The day for the Tea has arrived, but we now feel so Caribbean that we are calling it nuestra fiesta. Student-designed invitations have gone out, followed by phone calls by teachers to ensure as much family participation as possible. Projects have been displayed around the room, along with books read, charts compiled, and writing samples. The class has chosen appropriate foods to serve, and the rules for serving families first and other party manners have been discussed and repeated.
My word of advice is practice! If students chose to perform their dramatic version of Juan Bobo, rehearsals are certainly in order. But even for the reading of stories, there cannot be too much preparation. Students may well know what they have written by heart. They still need to hold the paper they have prepared. I usually hand it to them as I call their name to read so they won’t crumple it. And they also must be reminded to stand up straight and still, to hold their text so that it does not hide their face, and to speak distinctly enough so that the back wall can hear. The experience will be wonderful when they have internalized these skills.
