Tar Beach Writing

This three-day week has been an ideal time for students to focus on reading more closely the story Tar Beach, and to learn more about the main character Cassie Lousie Lightfoot. 

Through the Tar Beach integrated art and literacy unit, students have been able to re-produce their own art by studying Faith Ringgold's techniques. We are now learning how to better understand the story she wrote about the life of Cassie, a girl who lives in an apartment building that overlooks the George Washington bridge in NYC, and dreams of making caring choices for herself and her family. Students are writing in response to the questions: What caring choice does Cassie make for herself? What caring choices does Cassie make for her family? Students are expected to share their thinking in words and pictures, and explain by offering an example. 

Ask your child what caring choice Cassie makes for herself in the story when she dreams she is flying over the famous bridge? Also, talk about the caring choices Cassie makes for her family, and converse about what caring choices your Kindergartner might make for their family too!!