Journeying Children

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book points to focusing on the main themes of the story. This is where students can be engaged to see the virtues of the protagonist and the vices of the antagonist (Lehman & Hickman, 2007). While creating predications, students can learn and discuss the virtuous principles and the character traits that we should aspire to have. One of the ideas I really like from Lehman’s book was assigning students to write letters addressed to the characters within the story and asking them questions or expressing their feeling. Additionally, writing letters from one character to another and creating invitations for the characters to any event they might love. Furthermore, designing a wanted poster for any of the characters specifying why they are wanted …show more content…
Keenan, an elementary teacher, decided to show up to his class school with a sack of mail from the fairy tale characters his students loved. The children were able to write letters in response to their favorite story characters. Keenan borrowed this idea from the books The Jolly Postman and Other People’s Letters (1986) by Janet Ahlberg. When students responded to these letters, the characters and their messages became even more real. The letters addressed situations in the story and suggestions were made for continuing the story. Also, they gave advice and compliments to the story characters while being encouraged to do the same amongst themselves. In return, Keenan would respond to these letters creating excitement, joy and an increased desire for literature and reading (Holland & Hungerford & Ernst, 1993) …show more content…
If values can be taught and emphasized in the classroom, it will impact and help steer the course for the students in their journey of life. Lehman (2007) provides a list of principles to be instilled within the literary classroom:
First, and uppermost, is love for literature and the ability to immerse oneself in a literary engagement. Second, is freedom for individual choices about what to read, when, where, and with whom. Third, is sharing and valuing different readers’ perspectives and constructing new insights as a community. Fourth, is challenging each other’s points of views respectfully but honestly. Fifth, is regard for the discipline and training of the mind to become readers who find increasing pleasure in reading that is personally meaningful and rewarding. (p.82)
Teaching virtuous principles and character through literature does not need become a stagnant and monotonous task. In, Cases of Successful Literacy, the introduction points to why teachers should be considered professionals and not just providers of wisdom and knowledge. Thus, to quote Csikszentmihalyi (1990) as to why surgeons are seen as
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