Joel Chandler Harris and Uncle Remus in History: A Sneak Peak at the Multimedia Presentation

Uncle Remus and Brer Rabbit in History Listen!

Listen!!!

For the rest of the presentation, please visit the Brer Rabbit Wiki.

Uncle Remus - What Folk Tales Tell

KidReadz is actually a service for children of the picture book age. The KidReadz Teachers blog is to help teachers better serve those children and help them connect with books. Both of these services are created and managed by Jacki Kellum.

If you are interested in learning more about Folk Tales, Jacki Kellum has prepared an audio-visual overview of Uncle Remus and Brer Rabbit. Parts of this presentation are appropriate for children of the picture book age; but other parts of the presentation deal with the racial controversy that has consumed Uncle Remus. Young children are not actually able to comprehend all that is part of that controversy.

Ideally, children would be exposed to both Brer Rabbit and Uncle Remus. Virginia Hamilton and Julius Lester have created some modern versions of Brer Rabbit. Hamilton's Bruh Rabbit and the Tar Baby Girl is especially appropriate for children of the picture book age.

As teachers, you might want to look at the audio-visual overview of Brer Rabbit and Uncle Remus, to more fully understand the history behind the Uncle Remus phenomenon.

People Are Not Sponges: Information vs. Knowledge

Image from booksamillion

In The Social Life of Information, Brown and Duguid (2002) distinguish between mere information and learning—or knowledge, asserting that humans are not mere sponges. They say that if information, alone, equates knowledge, bots might indeed replace the need for human involvement toward prosperity. Yet, they assure that this is not the case.

Learning is a human response to information—it entails a knower and it requires processing, understanding, and internalizing of information.

Information stands alone.

Brown and Duguid develop this idea as follows: “In general, it sounds right to ask, ‘Where is that information?’ but odd to ask, ‘Where’s that knowledge?” (p. 119).

“People treat information as a self-contained substance. It is something that people pick up, possess, pass around, put in a database, lose, find, write down, accumulate, count, compare, and so forth. . . . You might expect, for example, someone to send you or point you to the information they have, but not to the knowledge they have.” (p. 120).

"Knowledge is something we digest rather than merely hold. It entails the knower’s understanding and some degree of commitment. Thus while one person often has conflicting information, he or she will not usually have conflicting knowledge. And while it seems quite reasonable to say, ‘I’ve got the information, but I don’t understand it,’ it seems less reasonable to say, ‘I know, but I don’t understand,’ or ‘I have the knowledge, but I can’t see what it means.’ “ (p. 120).

Learning is constructive assimilation.

As an individual selects information to process and further internalizes and learns that information, he/she constructs or molds the core of his/her being.

You might like to read more of my summaries of points made in this book:


Are Machines Replacing People?

Don't Stamp Out the Stand-Outs

Vintage Dr. Dolittle - An Old Book Treasure

Image from the Wikipedia article: The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle

Not long ago, I noticed an old, 1922 edition of The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle, resting on one of the shelves in our library. The book was scuffed and bland—certainly not as flashy as many of the books published now. Nothing about the book called out to passersby; and it had not been circulating. Like a lonely, little onion in a petunia patch, the old, gray book just sat—waiting. Perhaps, it was waiting for me. On that particular day, it certainly seemed that way.

As I pulled the book from the shelf, I got a sour-sweet whiff of old-book smell. I rubbed my fingers across the heavy, granular cover [with corners missing--revealing layers of curled cardboard] and also through the brittle-thick, yellowed pages. In a matter of seconds, I was 50 years younger—back in the dusty, little farm community and the dark, musty library, where I first discovered books.

The significant thing about my reaction that day is that it had very little—perhaps nothing—to do with the stories inside the book. Hugh Lofting’s writing and illustrations are treasures that I discovered long after my childhood. My reaction to the old masterpiece was provoked by the book itself—and not by the subject matter within the book. The old book reminded me of The Bobsey Twin books that I actually did read as a child. The old book carried me back home—if only for a moment.

