Literacy and Illustration: The Caldecott Awards Connection Linda Marie Robinson NBCT Early & Middle Childhood Art Florida Digital Educator Michigan Avenue Elementary St. Cloud, Florida • Michigan Avenue Elementary – Art Teacher 7 Years • NBCT Teacher Early & Middle Childhood Art 2009 • Osceola County “Arts Teacher of the Year” 2008 • Winner of Walt Disney’s “Teacherrific Top Program Award” 2005 • Who’s Who in America’s Teachers: 2005, 2006 • Education Foundation of Osceola County “Mini Grants for Great Ideas” Awards: 2004 $1,000; 2006 $950 • Target Grant $3,000 • Holy Redeemer Catholic School – 10 Years • BFA: Moore College of Art • MA in Elementary Ed: University of Central Florida • Member: FAEA, ACE/FAAE, FEA, NEA, OCTA, Kappa Delta Pi – ΚΔΠ, Phi Delta Kappa – ΦΔΚ School Grades: “A” School 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009 “B” School – 2006, 2010 Daily Classroom Procedure • Students enter and sit in assigned seats. • Roll is taken using artists names as response. • Students are given the week’s journal prompt and a short discussion involving the topic is held. • Students are given 10 minutes to answer the prompt with complete sentences and sketch. We began the year with a requirement of 3 sentences and have been building up to complete paragraphs. • Kindergarten and First grade sketch and write as they are able. To take off the pressure I do not count off for spelling errors but encourage sounding out and peer/teacher help. • After journaling time we begin the main project of the day. A short review of previous lessons occurs before beginning. MAE Art Room Tips & Techniques

• Literacy Connections: Have a variety of books on display to encourage literacy including books on artists and picture books (Caldecott books are great to have on hand) • File System: Laminate Color Coded files by grade for storage of works in progress. Grades are coded by the rainbow and stored in a set of hanging file units • Art News Updates: Information about upcoming Museum Exhibitions, Art Competitions & Deadlines • Classroom Rules / Consequences: Coordinated with other block areas, typed on copy paper, then blown up utilizing the poster machine MAE Art Room Tips & Techniques

• Art Journals: K – 5 daily journaling for 10 minutes, Journals are kept in recycled copy paper boxes. – Journal Prompts listed on board • “Word Wall”: utilize posters with artists and art terminology, student examples of art terms • Vocabulary: Whiteboard with written words and visuals to enhance memory, include words that integrate math, literacy, science, & social studies • Visual Arts Display: Student artwork displayed on “gallery”, rotated on a monthly basis Literacy & Illustration: The Caldecott Awards Connection

Caldecott Unit Lesson Plan Procedures • Units begin with background information on the illustrators and the history of the Caldecott Medal. Discussion includes Chinese fairytales, and African and Native American folktales. • Students are shown the cover illustration and the class discussion will involve story predicting. • The story is read while students focus on the style of illustration found in the story. Techniques are discussed and demonstrated and then students begin recreating their favorite scene. To complete the process the students write a paragraph detailing the inspiration for selecting their scene. 2006 Literacy Through the Arts Exhibition

A large part of the Exhibition at the Osceola County Library each year is the displays created for the student artwork. Below is the display I created utilizing the Caldecott Medal and the cover of The Little House as my theme. 2006 Literacy Through the Arts Exhibition

This is the reverse side of my exhibition display board. I built the board utilizing PVC Lattice Fence Panels. Each panel was cut off at one end so it could fit into my car. I then screwed hinges onto the panels to create a 6 panel display that folds up for easy storage. Literacy & Illustration: The Caldecott Awards Connection 5th Grade Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak 1964 Caldecott Medal The 5th grade project is a watercolor painting. The painting also incorporates hatching and some cross hatching. A Nighttime starry sky look is achieved by sprinkling sea salt onto wet paint. 5th Grade Student Examples Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak 1964 Caldecott Medal Literacy & Illustration: The Caldecott Awards Connection 4th Grade Lon Po Po by Ed Young 1990 Caldecott Medal

The 4th grade project is a chalk pastel drawing. The drawing should have soft mood and color throughout. The drawings will also utilize the Ed Young’s panel drawing style. 4th Grade Student Examples Lon Po Po by Ed Young 1990 Caldecott Medal Literacy & Illustration: The Caldecott Awards Connection 3rd Grade Arrow to the Sun by Gerald McDermott 1975 Caldecott Winner

The 3rd grade project is an acrylic painting. All student paintings include the same 6 earth tone colors. Depending on the scene chosen some may also include 1 – 2 additional colors. 3rd Grade Student Examples Arrow to the Sun by Gerald McDermott 1975 Caldecott Winner

Phillip was awarded 1st Place in the Painting Division at the 2006 Annual Osceola County Student Art Show held at the Osceola Center for the Arts. Literacy & Illustration: The Caldecott Awards Connection 2nd Grade Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears Illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon 1976 Caldecott Medal The 2nd grade project is a chalk pastel drawing utilizing light colored crayon as the accent and outlines. 2nd Grade Student Examples Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears Illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon 1976 Caldecott Medal

Parker won 1st Place at the Literacy Through the Arts Exhibition Literacy & Illustration: The Caldecott Awards Connection

1st Grade The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton 1943 Caldecott Medal

The 1st grade project is a crayon and colored pencil drawing. The sketches are all completed within the circle on the paper. 1st Grade Student Examples The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton 1943 Caldecott Medal

Madeline won 2nd Place at the Literacy Through the Arts Exhibition. Literacy & Illustration: The Caldecott Awards Connection

Kindergarten Swimmy by Leo Lionni 1964 Caldecott Honor The Kindergarten project is a watercolor painting. The painting begins with pencil sketching, then watercolor is added utilizing natural sponges. Then “Swimmy” is added in black acrylic paint. Kindergarten Student Examples Swimmy by Leo Lionni 1964 Caldecott Honor Resources

• Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak • Lon Po Po by Ed Young • Arrow to the Sun by Gerald McDermott • Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears by Verna Aardema Illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon • The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton • Swimmy by Leo Lionni • Art Through Children’s Literature by Debi Englebaugh • Teaching Literacy through the Arts by Nan L. McDonald and Douglas Fisher Web Resources

• http://www.vickiblackwell.com/lit/lonpopo.html • http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/features/mike _mulligan/biohome.shtml • http://www.childrenslit.com/f_dillons.html • http://www.randomhouse.com/kids/lionni/author.html • http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/sendak.htm • http://geraldmcdermott.com/biography.htm • "Caldecott Medal Winners, 1938-Present." American Library Association. 2006. http://www.ala.org/alsc/caldpast.html (Accessed 14 Oct, 2006)