Traditional Literature

Another term for traditional literature is folk literature or oral literature-it is the tales and stories passed down from generation to generation. Most of these type of stories have become part one ones culture or heritage. As a story gets passed down from generation to generation, it tends to be re-crafted over time to fit to the audible audience.  Because traditional stories were handed down from generation to generation orally, they were never written down, leaving the origin unknown of who told the story first.

Benefits and Considerations of Traditional Literature

• Helps children understand the personal dimension and standards of behavior of a culture and at the same time reduces stereotypes. 
• It provides children with a framework for the literature, dram, and art they will later encounter. 
• It provides entertainment and pleasure 
• It provides strong rhythm, rhyme, and repetitions of patterns. 

In traditional education many may think that reading apiece of traditional literature would be a waste of time and there is no educational purpose behind it being read to a class full of children. However I think it is very important to include pieces of traditional literature into curriculum. I say this because I believe it helps students in the long run with their own writing and reading. Think about writing a fictional story a child, how did you begin it and how did you end it? Once upon a time and they lived happily ever after the end, sound familiar? The beginning and end of a story can sometimes help us write the middle. Just like any story, traditional literature has its different component and relationships as well that can be pointed out to students and learned about to why they are there. 

Categories of Traditional Literature

• Fable
• Myth
• Legend
• Religious stories 
• Tall Tale
• Folktale

While some may think why is it important that my child learns the different types of traditional literature, I personally find it important for children to learn the different types because they need to know the difference and recognize what what of story they are listening to when being told a story or reading one. 

What We Noticed About Fairy Tales 

• Once upon a time
• End happily ever after
• Magic
• Have characters such as kings and queens
• Take place in faraway places
• Have a good character and a bad character
• sometimes characters are turned into animals
• Animals can talk
• Teach a lesson

 Learning about the different components to a fairy tale can help a student becoem a better writter. I say this becuase once they understand all the different things about fairy tales it gives the students a boost of what to creat their own fairy tale about. For example, just having a child look at the list above gives them a bunch of different ideas of what their story could be about with a variety as well. I think it is important that a child uses their imagination and creativity, however there is nothing wrong with them being given a little boost.

Top Ten Read Alouds: Traditional Literature 

1. Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal: A Worldwide Cinderella by Paul Fleischman (2007, Henry Holt) 
2. How the Stars Fell into the Sky: A Navajo Legend by Jerrie Oughton (1996, HoughtonMiffllin) 
3. The Hunter by Mary Casanova (2000, Atheneum)
4. Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkey ( 2009, Little, Brown)
5. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin (2009 Little, Brown)
6. Peggony-Po:A Whale of a Tale by Andrea Pinkney (2006, Hyperion)
7. Rapunzel by Paul Zelinsky (1997 Dutton)
8. Silly & Sillier: Read Aloud Tales from Around the World by Judy Sierra (2002, Knopf)
9. The Three Princes: A Tale from the Middle East by Eric Kimmel (1994, Holiday House)
10. Why Mosquitoes Bozz in People's Ears by Verna Aardema ( 1975, Dial)