There is no way to digitize this type of experience.

In the library world, the question is often asked: Are Libraries Going All Digital—Are Traditional Books a Dying Breed? In The Social Life of Information, Brown and Duguid offer an answer to that question. They talk about the value of books, as physical objects. According to these experts, there are numerous reasons that libraries must not consider going all digital; but they further assert that numbers indicate that this is not an actual threat. In the current landscape of rampant technology and mass digitization, book sales are surprisingly up—not down.

As far as I am concerned, this is great news!

The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle received the Newberry Medal in 1923. An interesting, open blog project, on all the Newberry Winners is located at the following site: http://newberryproject.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Voyages%20of%20Doctor%20Doolittle

Incidentally, The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle can be read free online at the following site: http://www.pagebypagebooks.com/Hugh_Lofting/The_Voyages_of_Doctor_Dolittle/

I warn you, however, compared to my old, 1922 volume of the book, the digitized version is just a bunch of words.

Vintage Raggedy Ann & Andy Online Free

I just found a treasure that I'd like to share--an old Raggedy Andy book online. Both the images and the text are clear. This is a gem.

Click On This Text to View the Entire Raggedy Andy Book

My Many Colored Days - Dr. Seuss

Image from booksamillion

Everyone has heard of The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and Horton Hears A Who.

Dr. Seuss also wrote an entirely different type of poem that compares the variety of his emotions to color. Check out the KidReadz lesson that explores the work of Dr. Seuss. It also looks at paintings by Van Gogh, Georgia O'Keefe, and Picasso -- illustrating how color is used to express emotion.

The unit "My World Is A Rainbow" is designed to help children understand their own feelings and to express those feelings through art. As in other of the KidReadz units, picture books are employed "To Help Kids Connect."

Learn more about the KidReadz Concept.

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star - 3 Versions - Which Is Best?

Image from booksamillion

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star Illustrated by Sylvia Long

A KidReadz lesson looks at different versions of the song "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star."

Different YouTube videos are part of the lesson.

The unit is designed to help children analyze their feelings and their opinions. Picture books are employed to teach children about art. Actual painting tutorials are included.

Most importantly, the unit is designed "To Help Children Connect."

I highly recommend Sylvia Long's interpretation of the classic children's poem.

Long's sensitive illustrations set this book apart from all of the other versions of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star."

Eric Carle - Watching A Master Paint

A live video of Eric Carle -- painting -- is posted on his website.

This video and a discussion of Carle's work is part of the KidReadz curriculum, teaching children about picture books, painting, collage, and art.

Check it out.

Picasso on Children and Art

Every Child Is An Artist.
The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.
-Pablo Picasso -

Please look at the KidReadz curriculum, designed to teach children how to paint and express themselves freely. Picture books are employed to reinforce the unit. Children also learn about their own feelings and how to look critically at and form opinions about what they see.

The unit is designed to help children become more aware and responsive.

It is part of the KidReadz concept, which is being constructed "To Help Children Connect."

Tux Paint - Free Open Source Computer Art Program for Kids

Tux Paint has many features that are similar to those in Firefox -- It is even remotely similar to Photoshop. It is certainly a stepping stone toward either Firefox or Photoshop. Yet, this free program is simple enough to be handled by very young children.

Tux Paint provides a great outlet for creativity and for encouraging budding artists; and it is also a great teaching tool. In today's landscape, with an ever-widening mulitmedia horizon,Tux Paint is an excellent program to help children become more technologically literate--beginning with learning simple mouse control, in a fun and colorful way.

There are brush tools for drawing and painting and line tools for creating more linear images. Features, such as the Shapes Tool and the Stamp Tool could be used for teaching simple shapes--and for illustrating how to create patterns. These are actually math skills.

The Text Tools and images can be combined, so that children can write and illustrate together.

The program can be downloaded, with or without the extra Stamp Software, at:

http://www.tuxpaint.org/

Both are free at this time.

