Listening to stories is a favorite part of the day for many JK children, and we share and discuss high quality children’s literature in both small and large group settings throughout the day. Ms. Bell sometimes reads a story while we wait for all of the children to arrive in the morning; Mr. Reynolds reads a story to both the JK and SK children upon returning from the park while snack is prepared; Ms. Wilson reads stories as a transition from nap to exploration; and the JK class comes together for a story at the close of our day.
Research shows that reading aloud to children and engaging them in thoughtful discussions is one of the most important ways that teachers and parents can develop children’s vocabulary, nurture their love of reading, increase children’s awareness of the feelings of others, and lay the foundation for reading comprehension. Questions we often pose at school include: “What do you think will happen next?”, “How do you think that character is feeling?”, “Why do you think he/she is feeling that way?”, or “What was your favorite part of the story?”
The JK children have also enjoyed “bringing a story to life” by dramatizing Caps for Sale by Slobodkina. When Ms. Bell asked the children if they would like to share Caps for Sale at the All School Morning Meeting, the children’s response was a resounding “Yes!”
The first step in our preparation was asking the children to choose a role as either a monkey or a peddler. When we went to the Indoor Play Space to practice, we decided that the post should become the tree in the story. However, it did not look like a tree, so we decided to use paper to create a prop. Upon returning to the classroom, several children began making leaves for our tree.
When two children went with Ms. Wilson to hang the trunk and the leaves, they decided that the tree looked empty and that we needed more leaves. So, they returned the classroom and enlisted the help of friends to make more!
We practiced dramatizing the story several times, and agreed upon “director cues” that Ms. Bell would use to help guide the action. The children were excited when Friday morning arrived and it was time to share their collaborative efforts with their SK and PK friends.
The video below begins when the peddlers, who were not able to sell any hats and had no money for lunch, fall asleep under a tree. The monkeys, intrigued by the blue, grey, brown, and red caps, quietly tiptoe to the peddlers and each took one hat before returning to their branches on the tree…
The video below begins when the peddlers, who were not able to sell any hats and had no money for lunch, fall asleep under a tree. The monkeys, intrigued by the blue, grey, brown, and red caps, quietly tiptoe to the peddlers and each took one hat before returning to their branches on the tree…
Dramatizing stories is a powerful way for children to internalize a story through all of their senses, express emotions other than their own, and use their imaginations. More importantly, as the children worked together throughout the week,
a story became our story and the JK class strengthened their identity as a community of friends who learn and grow together.