The Little Red Hen According to First Grade

It's been an industrious writing week in first and second grade. We're finishing up our own books, re-writes of "The Little Red Hen." Within the pattern, we've been quite original; among others, we have an anaconda who wants an ice cream sundae, a fox who bakes cookies, and even a little beige lizard who builds a car (think, "Who wants to go with me to the junkyard to find some parts?"). And, of course, we have a host of friends (including a droidika and a break dancing chipmunk) who selfishly refuse to help with anything ("Not I!" rumbled the dragon.).

Having successfully navigated the writing, editing, and re-copying (ugh), we're now illustrating our masterpieces. I'm delighted by students who have added visual subplots, like the construction of a swing set in "The Pig Who Loved Pancakes." In the first picture, a pickup truck with a bed full of 2x4s is parked outside the pig's house; in the final picture, a swing set sits outside while the pig enjoys his pancakes inside. (Unfortunately, most of these details are undecipherable to the untrained eye.)

I'm more exhausted then delighted, however, after fighting all afternoon to keep one student's imagination tethered to the words at the bottom of his pages. His story, about a wolf who makes french fries and the Jedi, fox, and pterodactyl who won't help, is fairly standard. The illustrations, however, were elaborate concoctions which required minute-by-minute explanations to the rest of the class.

Did I mention they had nothing to do with wolves or french fries? We had running story lines about the fox visiting other worlds (he has a magic door in his room, and sometimes other foxes come from the magical world and do illegal karate with the fox), the Jedi fighting a running cameo list from Star Wars, and something about a bunch of pterodactyls...I lost track.

Around the third page, I stopped at his desk and reminded him that since this story is about a wolf who makes french fries, the pictures should at least include the wolf. He replied, "I couldn't draw any pictures of the wolf because he's outside, and I'm just drawing the inside. Plus, he's not wearing a shirt, so it would be inappropriate."

At the next page, I made my case again: "I really think that there needs to be a wolf somewhere in this picture! The story at the bottom of the page is about a wolf!" This time, he couldn't draw the wolf because he was in the shower. And then because the wolf was in his underwear, getting dressed. Finally, on page six, he managed to squeeze an inch-tall wolf with a basket of french fries down at the bottom of the page.

It was so small I couldn't tell if it was clothed or not.