On Thursday we had World Read Aloud Day at AIS. We decided as admin to read to our students. Because my day was crazy insane on Wednesday I had no time to pick a book. The KG AP shared books and I picked one at night. While I was reading the book I got an idea to act it out as well and do something different for a change for our students.
I emailed both the PYP coordinators and attached the book and asked if they were interested in joining me. I asked them if they would be willing to act it out while I read. Both emailed back excited and said that they were in. I sent out invites to each team asking them if they wished to attend and mentioned that it wasn’t mandatory. Most grades accepted and came.
That morning I met up with the PYP coordinators and we read through it twice. We discussed who will play what part and what they would be saying. When that was sorted out, I had a meeting with a parent and one of the counselors. From 11 till 2 I booked all grades to come. The book was called “Each Kindness” I picked that book to send a message to all the students and to teach them to spread kindness around the school. I challenged all students to choose an act of kindness on Sunday. Normally at recesses is when students come up to me or to the teachers on supervision and complain about what a student has done wrong. I’ve now challenged the students to approach a teacher to tell us something positive that another student/friend did or said. I really want to encourage our students to be kinder to one another.
Reading the story four times and acting it out was fun. I managed to fit that during day 2 of being solo without my principal.
All grade levels enjoyed it and were so quiet while they listened and watched carefully. After we were done we gave a mini lesson and asked them why they thought I picked that book. I also asked who was in that characters position before. How did it feel? And so on… They answered our questions well and made so many connections. I asked who enjoyed it? All hands went up. I asked who enjoyed the acting? All hands went up. I asked if they would like us to do more of these and ALL hands went up along with the homeroom teachers. We smiled and were so happy with the outcome.
I was so grateful I came with that idea last minute and that both PYP coordinators agreed on acting. We said we should try to aim for once a month to do a read aloud with a powerful message behind it along with the acting. This would help to break the routine and for students to see and hear other people read. It was so much fun and was the highlight of my day.
What do you do with your students as admin/leadership? Do you read to them? Play with them during recess? How do you involve yourself in fun activities with your students?
