Outside the Box

Outdoor reading creates a multi-sensory experience

Shea McClellan, with permission

Abington High School English teacher Ms. Erin Slayton, left, accompanies her freshmen outside to read Jeannette Walls memoir “The Glass Castle” on Thursday, October 15, 2020.

Abington High School English teacher Ms. Slayton loves to take her students to get fresh air and soak up the sun on a beautiful day, “while incorporating reading in their curriculum.”

The weather Thursday was beautiful, so Ms. Slayton’s students decided they would much rather read outside than stay inside and read in their normal classroom, which is not so normal anymore because of COVID-19.

Miss Slayton said that their reading environment was a lot more comfortable inside before COVID-19. But the students now choose to be more comfortable and have a little time away from their masks outside.

“The students being comfortable while reading can change the way they understand the story and get a better overall view of their readings. Even though the outside distractions can be bad sometimes in the end it is worth it,” Slayton said.