Magic Story: Jake O'Shawnasey (Stephen Cosgrove)

 

"Believe in yourself.  You are braver than you think, more talented than you know, and capable of more than you can imagine."

Roy T. Bennett

Author, Accountant, Chairman of the Ohio Republican Party

St. Louis School, Ohio, U.S.A.

When I was a young girl, I took to reading.  Even though I reversed letters, scrambled letters in words, and had some general difficulties due to a learning difference (Dyslexia), I loved stories and was captivated by language.  My brother, on the other hand, fell out of love with reading in a heck of hurry when he started school.  He disliked intensely reading aloud to others and found that reading aloud was difficult.  Much to his dismay and the frustration of my parents who were reticent to drill and kill my brother in phonics at home, his teachers sent home copious worksheets and homework practice and drills to help him become a reader.  My parents, both phenomenal teachers, bought my brother books of all kinds, read to him about things that interested him and immersed him in games about language.  It wasn't until we went on a summer trip to Eastern Canada that my parents figured it out.  We were each given a book of our choice to read along the way with the promise to read a little each day.  My brother chose a book, that my parents were concerned was too difficult for his reading level, about whales.  On one of the first few days of our trip, my brother closed the book and announced that he had finished it.  My parents were skeptical so they started a conversation about what my brother had read.  They asked him general and specific questions with increasing complexity.  He answered them all confidently, right down to the nitty gritty details.  It was then that my parents understood that my brother was actually an excellent reader - just not aloud.  Throughout his young life, they continued to get him books and help him choose books that he would love.  Some of his favourites were the Choose Your Own Adventure novels and the books by Stephen Cosgrove.  I have kept his whole collection of Stephen Cosgrove books because I loved sharing them together with him.  I am also happy to tell you that my brother continues to be an avid reader today although I have never heard him read aloud.  

Terrain (Level of Difficulty):💖

Kit List:

• "Jake O'Shawnasey" by: Stephen Cosgrove  in the Magic Story bag
•  Magic Story Bag
•  feathers (perferably green) in the Magic Story bag
•  some construction paper/bristol board of a variety of colours (9"X12")
• markers, crayons, pencil crayons...
• magazines, glue, scissors
• ribbons or string

The Map:

                                                     

 This is a Magic Story that I have been doing for 37 years!  It is a favourite of mine and often a favourite of the kiddos I have shared it with!  It is light and funny.  It has a good adventure and a fabulous ending.  

I do this story with the children early in September (the beginning of the year for me).  The ultimate message from the story is that you can do many things if you believe in yourself.  I like the message for early in the year because I work a lot on productive struggle with my grade 2 kiddos.  I think that the building of confidence is an essential first step to learning to build skills for productive struggle.

It is important to note that I never ever tell children that wanting to or believing in yourself will allow them to do anything they want to do.  I use the example that in my life, I have loved to run.  I have done a lot of running and I dreamed of winning some big races.  However, my genetics have me in a shorter, middle sized frame with large breasts which are not conducive to being a champion runner.  I have a trophy from grade 4 when I beat Catherine Bond (who later became a representative of Canada's olympic team in decathalon) which is just a funny reminder of my very short successful running career.  Sometimes, our skills and gifts don't lend themselves to something that we'd like to do.  It doesn't mean we shouldn't try but it does mean we need to have realistic expectations and focus our attention in areas where we can excel and be successful.  This conversation is also a nice segue to why working in a team is so important.  We have all have different gifts and talents.

The gift for the children from this book is a green feather.  I tell the children that Jake is giving them a feather to remind them to believe in themselves.  Because this is often one of the first fiction stories where the main character gives them the gift, I explain how when I go to the Magic Backyard, I get instructions from the character.  There are always a whole lot of questions, challenges and ideas about the Magic Backyard.  Get ready to sell it!  

