{"id":312,"date":"2008-10-15T07:10:56","date_gmt":"2008-10-15T12:10:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/openwidelookinside\/archives\/312"},"modified":"2008-10-15T07:10:56","modified_gmt":"2008-10-15T12:10:56","slug":"teaching-economics-with-childrens-literature-a-chair-for-my-mother","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/openwidelookinside\/2008\/10\/15\/teaching-economics-with-childrens-literature-a-chair-for-my-mother\/","title":{"rendered":"Teaching Economics with Children’s Literature: A Chair for My Mother"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"chairformother.jpg\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Have you ever wanted to something so badly, that all your thoughts go into somehow attaining that special treat? \u00a0You may have saved and saved your money for days, months, or years, until you had enough money to buy it. \u00a0Teaching children how to save is a valuable lesson that they will use throughout their lifetime; saving teaches children hard work, diligence, and to appreciate their possessions.<\/p>\n

Author and illustrator of A Chair for my Mother<\/a>, Vera B. Williams, has created a story that captures the art of saving. The story revolves around a little girl, her mother, and her grandmother as they cope with a life tragedy. \u00a0After shopping in town one day, the little girl and her mother come home to see a fire has engulfed their house and ruined all of their goods, including their sofa and chairs. \u00a0Their neighbors all help furnish their new home, yet without anywhere to “take a load off my feet,” the little girl, her mother, and grandmother soon come to desire a big, comfy chair in their new home, that they can use to relax.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Yes, a chair: A wonderful, beautiful, fat, soft armchair. \u00a0We will get one covered in velvet with roses all over it. \u00a0We are going to get the best chair in the whole world.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Therefore, together the three save all of their money, putting their extra coins into a big glass jar. \u00a0The little girl even goes to the Blue Tile Diner where her mother waitresses to earn some money to put in the jar.<\/p>\n

\u00a0I wash the salts and peppers and fill the ketchups \u00a0One time I peeled all the onions for the onion soup. \u00a0When I finished, Josephine says, “Good work, honey,” and pays me. \u00a0And every time, I put half my money into the jar.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Her mother also puts her tips in the jar and her grandmother buys things on sale in order to add to the jar. \u00a0 When the jar became so heavy that the little girl can no longer lift it, she helps her mother wrap the coins and exchange them at the bank for dollar bills. \u00a0With their money in hand, the three travel to the furniture store in search for the perfect chair. \u00a0After hours of searching, they find the chair of their dreams. \u00a0Finally, they bring the chair home and enjoy it each day!<\/p>\n

Through the use of watercolors, Williams beautifully illustrates the pages of her story. \u00a0Using bright imaginative pictures, the story comes alive with emotion, capturing every reader. \u00a0Along with the illustrations on each page, Williams outlines the pictures with a corresponding painted border. \u00a0The combination of text and illustrations make this book a truly great piece of literature.<\/p>\n

Curriculum Connections<\/strong>
\nA Chair for My Mother <\/em>serves as a great book to teach several different themes of economics. \u00a0By reading about the little girl working at the Blue Tile Diner, children can learn that people work to earn money to buy things they want (Virginia SOL K.7). \u00a0The distinct changes in the amount of coins in the glass jar as the story progresses, stresses that people save money for the future to purchase goods and services (Virginia SOL 1.9). \u00a0This story is a great introductory piece of literature that can easily be relate to children’s daily lives. \u00a0It may be a good idea to have students practice saving as a class; students can \u00a0bring in their extra change each week in hopes to buy something that the whole class can enjoy!<\/p>\n

Additional Resources<\/strong><\/p>\n