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Chapter 5: Traditional Literature

            Every time I think of traditional literature I think of “once upon a time” and as a little girl long time ago, I never believed that it wasn’t real. Traditional literature’s main purpose is to capture imagination and capture faith. The best stories were told because of imagination- stories born of the oral tradition. Stories were handed down from generation to generation just by word of mouth. These traditional stories have come from many countries and many cultures from around the world. All of these stories have similarities from one country to another. People from around the world have reshaped through multiple retellings to fit the needs of the audiences of a particular place or time. There are six categories of traditional literature:

A Fable is a brief story in which the moral is explicitly stated. Universal lessons are learned that reflect the morals and values of a person within a culture.

A Myth explains aspects of culture or how something came to be in the natural world. Supernatural animals and people become a part of the mythical world.

A Legend is a traditional narrative based on historical truth. Usually of courage, heroes, and/or unusual occurrences.

Religious Stories are of important events and people of different religions. Usually involving peace, hope, faith, forgiveness, and/or salvation.

Tall Tales are exaggerated humorous stories of characters that perform impossible acts. Tall tales are usually based on frontier settlement and hard work.

Folktales are perhaps of a fairy human, or animal tale passed down by word of mouth. Folktales are universal truths that reflect the values of the time.

            A good teacher I believe has a lot of traditional literature in her classroom. She allows her students to explore the world of traditional literature and inspires creativity and imagination through every child. Children love stories and if I can capture their interests through fables, myths, legends, tall tales, religious stories, and folktales then I know I’m doing my job right. As a teacher, I believe we need to create an environment where students will love to read and having a library in the classroom will definitely stimulate their minds to keep reading. 

Chapter 6: Modern Fantasy

We love Modern Fantasy! At least I hope so- I see no reason why we shouldn't love modern fantasy! It can take us away from the real world to a magical world, full of wonder, mystery, and adventure. Modern fantasy is like a whole new world, where people and/or animals become more than what they really are. The benefit of modern fantasy is that it can bring insight to reality for children. There are two categories of Modern Fantasy, low fantasy and high fantasy.

Stories considered to be low fantasy takes place in the real world but magical elements of fantasy make them impossible. They are usually lighthearted and center on younger children with concerns on home, family, and self-identity. There are three categories of low fantasy:

Animals- these animals have human thoughts, feelings, and language, all of which are human characteristics.

Toys and Objects- displays belief in human characteristics children give their playthings.

Miniature Worlds- involves human emotions in action on a miniscule level.

            Stories considered being high fantasy takes the information and experiences from the real world and projects them into an “other world.” These high fantasy stories have a serious tone and are read by older children. There are six categories of high fantasy:

Time Warps focus on central characters going through challenges such as loneliness, alienation and sensitivity through time travel.

Unreal Worlds take place in fantasy land and where the author makes the world very real to readers.

Ghosts Stories are stories about ghosts and spirits who haunt the real or imaginary world.

Magic Powers is where the characters possess magical powers through voice or objects.

Preposterous Characters/Situations are where characters develop vivid and descriptive images of features and actions.

Quest Tales have magical settings and characters from traditional tales of heroism. It’s where good overcomes evil.

            The benefits of modern fantasy are about finding magical beauty, daring imaginations, and untold adventures that are otherwise not seen or told in the real world. Fantasy stories speak to the hearts and minds of children. As a teacher, I want to create a world for my children where they can pretend they’re flying, or pretend they’re super heroes from another world. I believe if we expose modern fantasy in our classrooms, not just the library, they’ll be more susceptible to keep reading.

Chapter 7: Realistic Fiction

      Realistic means having an idea of what could happen or something that can be expected, it doesn't necessarily have to come true. The fiction part is basically stating that the story is not true. Putting realistic fiction together means that a book is written with realistic events that didn’t actually happen, but could’ve happened. The idea of realistic fiction is to capture the motive that relates to people in their everyday lives. For children, they’re able to connect and perhaps relate it to their own lives as well. Realistic fiction helps children understand the meaning behind many of their unanswered questions. Children are able to see other people’s experiences from a whole new perspective that allows them to become more social, adventurous, and kind.

      Taking in the consideration of ideals when picking a realistic book for your student is very important. Not all students take up the same ambition and therefore that is why it’s important to introduce different kinds of books to students. We cannot be ignorant and think that all students are going through the same phases. Recommending a book is a very important initiative, especially, as a teacher, because recommending a certain realistic book to a struggling student might help with personal problems and will perhaps bring in personal insights to the table and be willing to express their feelings more. As long as the book does not involve obscene or vulgar content, everything else should be helpful and insightful. There are different categories of Realistic Fiction:

Survival/Adventure: Thrilling fast paced plot with conflict between a person and nature. The characters have a control of what happens and change for better or worse as a result of the action. 

