Summary:
The book addresses some of the questions and concerns children might have about people with physical disabilities. It talks about how sometimes people are quick to judge others because they are different from us and sometimes we assume things that aren't true. It talks about how assuming things can hurt someone's feelings and make them feel left out. The book talks about how everyone is unique and we all have things that we can easily do and some things that are hard and we need help with. The book also talks about special equipment that help students who may have special needs do their best. The book talks about how some children are born with disabilities and some have them because of an illness or they have been in an accident. The book talk about how many people with disabilities dislike being called special because it makes them sound too different. It also talks about how children with disabilities might look different on the outside but on the inside they are the same. Analysis: Don't Call Me Special a nonfiction book. It is told from third person point of view. It is not told from a character in the book point of view but instead has a narrator. The book is related to this month's topic because it gives a first look at disability. It does a great job and goes into great detail about what physical disabilities are, some special equipment may be needed, and how students with disabilities like to be treated. The book also has some great illustrations to go along with the story. Classroom Activity: After reading this book, I could introduce to my students people with disabilities that have made important contributions in our society. I would put them in groups and have them do a little research about the person and how they have overcome their disability. I would then have them share their findings with the rest of the class. Summary:
This book is about a 10 year old girl named Aanyah and her friendship with another 10 year old girl named Suhana. Suhana isn't just an ordinary 10 year old. She has a disability. She has cerebral palsy. The book does a good job explaining what cerebral palsy is in a way that young readers can under stand. Suhana cannot stand, walk, speak, or communicate through language. Although the two girls are very different they form a really tight bond. Aanyah gets to know Suhana and understand more about her and her disability. Although Suhana is unable to communicate through language, they find another way to communicate. The girls communicate with one another through art. Analysis: This book is based on a true story. It is based on the experiences of the author's daughter. It was written in first person point of view. It is told from the young girl Aanyah's perspective. It is related to this month's topic because even though Suhana may be very different and not able to stand, walk, or speak, they are still able to form a friendship. The girls found a way to communicate with one another. The book has great illustrations. It is full of beautiful pictures that help share the message of friendship and love. It is a great story to encourage students to make friends with other even though they are unlike them. Classroom Activity: After reading this book, I could have students make a drawing that they can use to communicate with a classmate or their best friend, like Aanyah did in the story with Suhana. Summary:
This book is about a new student coming to school. The new student is very special critter as the teacher in the book described. The new student can't walk and uses a wheelchair. The teacher explains to the students that just because the new student is in a wheelchair doesn't mean he's any different from other students. He just needs some special help sometimes. When the new student, Alex shows up the students are unsure how to treat him but they all make him feel welcomed. They ask him lots of questions about his wheelchair at recess. Everyone in the class thought Alex needed a lot of help, but they were wrong. There were a few things he needed help with but he returned the favors by helping his classmates also. He can play all the games the other students played and he's very good at them too. He likes the same things as the other kids in the class. The students in the class realize that even though he is a special critter, he's just one of the gang. Analysis: A Very Special Critter is a fictional book. It is told from third person point of view. This book is related to this month's topic because in the story the students realize that the new boy in the class is not so different from them, even though he is in a wheelchair. He can do some of the same things they can do and likes the same things that the rest of the students in the class like. He may look different on the outside but on the inside he's just the same. Classroom Activity: After reading the book I would have students make a list of things they find easy to do and a list of things they need help doing. We could discuss what they wrote as a class and students will realize that everyone is a little different and we all need help doing certain things. Summary:
This book is about a young man by the name of Jamie Grimm who is handicapped. Jamie was in a car crash that took the lives of his parents and younger sister and left him paralyzed. Due to the death of his parents, he has to relocate and move in with his aunt, uncle and their evil son Stevie. Even though Jamie is in a wheelchair it doesn't stop his cousin Stevie from bullying him. Jamie doesn't let the way Stevie treats him get him down. Jamie likes telling jokes. Jamie want to become the world's comedian and his uncle tells him about an upcoming comedy show. He wins 1st place and advances to the state level. He also wins the state level competition and advances to the regional level. Jamie is unsure if the judges are rewarding him out of pity because of his wheelchair because that is the rumor that Stevie has going around. Jamie proves him wrong by going to the regional contest and making everyone laugh, including Stevie. Analysis: This book is a realistic fiction novel by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein. The story was told from first person point of view. It was Jamie speaking but he used words like me, myself, and I. This book relates to this month's topic, because like the others it is about a young man who is in a wheelchair. Although he may be physically disabled, he also proves to his peers that he is not much different from them. This book doesn't have many illustrations, but the ones that it does are black, sketch-like picture. They are helpful when trying to visualizes some of the things going on in the book. Classroom Activity: After reading this book would be a great time to do a lesson on character traits. I would have my students describe some of the character traits the main character Jamie had. |