Read Alouds

To Start…

I recently had the opportunity to spend 3 sessions over 3 weeks with a local elementary class to practice my read-aloud skills. I started by reading Read Alouds For All Learners by Molly Ness to understand how to incorporate read alouds into a classroom properly. After deciding to read the book The Animal People Choose a Leader by Richard Wagamese, and illustrated by Bridget George. An intermediate picture book about Waabooz the rabbit, showing what a leader looks like during a race the animal people hold to decide their new leader. Waabooz was named leader after the race, not because she won the race, but because the animal people felt she was the best fit because of her caring traits. I then planned 3 activities for the students at 3 different stopping points with my partner Ryan.

The second choice for a picture book was The Inquisitive Raven by Richard Wagamese.

Ryan and I planned our activities using a planning template from Molly Ness. See the template in the link below.

Class #1

For the first class, we started by reading the first section of The Animal People Choose a Leader by Richard Wagamese, then followed with a drama activity. We grouped the students into groups of 4-5 and had them create a Tableau (a frozen picture) in which each student represented an animal in the book getting ready for the race. Each group was given a sticky note to write down how each animal felt in the moments leading up to the race. Each group presented their tableau and shared with the class what they wrote on their sticky notes. Then we ended the class with a group discussion. The class really enjoyed the drama activity; however, it was difficult to create groups that worked well with each other without knowing the class. For next time, I would book out a larger space, like the gym or go outside to give students more room and create groups that work better for the students.

Class #2

For the second class, we started by reviewing what had happened last time in the book in a popcorn-style class discussion. Then, we continued reading until the second stopping point. After, we had a discussion about Waabooz helping the other animals in the race and asked students to think-pair-share about a time when they helped someone. Then, we handed out a worksheet where students were asked to draw and write about that time. At the end of the class, we opened the floor to anyone who wanted to share. The writing prompt is designed to be on the easier end. Next time, I would create a more challenging activity to prevent the early finishers from finishing or have another activity ready to go for them. However, the class enjoyed colouring and sharing their drawings with their classmates.

Class #3

For the third class, we again started by reviewing what happened in the book previously. Then, we finished reading the book. After, we gathered all of the students and made a circle. We then played a spider web activity using yarn to demonstrate how each person has a role in a community, and followed with a class discussion. After, we gave the students a rabbit handout where the students wrote characteristics of Waabooz, who was named the leader of the animal people. In the future, I would plan for extra time because the students really enjoyed the spider web activity and wished to play it a second time.