If I were using this book in my own classroom, first I would
enthusiastically read it aloud to the class. After gaining their
interest I would read it again, this time pausing, allowing the children
to count the number of objects they see on the page before I read it. For
example, I would read, "For our trip to Maine this summer, we packed,
class how many babies do you see on this page?" Not only does this get
the children involved, but it allows them to verify that the number, in
fact, corresponds to the illustration.
Also throughout this activity, I would pause to ask questions such as,
"have any of you driven on a road trip with your family? Has anyone ever
seen a slug before? Has anyone ever helped their dad or mom make a pie?"
With this diversion I hope to bring the chidlrens' own personal
expereinces into the lesson, making it more personal and significant to
their own lives.
I would also engage the children in a prediction exercise: I would
allow them to predict the next number before turning the page. Not only
does that allow them to be involved with the story, but it gives them a
steak in the answer, giving the reading a sense of purpose.
After the book was read, I would ask the children to look around the
room and think about a story our class could write modeling the story
just read. For example, I could start the children off with one
blackboard, and they would come up with the rest. I would challenge them
to go beyound Smiths' book and find up to 25 items.
As a teacher using this book I might ask the children to do a homework
assignment on going grocery shopping with their parents and counting the
number of vegetables bought, cereal boxes, fun foods(i.e.dognuts, chips
etc.) and reporting the findings to the class. Not only does this
demonstrate their knowledge of numbers, but it reinforces their
understanding of categories. Of course, as a teacher, I would use a
mini-lesson to go over the food categories to be encountered in a grocery
store, such as fruits, vegetables, dairy products, etc. I would also
send a note to parents asking them to help their children, when
necessary. By doing this, I hope to get the parents involved in their
child's learning while assuring the student that the lessson is re
levant and important to their understanding.
An activity such as this one could not be assessed in the traditional
way. However, as a teacher, it would be important for me to know that my
students a)understand the story and b)understand the concepts beyond the
story. I would do this by direct discussion and feedback from the
children and discuss what they discovered outside of the classroom.
Depending on how the children liked the story and whether or not the
transition from book concep to application and understanding went, is how
I would decide if the expereince, for them, was a successful one.
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Lesson by Brigett Rosado