Visual Literacy

Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day; teach that person to use the Internet and they won't bother you for weeks.
-Author Unknown

Though at times a bit confusing, the article, Critical Visual Literacy: Multimodal Communication emphasizes the importance of the author/reader being critically literate through the use of multimodal techniques. From what I could gather, this means that in our new world of communication, it is no longer enough to compose a text to be read using a book or magazine format. In this day and age, much information is provided by means of technology, such as the computer. Computer users must be knowledgeable and well-skilled in programs, websites and other online tools in helping them compose and read their texts. In the process of doing so, they must use their knowledge and skills in becoming critical writers, thinkers, and analyzers of their works of literacy.

Image: electronicforkids.info
Quote: http://www.pcsndreams.com/Pages/TechQuotes1.htm

Halfway There!

"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you'll go."

Dr. Seuss

Well, the semester is almost halfway ended, and most of the assignments have been completed, except for the literature logs, a few more personal reactions and book responses, and of course, the final project. I'm really looking forward to the end of the semester because honestly, it's been one hectic semester for me. I'm also getting nervous to find out whether I passed the Praxis II exam; I'll soon find out!

The Children and Young Adult Literature Websites that I reviewed really provided a wealth of information about different literature books and magazines, as well as offering educational resources and activities for students and teachers, alike. All of these sites are extremely helpful in improving and enhancing literacy skills among students.

image: www.peabirds.blogspot.com

quote: www.readingrockets.org/books

We should burn all libraries and allow to remain only that which everyone knows by heart. A beautiful age of the legend would then begin.

Hugo Ball

I just finished reading the article by Saipan attorney, Robert Tenorio Torres, entitled, Pre-contact Marianas Folklore, Legends, and Literature. It was written in such a way that it was easy to comprehend the text and understand his position as the writer. In his article, he compared the Marianas folklore, specifically myths and legends during the pre-colonial era. What was new and interesting information to me were the origins of the legends and myths, particularly those specific to Guam. But even more amazing was reading this author's point of view comparing pre-colonial and post-colonial themes of legends and myths. Pre-colonial themes focused on the Chamorro's great strength and spirit. However, after the Spanish conquest, the themes of legends shifted to pranks and mischief aimed at the Spanish invaders. These legends depicted the harsh subservient life of the Chamorros under Spanish rule.

image: www.pacificworlds.com
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/legend_3.html

Weight off My Shoulders

Neither you or the world knows what you can do until you have tried.

Ralph Waldo Emerson



Well, today was the day that I finally put to the test all that I've learned and been trained on in becoming a reading specialist. I took the Praxis II exam today, and although I won't know the results for a few more weeks, I can't help but feel a deep sense of relief that all those months and days of studying for it, are finally over. I won't lie, the test was difficult; and most of the items consisted of applying what I know or should know about being a reading specialist. But, I have hope that all that studying and preparing will help me pass the exam.

Now, I can concentrate on resuming the literature log assignment. Because of the amount of researching of different genres of literature books, it can be overwhelming and tedious at times. But, as Dr. Rivera pointed out, it's something that I can tap into for information when I'm looking for appropriate children's books.

I'm sorry that I missed the IRA meeting today. I'm sure that the topic covered at the meeting, Improve Reading: A Culture's Challenge, was both insightful and meaningful. The diverse population of cultures here on Guam makes teaching and improving reading skills a big challenge for educators; so instructional strategies and tips would benefit students and teachers. alike.

image: http://uk.ask.com/web?qsrc=2871&o=15558&l=dis&q=test+taking+image&dm=all
quote: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100721064323AACfUjI

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.
Dr. Seuss

Where better to celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday than at the Hagatna Library! After all, it's the place to go to look up books of all kinds, including his. I wish I could have met Dr. Seuss, as I do other famous authors and poets. Somehow, their extraordinary talent for arousing the "reader" in each one is nothing short of awesome!

As I went through the day's event at the library, I noticed that each station included something related to aspects and features of Dr. Seuss's books. The plant station depicted the background setting of plants in his stories, and the hat station involved children and parents in making hats, replicas of the hat worn by the cat in the story, The Cat in the Hat. The food station included cupcakes colored green and just a few feet away, presentations were conducted, such as a DVD showing of Dr. Seuss stories and his latest, "The Lorax," songs, storytelling, and a puppet show.

