Volume I, Issue 2

WOW Stories: Connections from the Classroom is a regular on-line publication of WOW containing vignettes written by classroom educators about children’s experiences reading and responding to literature in the classroom setting.

Contents

Introduction: Opening the World through Literature, by Kathy G. Short, The University of Arizona

Part 1: Creating a Context for Professional Learning

Creating a Vision of Possibility as Professional Learners, by Lisa Thomas, Instructional Coach

Practice Makes Perfect in Our Community of Practice, by Amy Edwards, fifth grade teacher

Exploring a Curriculum that is International, by Kathy G. Short, Professor, University of Arizona

Part 2: Developing Conceptual Thinking

Conceptualization as a Way of Thinking in Schools, by Lisa Thomas, Instructional Coach

Thinking Conceptually about Journeys through an Author Study, by Jennifer Griffith, first grade teacher

Mapping Our Understandings of Literature, by Jaquetta Alexander, second grade teacher

“Life is a Journey and an Iceberg”: Creating a Context for Conceptual Thinking, by Amy Edwards, fifth grade teacher

Encouraging Symbolic Thinking through Literature, by Kathryn Bolasky, third grade teacher

Writing as a Tool for Synthesizing Our Learning, by Kathryn Bolasky, third grade teacher

Part 3: Considering Multiple Perspectives

Moving Across the Arts to Consider New Perspectives, by Kathryn Tompkins, fourth grade teacher

Making Connections through Text Sets with Young Children, by Jennifer Griffith, first grade teacher

Encouraging Intertextual Thinking in the Classroom, by Kathryn Bolasky, third grade teacher

Re-Visioning the World through Multiple Perspectives, by Amy Edwards, fifth grade teacher

Taking Action with Young Children, by Jaquetta Alexander, second grade teacher

Exploring Action and Responsibility through Literature, by Jennifer Griffith, first grade teacher

Part 4: Exploring Taking Action

Young Children’s Explorations of Multiple Perspectives, by Jaquetta Alexander, second grade teacher

Taking Action through Emotional Connections, by Kathryn Tompkins, fourth grade teacher

Exploring Voice and Responsibility through Literature, by Kathryn Tompkins, fourth grade teacher

An Inquiry on Taking Action: Exploring Human Rights, by Jennifer Griffith, first grade teacher, and Derek R. Griffith, Filmmaker

Editor
Kathy G. Short, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

Production Editor
Rebecca K. Ballenger, Worlds of Words

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

A fourteen-year-old describes, through prose poems, his life in a small Australian town in 1962, where, since their mother’s death, he and his brother have been mainly on their own to learn about life, death, and love.

Undine is excited about leaving Tasmania for a trip to see her father in Greece but conflicted about using the magic that wells up inside her and confused about her personal relationships, including the one with her best friend, Trout.

While an English class of 7B students at Wentworth High in Australia struggle with a six-week essay assignment answering, “Who am I.” one child’s great-grandmother arrives unexpectedly from India to follow her dream.

Class brain Bindy Mackenzie has alienated her entire high school but when she realizes someone is trying to kill her, she has to make friends in order to get help.

Eight-year-old Grace, her parents, and her two brothers embark on a six-month-long journey to tour their country, Australia. Driving around the perimeter of the continent except when they plunge into the Outback to visit places such as Alice Springs and Uluru they drive, swim, hike, enjoy zoos, museums, and tourist sites.

When she overhears one of the tenants in her apartment building verbally abusing the hard-working caretaker, Mr. Egozian, Hazel Green determines to find a way to teach the unpleasant tenant a lesson.

After being framed for cowardice in a sea battle, thirteen-year-old Sam and his friend Richard are sent to Australia, where they must fight for their lives in the outback.