2) Unit Two: From Wordless Books to Global Tales

LESSON ONE: INSPIRING STORYTELLING THROUGH THE ORAL TRADITION

By the end of the class, you will be able to... define the characteristics, the audience for, and the reasons why the oral tradition is at the foundation of literacy.

Let's Get Started! Please retrieve your "Folklore and the Oral Tradition" notes/ questions/ synthesizer from our last class. Copy and paste them on your "Unit One" page. Then we'll do a jigsaw sharing session and summarizer of key words and terms.

Google Presentation

Then, based on your homework to play the Quizlet for the Oral Tradition, let's do an Oral Tradition Treasure Hunt.

Don't peek, but here are Dr. Carolyn's Answers.

Homework: College Prep: None

Honors Students/ Extra Credit College Preparatory Students: Please pick up a copy of The Willoughbys, by Lois Lowry. Click here for the accompanying assignment. Start to read.

LESSON TWO: CONNECTING WORDLESS BOOKS TO PROFESSIONAL STORYTELLING

By the end of this class, you will be able to... describe how stories can be told without words, such as through performance and art.

Let’s Get Started! Open and copy this Google Doc: "Reading a Wordless Book." Click through the Wordless book url’s below and respond to each on the Google Doc. Please make sure that you read these wordless books with the sound off on your computer...

Polo and the Magic Flute" "The Red Book" "Wave" "Book of Hours"

After a brief discussion, we'll read-aloud a Wordless book called Flotsam, by David Wiesner.

After her reading, Dr. Carolyn will ask you to:

  • identify the setting, main character, conflict, and resolution;

  • be able to describe how she read this book differently than on Day One when she read Little Nino's Pizzeria;

  • describe the stylistic approaches that are necessary for a successful Wordless book;

  • reconnect Wordless books to our course's essential questions.

What is the function of children’s literature?

Why does children’s literature have lasting value for society?

Next, we'll look through a selection of print Wordless books that we borrowed from Ms. Waite in the library. Return to your version of "Reading a Wordless Book." Add in your description

of what the experience is like to read one or more of the print Wordless books

Post-Wordless Book Reading Reflection Prompt: What elements are necessary to tell a good story aloud to others? List as many examples and give descriptions where possible.

In the last part of class, we'll have an introduction to our storyteller, Ms. Clare Vadeboncoeur. Click here for the template you're required to complete during her presentation.

Homework: Complete this handout, called “The Allure of a Wordless Book.” Also, be ready to complete the template for the storytelling performance tomorrow/ Thursday during last period.

Honors Students/ Extra Credit College Preparatory Students: Continue with The Willoughbys, by Lois Lowry. Here is the accompanying assignment. Read.

LESSON THREE: COMING TO TERMS WITH AND APPLYING PRINCIPLES OF METACOGNITION

By the end of class, you will be able to... evaluate the elements necessary for success in applying metacognition to literacy learning.

Let's Get Started! Survey about the storyteller's performance, followed by a Mini-Lesson.

Metacognition and Storytelling

Post-Storytelling Assessment: Start by copy this synthesizer graphic organizer on a new page under your Unit Two page of your personal Google website. Remember to share it "Public on the Web." [Just so you know: the actual Unit Two page will be where you place your upcoming original Wordless book.]

Then, using any notes or recollections you have from storyteller's performance, respond to the following prompt.

If the goal is to help children become literate learners, what ways must a storyteller use thinking strategies to design and perform any story?

Absent for the Storyteller's Performance? Then you have an alternate assignment....

1) Attend any live storytelling activity for children. For example, libraries often have Story Hour. 2) Review the "Metacognition" slideshow above. 3) Complete the Storyteller Synthesis graphic organizer. 4) Post it on your personal Google website on the page under Unit 2, Wordless Books. 5) Resubmit the Rubric to Dr. Carolyn for renewed grading.

Homework: None.. except that, when we return from February vacation, you'll be designing a storyboard for an original Wordless book. If you have time to do so over February vacation, or even to start it, you would be very wise....

POST-VACATION---

LESSON FOUR: WELCOME BACK AND WORDLESS BOOK BRAINSTORMING

By the end of class, you will be able to... combine principles of the oral tradition into ideas for an original Wordless book.

Let's Get Started! Review what we did before vacation: 1) return Storyteller Synthesis Graphic Organizer rubrics and discuss assignment for students who were absent; 2) Collaboratively complete “The Allure of a Wordless Book.”

Survey these Examples of Oral Tradition. Also, 12H: Skim this article about Indigenous Peoples and the Oral Tradition. Sharing session.

Next, we'll brainstorm story ideas for Wordless books by participating in BrainWriting. Fill in the top row of the grid. Also, 12H: Write a full sentence for each of the possible topics you generated in the BrainWriting that summarizes the possible book's narration and theme.