There isn't much to this lesson and sometimes it is okay to just enjoy the story for the sake if the story but it is a nice story to match with an activity I was shown many moons ago.  The children make paper kites.  I use just the 9"X12" construction paper or bristol board.  The children put their names on it and decorate it with pictures that they draw or cut and paste of their favourite things.  If you can hang them from the ceiling, do that!  It is so attractive!  We can't due to fire safety regulations so I hang them on a bulletin board.  I attach a coloured ribbon or string to the bottom of the kite.  While the kites are nice and I like to let the children choose their favourite colours, it is the tail of the kite that I think is more important with this story.  I have a pocket of slips of paper where the children can access them .  At first, I ask the children to write 3 things that they are really confident about or things they like about themselves.  I tape those to the ribbon.  As the year progresses, they can add more slips of paper to their tails and they can add slips of paper to the tails of the other children's kites or mine.  At the end of the year, the children have a memory kite to bring home.  The children really like it and the tails can get really long!  When that happens I drape the tail or take some of the slips and glue them to the back of the kite.  

Tip #7:  No Green Feathers:  In the past few years, I have had a great deal of difficulty finding green feathers.  I have used other colours of feathers and more natural ones.  In these cases, I explain to the children that Jake is not losing as many feathers anymore so he went around the Cliffs of County Cort to find feathers for the children.

Adventure Recipe:  Looking for a quick organization of the lesson?  Check out this resource to help you plan your Magic Story time.

• Magic Story Plan 

                       

Magic Story: The Best Part of Me (Wendy Ewald)

"We should embrace what makes us different, our different styles, 

our creativity."

Chantelle Brown Young

Canadian model, Vitiligo

                     Home School (to escape bullies), Mississauga, Canada  

 One year, I was transferred to a new school and began teaching grade 6.  It was early on in my career and I was getting bounced all over the place due to surpluses and redundancies.  My first day with this group was a real eye opener!  They were children who demonstrated zero confidence or appreciation for the great kids that they actually were.  About 20 minutes into the first day, a student burst into the portable and was met with a chorus of giggles and taunts and teasing.  I was horrified!  Standing before me was a young boy, small in stature.  He had old, torn clothes, no backpack, and he was obviously in need of some personal care.  He had a mouth full of teeth that protruded and when I smiled at him and he smiled back, I noted what a sweet young man he was!  His smile lit up his face even when I know how hard he was holding back his tears.  I worked really hard at trying to pull that group together and help my little friend fit it.  In fact, I taught them for 3 years.  I was so thrilled when he found a little group of boys that he felt comfortable with and I used to happily remark how they played together and teased each other in much more supportive and comfortable ways.  Once I said to him, "You are a great person and I really like having you in my class."  His response was quiet and sullen.  "There is nothing great about me!"  It was at that moment that I realized that my best efforts with him were not going to improve his academics if I didn't help him see that he was capable, powerful,and awesome.  In fact, I realized what I had always known but rarely purposefully and reflectively planned about.  If a person doesn't feel adequate... better yet, worthwhile, there is little chance that any of the learning that occurs will have much effect.  

Terrain (Level of Difficulty):💖💖💖

Kit List:

• "The Best Part of Me" by: Wendy Ewald  in the Magic Story bag
•  Magic Story Bag
•  photo album with sticky pages (not slots)  in the Magic Story bag
•  student use camera or phone  in the Magic Story bag
•  blackline masters for students to complete (free)  in the Magic Story bag
• pencils, crayons, markers...

The Map:

                                                     

 

I have a scheduled time each week for Magic Story but in the first month of school, I like to have a Magic Story everyday.  This builds the enthusiasm, magic and excitement for Magic Stories to come.  It also helps take that community building that we all do at the beginning of the year to the next level - from "Oh no!  More school work!" to "Wow! This is school work?"

Before I begin, I think it is important that you know the basic background of the story that I tell.  The Magic Backyard, for me, is a place where all the characters of all the stories of all the world live.  Each time I go there, one of the characters will fill my bag with their story and a little gift for the children to help them remember the story.  This was how I started and as you will see with each new blog post, it has turned into a whole way of thinking and doing in my classrooms.  In fact, each year, my students decide whether they would like to be an official Magic Backyard class and fulfill the responsibilities of it.  More about that another time.  

I always hang my Magic Story bag where the kids can see it and where they don't have ready access to it.  It is a good time to explain to children about personal property and respect for it.  I use my Magic Backyard to back me up instead of making it another lecture.  For example, I go over the history of the Magic Bag and how I received it when I was very young and only I hold the key to the Magic Backyard.  All the characters of all the stories of all the world have entrusted me with this bag and this key and it is really important that I keep both safe.  In addition, I would feel sad if the characters in the Magic Backyard felt that they couldn't trust my kiddos and decided that stories would not be offered this year.  "I know this is the same with your special things too," I tell them.  "We all need to be very careful to respect the trust and special-ness of each of our personal items."  It is important in these first few days with your Magic Story bag to be able to sell it.  My story has grown over time and often based on the questions of the children.  (Remember what you build on your story though because if you stay at the school, future siblings will test you!)

