Chapter 8 Elements of Fiction

The 2 jobs that teacher have is to teach children to read and want to read. There are several types of fiction; realistic fiction, historical fiction, fantasy and science fiction. There is always a conflict; in which a problem arises with the character vs. self, character, society, nature, machine and the unknown forces. Fiction is sometimes always considered to be fantasy with fairies and fairytales but fiction may have elements of nonfiction( facts or values).
Author profile 13:
Rowe & Hewitt. (1997). The Thing We Use. Austin, Texas: Steck-Vaughn Company.
Summary: The Thing We Use (1997) has thirty-one pages of real-life uses for children that they can relate to. (Rowe & Hewitt ,1997) explores the function, design, and technolgy of daily objects such as kitchen utensils, art things, and telephones. Its is ideal for the student who becoming aware of the environment and to help them understand why objects take on a certain desgin and the purpose of that design.
Age group: 5-7 Grade level: K-2
Teacher uses: This book is leveled at the right age group and can be used as whole group instruction. On every two pages there is an activity that encourages student to think at a higher level for example why are the numbers on telephone are in order and the why the design of older phones are difficult to use. The text and picture will encourage students to be investigaitve. This book is developed to help children solve problems for themselves and think further beyond the classroom. There are probing questions at the end for further investigation for example, why are pots metal and why are some thing flat?
Personal Critique: This literature is very interesting and took pleasure in its way of tying in things that children use. I would introduce this book before an acivity like art or sorting or stacking and as a learning center activity.
Author profile 14:
Hibbert, C. (2005). Green Latern's Book of Inventions. New York, NY: Dorling Kindersley Publishing.
Summary: Green Latern's Book of Inventions(2005) has fourty-eight pages of comic book and real-life illustrations. (Hibbert, 2005) uses the Green Latern to describe all the uses of technolgy. The Green Latern, The Justice League and villians are shown thorughout the whole book using technology devises. The Green Latern compares the uses of the light to laser beams to CD’s and the lighthouse and credits Thomas Edison for the invetniotn of the light bulb and his talking machine to create sound into the advancement of the CD we have now.
Age group: 5-7 Grade level: K-2
Teacher uses: This literature is for a proficent level reader and could be used as a independent reading. There is a glossary list that is used throughotut the whole story. Students may have difficulty with some of the terminology and may need help pronouncing. This book may be a hit with males due to it comic book heroes. It is a science literature with modern technology and credits its inventors.
Personal Critique: I really liked this story because of its children’s comic use. It used a familiar cartoon to engage students into the inventions and used complex language. It delivers clear sections about each twenty-one innovations and titles each villian and how they use each invention in their own way.
Author profile 15:
Goldsmith, H. (2003). Thomas Edison to the Rescue. New York, NY: Aladdin Paperbacks.
Summary: Thomas Edison to the Rescue(2003) has 32 pages of old style illustrations set back in the late 1800’s. (Goldsmith, 2003) shows the life of Thomas Edison as an adolescent who is sells sanwiches and newspapers and then becomes friends with a telegraph operator. Edison who was by the railroad track and saves the operator’s son and he offers him to teach him about telegraph operator. This is were Edison’s ideas about inventing the electric light and the story ends with the operator assuring him that he is going to succeed in life.
Age group: 5-7 Grade level: K-2
Teacher uses: This story is set at an appropiate level and could be used as a small group reading. There is a timeline in the back about Thomas Edison’s life and other inventions. This is a short biography and the influences Edison encounters and the start of an inspiration.
Personal Critique: I found the juvenile literature to be an easy read. It focuses on the adolescent in having ideas and sets off the story to the future. I would introduce this book for great inventors and include that the children have a basic understanding of biographies. I could possibly include in al lesson for short autobiographies.
Author Profile 16:
Oxlade, C. (2007). My First Computer Guide. Chicago, Illinois: Heinemann Library.
Summary: My First Computer Guide (2007) has thirty-two pages of large and basic detailed illustrations. (Oxlade, 2007) introduces readers to computers, covering the harware, how we use computers, programs like paint and explorer and to the many features of exploring on the computer. The book also shows way children can use this form of technolgy in school, home and work and the ways to help with information. Some terms are highlighted in bold throughout the book to find the definition in the glossary.
Age group: 5-7 Grade level: K-2
Teacher uses: This juvenile literature is leveled appropiately and can be used in whole group instruction. There is a computer terminology in the glossary in the back. I would introduce this book for beginning computer usage and how have properly identify the features of a computer and the plug-ins. I bring them into a computer lab so they become familiar with navigating with short and brief direction.
Personal Critique: I enjoyed this literature because it’s an updated version and in use today. This book has the basic concepts and has photos of each feature related to a computer with its function and how to navigate with the cursor. The students can have the essential knowledge of a computer to prior knowledge of a computer.
Author profile 17:
Oxlade, C. (2002). In Touch Radio. Chicago, Illinois: Heinemann Library.
Summary: In Touch Radio(2007) has thirty-two pages of twenty-first century illustraions on how communications has transitioned to what it is known today. (Oxlade, 2002) defines the study of radio and views a variey of forms of communication and the technology and means behind them. There are several subjects which describes how the radio we use in sending information and messages all over the world.
Age group: 9-10 Grade level: 4-5
Teacher uses: This juvenile literature is suitable for a proficient leveled reader. It has rich vocabulary and challenging sentence structure. There are technology terminolgy that is in bold througout the book and can be defined in the glossary. A timeline is also provided with some important events of the radio and with the beginning of the first radio until the last broadcast over the internet in 1997. I think the use of the timeline can continue until the present time. Personal Critique: I found this literature to be very interesting and engaging. It also uses a variety of technology tools that people have advanced in and in still continue to use these forms of technology.