While I'm way past being a child, I still enjoy reading children's literature, and Dr. Seuss more than did his part in turning readers on to reading. Happy 108th Birthday, Dr. Seuss!!

image: http://sacramentosidetracks.com/?p=17622image:
quote: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/d/dr_seuss.htmlquote:

Happy Birthday To You...

“Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one.”― Dr. Seuss

Today was fun, I have to agree with Dr. Seuss. I did some searching (Surfing the web) to find out more about Dr. Seuss, and it was interesting to find out, that "Suess" is actually his pen name. He started using the name, his mother's maiden name, after he was forced to resign from his post as editor-in-chief of Dartmouth humor Magazine, Jack-O-Lantern. He is also from Springfield, Massachusetts, I find that amazing, especially considering I went to school just 45 minutes away from Springfield!

Dr. Seuss' books came about because he was challenged, to write books that are interesting for children to read, so he did. In the 1960s it was indicated that children's books were boring, causing them not to read. He was challenged to write a book using only 250 words, which became Green Eggs and Ham. I like Dr. Seuss' books it plays with language, and that is what I believe is important, especially for a language to last...to survive. Coming from the perspective of the CHamoru language, and how it is slowly dwindling, we need to play with our language like Dr. Seuss. (Maybe, that could be a challenge for me, something I would like to accomplish, publish children's books, in the CHamoru language, playing with the language like Dr. Seuss.)

Today was celebrating Dr. Seuss' 108th birthday. It was interesting, at the Hagatna Library they had a hat, plant, cupcake, stations. The event started out with a song from Dr. Seuss, with the Dr. Seuss character standing nearby. Then they had a puppet show about the Lorax, which is in movies now. Overall, today was interesting, I was amazed at how much support the Library has, as Dr. Rivera mentioned, "A bigger library would have been nice." I agree. I was amazed at how many people attended today's event. I was amazed at how many people were acquaintances, and relatives present. It was nice to sit with Geri today, we were talking about the event, among other things...

One of the poems I like from Dr. Seuss is "Oh the places you'll go."

Oh, the Places You'll Go!

by Dr. Seuss

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You're on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.

You'll look up and down streets. Look 'em over with care.
About some you will say, "I don't choose to go there."
With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,
you're too smart to go down any not-so-good street.

And you may not find any
you'll want to go down.
In that case, of course,
you'll head straight out of town.

It's opener there
in the wide open air.

Out there things can happen
and frequently do
to people as brainy
and footsy as you.

And when things start to happen,
don't worry. Don't stew.
Just go right along.
You'll start happening too.

OH! THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!You'll be on your way up!
You'll be seeing great sights!
You'll join the high fliers
who soar to high heights.

You won't lag behind, because you'll have the speed.
You'll pass the whole gang and you'll soon take the lead.
Wherever you fly, you'll be the best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

Except when you don't
Because, sometimes, you won't.

I'm sorry to say so
but, sadly, it's true
and Hang-ups
can happen to you.

You can get all hung up
in a prickle-ly perch.
And your gang will fly on.
You'll be left in a Lurch.

You'll come down from the Lurch
with an unpleasant bump.
And the chances are, then,
that you'll be in a Slump.

And when you're in a Slump,
you're not in for much fun.
Un-slumping yourself
is not easily done.

You will come to a place where the streets are not marked.
Some windows are lighted. But mostly they're darked.
A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin!
Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in?
How much can you lose? How much can you win?

And IF you go in, should you turn left or right...
or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite?
Or go around back and sneak in from behind?
Simple it's not, I'm afraid you will find,
for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.

You can get so confused
that you'll start in to race
down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace
and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space,
headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.
The Waiting Place...

...for people just waiting.
Waiting for a train to go
or a bus to come, or a plane to go
or the mail to come, or the rain to go
or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow
or waiting around for a Yes or a No
or waiting for their hair to grow.
Everyone is just waiting.

Waiting for the fish to bite
or waiting for wind to fly a kite
or waiting around for Friday night
or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake
or a pot to boil, or a Better Break
or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants
or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.
Everyone is just waiting.

NO!
That's not for you!

Somehow you'll escape
all that waiting and staying.
You'll find the bright places
where Boom Bands are playing.

With banner flip-flapping,
once more you'll ride high!
Ready for anything under the sky.
Ready because you're that kind of a guy!

