Author Night at St. James: A Celebration of Young Learners

Preschool

Ms. Healy’s Class

Featured Author/Illustrator: Eric Carle

• “This year, we decided to focus our author study on Eric Carle. I was especially inspired by his unique art style and wanted to see how it would translate when recreated by preschoolers. Additionally, Eric Carle’s books have been popular throughout our other project-based units, so I felt it would be a wonderful opportunity to revisit his work in a more intentional and meaningful way.” - Ms. Neav Healy (Lead Teacher, St. James Preschool)

The class showcased their learning to parents by displaying their artwork alongside a performance of a poem the children have spent the past 6 weeks learning. 

• “Through this experience, we hope students gain a strong sense of teamwork and collaboration as they work together to create large-scale art inspired by Eric Carle. Working on shared pieces encourages communication cooperation and respect for one another’s ideas. We also hope students feel excited and confident exploring new art styles and mediums. By engaging with Eric Carle’s textured collage techniques students can experiment creatively, build artistic confidence and develop a joyful curiosity for art and self-expression.” - Ms. Neav Healy (Lead Teacher, St. James Preschool)

Preschool (continued)

Ms. DiVita’s Class

Featured Author and Illustrator: Jory John

• “My class has been focusing on the author Jory John. He was chosen because his stories feature entertaining characters while also teaching meaningful lessons that are especially important for students at this age.” - Ms. Abby Divita (Lead Teacher, St. James Preschool)

Students created a variety of projects inspired by Jory John, including individual pieces as well as group projects using a range of materials to support and deepen their learning. The class also presented a short performance for their families.

• “I hope my students feel a strong connection to the stories we have shared over the past six weeks. I already see their excitement when they recognize a familiar book or remember a topic we have talked about together. Focusing on one author has helped us explore new literacy ideas and has sparked their curiosity about how stories are created. My hope is that my students develop a love for stories and begin to think more deeply about what they are reading and hearing.” - Ms. Abby Divita (Lead Teacher, St. James Preschool)

Junior Kindergarten

Ms. Marcantonio’s Class

Featured Author and Illustrator: Jon Klassen and Mac Barnett

• “My JK class is learning about Jon Klassen and Mac Barnett. We are inspired by Klassen's illustrations because they often add context to the story that the words in the books do not, and we love Barnett's subtle humor, simple dialogue, and frequent "choose your own" open-ended plot lines that lead to great discussions about all their works.” - Ms. Jennifer Marcantonio (Lead Teacher, St. James Junior Kindergarten)

Students showcased their learning with an art show for parents. Most pieces are opinion based or personal, including hats and book covers designed by students, drawings of their "favorite place to be,” and collaborations between students working on a piece together. Each family also got to bring home a copy of a class book that students wrote and illustrated together! 

• “I hope that students gain reading comprehension skills when we have these discussions, as well as creative inspiration when making art pieces inspired by these books. Students will showcase their learning on Author Night with an art show! Most pieces family members can expect to see are opinion based or personal, such as hats and book covers designed by their children, drawings of their "favorite place to be", collaboration between students working on a piece together, and overall a type of artistic expression that will hopefully build a foundation for creative writing later in their lives. Each family will also get to bring home a copy of a class book that students wrote and illustrated together!”- Ms. Jennifer Marcantonio (Lead Teacher, St. James Junior Kindergarten)

Junior Kindergarten (continued)

Mrs. Mosinski’s Class

Featured Author and Illustrator: Oliver Jeffers

• “My JK Classroom is learning about the works of Oliver Jeffers. Each year in the weeks leading up to this study, we let the students explore books written by different authors. After experiencing these books we vote as a class which author we would like to focus on. Oliver Jeffers stood out to us this year because he had a few books that were a series featuring a little boy and a penguin. The class also noticed he writes stories that are very silly and really just enjoyed them.” Mrs. Brittani Mosinski (Lead Teacher, St. James Junior Kindergarten)

In Mrs. Mosinski's classroom, students showcased various projects that demonstrated their knowledge about the elements that make up a story. 

• “In JK, the students learn about the parts of a book and the parts of a story. We learn about each element of a story through a specific book written by our author. Each book then corresponds to a project that they present that night. These pieces come in many different forms; writing, collage, painting, drawing, and collaborative art pieces. They will also produce story maps which help communicate the elements of the story that they focused on in each book…  I hope that when students complete this study they begin to foster a love of reading a book that will grow with them.” Mrs. Brittani Mosinski (Lead Teacher, St. James Junior Kindergarten)

Kindergarten

Mrs. Runge’s & Mrs. DiSalle’s Classes

Featured Author and Illustrator: Mo Willems

• “Kindergarten always studies Mo Willems. We put on a series of plays based on his Elephant and Piggie books. These books offer simple text, which our students can read independently. They also offer a variety of text features that we learn about including speech bubbles, thought bubbles, and large print. As students work through their play, we focus with them on these text features and how to begin reading with expression. There is also a lesson built into each story which offers us the opportunity to make personal connections to the text as well as share our experiences and feelings about different social situations with our friends and teachers.” - Mrs. Lynda Runge (Lead Teacher, St. James Kindergarten)
  

In preparation for Author Night, students work with a partner to create costumes, props, and set design for a performance of a play for parents and family members based on an Elephant and Piggie book.

• “Working with a partner, they will create the costumes, props and set, to perform one of the Elephant and Piggie books for the audience. Following the performances, they will have the opportunity to take their parents on a tour of our classroom, where they will share a variety of art and writing pieces that they have worked on throughout this study.” -Mrs. Lynda Runge (Lead Teacher, St. James Kindergarten)

As the unit comes to a close, Mrs. Runge reflects on the lasting impact she hopes this experience will have on her students. She shares her thoughts on what she ultimately wants children to gain from their study of Mo Willems:

• “We hope our students gain an appreciation for these books. Also that they learn a new and different way to create a story. We also hope these books connect with them personally and that they see themselves in these characters. We also continue to create opportunities for our students to get out in front of adults and other children and speak. These plays offer a way for them to begin exploring that as well as an experience with acting, which may spark something in them long term.” -Mrs. Lynda Runge (Lead Teacher, St. James Kindergarten)