US Grade 2 - 4
* This class is set up as an ongoing class so it is a weekly drop-in course.  Subscriptions to this class can start or stop at any time. It will never be cancelled due to low enrollment as I will teach to one learner.

Reading aloud to young readers is incredibly important. It builds vocabulary, improves listening skills, introduces new genres, and sparks a thirst for more books! Each week students will listen to and participate in dialogue about a different folktale. These are not the watered-down Disney versions of stories, but rather a more authentic retelling of cultural tales. I will begin each lesson by locating the country of origin on a map and presenting any background or prior knowledge that is beneficial to comprehension of the tale.

Folktales and legends lend themselves well to student dialogue as students break down the events of the story as the story unfolds. During discussion, students are encouraged to evaluate the actions and motivations of the characters and provide support for their opinions. Traditional tales frequently contain a Central Message pertaining to perseverance, greed, kindness, inner beauty, disobedience, and many more.  I will guide student discussion with prompts to help them uncover the author's message. All that is needed is your learner's enthusiasm for read-alouds and a willingness to share dialogue with others as we delve into the story. 

Depending on the engagement of students and the direction of dialogue, please be aware that this class will often run over the listed timeframe.  

The tales will be read as follows:

09/16-09/20 King Midas and the Golden Touch retold by Charlotte Craft - Greece
09/23-09/27 Sebgugugu the Glutton retold by Verna Aardema - Rwanda
09/30-10/04 The King's Chessboard retold by David Birch - India
10/07-10/11 Rumplestiltskin retold by Paul O. Zelinsky - Germany
10/14-10/18 Rumplestiltskin's Daughter by Diane Stanley
10/21-10/25 The Magic Nesting Doll by Jaqueline K. Ogburn - Russia
10/28-11/01 Lon Po Po retold by Ed Young -China
11/04-11/08 Why the Sky is Far Away retold by Mary-Joan Gerson - Nigeria
11/11-11/15  Hansel and Gretel retold by Rika Lesser- Germany
11/18-11/22 The Empty Pot retold by Demi - China
11/25-11/29  The Sea Serpent's Daughter retold by Margaret H. Lippert - Brazil
12/02-12/06 Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock retold by Eric Kimmel -  Ghana
12/09-12/13 Jack and the Beanstalk retold by Steven Kellogg - England
12/16-12/20 Rapunzel retold by Alix Berenzy - Germany
12/23-12/27 NO CLASS
12/30-01/03 The Three Billy Goats Gruff retold by Paul Galdone - Norway
01/06-01/10 The Emperor's New Clothes retold by Eve Tharlet - Denmark
01/13-01/17 Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters retold by John Steptoe - Zimbabwe
01/20-01/24 The Egyptian Cinderella retold by Shirley Climo - Egypt
01/27-01/31 Monkey retold by Gerald McDermott - India
02/03-02/07  Martina the Beautiful Cockroach retold by Carmen Agra Deedy - Cuba
02/10-02/14 The Rough-Face Girl retold by Rafe Martin - an Algonquin tale from North America
02/17-02/21 Strega Nona retold by Tomi dePaula - Italy
02/24-02/28 The Talking Eggs retold by Robert D. San Souci - American South

The content of this class begins to repeat