Critical Literacy Theory in Kindergarten

Throughout the past few weeks the kindergarten children have been focusing on fairy tales. The children incorporated the scientific method while hypothesizing on what a magic bean might grow into, how many “huffs and puffs” it will take to blow various objects and comparing their results with their predictions. The children used art to illustrate “Cinderella Dressed in Yellow” and sequencing to recreate the story of “The Three Little Pigs”. During Writers' Workshop the children worked in groups of 3-4 to recreate a version of their favorite fairytale. The children began the process by listing the characters, setting and plot of the story. Next they sequenced, rewrote and illustrated their story. They then discussed and agreed upon which characters perspective to retell the story from. The final step was writing their story as a group an including all of the features of the original tale.
During shared reading of our fairy tales we focused on looking at the stories from a different perspective. We began this approach by reading “The True Story of the Three Little Pigs” and a version of Jack and the Beanstalk from the perspective of the giant. We then had discussions about how the same “story” took place, but the protagonist and antagonist were different depending on the perspective taken. This approach was based upon the Critical Literacy theory. Although reading through a critical lens will become more practical and useful as your children grow into expert readers, it was inspiring to see them incorporate the theory and create their own versions of the classic fairy tales. Please take some time to view the videos of your children retelling their stories from a different perspective (all videos are posted on the sidebar; Thank you Tricia!!). Below is some more information that I wrote on critical literacy theory, for those of you that are interested ☺
Critical Literacy theory involves an active, challenging and critical approach to reading. It shows us how to question and analyze the attitudes, values and beliefs of the author that may not be initially apparent. The theory is based upon the belief that as the amount of information sources we have access to increases we, and our students, need to be able to question who is writing the text, who is determining which topics to include or omit and which perspective they are writing from.
As your children are presented with information, whether it is in a newspaper, on a website, from a radio or through conversation, each source is going to have a different perspective and it is essential that they look at these perspectives through a critical lens.
The theory of critical literacy is focused on having your children question and challenge the text by understanding that no text is neutral. Through the use of this theory it is believed that they will become open-minded, active, strategic readers who are capable of viewing text from a critical perspective. They will understand that the information presented in texts, magazines, newspapers, song lyrics and websites has been authored from a particular perspective for a particular purpose.
By teaching your children to approach a text with a critical stance, using their schema to understand the relationships between their ideas and the ideas presented by the author of the text, it is my goal that they will begin to raise questions about whose voices are missing and who gains or loses by the reading of the text. The goal of this theory and practice of teaching is to have your children become active thinkers who comprehend from a critical stance.
Thank you so much for all of your support with the fairy tale unit and I am looking forward to our Avenida de la Playa study, which will kick off with a field trip on January 8th!

Dinosaurs and Dragons

“On the computer I learned how to keep the Earth clean and how to make a Snowman, a Jack-O-Lantern and a Gingerbread Man.” ~J.W.
“In Book Cooks we read ‘Tiny-Rannosaurus’ and we each got to have our own (copy of the book)! I learned that dinosaurs have toothaches. I had a toothache too.” ~T.S.
“I used a lot of colors for my best work at Red Splat table. At Writing Bean table I took my time and sounded my words out and wrote about going to my cousins house. To write the word ‘house’ I looked in my ‘Where’ book because that is the only book I know with the house word in it.” ~J.M.
“When I was working on the computers I learned that one of the computers didn’t work, but then I tried it again ant it worked. Olivia the science teacher visited and I learned that Cheeto (a Bearded Dragon) eats insects and bugs.” ~J.R
“When Olivia visited with Cheeto I learned that he got his name because he has an orange beard like Cheetos.” ~M.E.

