What was your experience like reading to your child’s class for their birthday?

[Anonymous]

Asking as a person with public speaking anxieties and a class of 25 4-5 year olds.

Is it chaotic typically?

My older children never had schools that did this as a way to celebrate.

[Anonymous]

I did this and it was chaotic. Plus, the book had pictures and the teachers asked if I could read upside down to keep the kids engaged. The audience was very forgiving though. And DD loved that I was there.

[Anonymous]

I did it twice. Went in nervous but their total attention was powerful enough to calm me down and do a great job. The kids loved it and I got a lot of compliments.

[Anonymous]

Oh wow- that sounds so wonderful and I'm jealous.

I have a a lot of public speaking anxiety and like reading to kids. You have to be very animated, show them the book as you read. It's easy because they don't judge you.

I've read to PreK, K and 1st grades and all 3 sat very well. My son's PreK this year were really good listeners and there were 30 of them. I was shocked.

[Anonymous]

Is that a thing? I always send in a treat for the entire class.

[Anonymous]

Indeed, it's somewhat chaotic, but just roll with it and it only takes a few minutes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did it twice. Went in nervous but their total attention was powerful enough to calm me down and do a great job. The kids loved it and I got a lot of compliments.

Same for me. I was nervous beforehand, too, they were very sweet and ready for a story. It was charming. I think a lot of kids are excited and proud when their parents come in to read.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did this and it was chaotic. Plus, the book had pictures and the teachers asked if I could read upside down to keep the kids engaged. The audience was very forgiving though. And DD loved that I was there.

This. I am also not a native English speaker, so had on top the anxiety that the kids won’t understand my accent or even worse, correct it. As pp said, they were a very forgiving bunch, and DC enjoyed having me there.

[Anonymous]

You don't have to do it!

[Anonymous]

Didn’t know this was a thing but …

They’re babies. No need to be anxious. Half will be daydreaming, a quarter will be enthralled, and the other quarter will be disruptive.

These aren’t overly analytical PhDs

[Anonymous]

It was no big deal. I went in with DD's favorite book that she'd picked out for the occasion the night before, said hi and introduced myself "Annie, Julia's mom" , and told them what book I was going to read, read it, asked if anyone had any questions, let the class in singing happy birthday, and then the teacher got everyone back to their seats, and we (plus Julia) passed out the treats I'd brought in. Then I hung out since there were only 20 minutes left before dismissal.

[Anonymous]

This is a fantastic way to help you deal with public speaking anxieties. Kids are great, very forgiving. And if anyone stops paying attention or causes a problem, you can blame it on their immaturity rather than on your 'performance.'

[Anonymous]

My DD's school asks for volunteers for Read Across America Day. Last year I did it on Zoom and this year was in person. My DD's class is a bit smaller - 16 kids. I do have some public speaking anxiety and was nervous going in. The teacher gave me a little stool to sit on and my DD yells out, "you're going to break that". Haha.
The kids for the most part were well behaved with the teacher occasionally reminding them to raise their hands. It went well and it was over quickly. The kids seemed to enjoy it.

[Anonymous]

... why, oh why are they doing this?

[Anonymous]

just one more way to complicate, pile-on the obligations. And you're not an adequate parent if you don't do it. Make it stop.