No babies in our bathwater! DON'T FORGET JUNIOR GREAT STORIES!

I just finished designing and typing up some lesson plans for a readers' workshop that includes the use of a Junior Great Book story. "The Green Man" while in Series 3, is a GREAT text to read with our second grade students. It not only supports multiple standards within the unit, but it also supports the theme of "seasons". The myth-based story by Gail E. Haley, takes a reader through the journey of a rich, arrogant young man who learns to live in the forest (for a year) and experiences quite a change of character in the process. 

Following a brief time to dig into prior knowledge (schema) and visualize and empathize, all students listen to their leader (teacher) read aloud the story-in its entirety- with expression and think alouds. Students jot down questions and note places where they think something is really important (the thinking strategy of focus). Upon completion of the first reading, students' questions are shared out and only literal ones are answered. Deep inferential questions are recorded and students choose ONE Keeper Question to ponder as they reread the text over the next couple of days.

Day Two is filled with small group work that includes rereading the text and taking Directed Notes-noting places where the main character changes. Students ponder, discuss, and defend their thinking, while the other group creates a mental images of an important part and crafts a sentence caption.

Day Three is action-packed and allows students time to practice defining and using rich vocabulary, as well as engage in a rich Shared Inquiry discussion.

Days Four and Five offers the other small group the same opportunities the first experienced.

While the Leader's Edition offers teacher leaders excellent guidance, it also includes writing opportunities and assessments. These stories are RICH, DEBATABLE, and LEAD TO CRITICAL ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF TEXT. So many are myths, fables, and legends and completely support your ELA units and Standards. (Trickster Tales, Native American legends, Folktales, Fables, Fairytales, stories from other countries, etc.) 

JGBs must NOT get washed away!

If you're concerned that you might miss out on parts of your ELA Unit... never fear, in the words of the Beatles, "We can work it out." Remember, we're about keeping the Tried and True and Infusing the New! No babies in our bathwater!