I will be using Her Right Foot by Dave Eggers, My Two Blankets by Irena Kobald, and Wishtree by Katherine Applegate for this week's blog. Warning there are spoilers in this post.
Resource for how to critically evaluate children's literacy and what I based this blog on is linked below https://wowlit.org/on-line-publications/stories/storiesi2/15/
What is critical literacy?
Critical literacy is the ability to actively read text in a manner that promotes a deeper understanding of socially constructed concepts; such as power, inequality, and injustice in human relationships. Critical literacy encourages individuals to understand and question the attitudes, values, and beliefs of written texts, visual applications, and spoken words.
* definition provided by http://thinkcritically.weebly.com/critical-literacy.html
How to critically evaluate children's literacy
Amy Edwards, writer of Wow: Connections from the Classroom, states "Literature circles are an instructional engagement that supports democracy by providing a context where students share their responses as well as listen to and consider other perspectives, creating a balance between individual voice and group responsibility." It is very important to present the idea that their are multiple perspectives in this world and hearing them can increase one's knowledge and challenge one's thinking.
Lewison, Flint, and Van Sluys (2002) argue that literacy is multifaceted and defined by four dimensions:
1) disrupting the commonplace
2) interrogating multiple viewpoints
3) focusing on sociopolitical issues
4) taking action and promoting social justice.
Critically thinking about literacy allows the child to ask what is and what if. Examining literacy through multiple perspectives allows the student to engage in global issues and begin to think deeply about social problems occurring in our world today.
As educators it is important to provide opportunities for our students to be able to look at the world through other's eyes. It is also important for them to think critically about the bias that can intrude on literacy and history to shape something the majority wants you to think. Edwards says is perfectly when she states, "It [critical literacy skills] gives them [students] the power to question and to seek answers to complex issues, instead of agreeing to simple solutions."
King George and the Colonists Activity
A good way to have students think critically and from different perspectives is to engage them in an activity where they had to take on those roles. For example in the class I student taught in we were learning about King George and how he unfairly taxed the colonists.
One day we had one of the students be King George and have his parliament meet with him on the rug. King George could tax the colonists on anything they wanted. The colonists each had a cup of skittles and when they were taxed they had to give how many every skittles to the two students who were the tax collectors.
For example King George would tax 3 skittles for wearing jeans. At first the students enjoyed it but after a while of being taxed and losing skittles they started to become angry at the King. If you ran out of skittles you were thrown in jail and could no longer participate. By the end of the activity the colonists all began to chant and try and over throw the king. I loved this activity because it allowed for the students to take on the role of the colonists, King George, and the parliament and understand what it was like during that time.
Two books included in this lesson were:
The teacher I student taught with also taught a lesson on perspective by having all the students get in a giant circle around the room. The rules were that they were not allowed to move from their spot in the circle and they were not allowed to talk until the floor was opened for discussion. My teacher then sat a figure on a stool in the middle of the circle. The students were then instructed to look at the figure and think about what they thought it was. The figure was a nose that you could put sunglasses on. She then called on select students to hear what they thought the figure was. Each student from around the circle thought it was something else from their perspective. They were then allowed to walk around the circle to see all points of view and there was a lot of laughter. My teacher then asked the students how the figure changed depending on what angle or perspective you were looking at it from. After listening to the student's responses she told them that perspective is very important when learning about history. For example some of my students thought George Washington was a terrible person because he owned so many slaves. My teacher responded by saying think about the statue, for us we know slavery is bad but for George Washington that was the "norm" when he was alive. We cannot judge people on their way of living based on what we know now.
*Both of these activities were done in a 3rd grade classroom.
My Two Blankets by Irena Kobald
My Two Blankets by Irena Kobald is about a little girl, nicknamed Cartwheel, and her auntie who had recently moved to a new country for safety from war. She tells the readers through out the story how hard it is to feel comfortable in this new country when she doesn't understand the language. Kobald uses the metaphor of a blanket as her comfort zone that she uses to escape unfamiliarity. Soon she meets a girl who slowly teachers her language to Cartwheel through pictures. Cartwheel slowly starts to learn the new language and slowly feels more comfortable in this new country and begins to weave a new blanket from the new words and memories she has created. In the book Kobald writes, "My new blanket grew just as warm and soft and comfortable as my old blanket. And now, no matter which blanket I use, I will always be me." This book is so important to read aloud to your class. This book not only touches on immigration and the experience of moving to a new country as a refugee and the unfamiliarity that it brings but it also touches on bilingualism and how important it is to embrace both languages and cultures. If I were to use this as a read aloud I would have students predict what would happen and what they thought the blanket meant. At the end of the book I would ask questions and foster an open discussion on cultures and native languages and the importance of patience and being proud of your heritage. I would also make our own class blanket by having students bring in pictures or items that represented their culture to add to their own individual square. I would then tape up each square to make a big blanket and we would talk about how each individual square makes up our classroom. This book allows students the opportunity to step into the shoes of girl who has traveled to a new and unfamiliar country and her struggles of finding her identity in this new country. My Two Blankets fits in perfectly with the two other books listed below as a text set.
For more insight on My Two Blankets click on resources and read the article titled "Nobody Spoke Like I Did": Picture books, Critical Literacy, and Global Contexts by Jon Callow. Below is a quote pulled from the article said by Jon Callow about My Two Blankets.
