News and notes from Imagine! and the Imagine! Foundation.
Reading Harry Potter Online
Jul-21-2020
Services
One of the newest additions to the Imagine! Community and Employment Services Virtual Class Program is the Reading Harry Potter Online Class. This class allows students to not only experience the Harry Potter books firsthand by having a chance to read passages themselves, but they are given the opportunity to learn important reading and comprehension skills along the way.
At the start of this particular class, Imagine! Instructor Erin Schram sets up a slide show that contains passages from the first chapter of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Erin then asks each participant if they would like to read, and if so, do they require assistance in reading their passage. Once all of the students are ready to go, it’s time to experience the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!
Erin picks one student per passage and gives them a great amount of support and time so that everyone is comfortable participating. For some students who need a bit of help, Erin will either read the words first so that the student can repeat them, or she will help them pronounce words that they don’t recognize. When some participants started to struggle on words, they were encouraged by their peers and often cheered when finishing the passage.
At the end of class, Erin had a surprise up her sleeve. When they finished reading their chapter, Erin began to a mysterious video. While everyone waited patiently, a soft whisper of Hedwig’s theme started to play. Then much to the excitement of all of the participants, the opening scene of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone began to fill their screens. The chapter they had all just read together suddenly came to life right before their eyes. It’s safe to say, this class was simply magical.
