By Autumn Vavoso, Learning Coach at Hillbrook School
Our fourth graders have been studying characters with complex traits and are working to understand the different traits and then use these traits to infer motivations and make predictions about what may happen next. The students spent time in groups discussing specific helpful and harmful traits characters exhibit throughout the texts we are currently reading, including Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo, Ida B. by Katherine Hannigan, Salt in His Shoes: Michael Jordan’s Story, and Thunder Cake by Patricia Polacco. The students are also reading a realistic fiction work of their own choosing, which has introduced to the class over 30 richly diverse characters.
The ability to ascertain if a certain trait is helpful or harmful in a particular situation helps children develop their empathy for others. It also helps them to reflect on the importance of reflecting and not being too quick to judge a particular trait as “good” or “bad,” which further breaks down stereotypes. From an academic perspective, this type of deep thinking opens the reader to understand and value all of the unique shades and motivations of a particular character.
In conjunction with this practice, the children have also worked on a timeline of emotional traits and have been documenting how a character changes over the course of a text. This character trait study ties into our philosophies here at Hillbrook in a number of ways. First, students are growing their academic knowledge by learning more about how the deep analysis of characters can deepen our overall understanding of the text. Additionally, they strengthened their social growth by working together in teams to share opinions and engage in passionate discussions. Finally, students also developed their emotional knowledge by gaining insight and empathy into a wide range of traits that they may or may not personally have or experience in their community. We believe this study will improve their awareness and acceptance of others as well as develop their sense of inclusivity.