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| Join the fun of the March Slice of Life Challenge at Two Writing Teachers |
An all staff email went out this morning from one of our first grade teachers. She had invited parents to come and read with their child today for their big reading party. Unfortunately, only four could come. She was asking if anyone could bring their class over the last half hour of the day to read with those kids.
I teach freshmen English at the end of the day. A class made up of many who do not enjoy reading and writing. A class filled with kids reading below level. Not all of them, but many. Trust me when I tell you that freshman English the last hour on a Friday isn't always the most fun thing to do.
I thought, "What the heck. Let's run over and read." One of our elementary schools is right out the back door of the high school, so not a big deal.
I email my 8th hour class right away and tell them what we are doing.
8th hour rolls around and in they come. A few are grumbling.
"Do we have to?"
"I hate reading out loud. Do we have to read to them?"
"People. Seriously. We are going over to first grade. They will read to you. And even if you have to read to them, IT'S FIRST GRADE. You've been reading Romeo and Juliet out loud almost every day. I'm pretty sure you can handle first grade books."
And we head out.
They partner up with first graders and settle in on too small chairs for a half hour of reading. And as I look around, there are smiles on LOTS of faces----and not just the first graders!
Beautiful. The connections, the service, the fluency practice! I miss doing "reading buddies." What a great way to end the week.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great experience for both classes. I taught in a small district where the elementary and H.S. shared the same building. We often paired up. Hope you will get to do this again!
ReplyDeleteAwesome, Deb - I can just see from those photographs how both sets of kids loved the experience. What a great thing to do on a Friday, too.
ReplyDeleteI think they probably had a wonderful time, maybe looked back on some fun reading memory? Our classes have 'buddy time' and a favorite thing we done at least once a year was have the students share a favorite picture book with each other. Thanks for showing the pics-love seeing your big kids in those little chairs!
ReplyDeleteAwwww! Soooo sweet! Love the smiles on the faces of both the bigs and the littles!
ReplyDeleteMrs. Day to the rescue! Yay Deb! What a great experience for all parties! The bonus, you got a slice from it.
ReplyDeleteI bet they will be begging to do it again! Kids of all ages love to connect and perhaps some of those memories of first grade will remind them how much they did love reading! A great way to end the week!
ReplyDeleteI love the look on the face of the little boy in the first picture! What is he thinking? "I wish I could read like that!" "Who is she?" "She's pretty."
ReplyDeleteThat's what I was thinking, Edna!
DeleteRoutines and structure, together they can lead us to much success in the classroom, but isn't it refreshing to break away from that once and awhile to try something new... Especially when it involves showing students the real reason to be readers!? What a refreshing way to end your week!
ReplyDeleteThis is great - I think great learning happens in these kind of situations! Connecting with other kids, different ages getting together, seeing reading bring a smile to someone. Win Win!
ReplyDeleteIt's great that you and your students were able to help out the first grade teacher. I hope that the buddy reading happens again before the year ends.
ReplyDeleteWhat a special experience! (I loved the two boys that happened to be wearing the same shirt -- priceless!) Maybe those little ones helped some of your kids remember their love of reading. :-)
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