Interpretive Discussion

My eight volunteer teaching weeks at the local elementary school conclude this week.

Groups of approximately 10 kiddos meet with me during lunch and recess.  Each day is a different grade level.  While I am glad the workload is coming to an end, I will miss the daily inspiration.

The Program?
Junior Great Books - "An interpretive discussion program that moves students toward excellence in reading comprehension, critical thinking, and writing."

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An unexpected surprise last week was a story with a lesson about clutter...from an African Folk Tale, no less!

Inspired by the unique perspective on the topic, I prepared an additional extension activity for my fourth grade class.  On a giant piece of white butcher paper, I drew an outline of a tree, set out crayons, and asked the students to fill the top branches with words about their lives.

They wrote:     book titles,                  x-box games,               soccer and other sports,         macaroni           and cheese and other food,       markers, crayons, and yarn,            religious ed.,              names of pets and siblings,              and favorite sports teams,                             

and music                    and movies...

(They wrote lots of other stuff too,
but one of the students asked to 

take the end result home 

and I don't have it to refer to.)

The bottom trunk
of the tree
(per the overall
concept
from the
story)
was 
left blank.

The colorful top of the tree was heavy with color and detail.  We discussed all the fabulousness the world has to offer.  And that our story in the text referred to it as, "clutter."  At first the kids were offended.  They thought I was saying their lives were messed up.

The Problem?
The tops of our trees are running out of room.  The clutter (or disorder) of man-made stuff is threatening our empty space.  As we discussed the idea further, I realized their generation will have to be conscious of making their own boundaries in this land of opportunity.  They will be responsible for reducing the clutter.  For increasing the space between the leaves.

These kids are fortunate to be living in abundant times.  They will need to be taught to see below the clutter.  To appreciate the simplicity of the trunk that supports them. To see the forest for the trees.

Pretty tall order :)