Extending the multi-cultural literature base of a reading program through experience with folk tales

Our school district supports the use of the basal approach for reading instruction. This project is intended to extend the literature base of the folk tale unit that is included in the basal reader for grade five. The unit on folk tales in the reader consists of only three stories, one story from each of these cultures--Chinese, African and American Indian. This project extends the offerings of the unit with many works of quality literature to provide a print rich environment. Such an approach gives students a chance to explore the genre in-depth and to interact with the other children as they create constructs from their reading. Learning centers and teacher-directed sessions were developed to extend the literature base of the basal. Sustaining centers were offered--reading/listening, storytelling, bookmaking, and author centers, as well as ones specifically representing the three cultures