Finally...posting FINAL projects!

Hello. As promised, although much later than anticipated...here is a collection of what you all did as your Multimodal Response to Literacy or your Response to Freedom Writers! Great job everybody!!!

Real life connection to Finn!

I was watching the news and saw this video...it is heartbreaking! Think about how these students fit into some of the discussions we've had so far this semester...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WMTTrOrKVI

Here's the background information for the clip from youtube:

A Dream Comes True! Students meet President Obama on March 19, 2009! In addition, see President Obama's reference to Village Academy in his first speech to the nation about education. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/...Follow up with KCET.org/socal beautiful tribute to this project!This project sprang from discussions held in our Advanced Placement Literature and Composition class during the reading of F. Scott Fitzgeralds novel The Great Gatsby, says Mr. Steinman, AP Lit. teacher at Village Academy High School (Pomona Unified School District). They opened up, shared deeply touching details of their current travails, and felt compelled to share their sentiments with those who were in a position to not only listen to them, but implement policies in order to make things better for them and the country they love dearly. The sentiments expressed in this project are true, heartfelt and totally unscripted. Students sat themselves down, the camera began to roll, and the resulting footage is as true as it gets. Spoken with innocence, directly, and with the courage rarely seen by teenagers today, the video was totally edited by students and is meant as a means of expression by which positive action will hopefully be inspired to evolve.

Making Connections

Now that we are about half way through Finn's Literacy with an Attitude, think about ways to make connections with your Content Area Methods class and others by sharing ways to MOTIVATE students to succeed in your future classrooms. Be sure to make explicit connections to Finn.

Digital Text Examples Spring 2009 Semester

Here is a list of links to the digital texts done this semester:

IN SCIENCE:

http://rodolfosscienceblog.blogspot.com/

http://thinkwarming.wordpress.com/

http://dyu637.blogspot.com/

http://www.freewebs.com/anju1977/

IN MATHEMATICS:

http://mathematiciansof637.blogspot.com/

http://home.cogeco.ca/~jtadla/



IN ENGLISH/LANGUAGE ARTS/ FOREIGN LANGUAGE:

http://questgarden.com/77/22/3/090302092431/

http://mmemuir.blogspot.com/




IN HISTORY/GEOGRAPHY/SOCIAL STUDIES:

http://gilvesyworldhistory.blogspot.com/


http://zunal.com/webquest.php?user=25060



http://warof1812hist.blogspot.com/



MULTIDISCIPLINARY:

Science/History: http://by2teachers.blogspot.com/

English/History: http://sites.google.com/site/vimyridgeproject/

Please double check that your link appears here - if it doesn't, please email me the link asap.
Feel free to look at others and comment...

Literacy with an Attitude

So, you've already read chapters 1-3 and each section had some interesting discussion...here is where you can post any comments, thoughts, questions, etc. about what you've read so far.
I am unable to upload the powerpoint presentation here, but you can find it when you log into Blackboard.

ALSO, I am compiling a post that will include live links to the newly designed digital texts, so email me your link and/or bring a hard copy of your digital text to class this coming week.

What's so 'special' about Special Education?

Now that we have completed the first part of our course, I'd like to ask...are you overwhelmed yet? We spent the last four weeks discussing special education and strategies for our classrooms, but I noticed that some of your strategies are just good practices in general. I can't wait to read the research papers that you are writing because I think that most of you will reveal your true approach to accomodating a specific case. I'd like you to do two things (besides the reading) while we are on break:

1. Upload any presentation materials - including powerpoints and handouts.
2. Post a mini-reflection about your learning/thoughts/assumptions about 'special education'.

ENJOY the break!
PS

Do schools kill creativity?

Here is the link to the Ken Robinson talk we watched the first day of class:

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html

If you feel you didn't get to share your thoughts that first day, OR you have had new thoughts in light of our class reading/discussions, please feel free to post a comment.

DVD helps kids with Autism

Here is a link to another NPR news story, this one detailing a study and product that emerged to help address issues related to autism...what do you think about this?

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99732203&ft=1&f=1001

Examples of "Literacy Poems"

Here are some of the literacy poems generated by former students:

"Sewn for the Masses"

I imagined my education as a sequin-covered gown

tailored to me

made...for me.

unique.

Representing who I am...what I will become

what I want to be

I would feel proud...competent...accomplished.

Instead they gave me rags

Sewn for the masses...designed for them...

...not for me!

I am drawing in their fabric

In their tight knit stuffy fabric

In their one size fits all fabric

My clothes are torn

I am worn

I am educated.

