According to Reading Rockets, "Research has shown the positive effects of improvised story dramatization on language development and student achievement in oral and written story recall, writing, and reading. Learn how to integrate story dramatizations into the classroom, using stories that students are familiar with." Click here to learn more.
ELL
According to Reading Rockets, "Research has demonstrated that the most effective read-alouds are those where children are actively involved asking and answering questions and making predictions, rather than passively listening. This article describes in detail a technique for a three-step interactive read-aloud using sophisticated storybooks." Click here to learn more.
Extensions
Extensions from Read-Write-Think
Give students further practice rewriting fairy tales using the Fractured Fairy Tales tool. Students can choose from The Princess and the Pea, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Little Red Riding Hood and can print off their list of changes to the story which they can then rewrite either on- or offline.
Susan Stein's Fairy Tale Unit is an excellent unit for teaching fairy tales using a wide variety of activities. This site also includes information about "fractured" fairy tales, which are modern fairy tales with a twist, like The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch. Another example, The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by John Scieszka, is included in Fractured Fairy Tales & Fables. These "fractured" fairy tales can be compared and contrasted with the original stories on which they were based.