Title 1 Event: Dance Night Family Resources and Event Evaluation

Posted on January 13, 2026

Dear Families,

Thank you so much for joining us for our Title 1 Dance Night!  It was wonderful to see the Pentucket Lake and Walnut Square communities coming together to share rhythms, learn new steps, and celebrate the diverse cultures that make our schools so special.  If you attended last night, please click on the link to complete the Title 1 Event Evaluation:  https://forms.gle/AQLB3KCnSNX2QPi36

Movement and dance are more than just fun- they are powerful tools for your child’s development.  We hope this resource helps you bring the “Dance Night” spirit into your living room!  You don’t need a stage or fancy shoes to keep moving- just a little bit of space and your favorite music.  Enjoy!  

Sincerely, 

Pentucket Lake and Walnut Square School Staff 

Here is the link to complete the Title 1 Event Evaluation:  https://forms.gle/AQLB3KCnSNX2QPi36

 

Keeping the Rhythm Going at Home

  • The Freeze Dance:  Play a song and have everyone dance. When the music stops, everyone must freeze! This helps children practice focus and self-control.
  • Cultural Exchange:  Just like we did at Dance Night, share a song or a dance from your heritage with your child.
  • GoNoodle (gonoodle.com):  A free website used in many classrooms that features short, high-energy videos to get kids moving.

 

 How Dance Connects to Literacy

You might be surprised to learn that dancing and reading go hand-in-hand!  Here is how moving to the beat helps your child in the classroom:

  • Building Vocabulary:  When we dance, we use “action words” (verbs) like glide, stomp, shimmy, or swirl.  Acting out these words helps children understand and remember their meanings much faster than just reading them on a page.
  • Understanding Story Structure:  Every dance has a beginning, a middle, and an end—just like a book!  Learning a sequence of dance steps (first we slide, then we clap, finally we spin) practices the same sequencing skills needed to follow a story’s plot.
  • Rhythm and Reading:  Research shows that children who can keep a steady beat often find it easier to recognize the rhythms and patterns in language.  This “phonological awareness” is a foundation for smooth, fluent reading.
  • Expression and Meaning:  Dance is a form of storytelling without words.  By using their bodies to show emotions, children learn how to interpret “tone” and “mood,” which helps them better understand the characters they meet in books.

 

Our “Reading & Rhythm” Book List

Check out these “dance-friendly” titles at the school or public library!  These stories are perfect for reading aloud and moving along:

  • How Do You Dance?  by Thyra Heder 
  • Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae
  • Kitchen Dance by Maurie J. Manning
  • Firebird by Misty Copeland
  • Drum Dream Girl by Margarita Engle
  • Barnyard Dance! by Sandra Boynton
  • D is for Dance: Kids’ ABC Book About the World of Dance by G.M. Reyes 
  • Dancing in the Wings by Debbie Allen 
  • World of Dance:  Stories from Across Continents by The Pink Panther
  • Bunheads by Misty Copeland 

Literacy Tip:  Be a “Verb Detective.” While reading, every time you find an action word (like jump, wiggle, or skip), have your child jump up and do that action!

 

Pentucket Lake and Walnut Square School Title 1 Dance Night Set List 

 

Here is the link to complete the Title 1 Event Evaluation:  https://forms.gle/AQLB3KCnSNX2QPi36