In Fairy Tale Philosophy, students will learn Common Core State Standards aligned reading comprehension skills such as: asking and answering questions about key details in a text; retelling stories to include the beginning, middle, and end; and identifying the elements of a story (characters, setting, plot, etc.). Students will also engage in analytical discussion of the text using Accountable Talk strategies to reveal each tale’s Big Idea. The Big Idea serves as the philosophical point of discussion and character building for the week. 

This course meets two times a week for ten weeks. Each lesson lasts for forty-five minutes. Each week contains two lessons inspired by the weekly fairy tale, Lesson A and Lesson B. 

Lesson A includes: a vocabulary mini-lesson, read aloud, reading comprehension questions and discussion, a mini-lesson on target reading comprehension skills and strategies, a comprehension based activity or game. 

Lesson B includes: a vocabulary review and game, a mini-lesson on a targeted Accountable Talk strategy, a discussion of the text using Accountable Talk principles, a close reading of a focal portion of the text, a game or activity inspired by the featured fairy tale’s “Big Idea.”  

Research based, best practices and methodologies used to teach this course include: Accountable Talk, Robust Vocabulary, Common Core State Standards (K-2 ELA), Close Reading, Read Alouds, Think Alouds, and more!

The course calendar is as follows:
Week 1: “Hansel and Gretel,” highlighting the Big Idea: Don’t judge a book by it’s cover, for sweet appearances can be deceiving.
 ‣ Accountable Talk: Introduction
 ‣ Vocabulary: Example and non-example
 ‣ Reading Strategy: Making Predictions
 ‣ Reading Skill: Retell using “a trail of breadcrumbs” 
 ‣ Character Building Skill: Don’t judge a book by its cover mystery game and activity.

Week 2: “The Princess and the Pea,” highlighting the Big Idea: Learn the facts before jumping to conclusions. 
‣ Accountable Talk: Respectful conversation 
‣ Vocabulary: Example Generation
‣ Reading Strategy: Visualize
‣ Reading Skill: Asking questions 
‣ Character Building Skill: Learn the facts before jumping to conclusions. Students craft questions and conduct an interview in our in-class game show “The Perfect Princess.” 

Week 3: “Chicken Little,” highlighting the Big Idea: Do not believe everything you hear.
 ‣ Accountable Talk: Accountable Listening
 ‣ Vocabulary: Categorization
 ‣ Reading Strategy: Making Inferences 
 ‣ Reading Skill: Sequencing
 ‣ Character Building Skill: Don’t believe everything you hear. Students learn about reliable sources. We play a game of telephone pictionary. 

Week 4: “Rumpelstiltskin,” highlighting the Big Idea: To tell the truth. 
 ‣ Accountable Talk: Rephrase
 ‣ Vocabulary: Synonyms and Antonyms 
 ‣ Reading Strategy: Turn back to the text
 ‣ Reading Skill: Main Idea and Details
 ‣ Character Building Skill: To tell the truth students play a game of two truths and a lie and act out scenarios in which they practice telling the truth. 

Week 5: “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” highlighting the Big Idea: Do not allow pride to stand in the way of truth. 
 ‣ Accountable Talk: I agree and I disagree
 ‣ Vocabulary: Sentence Generation
 ‣ Reading Strategy: Cause and Effect
 ‣ Reading Skill: Story Elements 
 ‣ Character Building Skill: Do not allow pride to stand in the way of truth. Craft character paper dolls. Design outfits and accessories to honor their character traits. 

Week 6: “The Gingerbread Man,” highlighting the Big Idea: Arrogance often leads to trouble. 
 ‣ Accountable Talk: Explaining reasoning 
 ‣ Vocabulary: Example and non-example
 ‣ Reading Strategy: Making Inferences
 ‣ Reading Skill: Problem and Solution
 ‣ Character Building Skill: Arrogance often leads to trouble. Act out scenarios of being a “good winner” and a “sore loser.” Students play games and practice award winning behavior. Students learn to share the stage and give compliments. 

Week 7: “Jack and the Beanstalk,” highlighting the Big Idea: Think before you act. 
 ‣ Accountable Talk: Adding on 
 ‣ Vocabulary: Example Generation
 ‣ Reading Strategy: Point of View
 ‣ Reading Skill: Summarizing
 ‣ Character Building Skill: Think before you act. Students play an in-class board game, number of spaces moved pertain to points earned in “Think Before you Act,” a beanstalk themed version of chutes and ladders. 

Week 8: “The Golden Touch of King Midas,” highlighting the Big Idea: Appreciate what you have. 
 ‣ Accountable Talk: Asking questions 
 ‣ Vocabulary: Categorization 
 ‣ Reading Strategy: Text to Text connections
 ‣ Reading Skill: Background Knowledge
 ‣ Character Building Skill: Appreciate what you have. Students create a gratitude list and make a thank you card for someone special. 

Week 9: ““The Ugly Duckling,” highlighting the Big Idea: Embrace what makes you unique. 
‣ Accountable Talk: Providing examples
‣ Vocabulary: Synonyms and Antonyms
‣ Reading Strategy: Compare and Contrast
‣ Reading Skill: Author's Message
‣ Character Building Skill: Embrace what makes you unique. Students create a “my gifts” list, celebrating what makes them unique. Students create an award for themselves and present it to the class. Students engage in a conversation about diversity. 

Week 10: “Pinocchio,” highlighting the Big Idea: Let your conscience be your guide. 
 ‣ Accountable Talk: Asking for clarification
 ‣ Vocabulary: Sentence Generation 
 ‣ Reading Strategy: Text to Self connections
 ‣ Reading Skill: Drawing Conclusions 
 ‣ Character Building Skill: Let your conscience be your guide. Students play a game of good choice/bad choice. Students create an imaginary B.F.F. to help them make thoughtful choices.