Student+Responses

Student Responses

Setting: Grade Four class, thirty five minute session.
**My Question: Do Janell Cannon's illustrations allow the reader to infer feelings and draw their own conclusions that further support the text?**


 * Student's Task: Thinking about your own experiences and the clues in the pictures, what do you infer Stellaluna would be thinking or saying in each of these images?**



~ Alex** ||=  ||= **"I'm so scared. I wonder if I'll ever find my real mom. I hope Mama bird will let me back in the nest." ~ Izabella** ||
 * = **"I'm scared. I feel like I'm going to burst."

~ Brook** ||  ||= **"I want my real mommy. I wonder why she's yelling at the things I'm supposed to do. I'm cold. I'm scared. I'm disgusted at the food I'm eating. I wish I was with my mom again." ~ Madison** ||
 * = **"I'm just about to cry, I didn't mean to make mother bird mad! I feel so bad about it. I've got to stay brave or else I won't have a home. I wonder if my real mom will every come and get me?"

~ Tarra** ||= **"I'm frightened. Why am I getting yelled at? I am only being a bat. That's what I am!" ~ Declan** || ~ Devin** ||= **"I am so frightened my beak hurts. I am so different. At night I cry until I go to sleep. I wonder where my real mom is? Why is my bird mom so mad at me? Why does she feed me bugs? Is my mom looking for me? I have to obey all the rules." ~ Emma** || ~ James** ||= **"Ouch, why me? Why can't I just be like the other birds? I am trying to fit in so hard. Why won't it work? What should I do ... should I hang by my feet or not? ~ Brook** || ~ Maddison** ||= **"I hope I can hang on by my toes. I am very freaked out. Will I fall? If I fall will I catch myself by flying?" ~ Nick** || **The Results: Yes! Janell Cannon's illustrations allow the reader to infer feelings and draw their own conclusions that further support the text. The student's in this class were literally drawn into the illustrations and easily talked with one another of what Stellaluna would be feeling or saying. They drew upon their own experiences to do this and they willingly shared those with a partner and the group. A feeling of building community and trust was felt in the room. It is a lesson I will certainly apply to other books.**
 * = **"I'm so sorry mama bird. I'll never do it again and I'll never show my siblings it again and I won't make faces when I eat."
 * = **"Please don't hurt me. I wihs this never happened. Please let me stay. I'm sorry I did this. Please don't push me."
 * = **"Ouch. Hang on! This is scary. Help me this is embarassing. "
 * = **"I'm so ashamed. I thought I was like the others. I need to practice. I can't let mama bird down. I will not give up."