This is probably a good time to talk about older students and how they respond!  My father taught high school from before I was born.  We have always talked about how people of all ages enjoy magic and fun.  He had stickers and stamps for his students and when I went to the same high school, I used to hear all of my friends rave about which ones they got.  I've taught, now, all of the grades from kindergarten to 8 in regular classes and special environments.  I have never forgone my Magic Story bag or my story.  My grade eights tested me a whole lot less than the grade 1 students that I taught this year, in fact.  Of course, you want to change the direction a little but my grade 8 students cheered as loudly as my primary students when the bag came out and we all sat down to enjoy a story together.  It's about how you sell it.  

Note:  I posted my first blog to FB last week and both a former school custodian and a former grade 7/8 student commented that they remember the Magic Backyard and really loved it.  I worked with both of them more than 15 years ago.  

When, it's story time, I gather the students around me.  We don't sit in chairs and desks for stories.  It's a great time to come to the carpet, go outside, or go to another cozy place in the school to read our story.  I take out only the book to start and I read to the students.  I have learned the power of allowing children to interject when they think of something that they feel or connect to...  It's shared reading in the best way.  There are no comprehension questions or boring activities to go with the story.  I read, sometimes they help, and we all enjoy the words and their collected messages.  

After the story, I always like to ask a leading question if the children didn't get there on their own.  For this one, I always say, "It's too bad there aren't more pages because I have some great ideas about the best part of me.  What is the best part of you?"  This sparks all kinds of discussion and I often give children an opportunity to freely talk to each other about their ideas.  Then I will say without calling for their attention specifically beforehand, "Hmmmm!  I wonder what the children from this book sent us as a gift."  I can usually count on immediate attention back to the bag.  That's when I take out the photo album and let the children think about and discuss what they think we should do with it.  Then we take out the camera which is usually a big hit.  Finally, I take out the blackline masters.  Other than cries for "How do you spell...?" I can often hear happy students talking about what they are writing and working together to take pictures of each other.  It's one of those magical and powerful parts of my day that help me to go home feeling good about what was accomplished!

Tip#2:  Your Story Time:  I am getting pretty good at thinking on my feet with regards to my Magic Backyard and Story Bag.  At the beginning, though, I spent some time thinking about what I wanted to share and how I would answer questions.  When you begin, you may not have all the answers to their questions and you may not know your direction yet.  That is absolutely okay!  Many times, when challenged, I have answered with, "that is a question to be answered later" or "I will have to check to see if that's something that the characters are willing to share now."  Sell it and usually you will get some begging but I have had little problem putting the children off until I figure it out.  

It wasn't until I had been teaching the Magic Backyard for more than 20 years that I found myself, again, having to scramble for an answer to a question that I had never been asked and wasn't prepared for.  I was teaching in a small class of children who had varying and sometimes very limiting learning differences (in Ontario, they are called students with developmental delays but I hate that term).  One of my little ones with all kinds of excitement asked me, "Where is your key?  Can we see it?"  Oh no!  I didn't have a key on my ring and no one had every asked me that.  I used my line, "I'll have to check to see if that is something that I am allowed to share first."  That night I went scrambling out to find an old, antique skeleton key which I put on my ring for our next Magic Story.

Tip #3:  Read and Repeat:  The Magic Stories have become some of the best loved stories with my kiddos.  While I don't leave those books out for children to look through on their own, we do refer to them in other lessons frequently, reread them...  Here are some things to think about to help keep a record and enjoy the stories throughout the year.

• Create a bulletin board where you can keep track of the stories that you have shared with an interactive portion where the children can mark their favourites or write what they liked about a story.
• Reread or repeat a story when the message could stand a quick review or rethinking of strategies.  I do "The Best Part of Me" three times throughout the year and keep all of their responses in the book.  It's a great record of how writing has improved but also about how they have grown and changed.  You will note 3 different templates in the files for different stages of writing.  I tend to use the first one in September, the second one in January, and the the third one in June with primary students.
• Keep your own treasure box of the gifts that are received in a place where the children can see that you think they are special too and can remember them.

