Madeline's Rescue, I wish was my own

I read this book to my first grade Friday and showed a Christopher
Plummer video as a follow up.
I'm rather enjoying the fact I bought Madeline sets of class-books
and videos years ago in Whole Language and have such wonderful
resources to use with my Sheltered Immersion first graders. They
really all did think the Eiffel Tower is in Vegas, but I won't go
into all the confusion the casinos have brought to my spring attempts
to teach the landmarks of the world.

Using books and maps, experiences with video and song, food and
visitors I try to build global awareness. Madeline is such a wonderful
series as she goes to London, New York and the Wild West and just all
over. And this series has things I need in teaching reading, rhymes,
pattern, interest and motivation plus a charming female model of
bravery and wit. Bemelman's made a lovely series. Of all of the
versions this one and The Bad Hat (about that irrepressible Pepito)
are my favorites.

My love of this particular story is multi-fold. First Madeline falls
in the canal showing her spunk. A teacher loves this if only for the
"See, what happens," feature. I mean reading that every year is
something that brings me infinite pleasure. Then she is heroically
saved by a dog. And it was just yesterday a student who reads maybe
twenty five words, he screams out God ahead of my saying dog.
Reversals at this age, that's what happened but there was more to it
than that. Just as I read the book and he sat close enough to see I
could look at where he is in a natural way, as a Mom might. That told
me he is tracking words and it made sense to him (because God might
save you)so he is fitting text to logical thoughts-or we used to say
"good guessing" or apprehending. And then I gently referred him to the
picture and he self-corrected to say "dog". Perfect.

Yes she is rescued by a charming hound eventually named Genevieve. As
a child I was extremely afraid of dogs as one tried to bite my stomach
and did make marks at 15 months. I never got quite over the attack. So
I had to build, as I do about many things, ways into my living to
begin to face my fears and aversions and take on the issue. This book
I read over and over as a child to that end. Pretty common I address
those same fears with first graders with this text. Way to go at it ,
not so directly but embedded within story work. This way too, when
they bring over the police dogs for the demo every year we've already
heard about it via a talk Madeline's Rescue spurred. So that is a
great thematic piece. I love to work on "dozens" also at this time
with their twelve little girls in those two straight lines as we look
at number families. So Madeline moves curriculum. Now another fine
feature is the amount of expression one can teach in animating this
text. Terrific.
I suppose my greatest love is the pictorial work in this book. By far
some of the loveliest plates. Bemelmans has the most charming Paris
scenes from Sacre-Coeur to the markets. That alone makes it award
winning. And I give it the big hug from first grade. I am working in
times now where public education is being destroyed in areas of
poverty under "reforms' and I just decided I would teach this and I
would allow these children to experience the pleasure of reading. Can
you imagine a life where everything is proscribed, where it is all
scripted and everyone did the same thing at the same time everyday?
Madeline would never allow that. And to the bullies in the systems, I
say as Madeline, children shall have their Vengeance.

That of course coming from text where the lovely dog Genevieve, is
made to leave by Lord Cucuface the Board Director. Not to worry by
books end there is plenty of hound to go around. And with a charming
repetition children are laughing with delight at all the night wake up
calls.
Do get this for your kids/classroom...it's adorable.

And I think a little
bravery is great to promote in a world full of those who have very
little in their desire for position and comfort. In the long run this
series has lots to offer a class or home. Stand up....
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