Chapters 5 and 7 in MGRP and Seedfolks

5 & 7 MGRP

I came away with two main ideas from the assigned chapters for the week in MGRP.  The first idea: The importance of showing, not telling.  Allen provides us with multiple reasons why showing is more compelling than telling and ways to incorporate this idea into class activities.  Through showing, the author "describes the scene as something is taking place with plenty of description" (Allen 58).  Telling, however, "lets the writer sneak into the text with interpretations and conclusions" (Allen 58).  If we are trying to educate children to write for an audience, it seems important that we teach the importance of not always including our own ideas in our writing.  Of course there is a time and a place to allow for our own opinions as writers, but not all the time.  Showing seems to be an important way of teaching students to write without filling pages with their own opinions and let the readers form opinions for themselves.

The second idea:  This is nothing profound, but I'm constantly grasping the idea of the importance of letting children share information in a way in which they are passionate.  For some children, a traditional research paper is comfortable and worthwhile, but for other children, a research paper is absolute torture.  As a teacher, it seems critical that we allow for all types of assignments for students to display what they know or what they've learned.  This could include anything from computer programs to drama to a traditional research paper.  However, if we, as teachers, stick to one or two types of assignments, certain children will struggle to stay afloat.  It is our job to explore with our students, so if we are not as comfortable with non-traditional forms of expression, we can assign these types of assignments and learn with our students as they participate!

Seedfolks


This story provided me with a wonderful example of Allen's "showing, not telling."  I loved the way Paul Fleischman created all thirteen characters through a strong depiction of their voices.  While each character did not always re-appear, I left the book feeling like I had a deep understanding of who each character was, even if their story was only five pages.  I attribute much of this to Fleischman's ability to capture the character through their personality and voice, not simply tell us about them.  This book really was quite charming...I loved the idea of such a dark and desolate neighborhood being completely transformed through a garden and the relationships that the garden helped to foster :)