First and second grade students were thrilled to take the stage in Harris Theater to perform their class plays for family and friends. In the spring term, both classes perform an adaptation of a book complete with speaking parts for every student and choreographed songs that complement the theme of the play. On Friday, April 14, the first graders performed an adaptation of Andrea Beaty’s book Aaron Slater, Illustrator about a boy who dreams of finding a way to tell stories using his unique talents. The play culminated in a rendition Kool & The Gang’s 1980 classic "Celebration". Second graders tugged at the audience’s heartstrings with their performance of E.B. White’s tale of unlikely friendship Charlotte’s Web. The second grade class rounded out their show by singing "Count on Me" by Bruno Mars. 

At turns adorable, funny, and poignant, these performances represent more than the culmination of a few weeks of rehearsal. The plays are a demonstration of developing literacy and communication skills that have been months and years in the making. The plays are also a foundational step in Fay’s public speaking curriculum, and for some students, the class play is the first time they have to get up on stage and speak in front of an audience. It is an opportunity to practice fluency skills as students practice their lines over and over again and recognize the value of that work when they are able to smoothly deliver a complicated piece of text. With their developing literacy skills, students are focused on reading with expression, and the play provides a perfect vehicle for emphasizing the importance of that skill. For some kids, the play is where students make the connection between reading with expression and the power of telling a story, along with the joy of getting a reaction from the audience!