Giving Students A Voice

Tech as a Voice Tool

While we were away this summer on our family vacation to Nashville, a tragedy struck. One of our family dogs escaped her boarding and was hit by a car.  Our sweet dog was killed because she was able to find a way out of her own personal run and the fenced in yard. (Two locked fenced in areas)  This was so hard to deal with as we were so far away and so unexpected.  There was no chance to say good bye. 

As many of you know I have three children. My youngest is under a year so the grief didn't make an impact on my wee little babe.  My older two children however we devastated.  It was difficult as a parent to help them grieve, especially when it felt so abstract and unfathomable.

 The only idea that I had was a slide show of images.  We do this at funerals for people as a way to say goodbye and honour their memory. Perhaps doing the same thing would help my children say goodbye and honour her.

That is what we did.  As a family we created a slide show.  My children choose the images, template and wording. They needed a little assistance with music, transitions and speed. Keep in mind they are younger and this was their first slide show. (You can watch it below if you would like)

What did I learn from this? 

The technology was a tool for my children.

 It gave them a voice when they didn't have the words or understanding.

1. The video empowered my children.

They felt in control of how they presented the information. They wanted to convey to the world how sweet Evee was.  They wanted the whole world to know her the way they did. Giving them the chance to create this slide show gave them that sense.

2. They wanted to share

So often I have thought about how controversial at times it is to put student work out in the real virtual world.  Yet, when the slide show was completed the first thing my children asked for was for me to share it. 

"I want the whole world to know her".  

Even at a young age they know the power of connection. They know they are sharing with people they know and people they don't know. They know what they are doing will be watched, will serve a purpose and will make an impact.  Giving them that chance-empowered them.

3. It gave them a voice

They are little people who are still learning their way in this world. Sharing and creating this slide show gave them a voice. They were able to share with the world how much of an impact our family dog had in their lives. It gave them a voice to communicate their feelings and emotions.  

Technology so often in classrooms is used as an add on.  We all have been guilty of it and have witnessed other teachers do it as well.  I have learned from this experience to not take that for granted. Technology is a very powerful tool to help students experience, communicate,explore, evaluate and share their world.

"Technology is a very powerful tool to help students experience, communicate, explore, evaluate and share their world."  -M.Verwey

As educators we should help them and give them time to do just that. This year I promise to try to use technology as just that....a tool for them and not just and add on to a lesson or as something cool to do. 

It's June!

It's June!

Help! I need a lesson idea that can be a period...a couple of periods....a day?

What do I do with the students?

This question always comes up this time of year.Trying to get report cards in, kids have spring fever and somehow in the midst of all of this we are suppose to get other work done.  ha ha.

Teens can be especially difficult to motivate at this time of year.  I decided to tweak an activity that I have done around Christmas time for the end of the year.  Students enjoy doing it as they have a chance to let their own creativity shine through. 

This is a media literacy activity that you can put as little or as much time in as you feel you need or based on the interests of the students.

Students try and help the Sandy Sisters sell their beach toys to teenagers in Canada and the United States. They have a chance to come up with the toys, the logo, slogan/jingle etc.  With the beach theme it is perfect for the end of the year with students thinking about summer anyway.  Anyway I hope you enjoy it. There is currently a classroom trying it out now!  

I can't wait to see the pictures. I will post them for you to see too!

Dreaming of Summer

Dreaming of Summer

 I started thinking and dreaming about summer. How many days are left till freedom? to teach?

I have so much planned this summer. Camping, camping and more camping! Feeling the summer breezes, the lightening bugs, the starlit sky and the feel of sand between my toes.

Oh yes...summer and I are really good friends.

You have been sun kissed!

I started thinking about my students. What do they have planned this summer? What will they see?  What will they feel?  What will they eat?  A new idea was born for an end of the year activity.  Every teacher needs a few in his or her back pocket.  

The idea is to take the picture of the student with a speech bubble about summer.  Simple. I thought it would be nice to have a bulletin board with their faces and their speech bubbles talking about summer.  If I am daydreaming...so are they...so why not use it in my teaching?

Things We Should Say

Things We Should Say

What advice would your students say when given the chance?

My own children showed me a video the other night.  It was Kid President's 20 Things We Should Say More Often.

This video wowed me.  There are so many things we should say more often.  Then I got thinking that there are 20 things we could say about any number of topics.

What are the top 20 things you would say about graduation or the start of the school year?

Pick a topic in your class that you would like to have their thoughts on. For example, what would be the top 20 things your class would say to the next class entering  your grade.  

For my class the topic would be:

Top 26 Things That We Would Say To Future Grade Eights.  

Since I have 28 students in my class this year, the title changes so each student has a chance to say something.  The class assignment would be more effective if everyone is saying something different.  I developed a brainstorm page to help each student develop more than one idea. 

You can find that here if you would like a copy.  

20 Things We Should Say

Video record the students saying or holding a sign with their advice.  Voila a class collaboration of advice on the topic of choosing.  

I am looking forward to seeing what students have to "Say"! 

I would love to see your class video as well.  

Have fun creating.

Mobile Device Contract

Mobile Device Contract

Cell phones in the classroom?  

Mobile devices in the classroom?

I have so many ideas to be able to use devices.  There are endless possibilities.  However in my school there is not a lot of devices to be used.  We do have mini laptops but not every day and there are a couple of school ipads to share.  Note the "couple".