Book Cooks & Book Buddies

“At Writers’ Workshop I wrote a letter to Jack from Jack and the Beanstalk.
I want to write a letter to the Wolf from “The 3 Little Pigs” and tell the wolf not to blow down the houses. I practiced writing the (lowercase) letters v, w and t. I wrote t, space, t space, t space etc. At Book Buddies I had with fun with Melanie. I made a snowman bookmark and read books from my book baggie. In Spanish I colored. At recess Matthew and I raced dump trucks down the hill. I played with Matthew. After lunch I walked with Matthew (to practice) for the Fairytale Ball. At Book Cooks we made cookies with my mom and we dipped them in chocolate. I had fun.” ~A.G.

The Fairytale Ball Has Begun

“Today at morning job time we wrote about what art is. Art is painting, drawing, creative and imagination. I wrote about the pillow fight room and the jungle (in The Children's Museum). In the pillow fight room there was a slide and some bouncy walls. In the jungle there was some bouncy mushrooms. After job time we went to the art room and we saw some paintings that Victoria showed us. Victoria is an artist. Wow she is creative! At Todd Time we played freeze tunnel tag and we shot some baskets at basketball practice. I did good because I did really well and I paid attention! After lunch recess we practiced the fairytale song for community meeting (On Friday, December 19th). For community meeting we are going to have a fairytale ball. For the fairytale ball I am going to be a prince and dance with Maya. Lorna is helping us practice.” ~E.E.

The Children's Museum & Nika's Skyscraper

“Today we went on a trip to The Children’s Museum. I drove there with Matthew and my mom. When we got there we had a snack and we went to the playground. At the playground I went on the twisty thing, the swings and the wobbly thing. Melanie was our teacher at the museum. She met us at the park and gave us stickers. At the museum we made anything we wanted out of clay. I made a mini pinch pot and The Statue of Liberty. We got to go in an igloo that was made of books. Then we got to go rock climbing and we went into the pillow fight room. In the rock climbing room we got to climb on any wall we wanted. The pillow fight room was really neat because there was a rope you could use to climb up and then slide down on the mattress. Outside we made bubbles with bubble makers. I made a huge one and I wish I had my bubble maker with a fan in it. After making bubbles I drew a train and a roller coaster ride on the chalk wall. Then we used team work to build a castle and then we pretended we were animals in the aquarium. I was an electric eel. In the shadow room we made shadow puppets. I made a shark and a tree. Then we went to Nika’s Skyscraper house. It was really fun because you can see the trolley from up there. It was really really high, I think it was 10 or 21 feet high, but we had to go to the 29 in the elevator. At Nika’s we had Gingerbread cookies, hot chocolate and rice crispies. We got to take pictures with Lisa J, and we played in the playroom and her room.” ~J.M

Girls and Guitars...

“Our question of the day was ‘Do you know who’s birthday is today?’ it is Peyton’s birthday. At morning meeting we read Cinderella again. At job time we decorated our book baggies and we did handwriting and we did our Fairytale Feedback. Some friends read with Lisa J. After recess we had Todd Time. At Todd Time we did basketball, we threw the ball into the hoop and I got no points. After Todd Time my group read Sleeping Beauty with Tricia, then we drew what happened in the beginning, the middle and the end; but I didn’t finish. The other groups read Hansel & Gretel, Snow White and Little Red Riding Hood. At lunch recess I made guitars with A.R. A.R made it first then I asked if she could help me and she did and I decorated it. After peaceful time we played Flash BINGO. Lisa J flashed the numbers and we had to color them in. I got the BINGO on one. After BINGO we had cupcakes for Peyton’s birthday.” ~H.C.

A Monday After Mammoth

“At morning exploration I played with the tubes in the water table. At morning meeting we shared news. I told the class that I went to Mammoth and now I have to stay in a hotel because my house is under construction. After morning meeting Lauren took us to music. In music we got to do free choice instruments. Then we went to art. In art we used a wooden stick to draw over black paper. I colored it all in. After morning recess we had a meeting about writing two things about our Thanksgiving break. I wrote ‘I went to Mammoth. I went Sledding’. Then we got to practice lowercase handwriting. After peaceful time we read Cinderella. Then we filled out the fairytale chart. At job time I made the cover of my fairytale book. It had Hansel and Gretel’s house.” ~T.S.