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C.A.M.P: Community Accessible Meaningful Prayer

By Carly Abramson, ISJL Education Fellow
 
Time and time again we find ourselves reading to our young students, and while some children love story time, we can’t deny that others cannot invest themselves quite as much. I’ll be the first to admit I fell under the “not so invested” column. My lack of interest during story time as a kid ultimately affected my interest in books today, which is usually not something I am eager to admit. So why did I just confess? I feel it is important for us to realize the impact that reading has on our youth. If we aren’t excited about reading as children, then what will prompt us to be excited about reading as we get older? In the spirit of Jewish Book Month, here are a few tips and tricks that might help us make childhood books more engaging for all of our students!
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1. Bring the Story to Life.  Instead of simply reading the story aloud to your class, try to bring the story to life! Before you start the book, assign the students characters and allow them to play their roles as you read. This method is a great way to get your kids up and moving, with the bonus of incorporating all three learning styles—visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. Having the class act it out ensures they grasp the story.
   
2. What Would You Do? A way to make sure kids are literally (and mentally) on the same page as you is to ask them questions about the story. You should ask for their opinion, what they would do, or even what they think might happen next. You can find a list of guiding questions in both the Kindergarten and First Grade Curriculum Spirals for you to ask your students before, during, and after the story.
   
3. Cheer When I Say Read. If you are reading a story that repeats certain phrases or words frequently, have a little fun with it! Divide the class and have them do amusing movements or make silly sounds each time you read the phrase aloud. This action usually makes kids pay more attention because they look for their cues.
   
4. Make it Personal. You can help the students care about a story more if you make them feel connected to the characters. You can do this by seeing if the students have ever been in a similar scenario as mentioned in the book. Have them share personal experiences that relate to the story. By doing so, you make the story more relevant to your students.
   
5. Catch my Mistakes There is nothing more exciting than having that rare opportunity when the teacher learns from their student. When read, purposefully mess up on an easy word and allow the students correct you. For instance, try mispronouncing the main character’s name every time and allow the kids to say the name for you instead. This is a goofy way to keep the students on their toes. 

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