Montessorian Librarian

Flannel board stories really have nice sense of completion because the narrative movement is made visual. I told a number of stories with the help of Children’s House students, using the flannel pieces. At the moment, I have pieces for “Before I go to Market Today,” George and Martha and the pea soup (not sure of the title), Jack and the Beanstalk. When we were finished they clamored for The Three Billy Goats Gruff. Last year, I’d told The Three Billy Goats Gruff using my flannel pieces and the violent ending in which the troll is thrown off the bridge into the rushing water below. This year, we included a discussion of Non-Violent Communication and how the story could be resolved so that everyone felt good and could benefit from visiting the lovely meadow on the other side of the bridge. I think they found both versions satisfying.

For a short library visit:

Read George and Martha Encore. The first story is about George learning to like something he previously had not interest in– dancing. He becomes a terrific Mexican hat dancer. Follow this up with a circle of Mexican Hat Dancers.

This has been my first year with literature circles. I had two groups of six students.

A group of students in the third grade (one student was in second) read Dear Mr. Henshaw by Cleary and it was hugely successful. The narrator is funny and his emotional growth is conveyed through his actions and words. They also read Because of Winn Dixie . Just about everyone had seen the movie so they came ready to tell each other what would happen next. Yikes!

A group of first and second years read The Courage of Sarah Noble. It was quite exciting for them. It also gave students a chance to examine prejudice from an objective vantage point. Before The Courage of Sarah Noble they (we) read Pioneer Cat.

Readers Theater Scripts were created for Because of Winn Dixie, The Courage of Sarah Noble, and Pioneer Cat.  Scripts to be posted at a later date.