Why You Need To Have Noodlehead Tales In A Classroom
What is a Noodlehead Tale?
A Noodlehead tale is NOT:
A Noodlehead tale is:
Instructional Strategies
Noodlehead tales are folktales that involve a well intended individual that often lacks common sense. At times they may take words too literally, and their responses typically lead to very foolish actions. The humor is always gentle in nature, which makes the stories enjoyable for all.
The noodleheads themselves are very likable characters. They are usually depicted as good-hearted, caring characters that lack brain power. It is almost as if they have noodles for brains.
- Prediction: Many of the noodlehead stories allow the reader to make reasonable expectations of what might happen next. This could be done through a "prediction log", or it could be completed informally as the class is reading aloud together.
- Create a Noodlehead: This activity would allow the student to artistically create their own noodlehead, and then use their character to write stories of their own. A collection could be created for each culture that is studied. Once all cultures are studied, the collection could be finalized into a book format.
- Storytelling Skills: Noodlehead tales allow the reader to utilize voice tone and inflection develop emotion from the story and to build suspense. These skills are
invaluable to a developing reader.
- They are not mean spirited
- They are not crude in humor
- They are not created to make people feel bad
- They are not created to poke fun at the noodlehead
- They are not stereotypical (Noodleheads may be old or young, man or woman, poor or rich, big or small etc.)
- They are not stories that are risque requiring caution!!
- Children will not only LOVE to have these stories read to them, but they will also love reading them on their own. They are presented in short story formats which is excellent for readers with low stamina. Also, the entertainment value will hook in readers who do not have a strong interest in books.
- Children can use the tales as life learning opportunities. These stories vary from silly to wise. This allows a variety of lessons to be learned from them. Sometimes the noodlehead in the story falls for a trick, and other times they are doing something to help out a stranger. For example, compassion can be learned through a tale of Nasruddin; he chooses not to throw away a poisoned dessert that is given to him. When his students ask him why he would not throw it away, he explained that a poor beggar may eat it and die.
- We all have times in our lives in which we can relate to a noodlehead. Reading these stories in the classroom may encourage the class to be aware of their own "noodlehead" behavior. The awareness may allow them to laugh about it, learn from it, and move on.
- Texts provide excellent opportunities to read entertaining stories from other cultures. There are noodleheads all over the world!!! (England - Jack, Merry Men of Gotham; Russia - Ivan; Norway - Boots; Sicily - Guifa;
Eastern Europe - Wise Men of Chelm; Middle East - Nasruddin; Puerto Rico - Juan Bobo; etc.)
Noodleheads and their Country of Orgin:
Russia
Ivan
Puerto Rico
Juan Bobo
Middle East
Nasruddin
England
Merry Men
of
Gotham
Eastern Europe
The Wise Men
of
Chelm
Reference Section:
Noodleheads to Know!!
Noodleheads in Pop Culture:
Janet Morgan Stoeke
Coleen Salley
Carmen T.
Bernier-Grand
Isaac
Bashevis Singer
Margaret Read MacDonald
and Nadia Jameel Taibah
Goofy
Three Amigos
Shaggy & Scooby
Ernest
Alvin Schwartz
Eric A. Kimmel
Fred Gwynne
Shahrukh Husain
and Micha Archer
Martha Hamilton
and Mitch Weiss
Frank Drebin
Forest Gump
Ed &
Dexter
Pee Wee
Herman
Harry &
Lloyd
Created by: Kevin Brolsma