underpants . . . 

So celebrate Jefferson a little.  He deserves AT LEAST a passing thought!

Happy Birthday Beverly Cleary!

95 years old today!  Happy Birthday!

I don't know how elementary schools run today.  My girls aren't quite there yet and I taught in middle and high so those kids were a little bit beyond her, but I don't think it should be possible to get through childhood without Beverly Cleary books!

I of course read the Ramona books but also loved The Mouse and the Motorcycle and Dear Mr. Henshaw.  And I never made the connection until now that many of her books are illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky -- author of the Rapunzel book.  Small world right?

Anyway, her website has all of her titles of course plus resources for parents and educators and a neat interview with Beverly Cleary herself.  If you live in the Portland, Oregon area there is also a Beverly Cleary sculpture garden for children.  Lucky ducks!!

And it's also (according to Ramona Quimby) National Drop Everything and Read Day!  D.E.A.R.  That sounds like a good idea to me, now what to read what to read . . . 

Personification

Personification: a figure of speech that gives human characteristics to anything nonhuman: force of nature, inanimate object, another living organism, or even an abstract idea.

Beautifully written, wonderfully illustrated (a Caldecott Honor Book), this book ended up in my library bag on accident.  And I'm so glad that it did.  It reminds me of the reasons to love each season and I can almost feel them cycling through as I read.  It "explains" perfectly those fabulous days when you step outside and just breathe in the perfection of the moment.

Good poetry tugs at your heart.  It's hard to explain how it makes you feel.

How To Teach Poetry: Bits and Pieces

I could write a post every day on how to teach poetry.  There are that many (and more) methods to use.

So today I'll talk a little bit about the bits and pieces.

You know: metaphor, simile, rhyme scheme, onomatopoeia (love that word), meter, form, and all of those other good things.  Because they are good.  My one complaint about a bits and pieces approach is that then you have a poem that sits in bits and pieces and you can miss the wholeness.

And of course it begs the question, do you need the bits and pieces to write good poetry?

I don't know.

I'm not sure that Emily Dickinson had much formal education in that area before producing her brilliant (and sometimes completely confusing) works.  But of course then some pieces rely on bits and pieces.  And I personally prefer more traditional, formally composed poems than modern ones. 

So it's really about preference.

But for teaching bits and pieces, I wish wish wish I had had this book as a 9th grade teacher:

R is for Rhyme: A Poetry Anthology by Judy Young

Each letter of the alphabet is accompanied by the following: a term related to poetry, a poem that illustrates that term fabulously (written by Ms. Young), a wonderful illustration, and 3 or 4 paragraphs that include an explanation, history is applicable, and questions/activities for the student to work with the poem.  

This book makes my brain itch in a very good way.  I want my daughter to suddenly be 8 and 12 and 15 so that we can use it and see how her sense of poetry changes as she matures physically, mentally, and academically.  Because you really could use it that often.

Wait, you thought I was actually going to talk about the bits and pieces?  Not all in one post!  But a little bit here or there.  It will come out -- I can't prevent that from happening!  But I won't be covering them from the book -- no, find your library, order on Amazon, whatever floats your boat.  This book is a fabulous foundation.  And it's also a great model for a cool activity to do with students as well . . . 26 days of learning about poetry and composing your own based on 26 different bits and pieces.  I love it, but it would be pretty intimidating to a class of 9th graders.

I can already hear the groaning!

Put the Broom Down!

Sometimes I wonder how these days become noteworthy.  Who is the person who came up with "Dress in a polka-dot apron day" (not a real holiday . . . at least I think not . . . ) and then how in the world did they get it to be recognized?  

Well, this one is in Chase's Calendar of Events so it's somewhat legitimate.  And I'm not complaining.

Happy No Housework Day!

And use it for all it's worth because I KNOW that you do housework every other day of the year.  Especially if you have little ones who like to "help".  That always seems to create more housework for me.  But I do love the smile on their face.

Poetry for School-age Children

I am a fan of Shel Silverstein and Dr. Seuss of course.  But recently I've discovered another fun poet that I'd like to get to know better who is perfect for the school-age set (and beyond actually . . . )

Introducing: Jack Prelutsky!

This may not be an introduction at all though.  Apparently, he's been writing for 30 years and was named the  first Children's Poet Laureate by the Poetry Foundation in 2006.  I don't know how he has escaped my notice and I'm actually pretty ashamed to admit it because he is fabulous!

My 3-year old and I have been reading

The verse is fantastic -- rhythmic and fun.  Humorous -- I love the play on words and animals.  And the illustrations completely do it justice.  She loves the animals of course.  And sits mesmerized by the poetry.

He also has a fabulous website with poems and activities and a place for parents to get ideas to utilize his work and teach poetry in general.

He also had a hand in a book that is on my list of books to add to our personal library.  Well, maybe a little more than a hand since he selected of the poetry in this book:

This is a fabulous, fun anthology with humorous and serious poetry.  Poets include Mr. Prelutsky himself and a wide variety of classic and more contemporary poets.  It's organized somewhat by subject and so it's been a great book to use in putting together my poetry scavenger hunt -- now that will be fun (coming up at the end of the month).  If you're working on a poem a day, this is a must have!