Everybody, Optional: Check out this link at the International Children's Digital Library for ideas.

Now we'll figure out how to fill out a storyboard by choosing any Wordless book in the classroom or on the class by working in pairs to plan it out in eight sections. Here are some sample storyboard templates. Browse through them and come to consensus what works for your pair.

Dr. Carolyn will model her storyboard and the resulting first draft of her original Wordless book. Looking over the Rubric for a Wordless Book 2016, respond with suggestions--- be gentle, please!

Baseball and Me

Note: Your own original Wordless Book will have to be posted on your personal Google website. So, as you storyboard and draft, plan accordingly so you're not mad at yourself later.

Homework: Everybody: Create your own Storyboard for your original Wordless book. We'll engage in Focus Groups during our next class to offer response and feedback. 12H/ 12CP Extra Credit: Make sure you are matching your plan to the "Honors" level of the Rubric.

LESSON FIVE: STORYBOARD FOCUS GROUPS

By the end of class, you will be able to.... compare storyboards of original Wordless books against a Rubric and offer advice, encouragement, and optimism to other students.

Let's Get Started! Please make sure you are in a new assigned group, called a Focus Group.

Review yesterday's learning events, which led to today's homework. Please retrieve your Homework: your own Storyboard for your original Wordless book.

Now it's your turn! Each Focus Group will follow the procedures outlined in the mini-lesson and help each author to refine the ideas behind her/ his own Wordless Book.

Carousel Brainstorming: What does each component of the Wordless Book Rubric look like? Students will go around the room and offer specific ideas for excelling at every part of the Wordless Book Rubric.

Goal Setting: Quietly and independently, write three goals that you have as you refine and draft out your Wordless Book. Use this Goal Setting Template to design your goals. Afterward, please create a page on your personal Google website that lives under Unit 2.

Closure:

Homework: Everybody: Create a first full draft of your Wordless Book. You will have time in class tomorrow to revise and refine it. 12H: Make sure that you review the Rubric for Honors Level expectations.

LESSON SIX: REFINING AND REVISING A WORDLESS BOOK FIRST DRAFT

By the end of today's class, you will be able to.... revise and refine your first draft of an original Wordless Book, based on Focus Group feedback.

Day 1.

Let's Get Started! Please retrieve your Goal Setting Template from the end of yesterday's class. Go to your personal Google website, to Unit 2/ Wordless Books. Create a page called "Goal Setting for Wordless Books." Go to Insert, Drive, Document, and click on your Goal Setting Template. It's nice to center it on the page.

Next, retrieve your Homework, which was a first full draft of an original Wordless Book. Let's conduct another session of Focus Groups with the same students as yesterday. Here are tools to help you:

  • Focus Group Procedures, which you'll adapt now for first drafts;

  • Folder with Roles for each student during your Focus Group session;

  • Notetaking template to share ideas as each Author presents;

  • Rubric to consider constantly as you offer feedback.

Spend the remainder of class and tonight's Homework time on developing your draft.

Day 2.

Let's Get Started! We'll go around the room and glance at each other's books to absorb more ideas.

Then, please click through and make a copy of this I Need to Know handout, after seeing each other's first drafts.We'll set up a session in which different students share their expertise.

For the remainder of class, continue to refine your original Wordless Book. It is due tomorrow.

Homework: Finish your Wordless book and post it on your personal Google website, where Dr. Carolyn will view it for assessment. During our next class, we'll be having a Celebration Session in which we'll respond to each others' Wordless books. Be ready to share in a round-robin session.

Optional/ Extra Credit: Read through Research on using Wordless books with children. Write down Five Big Ideas that Emerge from the Research.

LESSON SEVEN: CELEBRATION TIME! EVALUATION AND REFLECTION

By the end of class, you will be able to.... analyze several students' Wordless books to interpret, respond to, and reflect upon pre-literate thinking processes.

Let's Get Started! Please open up your website to your "Unit 2: Wordless Books to Global Tales" page. Also, tidy up your desk area, as today we'll be sharing and responding to our original Wordless books, and, so, people will be visiting your desk.

Part 1.

Celebration, sharing, and response session: Peer Response for Wordless Books.

Part 2.

Self-Reflection, which you compose under your Wordless Book on the Unit 2 page of your personal Google website. (Hint: Did you share your Wordless Book "Public on the Web" so we can see it? Thanks!)

Homework: 12CP: None. Honors Students/ Extra Credit College Preparatory Students: Continue with The Willoughbys, by Lois Lowry. Here is the accompanying assignment.

LESSON EIGHT: THE WILLOUGHBYS, THE ORPHAN MOTIF, AND LESSON PLANNING

By the end of class, you will be able to... summarize the narrative structure of a children's book that is full of irony.

Homework: 12CP: None. 12H: Prepare your The Willoughbys lesson.