Module 2 Literacy Letter - The First Step: How One Girl Put Segregation on Trial by Susan E. Goodman

 

Dear blog,

This week I read The First Step: How One Girl Put Segregation on Trial (2016). The First Step: How One Girl Put Segregation on Trial was written by Susan E. Goodman and illustrated by E. B. Lewis. The book has received numerous awards including 2017 Orbis Pictus Honor Book, 2017 Jane Addams Peace Association Honor Book, 2017 Teachers' Choice Pick by International Literacy Association, and NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Book of 2017. The book tells the story of how a four year old African American girl, Sarah Goodman, was kicked out of a "white school" because she "did not belong." Her experience resulted in the first lawsuit challenging the segregation of schools.
This book is a great nonfiction book to use in the classroom. The book has beautiful, realistic illustrations and addresses a big topic in a way that is relatable for students.

This book addresses an important social studies topic, while also allowing the teaching of reading comprehension skills. Students could practice sequencing by creating a timeline of events from the story, starting with Sarah's first day of school in 1847. Students could also practice analyzing characters by journaling about Sarah's feelings and about their own feelings about how Sarah was treated in the story. Students could also compare and contrast the two schools in the story.

Module 1 Literacy Letter - Corduroy by Don Freeman

Dear blog, 

This week I read the book Corduroy (1968). This is a fictional children's book written and illustrated by Don Freeman. This book was one of my childhood favorites. I remember checking it out at the library over and over again. The story is about a teddy bear named Corduroy who lives on display in a department store. Lisa is a young girl who wants to take him home, but her mom says no because he is missing a button. That night, Corduroy goes on adventure to find his missing button. The next day, Lisa comes back and buys him with money from her piggy bank, despite his missing button. When Lisa gets Corduroy home, she sews him on a new button and they are both happy that they have found a friend. 

Corduroy is a great book to use in the classroom. The book has a great message about friendship and compassion. It would also be a great mentor text to teach comprehension skills such as inferencing and compare/contrast. Some questions I would ask my students would include, "How will Corduroy's life at Lisa's house be different from his life in the department store?" "How did Lisa feel when her mom said no?" "Why do you think Lisa wanted Corduroy even though his button was missing?" "Why do you think Corduroy went searching for his button?" "How do you think Corduroy lost his button?"