Lauren Stringer joined us for the fourth Family Reading Night of the school year last evening. After introducing her family, cats, and work space to the audience, she showed how she created the artwork for Tell Me About Your Day Today (written by Mem Fox). Everyone was astounded at the number of drawings and paintings she did as she tried to figure out "the who, the what, the why, and the way the whole wild thing turned out okay."
Then something amazing happened. She - along with a talented first grader - taught the audience to fold fortune tellers that were pre-printed with the character names from the book, weather events, objects, and a possible wild ending. They folded carefully and began trying out their story-gami tellers and telling stories. Next they wrote down and illustrated those stories. Sometimes, the whole room was buzzing with a silent concentration! Readers and listeners shared those clever stories - and took home the storytellers to begin again. What a clever and engaging activity for young and old readers and writers!
this would be a wonderful way to spend a bitter day inside or a long car trip. how inspiring.
ReplyDeleteWhat great ideas! I will bring one for you to see/use.
DeleteSo very exciting, I want to do it!!!! Madame Jewel, do you teach in a private school, I wonder?
ReplyDeleteCould I send one to you? My school is a public school.
DeleteOoooo . . . I want one, too! That Lauren: she is amazing!
ReplyDeleteI will send one to you this week.
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