|
Bartholomew’s Great Treasure Adventure Is much more than a toy or game that children tire of quickly. As a teacher, I see the following attitudes and skills that are acquired and improved upon by children who read “The Great Treasure Adventure”. 1. Coping with delayed gratification (learning patience): Children today have so many opportunities for Instant gratification that it is difficult for them to appreciate something they can’t complete NOW. Computers, video games, etc. support Instant gratification. “The Great Treasure Adventure” is delivered over six months and helps children learn that waiting for things can be worthwhile! 2. Reading Skills: When a child reads things that are fun, they work harder at pronouncing words and understanding the meaning and content. Each letter has words that may not have been seen before, therefore requiring working on pronunciation skills. The content is fun, exciting and funny. I have found that children quickly become involved in Bartholomew’s adventure. 3. Sustaining interest: Each letter has an adventure, but is only one step towards the culmination of the whole adventure. This requires the reader’s interest to continue through all twelve letters. 4. Improving Memory Skills: Characters and events from earlier letters are recalled by Bartholomew throughout the Adventure. The reader can work on remembering those things. 5. Researching skills: Yes! Even a 5 year old can begin to develop this skill. Going to the library, using the computer or asking people about the things they don’t understand are all research skills. The letters have lots of suggestions for library or computer look ups to expand their knowledge. 6. Increasing knowledge about other countries: Bartholomew visits several different countries and each letter has information about the country. It may tell about a landmark or have some language from that country. 7. Stimulating the imagination: When children become involved in the fantasy of “The Great Treasure Adventure” their imagination just lights up! They know it is pretend, but choose to allow their imagination to overrule reality. In addition to all of this, “The Great Treasure Adventure” provides fun, excitement and lots of laughs! |
