During art period, I read to the class. How this works is that my SA will first demonstrate and explain to the class the art project. Once she is done, I will go around the classroom for at least good 10 minutes to clarify and help my students if they need any reassurance. After that, I will read a novel called, The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau. The kids absolutely love this and they don’t want me to put the book down. I think doing a read aloud during art period helps students calm down and concentrate on their work. More importantly, they’re really engaged and almost all the time, they stop what they’re doing and just listen to the story. Thus, projecting my voice and allowing my students to actually imagine what is going on in the story is amazing. I feel like they connect to the story and have an exceptional understanding of what is going on. This also helps the students to increase their language development and individual growth. I enjoy reading to them and it helps me to connect with them.
This is so true! Many children’s greatest joys are being read aloud to and it is true at all ages. We connect to the story, the character, the joys and sorrows of those just like us and really want those to continue. It is about ourselves as much as it is about the story Art allows us to express those feelings! What a great combination!