Vivian Paley uses the books of Leo Lionni as a staple in her curriculum in her final year as a kindergarten teacher. They do writing assignments, art assignments, story-telling assignments, and classroom discussions all based on his books; analyzing a new one every couple of weeks. Analyzing in a kindergarten class?! I know, right? That's what I thought at first. But reading this book, I was shocked. Sure, they don't analyze the same way you or I would, but in a way, it's better that way. They are more open and honest, less biased, and increasingly curious.
The point was, the kids really got into it; at least, they did when this book was written 15 years ago. They achieved things that never would have been accepted of them because they were challenged and as a class they rose up to that challenge. It didn't matter what challenges or advantages each child may have had, they all worked together to make these books come to life and really delve into their deeper meanings. In kindergarten! Wow.
I want to do this. But I want to start it at the beginning of the school year instead of at the semester. Have it be the theme of a school year and see how each child's growth is reflected in their thinking on these books and have something that unites the class from the beginning to the end. To describe it in a way a former elementary school teacher of mine would have hated - "It's so cool!"
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