Adventure Recipe:  Looking for a quick organization of the lesson?  Check out this resource to help you plan your Magic Story time.

• Magic Story Plan 

                       

                                       
 

The Journey to the Magic Backard (Introduction)

"Sometimes it's the journey that teaches you a lot about your destination."

                  Drake

                     Rap Music Artist

                            Weston Memorial Junior Public School

When I was just 13 years old, it was obvious that the best use of my talents and my best money making opportunity would be in babysitting.  I'm not clear anymore (that was a dinosaur's age ago) who taught or sponsored the course but I have been forever grateful to them and my parents for making sure that I took it.  One of our assignments, and the one that has lasted with me all these years, was to create a bag or a box that would be our toolkit when we babysat.  Having helped my Mom with Brownies and being the creative person that I am, I rushed out to get some fabric to create something fun and unique.  It was then that the Magic Story Bag was created and the myth of the Magic Backyard began.  I say that I got the key from my parents because I did.  Right from my early years, they recognized my skills with children and my creativity.  They helped me develop it and have supported me along every adventure I have been on in search of the Magic Backyard ever since.  In it's early stages, the Magic Story Bag held a book with a gift/craft/activity related to the book that was personally sent to the children by one of the characters in the book.  It is the questions of all those children over the past years that has helped me to define more clearly that which I seek and that which I share."

Ye Olde Magic Story Bag
Circa 1983

 

Terrain (Level of Difficulty):  💖💖💖💖💖

Kit List:  

            To start, I recommend making, finding, co-creating your own Magic Story container.  You can name it whatever you like and you can choose to go to a different land.  Be as creative as you can and remember that the best teaching and learning adventures come from your own passions and knowledge.  Use what you know and what you love.

Your Invitation to the Adventure:

    

If you have landed here by some accident, referral or because you know me... you might be asking yourself, "What is this Magic Backyard?" and "Who is she who represents it?"  These are all questions to be looked at in greater detail as time goes by.  I think if you are a parent or an educator, this journey might be interesting, educational and fun for you.  If you are ready for the magic of working with kiddos, then let's look at what's involved.

Should you choose to embark on this journey, BE PREPARED!  It's an adventure of great magnitude and a lifelong pursuit and vocation. It will have many challenges and many levels.  You will be tested in every way - mentally, physically, and spiritually.  You will experience times when it would be easier to quit than push on!  There is no GPS and the destination is so mysterious and illusive that you may never truly arrive there.

Should you choose to embark on this journey, it is best that you accept that it is the journey that is more important that the destination.  You will need many tools and your backpack will be heavy.  Don't worry!  You can pick up new tools and discard others along the way.  Wise adventurers will do that!  You will need to be shrewd and smart and very strong!

Should you choose this journey, I will be your guide.  I have a map and some ideas to help you.  But, you will choose your own route, your own tools, and your own method of travel.  

So are you coming?  Let's get started!  Where are we going?  We're headed to the Magic Backyard, of course.  I am Lisa Moffatt and I will be your guide!

Tip #1:  The Bag/Box:  While your talents with sewing and building may not be stellar, it is important that you choose materials and a size that will endure a whole lot and fit what you need to carry.  I took the largest book in my library to measure for what I needed and left width to fit props, gifts, craft materials...  Ye Olde Magic Story Bag is the one that I still use!  It's part of the myth and the magic.  I think, in my case, it is appealing because it looks old and hand-created with lots of sewing mistakes and, now, a little bit of filth from the ages.  The bag started my creative juices flowing and helped me put all of my philosophy into a "bag" that fits together.  For the children, it is part of the lesson.  For me it has become a symbol of what I believe in as an educator.  I would love to see photographs of the bags, boxes, baskets or containers that you make or use.  Please feel free to share!

Adventure Recipe:  Looking for some resources to help you start thinking about your myth and magic and philosophy?  Check out these resources.

•   "Teach Like A Pirate,"  by:  Dave Burgess
•   "Dictionary of Imaginary Places" by Alberto Manguel and Gianni Guadalupi