Objective of the Learning Engagement: Response to literature
Details of the Learning Engagement:
This is an ongoing activity - the children take turns reading aloud. They are encouraged to respond through sketching in their notebooks what they visualise. Most of them do. In turns, those who are keen - they all are! - , come up to the board and sketch. Four children - a total of eight in two shifts - take their place at the board and sketch as the others read.
I get the children to pause and we discuss important parts, making connections to real life, analysing the characters, etc.
The purpose is to develop listening skills, oral skills and visualisation through reading aloud. I do stop them also to correct pronunciation, intonation, etc. I establish right at the beginning that I need to help them enhance oral skills and if it is OK with them will make corrections. I get the buy-in from all of them.
Some children prefer to continue to read on their own and are allowed to do that. On some days, they are given the choice to read individually, have me read to them or listen to the audio book.
They also respond by writing a sentence or two to the day's reading. Sentence starters of different levels are shared with them. I also give the option to record their response. One of the children who struggles with writing, but is very vocal with his responses, took this up and did very well, providing evidence in his second attempt after receiving feedback.
I am sharing here his recording and some of the sketches done at the board. I am also sharing a recording I made of part of a lesson.
Impact of the engagement on students and reflection as a teacher:
The children enjoy this. Their excitement is visible - they all want to read aloud and also sketch at the board - and they are picking up the skill of responding to a text. I enjoy this myself as I see them sketch, respond and actively participate in discussions. They are able to comment on the characters and make connections to real life and the statement of inquiry.
-Mayura Tiwari
Thank you for sharing the learning experience Ms. Mayura. I loved how the lesson uses this active interaction between the readers and the ones who are tasked with drawing out the scene on the board. Along with active listening and reading, students are made to pause and reflect on the exercise and share their interpretation. The sincerity with which you facilitate creative expression and joy of reading comes through.
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