I got my Google Slides presentation put together yesterday for today's Newbery talk to the 8th graders. I feel good about it -- I definitely needed a visual element and the 12 slides help me organize my remarks.
I'm starting with some information about the history of the award and the criteria before I get into my book recommendations, and I'm talking specifically about six books: "Johnny Tremain," "The Witch of Blackbird Pond," "M.C. Higgins the Great," "Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry," "The Hero and the Crown" and "Rifles for Watie." They all seem complex enough to be interesting to an 8th grader, and they're books the kids may not know. (As opposed to "Holes" or "A Wrinkle in Time," which are so famous they don't need me to tout them.)
Then I'm talking about a couple of Newbery "mistakes," or years when the award went to a forgettable book rather than to one that has since become a classic -- in 1953, when "The Secret of the Andes" triumphed over "Charlotte's Web," and in 1988 when a biography of Abraham Lincoln won over Gary Paulsen's "Hatchet."
And then I'm finishing up with the two of the Newbery books I enjoyed the least, "Tales of Silver Lands" and the readable but horribly outdated "Daniel Boone." I hope to also work in some tips on how to keep reading books that aren't grabbing us, and how to deal with older books that contain what we would now consider offensive language or ideas.
Anyway, hopefully they'll like it. I haven't timed it and I only have 15 or 20 minutes, so I hope I'm within that time frame. I have two talks today and two more on Monday, with future presentations planned for the fifth and sixth grades.
And as you can see, this is pretty much all I've been thinking about for the past 24 hours!
(Photo: Light patterns on a doorway on my way to work yesterday.)
Break a leg! Lucky kids. I know your talks will be well-received. Looking forward to hearing about them.
ReplyDeleteThey were well-received, thankfully!
DeleteGood luck Steve! The words "slaughter" and "lamb" spring to mind.
ReplyDeleteBy which you mean I am slaughtering these lamb-like children with my cutting wit and incisive intelligence??
DeleteNo. Not quite.
DeleteYou are a USA person. US people can always talk well. I wonder if that comes from parents or society. Maybe it is part of the educations system, instead of the subject of geography.
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm not sure that's true. I've met plenty of Americans who aren't great public speakers! But you're certainly right about our notoriously bad geography skills.
DeleteSounds like a great talk, wish I could hear it. Any thought of doing a video?
ReplyDeleteCheers
I haven't recorded these talks but maybe when I do the 6th grade assembly I'll record that one.
DeleteStoked For Ya - I Hope Somebody Catches Your Presentation On A Social Platform - Good On You For Representing The Library - And For Walking Your Talk - Well Done Brother Man - Enjoy Your Weekend
ReplyDeleteCheers
Walking my talk, or talking my walk -- I guess it works either way. LOL
DeleteBravo!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteI'm really glad you're addressing the issue of books that have outdated ideas and language. As you know, this is something I struggle with in recommending books to my grandchildren. Personally, I think they are wise enough to handle the reality of past views.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to hear how it goes!
Yeah, kids are smart and they understand that old books don't necessarily reflect modern norms.
DeleteI am appalled at the efforts to rid books in our libraries for language, different beliefs or the one that made last night's news, a drawing of a nude woman. People need to realize that every book has some sort of agenda and not everyone is going to agree with it. Find one that matches your agenda and move on or read one that opposes your agenda and learn something or strengthen your belief. But the last thing we should do is get in the habit of tossing them on the burn pile lest our popular opinion becomes a minority in the future and we are on the receiving end.
ReplyDeleteYou are definitely right about that! I saw that story about the school board in Tennessee banning "Maus" from the classroom. Boneheads!
DeleteThat is a lot to cover in 20 minutes! I would love to see/hear your presentation. Pretty sure it will be extraordinary- like how you do.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the vote of confidence! I'm not sure I'm "extraordinary" but I didn't fall on my face. :)
DeleteThat sounds like a great talk, Steve!
ReplyDeleteI am sure you have heard about the parents/schools that have been banning books again in the US! I just can't believe that they are doing that and, really, aren't they just calling attention to the books that everyone (including their children) will want to read now?! It is nuts and disturbing at the same time.