"Literacy is Power"

Literacy is Power

Increasing by the hour

Strong Words

Multimodal, now we get it

So important we won't forget it

Tough Language

Sahara, Gruwell, and the dog

Showed us how to do the job

Brawny Expressions

Make it fun, make it new

Bring literacy into all you do

Hefty Vocabulary

Use a video or a comic book

Encourage students to take a look

Burly Terminology

The printing press and the working class

Corresponding societies as they clink their glass

Strapping Jargon

Don't keep the gate

Allow your students to create

Stalwart Lingo

Literacy is Power

Increasing by the hour

Literacy is fun

It is imagination and creativity in one

you can write or read in any fashion

you can even make it your lifelong passion!

Make use of any kind of multimodal, go ahead I suggest you do

use the internet & pictures...your students will say 'WA-HOO!'

Literacy expands a student's world but they see it as a chore

they aren't interested and often say to their teacher 'what a bore!'

A teacher should make literacy fun, play video games & write comics

You will see your students learning and they'll lose their bad antics

A literate student means so much to parents, principals, and the public

the students will love to see they got an 'A' on the rubric!

Make literacy fun, not only for students but for your sake...

because if you don't, they'll all fail, come back and give you a headache!

"Write for Right"

Visionaries

We speak the truth

that they are afraid to face.

We're brave soldiers

on the front lines of life

Fighting for what we see as Right.

With pens as our weapons

we turn on lights

in the middle of the night

And scream.

And cry

And whisper.

And laugh

On paper

Emotions are the pallet.

We are the color-sayers

separate, yet together

we'll surpass material

And bask in the glory

of our potential.

Ode to Technology

How you make my life so easy!!

Today before I lecture I want to show a quick film

Bringing technology into the classroom

First I must let the projector warm up

What do you mean this system is not compatible to a Mac?

Well we will just use the TV and DVD player from down the hall

How you make my life oh so easy!!!

Where does the read AV cable go?

The TV has to be on channel three for it to work

Do you see anything now? How about now? Now?

I'll bet the DVD player doesn't play burned discs

How you make my life oh so easy!!!

I'll just call the tech guy and he can help

So how is everyone doing today?

You finally got it working thanks so much

Let's watch the film. Bell Rings!!! Maybe tomorrow?

HOW YOU MAKE MY LIFE OH SO EASY!!!

L anguage presented in an

I maginative way to

T each and

E ngage

R eaders of all ages, including

A dults,

C hildren, and

Y outh

Examples of Digital Texts

Here is a list of projects generated in previous semesters:

1. Les Miserables online. This website brought together collaboration in English, history, and French. http://facegrabber.tripod.com/
2. Grade 9 Science webpage. http://www.voisinlubczuk.com/EDU637/index.html
3. Creative Writing in English class. http://writingcreatively.proboards.com/
4. Underground Railroad for History class: http://www.msmardling.synthasite.com/
5. The Holocaust Free Press for History class: http://zunal.com/webquest.php?user=18136
6. Science blog covering current issues: http://scientistsofedu637g.blogspot.com/
7. Grade 9 English, Romeo and Juliet: http://benlolograde9english.synthasite.com/

Some others are not online, but available in my office. They include a set of math videos and a Yahtzee game both with the goal to teach probability.

A textbook to consider

TXTNG: The Gr8 Db8 was just published and is stirring up some controversy...here is a story as it was reported on NPR in December of 2008.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97700573

Does this sound like a book we should incorporate into our 'study' of technological phenomena?

Is the internet making us stupid?

Sort of a counterpoint to our course and how wonderful technology is (can be)...This story was broadcast on NPR in June of 2008.
Click the link, then listen to this news story and post your thoughts.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91543814

NCTE's position

Here is the link to NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English) and what they have to say about Adolescent Literacy.

http://www.ncte.org/adlit

What do you think? How will you incorporate some of these tenets even if you teach another content area?

An Apple Perspective

This document was created by Apple Computer, Inc. in 2003. Does the information seem relevant to us today? Skewed? Perhaps....think about the message and the perspective and post your thoughts.

http://edcommunity.apple.com/ali/galleryfiles/487/achievement.pdf

A Model Administrator?

This article appeared in TIME magazine in November 2008...how would you deal with this person as your boss/colleague? Do you think what she is doing is for the common good? Read the article and post your interpretation.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1862444,00.html

Are We Failing Our Geniuses?

This article appeared in TIME magazine in August of 2007 and it remains a relevant area of inquiry for us in 2009. When we talk about 'special education' issues, the students mentioned in this article fit the bill, but do not get included in a traditional sense. Read the article and post your thoughts.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1653653,00.html