Dakoda Boser

Education 3503- Literature Fair

Mrs. Mary Anne Murphy
October 2, 2014

For me, as a teacher of language and literacy, the literature fair was an overall positive
experience that added a wide array of knowledge about how books can expand and inspire not
only the students minds, but the teachers as well. For this reflection I will explore what I learned
which enhanced my knowledge as a teacher of reading and or writing. This will be conducted by
examining the key note speakers lecture and describing what insights it gave toward literacy and
learning. Once this has been completed focus with sift toward the round table discussions and
what each one had to offer for me as a future educator.
In regards to Kathy Kacers presentation it was one that was inspiring, intriguing, and
informative. Her familys history was incredible and she was able to display very well how
influential the holocaust can relate to a multitude of different subjects. Next, she was able to
cover a few key topics that are essential when bringing literature in to the class. The age and
stage of the development of the child has a great effect of how the child will respond to certain
information. For any grade one has to think about how to make the content relatable and
interesting in order for the students to absorb it positively. To do this this, one might find stories
that have characters around the same age to draw them in along with appropriate subject matter.
Also, keeping reading levels appropriate in difficulty will allow a reader to feel accomplished
and will keep them wanting to read more. With my future students I think it would be beneficial
to do a survey of the class to get a feel of the shorts of books that they would like to have in
order to keep them engaged.
Kathy also spoke about how it was important to devote a proper amount of time to the
material. This is keys for a number of reasons; the first is that one does not want to leave a
student behind in their understanding of the material. If a student does not have a proper
understanding of what they have read or heard in the classroom they may become frustrated and
may not want to learn more about a particular subject. Also, the student may substitute in their
own information or someone elses that is not one hundred percent accurate leading to more
confusion later on. For these reasons it was also noted that an atmosphere in the class room that
promoted students to be open and honest was crucial. Asking questions without fear or ridicule
by a teacher or a student opens up dialog that promotes growth and learning in the subject and
also gets the students used to sharing and debating their views in a proper fashion.
Lastly, Kathys lecture makes sure to note that we should talk about everyday issues and
their links to the past. Students will be able to make their own connections and see why the past
is relevant to the present and future. One must not act as though certain events cannot happen
today by talking only about extremes. Examining certain events from the perspective of the
everyday person to allows the breakdown of the extremes as to foster a connection. As a future
educator I can see this advice being very crucial when discussing world events dealing with the
Middle East and the War on Terror as well as anything dealing with conflict between groups of
people. We are all people living on this earth and we all matter. Everyones voice must be heard.
Finally, to make sure that students get the information properly it must be accurate, organized,
and useful. This way students get the proper information in a structured environment that will
allow them to properly apply it once they have entered the real world.
Our round table discussions were also very beneficial in enabling the flow of ideas of
what one might use as literature in the class. Leah Fowler discussed many books that looked at
social justice in Canada that touched on a variety of topics. Some of these topics included race,
religion, sexual orientation etc. The Book of Negros would be a great book to discuss one of
these more intense topics. The book also looks at race from a different point of view and allows
children to understand these complex issues in a different light. It is important to have these
issues discussed in classes in the appropriate manner, starting as early as mid to late elementary.
Here, students can learn the proper information on controversial topics allowing them to make
informed proper decisions later in life. If one wants to have better citizens in their society we
must eliminate ignorance.
The second round table discussion was with Derek Lidstone and Karin Globe entitled
Thousands of Words. The duo explained that there are a variety of ways to get children
interested in reading. A couple of these ways included a book that had tactile and visual
representations. The Black Book of Colors is a great example of this. These types of books can
inspire children to read more and have them remember reading as a positive experience in new
exciting way. The final round table discussion was with Beth Cormier and the use of graphic
novels in the classroom. While these types of literature were not for me, one can see how they
would be useful in a class with students who have difficulty reading or who do not enjoy the
activity. The novels produce an effect similar to a comic book where the story progresses frame
by frame. This organization may keep students on track better allowing them to have the
information absorbed more efficiently. Also, the story art keeps those who may have a lower
attention span engaged as well.
Overall, this literature fair was an excellent experience. It allowed me to witness a
multitude of different types of literature that could further help students become more engaged in
reading and writing. Literacy spans a vast array of subject fields and without the fundamentals it
is extremely difficult to succeed in society. I will use what I have learned from our key note
speaker and our round table discussions to hopefully inspire children to make reading a positive
and enjoyable experience. With any luck the trend will continue in the years to come well after
they have left the classroom.