Yeah, I saw that story. This stuff goes on all the time, honestly. It's appalling how small-minded some people can be.
DeleteSounds like you have a wonderful plan. I'm looking forward to reading how it all went today, Steve.
ReplyDeleteI think it worked out well. The slides made a huge difference.
DeleteYour talk sounds to be interesting. I'm sure the kids will enjoy it. Good luck with your presentations. Hugs, Edna B.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Edna! I think they did like it. I think.
DeleteThe book Tennessee is banning is "Maus," I believe is how it is spelled. It is coverage of the Holocaust and how provocative can a naked woman, starving to death in a friggin concentration camp actually be?
ReplyDeleteThe ignorance and knuckle dragging stupidity in this country is mind boggling!!
Good luck with your presentation ... here's hoping the kids really get it!
Yeah, I saw that story. I guess they want a cleaner, more polite Holocaust! Morons!
DeleteIt sounds like you've put together an engaging talk. And talking about the language in outdated books is a good idea. I recently read a book set during the great depression in Phoenix AZ and there was disclaimer at the beginning about the language used, that the author was trying to be authentic about the language re racism and bigotry and how people spoke back then using words we find offensive now.
ReplyDeleteIt's probably smart for modern books to include a disclaimer like that, just to give people a heads-up. Everyone is so readily triggered now.
DeleteI've done many presentations and yes, definitely, the slides help the audience along and give you a great structure so you sound spontaneous, that's always a good thing.
ReplyDeleteYou're going to be great.
Exactly -- they help prevent a lot of hemming and hawing.
DeleteI wish more people would make interesting presentation s on books to kids. some kids are readers and some need a little push to get reading.
ReplyDeleteWe try to do book talks periodically, but mostly new ones. Going back to talking about old books, like I am, is more of a rarity.
DeleteI think that you're covering everything quite well in a limited time. I really do like that you're talking about the objectionable stuff. In my opinion, given the right 'framing', kids can reason through these books perfectly well. In some places here, the Little House books are banned due to the way they portray Indians. Those portrayals are one sided and unfair, but the books are wonderful recapturing of a bygone time.
ReplyDeleteYeah, the "Little House" books get a lot of flack on that front nowadays, which I understand. But it's a shame because they are such good books. This is one reason I was so happy to find "Caddie Woodlawn," because I felt like it covered the "Little House" ground without the objectionable language about Native Americans.
DeleteBy the time I'm seeing this, I'm sure you have already given your talks for today. I have confidence that they went well.
ReplyDeleteThey did indeed, thank goodness!
DeleteWhat?! Charlotte's Web was in contention and didn't make the cut?! I loved it along with Stuart Little and Trumpet of the Swan.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a very interesting presentation and I hope the kids enjoy it. Will it be filmed? You could share it on YouTube!
And not only did "Charlotte's Web" not win, but it lost to a distinctly inferior and forgettable book.
DeleteI hope it went well. A few slides are always good to keep the speaker on track.
ReplyDeleteYeah, they made all the difference! They're a great organizing tool.
DeleteI would like to hear your tips on getting past offensive language and ideas. I struggle with that at times.
ReplyDeleteI basically tell the kids to:
Delete1. Consider context -- is the language in dialogue, in which case it's the author's attempt to reflect accurately the way people speak or spoke in a certain time or place? Or is it the author's own language?
2. Weigh the overall value of the work against the objectionable content. The n-word is more tolerable in "Huckleberry Finn," which has had great cultural impact, than in a dime-store novel that will be forgotten tomorrow.
Common sense, really, but something for them to think about.
Thanks!
DeleteSlides, like photos in our blog posts, give us focus and keep us on track. They also provide eye appeal to our listeners. I think I've read Secret of the Andes but I'm not sure.
ReplyDeleteOh, I hadn't thought of them as similar to pictures in our blog posts, but you're right!
DeleteIf you've read "The Secret of the Andes" you are literally the only person I've ever met who has done so.
I can't wait to hear how it went!
ReplyDeleteSee next post! :)
DeleteF--- you, Ratana. And good on you, Steve, for putting so much into this project. I just hope the youngsters appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteWell, I deleted Ratana, so no F-ing needed! LOL! I think the kids did enjoy the talk.
Delete