When creating our project, we looked at fractured fairy tales and taking on different perspectives. We had not worked with this grade level together, so it was a new experience for us. 

One of the learning standards we focused on was RL 2.9 Compare and contrast two or more versions of the same story (e.g., Cinderella stories) by different authors or from different cultures. We looked at different versions of not only Cinderella, but Little Red Riding Hood and The Three Little Pigs as well. This helped us identify heroes and villains, before then creating our own heroes and villains through the art of storytelling. 

We inquired students about what they knew in regards to the parts of a story, characters in a fairy tale, and accountability. Students read each other’s stories and made sure they had all the parts and characters within a fairy tale. They were able to hold themselves and each other accountable for this. 

This was my first year teaching an entire year of second grade. I learned how creative they are, truly surpassing my expectations for a primary grade level. I learned about how important guidelines and following steps are for them, so I made sure to have that on the board to avoid the “What do I do next?” questions. As for how I teach, I learned a lot about myself teaching a new grade level, including how important patience, flexibility, and clarification is important while teaching primary. 

In the same way we attached our brads to make our puppets, students learned the attachments of a story and characters attached to the story play a significant role in making the fairy tale what it is. Every project and day we worked together built upon the last, so that our showcase could highlight the process and creativity of the students. From putting together their story maps to creating puppets and then acting out their fairy tales, these projects and unit (which we called Fairytale Fridays) became seamlessly integrated into the curriculum as students identified parts of a story, the significance of characters, and worked on their fluency and built confidence in their reading. Looking back on second grade, many students mentioned it as one of the highlights of their school year.