Purpose
This text set has been created to support the second grade classes at the elementary school where I work. The district has just purchased and rolled out a brand new ELA curriculum. The materials in this text set will address the essential question and anchor text for an upcoming unit entitled “Many Characters, Many Points of View.” In the unit, students will learn about the different points of view from which an author can write. They will then compare texts that demonstrate each of these.
This is the model for a poster that the classroom teacher will create while teaching the different points of view. Although this example is from a fifth-grade class, the second-grade teacher can pare it down to grade appropriate content as s/he teaches the unit. The information in the poster will be slowly filled in over the course of the unit of study. This will be displayed in the classroom and referred to with each new story or piece of text that the students encounter. The teacher may us as much or as little as s/he finds appropriate for the students in class. The teacher should also include specific examples from the anchor text in order to explicitly demonstrate the concept to such young readers. The original poster can be found here.
This is the model for a poster that the classroom teacher will create while teaching the different points of view. Although this example is from a fifth-grade class, the second-grade teacher can pare it down to grade appropriate content as s/he teaches the unit. The information in the poster will be slowly filled in over the course of the unit of study. This will be displayed in the classroom and referred to with each new story or piece of text that the students encounter. The teacher may us as much or as little as s/he finds appropriate for the students in class. The teacher should also include specific examples from the anchor text in order to explicitly demonstrate the concept to such young readers. The original poster can be found here.
This Prezi, created by Vlatka Tor, tells the story from Papa Bear’s perspective. Although there are some typographical errors, the creator of the Prezi did a great job of sharing the story through the eyes of a compassionate, loving father. The pictures add detail and help the reader imagine the family of bears as they picnic and walk through the woods near their home. The vocabulary complexity is appropriate for second grade, and the digital format adds variety to the text set. Additionally, the use of a Prezi integrates technology and literature in a way that increases visual interest in the story.
Believe Me, Goldilocks Rocks! By Nancy Loewen. This children’s print book imagines the well-known story from the perspective of the youngest bear. Baby Bear, as he is known, is a bit mischievous and his parents are attempting to teach him to be more respectful and well-behaved. This is a fun read written from a perspective that children will find believable. This piece is slightly more complex than the original because Baby Bear uses justification and some sarcasm in the telling of his tale. The more advanced readers and linguists in class will benefit from the challenge of investigating the meaning behind Baby Bear’s inferences. The English Learners and less advanced readers will still be able to access the text using the vibrant illustrations that tell the story from Baby Bear’s point of view as well.
Me and You by Anthony Browne. This retelling of the Goldilocks classic provides two points of view. The left- hand page of the book is dedicated to a graphic novel retelling of the story. In this version, Goldilocks is a young girl in the dark and dangerous city. She becomes lost and ends up in the Bear family’s home. On the right-hand pages, Baby Bear tells the story. Young children will relate to Baby Bear’s comments about his boredom with his parents’ conversation and his dismay at the state of his porridge, bowl and bed. The graphic novel provides two important features. First, it allows struggling readers to access the story by telling it in their own words. Secondly, it provides a context in which modern urban dwellers can connect to the story. Many of these students have never experienced the forest or learned about wildlife in their six or seven years of life. However, they can relate the fear of being lost in the city, and the desire to find food and shelter. Mr. Browne’s graphic take on the novel brings those students closer to the content of the anchor text.
Fairy Tale Comics: Classic Tales Told By Extraordinary Cartoonists. The illustrator of this comic is Graham Annable. This version of Goldilocks has no text. It would be a wonderful piece to use as an introduction, allowing students to “tell” the story on their own, basing their version purely on the comic illustrations. English learners will benefit from this introduction because they can use their personal prior background knowledge in order to begin building meaning about the story before hearing the anchor text.
Brainpop: “Point of View” video which can be found here. This link will take teachers to Brainpop which is a paid service. My teachers have the login information to access this video. Tim and Moby, the Brainpop video characters, describe the different points of view that authors use. They provide examples that are appropriate for elementary-aged students. The use of cartoon characters engages the imaginations of young people. The language that Tim, the narrator, uses to explain point of view is concise and simple to understand. However, due to the speed at which the video progresses, English Learners may find it difficult to comprehend the information in the video the first time they hear it. Viewing it more than once perhaps in a small group, teacher-led setting, will help them to access the knowledge in the video.
Goldilocks and the Just Right Club (After Happily Ever After). This spin on the traditional story takes readers on a journey that shares Goldilocks version of the events. This text is appropriate for the most advanced readers in class. This is due more to length than to vocabulary complexity. There are few illustrations in the text and because of this, they do not lend themselves to increasing understanding. They are too few and scattered throughout this short chapter book.
“Point of View,” a poem by Shel Silverstein, can be found here. The poet provides an ironic look at the great holiday meals that we all enjoy. He points out that if we were the turkey, lamb or seafood that is being served to all of the guests. The language in the poem is not complex, however, the ideas presented are quite intellectual. While all students, especially our English Learners will benefit from the rhythm created by the poem, only advanced readers will truly grasp the irony behind the rather simplistic words.
Goldie Socks and the Three Libearians by Jackie Mims Hopkins and John Manders. In this version of the story, Goldie Socks wants to find a “just right book.” She also, like many of us, is looking for the “just right” place to read that book. All readers will find value in this retelling. The illustrations are whimsical, yet students that regularly visit their school library will find comfort in the normalcy of such an adventure. The simplistic language makes this a fabulous read-aloud for either the entire class or small groups. This low-complexity text also lends itself to partner reads.
Goldie Locks has the Chicken Pox by Erin Dealey. This picture book tells the story of Goldie Locks’ struggle with the chicken pox. Fans of fairy tales will be delighted by the appearance of beloved characters like Jack Be Nimble, Bo Peep and Little Red Riding Hood. However, English Learners and others who do not have strong background knowledge of fairy tales may find themselves confused by these references. Therefore, this print book is best suited to enrichment activities with advanced readers.
Goldilocks and the Three Bears as told and illustrated by Gennady Spirin. This beautiful print rendition of the original story is most notable for the amazing illustrations. They bring to mind ancient illustrated manuscripts with their details and colors. This text mirrors the complexity of the anchor novel while also mirroring the point of view from which the story is told. This is a great piece to use as review at the end of the novel. Its illustrations also lend themselves to a study of the variety of ways illustrators have told us stories over the years. Advanced readers could benefit from this as an enrichment activity.
Previously by Allan Ahlberg. This children’s book provides a fun look backwards in time from Goldilocks rush to escape the Bears’ home, back through encounters between a variety of fairy tale beings, to the “once upon a time” when all of these stories began. Language complexity is simple in this text, yet the ideas presented are not. Teachers can use this as an example of the progression of a story, perhaps by showing students how many fairy tales begin with “once upon a time,” but this one ends in that way. However, this is a complex concept for more than the most advanced readers in class.
Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs by Mo Willems. Mo Willems tells the familiar story with a twist. A family of dinosaurs sets up a trap for their unsuspecting visitor. By lucky chance, she escapes and both Goldilocks and the dinosaurs learn some valuable lessons. All readers will enjoy the quirky illustrations in this print book. Due to the low level of complexity, in both language and concept, all students will be able to access the themes and messages in the text.