The props were set up on the table near the teacher so the children did not play with them instead of paying attention to the story. At the conclusion of the story, the children were given the opportunity to read the book independently and use the props themselves. At the conclusion, teacher and students held debriefing sessions, devoted to student questions. The sessions became a forum for the teacher to reflect on the story, children, teaching, and the curriculum. Here are some of the questions.
Every child deserves the gift of time.
You have to let children process the story in their own way. It takes a while for all that stuff to mesh together and to make sense. They want to talk. You need to look for opportunities to do this. Then again, you teach them that there is a time for conversation and a time for watching.