Picasso on Children and Art

image from Flickr

My mother said to me, "If you become a soldier, you'll be a general; if you become a monk, you'll end up as the Pope." Instead, I became a painter and wound up as Picasso.

Kevin Henkes Chrysanthemum - Teaches Us Not to Hurt Feelings

Look at the KidReadz Lesson about how to use the picture book Chrysanthemum to teach about feelings. Original Printables are Included.

Teach Rhyme With Picture Books - Game

Take a look at the KidReadz Lesson and Game to Use Picture Books and Teach Rhyme.
Original printables are included.

How to Use Venn Diagrams in Classroom

Look at the KidReadz Lesson Plan, Using a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast the illustrating styles of Eric Carle and Lois Ehlert. Both of these illustrators use collage. This lesson helps children learn to look critically at art, to learn how to see.

The lesson also introduces painting. Other lessons follow, to teach children about painting and mixing colors.

Using Free Software to Create Virtual Polls

Need a virtual poll or voting program. Check out the Open Source Program Zoho Polls. This will definitely be a hot spot during the coming election year.

See more about the program at the KidReadz Lesson.

Using Google Earth to Teach Mapping Skills

Have you looked at the Open Source Program Google Earth. All sorts of things are possible with this program. The interactive globe is incredible.

You can see more about the program in the KidReadz Lesson.

Using Picture Books to Teach Children's Art

Check out the KidReadz lesson plan, using the book Look ! Look! Look! to teach children about looking at art and to help them learn to paint.

In this lesson, the children will learn to mix warm colors, to mix flesh tones, and to paint the sun.

Collage, Shapes, and Design are also be introduced.

Google Earth and Mapping Skills are used to help the students grasp where the famous artists lived -- relative to where they live.

June Calendar

Teaching About Feelings and Art -- Through Dr. Seuss and Vincent Van Gogh

Jacki Kellum at Dr. Seuss Night
Linwood Free Public Libray
Linwood, NJ

Take a look at the KidReadz Wikispaces, where curriculum is currently being developed to help young children learn about their own feelings and the feelings of other people.

Dr. Seuss books, music, and the arts [Vincent Van Gogh, Georgia O'Keefe, Picasso] will be part of the curriculum, a portion of which is available now at: KidReadz Wikispaces

More Authors, Book Lists, and Themes Are Being Added Weekly to the KidReadz Wikispaces! Check Back Often.

Stars and Space Through Picture Books: Learning to Look Beyond

Book Cover Images from www.booksamillion.com

Take a look at one of the KidReadz Wikispaces, where curriculum is currently being developed to help young children learn about art, space, stars, and that they and other people might have varying opinions--especially about the ways that they look at and see all of these things.

The unit, My Rainbow, is especially geared toward Constructivism and toward cultivating thinking skills. Internationalism and multiculturalism is also fostered in this unit. Children will be encouraged to view themselves as part of a larger world community--part of a greater universe.

Painting and Drawing Exercises are part of the Unit

Picture books, music, and the arts will be part of the curriculum, a portion of which is available now at: KidReadz My Rainbow Wikispaces

Check This Site Often. Authors, Book Lists, Lesson Plans, and Themes Are Being Added Weekly KidReadz

International Children's Digital Library - Free Children's EBooks Online

Image from Flickr

Take a look at a guide for using the free,

International Children's Digital Library.

For the Guide Click Here!

The guide was developed virtually--completely online--as a collaborative effort among three library professionals [Irene Vershinin, Jennifer Walsh, and me]. The project illustrates the power of wikis--for collaborative planning and presentation.

Jennifer Walsh, one of the developers of the guide said the following about the project and the ICDL:

"We decided to create a user guide for the ICDL because, as aspiring librarians of different backgrounds and heritages, we are constantly inspired by children, children’s books, and the way literature can cross cultural boundaries to move us all. We wanted to create a search guide so others can easily maneuver through this magnificent digital library. In completing this project we hope to support the importance and beauty of multiculturalism."