 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
Writing a tale about reptiles sheds some light on reading
By PAULETTE LASH RITCHIE © St. Petersburg Times, published April 12, 2001 FLORAL CITY -- The book is 14 by 22 inches. It has 12 pages and colorful illustrations of the story of a hapless crocodile and an equally unlucky snake. Stuck in mud, the terrified reptiles, Crock and Shake, were at a loss until Alley the Alligator and Geico the Gecko came along looking for a nice, peaceful swamp in which to live. They had been warned that Crock and Shake owned "that swamp and they don't take kindly to strangers." They also had heard that it was a lovely swamp, so they went to check it out. When they saw the trouble the crocodile and snake were in, they joined forces, came to the rescue and they all lived happily ever after. The story offers a lesson on helping those in distress. "We almost started with Crock the Crocodile having a toothache," said co-author Michael Malicoate, 10. But, voting frequently, the authors, Jonathan Smith, 9, Monica Sparacino, 9, Janelle Dore, 9, Clinton Nosbisch, 10, and Michael crafted their final story. "We kind of did a lot of voting," said Janelle. "We voted the names, and we all agreed on Geico off that car commercial," Janelle said. "We came up with the characters," said Monica. Americorps member Denise Barber, 35, has been working with these children since September on their reading. "Ms. Barber and all of us" came up with the idea to write a book about a month ago, Monica said. The project taught them much more than reading skills. Monica said she learned, "a whole bunch, how to write and how to make stories." Jonathan learned "always to share and not to be selfish." And Michael said he learned how "to work as a group." "I learned that, too," said Monica. "When you work in a group, you can't bicker and fight." Clinton's lesson was how to write a story. "You have to put animals in the story and make them do action," he said. Janelle learned storywriting skills as well. "I learned that you have to share and that you need to have a setting and characters, an ending, a problem and a beginning," she said. Janelle asked, "Ms. Barber, what did you learn?" "I learned," said their mentor, "how intelligent these children really are and artistic. You give them just a little bit and they take right off with it."
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 
|
Citrus Times |
