Non-Fiction Monday: The Metropolitan Museum of Art Baby Animals

In my mailbox was this delightful book, Baby Animals: Little Ones at Play in 20 Works of Art.  Its arrival provided a much needed break from typing on my protfolio entries for the national boards. (Due to be sent next week!)

What a delight! The illustrations are excerpt from larger works of art and depict baby animals from dogs to elephants, crayfish to boars.  Artist include Leonardo da Vinci, John James Audubon, Rosa Bonheur, Mary Cassatt as well as illustrations from quilts and clothing.  Did you know that a baby porcupine is called a porcupette and that baby bats are called pups?

There is an appendix giving the full background of the artwork.  This book can be used on so many levels. What a perfect timing to receive this book just as spring begins this week. 

Have a great week.  Head over to Picture Book of the Day for more fabulous non-fiction.

Happy Reading,

MsMac

Monday, Monday

It is “Nonfiction Monday.” My nonfiction is all about the nonfiction writing I am doing for the National Boards for Professional Teaching Standards.  After March 25, 2008, which is a month from now, I will have my box sent off and will only have the test prep to do for April or May.

I spent the weekend revising the entry entitled, “Fostering an Appreciation for Literature”.  This entry is actually cleverly disguised as a reading lesson.  I must show a connection to literature, demonstrate that students are inferring, have a curriculum aspect connected to the classroom and show it on a 15 minute tape.  A 2 minute video pan of the library with narration is also required.  Yesterday I was I school for more than 2 hours taping the pan. But it is completed. Hooray.

I am feeling a bit like the princess in Rumpelstiltskin these days.  Two of four entries are near completion but there remains more straw to spin into gold.  My last two entries are “integrating technology” and “collaboration with another teacher”.  I have been collaborating with a second grade teacher.  It has been  great to tie in the science of clouds with poetry.   The teacher said we could continue with the unit on animals later this spring.  This is where I feel so fortunate that my school is small enough that I can work with interested staff beyond the weekly 30 minute requirement.

The prompt at One Deep Breath was “ink”.  My haiku for that reflects my life over the last few weeks:

keys click, thoughts race
printer spits another draft
out, revision

entry completed
more straw in the mind waits to
become golden words

Have a great Monday. If you are interested in terrific nonfiction books, visit Picture Book of the Day. 

Happy Reading.

MsMac