Moving Toward Acceptance Through Picture Books and Two-Voice Texts

Materials and Technology

Printouts

Preparation

 

MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGY

• Whoever You Are by Mem Fox
  
  
• Multiple copies of Weslandia by Paul Fleischman
  
  
• Multiple copies of Insects Are My Life by Megan McDonald
  
  
• Multiple copies of Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices by Paul Fleischman
  
  
• Transparency of a two-voice poem or a two-voice poem written on poster board or butcher paper
  
  
• Computer with Internet access and printer
  
  
• Index cards
  
  
• Reading/writing journal
  
  
• Online Audio Version of Example Two-Voice Poem

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PRINTOUTS

• Comparing "Whoever You Are" with Our School (sample Venn diagram)
  
  
• T-Chart for Book Groups
  
  
• Two-Voice Poem Planning Sheet
  
  
• Two-Voice Poem Drafting Sheet
  
  
• Two-Voice Poem Peer Review Sheet
  
  
• Two-Voice Poem Rubric
  
  
• Reflection Questions
  
  
• Two-Voice Poem Student Example: "The Lunch Room" to use as a model
  
  
• Sample Annotated Poem

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PREPARATION

1. Consult the Tips for Confronting Bullying and Intolerance and some of the Web resources referenced in the Extensions section for ideas on handling the topics of tolerance, bullying, and acceptance with sensitivity.
   
   
2. Obtain copies of the texts Whoever You Are, Weslandia, Insects Are My Life, and Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices.
   
   
3. Make sure that students have access to computers Session Two. Test the Venn Diagram interactive and familiarize yourself with the tool to ensure that you have the Flash plug-in installed. You can download the plug-in from the technical support page.
   
   
4. Review small group discussion procedures with students.
   
   
5. Review the Sample Venn Diagram to get ideas you may want to suggest as students complete their own diagrams.
   
   
6. After Session Two, write each situation from the "Our School Right Now" section of the Venn Diagram the class created on a separate index card. For Session Four, these cards will need to be put in a bag or box to be drawn by student pairs.
   
   
7. Make necessary copies of handouts.
   
   
8. For Session Four, arrange for a colleague, administrator, or parent volunteer to read examples of two-voice poetry with you.
   
   
9. On a transparency, poster board, or butcher paper, prepare a poem of your choice from Joyful Noises so the class can examine the poem visually and annotate its features.
   
   
10. Prepare a blank Venn Diagram and T-Chart on a transparency or butcher paper for use in full class discussion.

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