RMS Thanksgiving Feast
Every year, students in Rotolo Middle School’s Instructional Learning Program prepare a Thanksgiving Feast for their families, fellow classmates, and staff members. This year’s Feast included 70 diners!
RMS students and paraprofessionals in the Instructional Learning Program greeting all guests as they enter the 2018 Thanksgiving Feast.
Students in the ILP not only plan and prepare an entire meal for guests with one stove, but they also set the theme, provide the entertainment, and are the hosts. It’s quite a feat! This year’s guest list included RMS Peer Buddies who assist students in the ILP throughout the entire school year. Read more about this outstanding partnership >
This year’s theme was “America,” based on the readers theater script, “Turkey Takes a Stand” where the main character, a turkey, gets his day before Congress demanding a change in the traditional Thanksgiving meal. (FYI: A “readers theater” is a strategy for helping students develop reading fluency. So, instead of memorizing parts, students practice reading them several times to develop their fluency skills. The student performers also bring the text alive by using voice, facial expressions, and gestures.)
Prior to the meal, students sourced recipes, created grocery lists, shopped, and then followed the recipes while cooking and baking. These tasks helped students build on their math, reading, and writing skills. The only menu item students couldn’t prepare this year due to a single stove was the pasta. The RMS kitchen crew was happy to help, and cooked the 14 boxes of pasta.
“We start work on our Feast right after Halloween,” said Barbara Mamach, RMS special education teacher, who has been spearheading the event for 14 years. “Everything always comes together by the time all guests arrive. It’s such great learning experience for our students and a wonderful way for them to show their progress with families.”
