Building Characters is such an important aspect to writing. I know that the single strongest way for a reader to connect to a book or story is through the characters. If a reader can get inside the characters mind and truly understand a character inside and out, then the reader can truly connect with the character and in turn connect with the book/story. Without characters, how would the reader understand and relate to the story? I know that I enjoy reading books in which I feel connected to the character(s) in some way. I remember seeing the movie A Walk to Remember when I was in middle school. I remember crying my eyes out! Even though I had never experienced the same challenges as the main character, I still felt as if I was in her life, as if I was actually her. The author gave the audience a detailed perspective of the main character. The movie would have never developed if the author of the book had not been clear and precise about every detail in the characters life/story. The vivid picture that the book portrayed allowed the movie producer to create an exact replica of the book. Without the detailed characters, the movie and the book would have never been the same!
Thoughts on Creating Characters:
Writing letters to characters of books seems a bit strange and weird! But, just as we get to know real people in our live, shouldn't we get to know the characters in our stories? I must say I have never written a story about a fictional person but I have written many stories about people I know or events in my life. Without knowing the people in my life, I would have been unable to truly depict the characters in my stories. With that said, I understand how Carolyn Coman could have written to her characters and dreamed about them in order to get to know her characters. This is a great way to teach students how to get to know their characters. I feel that this could be turned into a writing activity for students. Students can write letters to their "characters". Other students in the class can pretend to be the "characters" and respond back to the letters. This involves all students in the writing process and allows students to understand how to get to know a character.
Post 2 (in place of placement reflection):
Story from Class:
I joyfully walked into the house after eating a scrumptious meal. "Something is wrong with Muffin's pay," my mom said. "What do you mean?" I questioned. "Is she hurt?" I asked worriedly. I quickly turned my whole body to look at Muffin. Muffin sat with her head hung low and her giant brown eyes barely able to make eye contact with me. "Are you ok sweet girl?" I asked her sweetly. I bent down and slowly picked up her paw. "I tried to help her but she kept yelping in pain," stated my mother. "Did you see this gash in her nail mom?" Muffin raised her head and gave me the 'please help me mommy' look. I felt like a real mother. I wanted to take all of her pain away.
"yelp...yelp!...YELP!" is all I heard while waiting anxiously. After what seemed like years, the door opened and there she was. She sat on the table quietly, only raising her yellow bandaged paw to say, "Look mom!".
Poetry Activity (see files for entire powerpoint):
Food
By: Cloudine and Meghan
hot or cold or warm
It’s always calling my name
munch munch yum yum yum
Building Characters is such an important aspect to writing. I know that the single strongest way for a reader to connect to a book or story is through the characters. If a reader can get inside the characters mind and truly understand a character inside and out, then the reader can truly connect with the character and in turn connect with the book/story. Without characters, how would the reader understand and relate to the story? I know that I enjoy reading books in which I feel connected to the character(s) in some way. I remember seeing the movie A Walk to Remember when I was in middle school. I remember crying my eyes out! Even though I had never experienced the same challenges as the main character, I still felt as if I was in her life, as if I was actually her. The author gave the audience a detailed perspective of the main character. The movie would have never developed if the author of the book had not been clear and precise about every detail in the characters life/story. The vivid picture that the book portrayed allowed the movie producer to create an exact replica of the book. Without the detailed characters, the movie and the book would have never been the same!
Thoughts on Creating Characters:
Writing letters to characters of books seems a bit strange and weird! But, just as we get to know real people in our live, shouldn't we get to know the characters in our stories? I must say I have never written a story about a fictional person but I have written many stories about people I know or events in my life. Without knowing the people in my life, I would have been unable to truly depict the characters in my stories. With that said, I understand how Carolyn Coman could have written to her characters and dreamed about them in order to get to know her characters. This is a great way to teach students how to get to know their characters. I feel that this could be turned into a writing activity for students. Students can write letters to their "characters". Other students in the class can pretend to be the "characters" and respond back to the letters. This involves all students in the writing process and allows students to understand how to get to know a character.
Post 2 (in place of placement reflection):
Story from Class:
I joyfully walked into the house after eating a scrumptious meal. "Something is wrong with Muffin's pay," my mom said. "What do you mean?" I questioned. "Is she hurt?" I asked worriedly. I quickly turned my whole body to look at Muffin. Muffin sat with her head hung low and her giant brown eyes barely able to make eye contact with me. "Are you ok sweet girl?" I asked her sweetly. I bent down and slowly picked up her paw. "I tried to help her but she kept yelping in pain," stated my mother. "Did you see this gash in her nail mom?" Muffin raised her head and gave me the 'please help me mommy' look. I felt like a real mother. I wanted to take all of her pain away.
"yelp...yelp!...YELP!" is all I heard while waiting anxiously. After what seemed like years, the door opened and there she was. She sat on the table quietly, only raising her yellow bandaged paw to say, "Look mom!".
Poetry Activity (see files for entire powerpoint):
Food
By: Cloudine and Meghan
hot or cold or warm
It’s always calling my name
munch munch yum yum yum