The following is a supplement to the article “Tomorrow’s Leaders,” which appeared in the March/April 2016 issue of Literacy Today. The play vignettes were scripts performed by students as part of the Teens for Literacy initiative between Armstrong State University and a local K–8 urban public school.
Play Vignette 1: Reviewing a Recipe Card
D’Ante: Hey Grandma, let’s make some gumbo for dinner.
Grandma: Ok, we can make it together.
D’Ante: I’ll give you the ingredients and you can cook it.
Grandma: I know all of the ingredients by heart, so I’ll tell you what I need and then you can hand me the ingredients.
They are all written down on the recipe card.
First, I need the soup.
D’Ante: Here you go, Grandma.
What do you need next?
Grandma: I will need corn, potatoes, tomatoes, seafood flavoring, and green beans.
(D’Ante hands grandma all of the ingredients she asked for.)
D’Ante: After we put all of those ingredients in to simmer, what do we do afterward?
Grandma: We are going to let the gumbo cook for 30 minutes and then we will fix the plates for dinner.
(Once the gumbo was done and dinner was served, everyone sat at the table and ate.)
D’Ante: This gumbo tastes so good; I feel like I’m in heaven!
Play Vignette 2: Star Study Tips
Narrator: Today we will be telling a story of three students telling how they are studying for an upcoming test.
Brandon: Hey, are you getting ready for the reading test?
Jah’meria: Yeah, I’ve been studying for that since the teacher told us about it.
Vanessa: What study tips have you guys been using?
Brandon: I’ve been using flashcards to study.
I write down a question on one side, say the answer to myself, and check to see if I am right when I turn the card over. I wrote the correct answer on the back of the card.
Jah’meria: Good idea!
I’ve been looking over all of my notes that I took during class.
I am reviewing them and saying them in my own words to make sure I understand them.
Vanessa: That’s smart. What about you, Brandon?
Brandon: Well, I’ve been testing myself.
Jah’meria: I’ve also been re-reading the text and going over all of the bold words.
The bold words are usually the important vocabulary words and ideas to remember.
Vanessa: Another really great way that I’ve been studying is to create songs or raps to help me remember big ideas.
Brandon: Wow, that sounds like fun.
Jah’meria: My teacher also told me that having a quiet spot to study without any distractions is important.
Make sure you have your supplies ready, like pencils, books, and your notebook.
Vanessa: Making a study schedule is also a great way to study.
Decide how to break up the material and study for a little bit of time each day.
Brandon: She also said that you should take detailed notes during class.
If the teacher writes something down on the board, it is important and you should know it for the test. You can also draw a picture while you are studying if it helps you remember your notes better.
Jah’meria: With all of these great study tips, I know how to prepare for any test now!
Play Vignette 3: “Top 10 Reasons to Read” Countdown
Renee: Presenting…the Top 10 Reasons to Read!
Tatyana: Number 1: Reading is used for other school subjects like social studies and math.
Renee: Number 2: It is used in your everyday life.
Tatyana: Number 3: Reading helps you learn different things and have new experiences.
Renee: Number 4: Reading is used to understand the world around us and travel to exciting places.
Tatyana: Number 5: Reading can improve your spelling and language skills.
Renee: Number 6: If you cannot read, you may be cheated out of something. You might not be able to understand an important contract.
Tatyana: Number 7: Reading helps a person follow directions.
Renee: Number 8: Reading is a major part of college.
Tatyana: Number 9: Reading is an important part of getting a good job.
Renee: Number 10: To be able to write well, you also need to be able to read.
Tatyana: So, be sure to read something today and every day!
Play Vignette 4: Reading Aloud to a Sibling and Researching Eric Carle
Petrice: Hey, Jakaila. Have you heard of the author and illustrator Eric Carle?
Jakailia: Yeah, I really enjoy reading them to my younger sister. She loves the illustrations and the stories.
Petrice: Do you read to your sister with lots of expression to make the story more exciting?
Petrice: I do. Did you know that Eric Carle has illustrated more than 70 books, most of which he also wrote?
Jakailia: Wow, I didn’t know that about him. That is really impressive!
Petrice: He is very talented at what he does. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you See? was actually the first book he illustrated. It has been translated into more than 30 languages around the world.
His artwork was created using the collage technique. He cuts and layers paper to create bright and cheerful images.
Jakailia: That’s so interesting. I never knew that about Eric Carle. I know that he also wrote The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
Petrice: Some of my other favorites that he has written are The Tiny Seed and Draw me a Star. A lot of his books are about nature. You should all check out some books by Eric Carle soon.
Petrice and Jakailia: …AND check out the latest edition of the School Times! Extra, extra, read all about it…enjoy!
Anne Katz, an ILA member since 2003, is an assistant professor of reading in the College of Education at Armstrong State University in Georgia.