"My Two Blankets echoes the experiences of many child refugees, giving readers a glimpse into their lives while also building empathy and understanding."
Her Right Foot by Dave Eggers
Her Right Foot by Dave Eggers is a factual book about the Statue of Liberty. This book is written with a comedic voice and is the story of how the Statue of Liberty came to be. One thing that most people don't know is the significance of her right foot, hence the title. Her Right Foot represents moving forward and how the United States welcomes all immigrants and recognizes their struggles and hardships. Liberty is mid stride because she wants to welcome all immigrants by meeting them out at sea.
I apologize about these pictures being sideways. These pictures are pulled from the book near the end. I picked these two pages because it shows the distinct differences between the United States and other countries. It shows the hardships and the wanting to break through the fence to a safer place with more opportunities. I liked how in the second page it says "An unwillingness to rest" which is a perfect description of immigrants and how determined they are for a better life for themselves and their families. This being the reason for the statue being created in mid stride. She being an immigrant herself could not wait in a stance grounded. She needs to move forward to greet those willing to risk everything for a chance at freedom. Even though this book is a factual book it still allows for students to understand the Statue of Liberty's significance and the importance it brings to our history and diversity. It gives student's a chance to see the perspective of immigrants coming to America and fighting for their freedom similar to My Two Blankets with the little girl and her auntie.
Wishtree by Katherine Applegate
Wishtree by Katherine Applegate is written from the point of view of an oak tree named red and her 216 years of memories and stories she has collected in the same neighborhood. Red is also a wishtree. A wishtree is an Irish tradition where people write their wish or hope on a piece of paper or a piece of fabric and tie it to the tree during the month of May. Near the end of the book you realize that the original owner of the green and blue house was an Irish immigrant and she started this tradition in the neighborhood, which primarily housed other immigrants. On page 11 it describes the wishtree tradition for the town in detail.
This book talks about immigration and the importance of community and friendship. It also talks about the importance of community in nature and the differences between the animals that live in Red. I noticed on page 17 that it talks about how some oak trees are both female and male.
"Some trees are male. Some trees are female. And some, like me, are both. It's confusing, as is so often the case with nature. Call me she. Call me he. Anything will work."
I'm not sure if Katherine Applegate, the author, intended for this to resemble gender fluidity but or not to me that is what it seemed like. I think that this is an important topic to bring up in today's society. I have had elementary students already struggle with gender and which gender they identify with compared to the gender they were born with. This would be a great place to stop and talk about it. I would suggest to add some support texts with the conversation that touches more on the topic. I will add more resources for this topic with other blog posts.
On page 27 Applegate introduces Samar and her family who have recently moved into the blue house.
"I have one more community member, although 'visitor' is probably a better way to describe Samar.
....Samar has the look of someone who has seen too much. Someone who wants the world to quiet itself."
Later throughout the book you are told that Samar and her family are Muslim and that is the reason to why they are not welcomed in the neighborhood. Someone even etches the word LEAVE into Red to send that message to Samar. Samar is only ten years old and all she wants is a friend. She even starts the wishtree that year by tying her wish of wanting a friend to Red. With the help of Red and her animal community she helps Samar find a friend in her neighbor, Stephen. Together they put race aside and with the help of Red's illegal talking, become friends. While this is happening with Samar, Red is facing death due to the owner of Stephen and Samar's home, Francesca. Pages 129-140 reveille that Francesca is the granddaughter of the Irish immigrant, Maeve who started the wishtree tradition. Samar and Stephen go on a mission to save Red by finding a journal written by Maeve about the importance of the tree and the sense of community it brings. That year Stephen organized with the help of his school, everyone's wish was the word STAY. This was written for Samar and her family to feel welcomed. Francesca realizes her mistake and makes a speech to the neighborhood saying, "We don't threaten people here. We welcome them. This tree is staying put. And I hope your family [Samar's family] will, too."
What started off as a fun book about the talking trees and animals soon became an important message of acceptance, community, and friendship. Applegate uses the metaphor of a garden to explain the differences in each of the flowers and plants, meaning the people in the community, and what each of their differences brings to that garden.
Below I have included some quotes detailing the man beautiful messages of this book.
"Samar... reminded me there is beauty in stillness and grace in acceptance. And that you are never too old to be surprised." pg. 30
"There it was, surrounding me: my wild and tangled and colorful garden." pg. 195
"It is a great gift indeed to love who you are." pg.41
Commonalities between all three texts:
Each book talks about immigration but from different perspectives. These books would make a perfect text set. Below I have included pages from the book The Reading Strategies Book by Jennifer Serravallo that talk explicitly about reoccurring issues in a text set and multi perspectives. I would introduce the topic of immigration by first talking about the Statue of Liberty with the book Her Right Foot and then move into a differing perspective with My Two Blankets and end with Wishtree. It would also be important to have an activity where the students will take the roles of immigrants like my students with the colonists. I would do this activity after reading the text sets so they already have prior knowledge about immigration.
Resources for bringing awareness to reoccurring issues in a text set pulled from The Reading Strategies Book by Jennifer Serravallo page 213
Resources for multiple text sets with a common theme pulled from The Reading Strategies Book by Jennifer Serravallo page 340
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