About the Author:
Welcome to my blog!
My name is Sarah Howell and I am currently a junior at the
University of Providence. I am an Elementary Education major with a
concentration in mathematics. I am also on the University of Providence women's
soccer team. I enjoy reading, swimming, and spending time with friends and
family, and my favorite children’s books were the Junie B. Jones books!
As a teacher, it is my goal to impact my students' lives and show
them they are loved and important. My students will learn about the past and
the present, as well as have dreams about their future. I will encourage students
to learn and act in the appropriate behavior so they will be successful outside
of school and in their future. I will provide my students with an engaging
learning environment by being an enthusiastic teacher and encouraging my
students to achieve their goals both inside and outside the classroom.
Through this blog, I hope to read and evaluate books to find those
that my students will enjoy so they can learn to love reading and become
passionate readers! Reading is involved in every aspect of life, whether it be
reading road signs, a text book, or a recipe, but, unfortunately, that is often
where reading ends for people. Once students finish their education, and
sometimes even before they graduate, they stop reading. Reading can and should
be an enjoyable activity for all people, and the purpose of my book reviews is
to find books that I believe students will want to read! I want my students to
become passionate readers and finding quality books is the best way to begin
that process. It is my hope that through this blog, I will be able to find
children’s literature books that will help my students, and potentially your
students, learn to love reading.
I will set up all my children’s literature book review posts in
the same way and the layout I will use is as follows:
Book Title
Cover Image
Author:
Illustrator:
Publisher:
Print Date:
Cost:
Reading Level:
Summary:
Book Review
Rubric (with comments):
Labels:
The book review rubric and the reading level system that I will
use are below:
Book Review Rubric:
★★★★★
|
★★★★
|
★★★
|
★★
|
★
|
Comments
|
|
Plot
|
Plot is well developed with all
five elements of a good plot structure (exposition, rising action, climax,
falling action, and resolution).
|
Plot is developed, but lacking one
of the five elements of plot structure.
|
This book has a decent plot, but
is lacking two of the five elements of plot structure.
|
This book has a weak plot that is
lacking three of the five elements of plot structure.
|
This book does not have a defined
plot, and is lacking four or more of the five elements of plot
structure.
|
|
Character
|
The characters are well developed,
have personality, and are believable.
|
Characters are well rounded, but
lack in personality or they are not totally believable.
|
Characters are somewhat developed,
and lack in personality or they are not totally believable.
|
The characters are underdeveloped,
lack in depth and are not believable.
|
The characters are not developed
so the readers cannot connect to the book.
|
|
Pacing
|
The story flows freely and is not
rushed or slow.
|
The story moves freely for the
most part, but there are a few spots where it feels rushed or slow.
|
The story moves freely for about
half of the book, but the other half is rushed or slow.
|
The story often moves too fast or
too slow and does not move freely.
|
There is no pacing in the story,
which makes it difficult to read.
|
Reading Level System:
Pre-K: These books are great for the
preschool-kindergarten age group because they have a fun plot and great
illustrations.
Grades 1-3: These books are for early readers. They
are easy to read and have a good plot line to keep young readers
interested.
Grades 4-6: These books are for children who are
independent readers, but not ready for more advanced reading or mature content.
Grades 7-8: These books are for students who are
established readers and have more complicated language and more mature themes
and content.
Grades 9-12: These books are for teenagers and young
adults who are independent. They have mature themes and may have complicated
and/or strong language and content.
Picture Source: https://images.kaplanco.com/catalog/largepopup/23707.jpg
