ePals and World Wide Connection

With today's technology surge, students need to have the opportunity to experience and use as many tools that are available to them. One tech-tool that hasn't been available in our student's school setting is email. Although commonly used outside of the school day by students, email use was not considered necessary in the student's academic day. This school of thought restricted learning opportunities in my classroom.

Then came along ePals ( www.epals.com). After researching the format of a monitored email system, I was given the chance to introduce ePals. Let the learning expand!
6th grade students in two of my classes have been given an ePal account after getting parent permission.

Presently, students are using it to coordinate research and connect with sources while completeing research units.

Students competing in National History Day have been using ePAls the longest. The ability to coordinate group work and information between class time has been a plus to partners. They have also been able to send emails to direct sources, receiving vital information and materials.

Social Studies students are currently sharing cultural and geographical information with students in Japan. ePals coordinates a penpal network using email to connect students around the world. Students have been sharing messages, reports, pictures and videos with their epal.
Technology can open so many windows in our classrooms-let the breeze blow in!

Reply from Kate Messner on Twitter:

Check out the "cool" thank you cards @teacher6th and her students sent after our Skype author visit! http://bit.ly/aP2PgW

Not enough snow?

During our Skype with Kate Messner, she mentioned she wished they had more snow for their skiing area....

With more then enough to share, we sent her an envelope full of snowflakes covered with thank yous and best wishes on her new book.

Snow, Schedules, Students and Skype

The days have gone by so fast with the snow days, changes of schedules and students doing their best to learn! We have decided the "normal" is not knowing for sure the next day's plan. Where did the first semester go?
After changes in our date to Skype with author, Kate Messner, we were finally able to meet and greet her during 8th hour during a late start day. Seeing and talking to Kate on the East coast while we sat in our Oelwein classroom was the next best thing to being there.
Was it worth it???? YES!!!

The students and I were all bubbly when I pushed the call button and Kate answered with a cheerful "HI, Guys!" The next 20 minutes were filled with questions and answers from both sides of the camera. We discussed her book, The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z, snow, writing, dreams, leaves and of course reading.

This was our 1st Skype experience and I know we will do it again! Having access to authors right in our classroom brings our reading experience to a new level. We are already wondering who will be next..

Message for Sewey in Bran Hambric

Our media productions are almost ready to be released...stay tuned!

My Wall-Our Wall 2010

We will be using " Wallwishers" to help journal our thoughts and actions during 2010. Everyone is welcome to comment on the current topic. You can add pictures, video and text. The posts will be added after review. Please use initials as your user name if you are a student.

Our first visit to the Wall shares a video from author Daniel Pink, sharing information about two questions that could change your life.

Another reading challenge

In the Middle Reading Challenge. Here's "rules" for the challenge.

You must read middle grade books. These are books deemed right for kids ages 9 (sometimes 8) - 12. Harry Potter would be considered a MG book. If you look for them on Amazon you need to look under children's ages 9-12.

Reading Challenge 2010

I'm not one to shy away from a challenge and when it involves something I LOVE, I say, "Why not?"
I have joined J. Kaye's Young Adult Novel Challenge.
Super Size Me YA Reading Challenge – Read 75 Young Adult novels--It is simple...just read 75 books (or more) in 2010. I will keep you updated on my progress, adding to this blog as the year progresses.

So, are you up to a challenge? Leave a comment telling me how many books you plan on reading this year.
Remember, your 2009-2010 school year reading goal is 40 books.

I'll be starting book 1. Maze Runner @ 12:01 January 1st, 2010

If I Were A Tree...

UPDATE-Tweet message from Kate Messner: Love this! RT @teacher6th: Student video inspired by Kate Messner's "The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z"



How would you answer this question? After taking a tree quiz supplied by Kate Messner, the students pondered their answer. They created the leaf poetry mural in the background comparing themselves with their chosen tree. Here are few OMS students and staff sharing their tree personalities.

What is The Right Stuff?

Your next writing project will be sponsored by the Old Creamery Theater. You can start this project as soon as you want. We will be editing after break.

Last year, one of the stories performed at the spring production was written by a 6th grader at OMS. Will it be your story this year?

The following information is from the Old Creamery Theater website:
We are all faced with difficult choices every day. Should I cheat or follow the rules?
Should I take something that I want if it doesn’t belong to me? Should I follow the
crowd even if I don’t agree with them? Sometimes it’s hard to have the courage to do
the right thing. Sometimes it’s hard to figure out what the right thing to do is!

That is what The Right Stuff is all about. We are looking for stories about characters who are faced with a tough decision and who choose to do the right thing, even if it’s not the easiest choice to make. So have fun using your imagination and tell us a story about someone or something that has “the right stuff”!

All entries must:
• Be an original work from the imagination of students in grades 1 - 6.
• Be in the form of a story, poem, or song.
• Be kept to a maximum of five typewritten pages.
• Have a character or characters resolve a conflict or problem by making a choice to
do the right thing, whatever that may be in their given situation.

STORY WRITING TIPS
A good story:
• Has a beginning, middle and end.
• Is creative (and comes solely from the student’s imagination).
• Has interesting characters that can be people, animals, objects – anything!
• Tells the reader where the story takes place.
• Deals with a conflict (or problem) that is resolved within the story.
• Teaches a lesson or has a moral.
• Explains how the characters have changed or been affected by events in the story.
Be creative with your story’s conflict and resolution.

Maybe your character doesn’t do the right thing at first but later has a change of heart.
Maybe your character thinks they are doing the right thing but later realizes they were in the wrong and they must make amends.
Maybe your character needs to be shown by another character how to do the right thing. The possibilities are endless!

Curious George Tree

Elves were busy outside our classroom last week.
Mrs. Duff's favorite childhood book character- Curious George- has made many smile when they turn the corner and see the George Tree.
"Are those really bananas on the tree?"