Meanwhile all of my students have their own devices.  They are sneaking them from the teachers as we have a no device policy in the school.  My idea was to have them use their own devices.

I am lucky to have a very supportive administrator who agreed that we should be able to use devices.Yet...what about theft.....texting in class to their parents....photos in the bathroom..??? These are very real concerns to all teachers.

To help this we devised a contract to use in the classroom.  I sent it home in the middle of the year last year and again at the start of the term this year.  The contract outlines exactly what can and cannot be done with a mobile device in the classroom.  

Students were pumped!  

Fist pumps all around!

This is a freebie!  Enjoy!

Now devices are in the classroom and I have been able to use them for some of my media lessons.  

Now to start to ask myself...how am I using technology in the classroom that will effectively help my students in life not just to make "work".

The Power of Words-Inspire your Students

The Power of Words

While I was feeding my addiction to Pinterest I came across a post that linked to the art work of Steve Rosenfield.  The Project is entitled "What I Be".  Looking at the images I was really moved.  Really moved.

What I Be Project by Steve Rosenfield

The art work displayed words written on the body and face of the subjects which revealed their biggest  insecurities. Some of them actually brought tears to my eyes.  How moving to see how someone sees themselves at their darkest.

This art work reminded me just how powerful words can be.  Especially the words we choose for ourselves.  In the image above the woman believes she is ugly.  How can that be?  I look at her and see such full lips and strength. I don't know this woman but looking at her picture I see someone strong ready to stand for what she believe in.  

Before winter break a student of mine wrote me a private letter.  In the letter she thanked me for putting up positive words around the classroom.  The big bulletin board that I don't change all year round is full of words and quotes that I had hoped would inspire them.  The idea was inspired from Pinterest of course.  The link to the original is here.  Here is a picture of my bulletin board.

I do have to get up on the ladder and fix the quote that is falling down.  

With these two ideas in my mind I thought.....Wouldn't it be great if students revealed some positive thoughts about themselves?  Instead of thinking of their insecurities...what about the parts of themselves that they were secure about? Seeing this might inspire them everyday!  If not everyday then in the moments that they might need it while staring around the room.

This inspired my Power of Words project. The object of the lesson is for students to think of positive words about themselves and display it in a photograph very similar to the art work of Steve Rosenfield.  They don't have to write on themselves if they don't want to. The student could show the word or words on a sign or in another creative display.  The students will send their photograph to me and I will print them off.  

I am excited about this lesson.  My other bulletin board that is in my class is very high as well so I only change it once a year.  Right now it looks like this:

My bulletin board will look different in the future as I plan to develop the picture of the students with their positive words and post them under their name.  How powerful to see that "you matter" with their name and a picture of their face with a strong quality that they believe about themselves.  I am excited about this project!

My package that I used for my students is available on teachers pay teachers if you would like to use it too.

The link for that is here.  I hope the students enjoy this idea as much as I do!

If you have any other creative ways that you plan to display the images, let me know. I would love to hear them.  

Favourite Read Aloud

Favourite Read Aloud

Blog hopping today I came across this linky party:

It got me thinking....what is my favourite read aloud?  There are many.  I really try and base my choice for a read aloud on the students I have in the class. For example two years ago we read Hunger Games aloud to the class.  Last year I would not have read that to the class.

One book that I have read aloud in the past and students enjoyed is:

  

Skeleton Creek 

by: Patrick Carman

 

 I often start with the second book in the series, Ghost in the machine, as there are a few.  Reading the second book hooks the students to want to read the first and third book right away.  I love a book that connects to other books.  It sparks the interest to read independently and that is a YAHOO moment for teachers.

The series is a mystery based series that has codes at the end of certain chapters.  These codes are the keys for the online site.  The code is entered and a video with the characters speaking is available.  The students loved it!  The beauty of this is the students are very intrigued and it leads to some great media discussions at the same time.  The students could not get enough.

Interactive reading accessible to everyone.

Blog Buddies

Blog Buddies

I am super excited for something I stumbled across.  I was reading another blog where the author was discussing which platforms to use with the class for blogs. I am currently using Edublog with my students for their book blogs. 

The author then put the invitations out there to connect and partner up.  Her class could read our blogs and we would read her class's blogs.  

At that moment the skies opened up and music started playing!

 

That is perfect!  I sent her an email right away and luck would have it that her class is just the right age for my students.  I am so pumped about this.  I told my students the following day and they are excited.

It was so neat to see them go back on their blogs and look at their own writing from the view point of someone else.  The keys started clicking and away they went.

 I have challenged them to write a bit about their school and life in a way that is safe and with digital citizenship.  We will not connect to the other school until the first week of May but I am so thrilled!  My student's are thrilled! 

A purpose for writing that is safe and motivating.  

Thanks Lessons From The Middle!  I am excited to be working with you.

http://www.lessonsfromthemiddle.com/

 

Book Blog

Book Blog

Another new idea! 

We tried digital literature circles through blogging about a month ago with the students.  It was a success.

The new idea is for the students to blog about one book more critically through their blogs.  The students were able to choose a book from a collection of about six books. They all surround the theme of bullying.

The students were able to choose which book they wanted to read.  After that the students will be posting six posts about their book.  The post will include a summary,a prediction, a connection and three thought provoking questions.

To add to this the students will ask a parent or another adult they trust to read their blog posts and comment on it.  As an intermediate/middle school teacher I realise how parents always sometimes feel disconnected to what their children are learning in class.  This gives parents an insight into what their teen is reading and working on.