Oh, the places you'll go! There is fun to be done!
There are points to be scored. there are games to be won.
And the magical things you can do with that ball
will make you the winning-est winner of all.
Fame! You'll be famous as famous can be,
with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.

Except when they don't.
Because, sometimes, they won't.

I'm afraid that some times
you'll play lonely games too.
Games you can't win
'cause you'll play against you.

All Alone!
Whether you like it or not,
Alone will be something
you'll be quite a lot.

And when you're alone, there's a very good chance
you'll meet things that scare you right out of your pants.
There are some, down the road between hither and yon,
that can scare you so much you won't want to go on.

But on you will go
though the weather be foul
On you will go
though your enemies prowl
On you will go
though the Hakken-Kraks howl
Onward up many
a frightening creek,
though your arms may get sore
and your sneakers may leak.

On and on you will hike
and I know you'll hike far
and face up to your problems
whatever they are.

You'll get mixed up, of course,
as you already know.
You'll get mixed up
with many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step.
Step with care and great tact
and remember that Life's
a Great Balancing Act.
Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your right foot with your left.

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)

KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

So...
be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,
you're off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So...get on your way!

Image Taken From: http://ocplkids.blogspot.com/2012/02/celebrate-dr-seuss-birthday.html

Quote Taken From: http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/61105.Dr_Seuss

Fantasy.....Fractured

All cartoon characters and fables must be exaggeration, caricatures. It is the very nature of fantasy and fable.
Walt Disney

In my review of the fantasy genre itself, I have learned so much. I have always known fantasy to be a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. This genre is most popular today with young readers, in the novels by J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter. One of the topics I like to discuss when bringing up this book for students to read is how many governments have banned these types of books being read in their countries. Primarily because they believe it promotes ideals not befitting of their beliefs. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common.

In popular culture, the genre of fantasy is dominated by its medievalist form, especially since the worldwide success of The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien. However, many readers find it difficult to get through those texts because of the language, the medieval language being used. Fantasy has also included fairy tales, wizards, sorcerers, or witchcraft, in events which avoid horror. In its broadest sense, however, fantasy comprises works by many writers, artists, filmmakers, and musicians, from ancient myths and legends to many recent works embraced by a wide audience today.

Many fantasy, science fiction, "fractured" fairy tale books that have been published are made into movies which have proven to be successful. Hollywood creating these movies based on books have been a success. Many students love to read the book, and then compare it to the movie. For example, the U.S. Hollywood movie Journey 2: The Mysterious Island directed by Brad Peyton addresses reading throughout the whole movie. Although some critics might argue that it is primarily mystery, I believe fantasy abounds, partly because of the titile Journey 2: The Mysterious Island.

Also, fantasy is very useful for academic study in a number of disciplines for example, English, cultural studies, comparative literature, history, medieval studies. The fantasy genre fits into these types of studies. I have noticed, even myself as a reader, when I was taking some of those courses in my undergraduate courses, I have study mostly fantasy books. I remember reading those books, and the discussions were endless and abound with possibilities. I particularly enjoy reading fantasy, as it takes me on new adventures and most especially new ways of thinking.

I have learned a new genre, a “fractured” fairy tale. However, I was familiar already with a fairy tale usually being longer than most folk stories and taking place in the nether realm of far, far away and a long time ago. It often has some sort of royalty involved in the story the main character go on a journey where he/she is tested. For example in the famous tale of Little Red Riding Hood the main character may have some sort of magical help along the way. In any event though the fairy tales always end the same way—good triumphs over evil or there is a transformation or reward at the end. They usually start with "a long time ago, in a place far away" and end with "happily ever after." The characters in most fairy tales and the journey are often metaphors for people either in the government or in everyday life which have challenges that are universal.

A fractured fairy tale is a fairy or other folk tale that has been modified in such a way as to make us laugh at an unexpected characterization, plot development or contrary point of view. In my review of this genre, many ideas began to take shape in my mind. Ideas of writing projects, or Readers Theater, guiding the students to address issues they face today, such as bullying or even making an important decision. To my surprise, fractured fairy tales have been around for so long, they have helped students understand issues facing the government or individuals in today’s society.

Quote Taken From: :http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/fantasy.html#ixzz1nk5J2Kup

Image Taken From: http://www.fantasywallpapers.in/wallpaper/Fantasy-space-03/