“Alice in Wonderland” Tea Party sparks engagement at Humphreys Middle School

Humphreys Middle School's ESOL teacher, Dr. Donna Clark, recently hosted an enchanting "Alice in Wonderland" themed tea party for her students and their family members. This creative event was designed to foster engagement and build community among students learning English as a second language.

The tea party featured an activity wheel that spun to reveal various challenges and tasks. These included reading "dad" jokes, reciting the alphabet, sharing something memorable about the school year, and identifying the speaker of famous quotes from "Alice in Wonderland." The students were enthusiastic and supportive as they tackled each challenge, creating a lively and interactive atmosphere.

“You got him to talk! He is one of nine kids; that was great,” shared Richard Doherty, who attended the tea party with his wife Hui, and their son. His comment highlighted the success of the event in encouraging even the shyest students to participate.

Junhee Yim, a parent of two children who participated, was thoroughly entertained by the humor and jokes shared during the event. Her son and one of his friends won hats for their impressive knowledge of the class novel, "Alice in Wonderland."

Parent Aileen Torrecampo arrived early and contributed cookies and chocolate-covered candies to the festivities. She particularly enjoyed the jokes and laughed along with the kids as they experimented with humor throughout the event.

In total, ten students participated as language learners, and more than half brought adults to the event.

“My favorite part was getting everyone to participate and keeping them engaged for the full 90 minutes,” Dr. Clark said.

This event is a wonderful example of how themed activities can enhance student engagement, create memorable experiences and foster a supportive and interactive learning environment.