Book Talks
I have recently read a couple of contemporary Literary works and it has helped me grow an appreciation for these types of work because they deal with real issues. They take issues that everyday students, teenagers, children and regular people face everyday in different contexts.
Dreaming in Indian, by Contemporary Native American Voices
This was an interesting contemporary work about different First Nation issues because it does not have just one author, but rather many. They express themselves, their needs, their trials, and their success. Therefore, because it is so wide in its theme, it could be used in many teaching moments. Poetry was a real common point in this work and also art or photography as well. You can use it as a controversial topic starters, for example sexual identity or political topics such as Idle no More.
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Tap Out, by Sean Rodman
What do we fight for? Why do we fight? The protagonist Darwin learns for himself the importance of knowing your cause for a fight, as he struggles with pleasing his incarcerated father; hardworking, honest mother; younger brother; and high status girlfriend. After one fight may have gone too far, he begins to question himself and his fights. Darwin’s issue is a real issue many teenagers and young adults are facing today, an inner fight and anger they cannot explain and do not know how to deal. This work would work well with helping students and young Adults find a voice not, a fist.
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So much for Democracy, By Kari Jones
I would love to use this book for grade 6, in relation to their democracy unit in Social Studies. It gives a perspective of democracy that we don’t tend to think about, because there is a lack of democracy in the beginning. The protagonist’s family moved from their democratic country to help with the establishment of a democracy through their countries’ first elections. However, is everyone ready for a democracy?
The plot was really well executed, but I would have added a little more in the description of democracy and why Thomas has to leave. This would have captured a greater essence of the democratic theme. |
Topicas I Am Interested In
I have always been interested in Historical Literature. It has always been a way of learning some history without a dull text book. I usually stick in between the 12-19th century time periods.
A True Story: fatty legs, By Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton
This novel is related to When I was Eight by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton. It is version suited for the Young adult readers and older children. It gives an account of Margaret's (Olemaun's) dealings in the white mans school. Her desire was to learn how to read books, and to get her desire she endured many hardships we wouldn't dare see today.
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Voices From the Wild by David Bouchard and Illustrated by Ron Parker. It is a book that I will soon be reading. It is filled with some amazing illustrations of wild animals. This poetry depicts on the senses we all for the most part are gifted with. It is a nice way to link nature and science together. I look forward to reading it and to finding ways to incorporate it if given the opportunity. I have used this work in a grade one class as we began talking about our senses. It was a great opener or closure into a lesson. |