"Mr. Ross pressed play.
The music was strings,
violins and things,
and then maybe flutes.
Someone said, "How the heck do you dance to that?
(It was probably Tiffany.)"
Assembly was a very important event for the children at my school. Classes signed up to provide entertainment on a regular basis. It was a wonderful way to create community in the school, and choice for performance was left up to the teacher and students. So, I love Mac Barnett's idea about adding an even more personal touch with a segment called "Sharing Gifts'.
At every Friday assembly, one student presents their own personal talent to attendees. Of course, there are many individual gifts. When it's John's turn, he is introduced by Mr. Ross. John is following in the shoes of many of his school mates. He is quiet and obviously nervous. He gets ready behind the curtain, and waits. The audience is curious and are told that John is 'doing a dance'.
John is an accomplished ballet dancer; it shows in his performance, and in the smile on his face as he takes his turn. When his dance is done, he takes a bow and waits quietly for a response. It's perfect!
All the while, readers feel as if they are a part of the audience due to the perspective of the story's narrators. Kate Berube effectively uses shifting perspectives and expressive faces to maintain the sense of apprehension and then full joy as John waits and then performs for his classmates. The wordless spreads that share John's ballet recital are brilliantly choreographed. The focus is always on John and his audience, their interest and his success.
No comments:
Post a Comment