Mystery: Suspense with fast paced action and a logical solution foreshadowing questions through clues. Involves: who, what, when, and where.

Humor: Involves characters going through funny situations.

Animals: Characters grow and change because of the relationship they have with an animal.

Sports: Action revolves around the tensions and thrills that involve around a particular sport.

Family: Based on both traditional and nontraditional family values longing for responsibility, loyalty, or unity to overcome conflicts.

Growing Up: Characters learn how to cope with independence and are confronted with mixed feelings. As well as, having difficulty making choices and/or dealing with challenges. 

Chapter 8: Historical Fiction

           Children need imagination and when they’re at school, children need a lot of it. One good way to help children understand the world around them, before they existed, is to expose to them the importance of living and being active in a world that is so diverse and fast-paced.  Historical fiction brings together the facts and the imagination to life. Since we can never experience the lives if the people and events of the past, we can come close through Historical fiction. It creates a world of wonder for children to know that there was life before them.  It creates a deliberately evoked world that is very different, but has strong connections to our own world. Historical fiction helps children appreciate that everyone places a role in shaping history. The benefits historical fiction has on children is very significant because it conveys a sense of life that was lived and that historical fiction happen to ordinary people. It also benefits children because it broadens their perspective on life and helps them understand that the present and future are linked to actions of the past.

            Historical fiction takes children back in time to places, times, and cultures. It's not about data and facts, but about people and their lives and their stories and as a teacher I want to instill that in my students, because one day, they’ll want to write about their lives and their stories. It will help them get a new perspective on the present and that they too, can create history. There are so many categories for Historical fiction that I know will be of good use to you and myself, in the classroom. Teaching children about:

• ·      Ancient Times
• ·      Medieval Times
• ·      Renaissance Times
• ·      Colonial Times
• ·      Revolutionary Era
• ·      Early Frontier Era
• ·      Civil war
• ·      Post-Civil War
• ·      World War I
• ·      Great Depression
• ·      World War II
• ·      Post-World War II
• ·      Civil Right Movement and so much more! 

Chapter 9: Poetry

Poetry is born; a sense of being that over powers the mere existence of creativity. It captures our every thought through a single soul purpose to be heard and be left unspoken. Poetry is the language of love, friendship, and forgiveness, all for the purpose of emotional exposure. It’s a feeling that takes words to a farther level, beyond thoughts and beyond perspectives. Poetry is magical, musical, and so precise in meaning and value and most importantly, memorable.

            As a child I remember hearing poetry through my mother’s lullabies, and of course, Mother Goose. Children learn that poetry introduces them to new vocabulary, word choice, and helps them broaden their knowledge, understanding and perspective. As a teacher, I want to read poems to my children with passion and delight. Having poems in my classroom library that I personally enjoy, not just for teaching purposes. Children enjoy poetry that contains humor, familiar experiences, and animals. Down below are some categories that might spark interest in future our poets.

CATEGORIES OF POEMS

·      Mother Goose and Nursery Rhymes – Contain nonsensical lyrics and strong rhyme.

·      Jump Rope Poems- Contain rhythm and rhyme.

·      Folk Poems- Folk songs that contain rhymes.

·      Lyrical- Emphasizes sound and picture imagery rather than narrative and dramatic movement.

·      Narrative- Tells a story often with rapid action and chronological order.

·      Free Verse- A poem with no specific form, rhyme, or pattern but evokes strong feeling.

·      Nonsense Verse- Entertaining poems that don’t make much sense.

·      Sonnets- A 14-line rhyming poem in iambic pentameter.

·      Ballads- Focuses on heroism and tragedy.

·      Limericks- A short five-line poem where the first, second, and fifth lines rhyme and have three pronounced beats, while the third and fourth line rhyme and have two pronounced beats each.

·      Concrete Poems- Emphasizes meaning by shaping the poem into a picture.

·      Haiku- Japanese story that consists of three lines.

·      Poetry Novels- An entire novel written in poetic form.

·      Other Forms/ Elements of Poetry- Check out R is for Rhyme: A Poetry Alphabet by Judy Young.

ELEMENTS OF POETRY

·      Rhythm- The beat or movement of words

·      Rhyme Sound Pattern- Affects the musical quality of poetry

·      Imagery- Involves one or more of the five sense- to see, feel, hear, taste, smell, and/or touch by the poem itself.

·      Shape- Words may be organized to add meaning and/or create a visual image of the poem.

As a teacher I know I will be evaluating and selecting poetry for children that are readable, that is correlated to the subject matter, that has diversity and language, as well as good form. By providing a fun, dynamic reading environment for them, I believe they will look forward to reading and participating to the best of their abilities. My students will be prepared and more willing to take part in the classroom, by providing them the opportunity to learn what they love to read most.