Did you hear about this yet? AT&T and Polycom are sponsoring sessions with Lynne Reid Banks in April. Registration is open and slots are filling fast! Hurry!
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ASK Author: Harry Sue
Posted on March 21, 2007 by Janine Lim
Today several classes are talking to author Sue Stauffacher about her book Harry Sue. For more details on this book, check out the Amazon.com reviews of it. This is yet another TWICE ASK session with Sue. Yesterday’s sessions featured the book Donuthead. This picture is of the paperback cover coming out in April. Sue showed several versions of the cover and how that process happens in publishing.
In addition, Sue talked about visiting moms in prison and talking to them about writing letters to their kids. She helped moms in prison write letters to be published online. Your students can read these letters online too.
Here are some of the questions the students asked in the sessions today.
- Why did you choose to make the granny racist?
- Did Harry Sue want to save Violet or did she save her because she caused it?
- Why is Red Riding Hood so mean in the story she’s telling to the crumb-snatchers?
- How did you think of the character Harry Sue?
- How does your work with prison children affect you personally?
- What emotions did you have while writing the story?
- You said on page 284 that Harry Sue is a composite of several girls. Are you one of them and which part?
- Why does Harry Sue want to go to prison in the beginning of the book?
- What personal experiences helped you write this book?
- How did you choose the names of the characters?
- One of the schools participating today was very interested in Homer, the quadriplegic in the story. Their class has been raising money to help the family of a local quadriplegic build a house to meet his needs. They asked what modifications were made for Homer in the story.
- Why does Harry Sue’s grandma take her anger out on the kids?
This book covers several tough issues including Sudan’s “lost boys,” child neglect, foster care, and parental incarceration. Students engaged in a conversation with Sue about the writing process, the issues in the book, the editorial process, relating to kids like Harry Sue, and the author’s life. Sue is great with the students and addresses serious issues in funny and touching ways. These are amazing programs! Participate next year if you can!
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ASK Author: Wireman Comics
Posted on March 21, 2007 by Janine Lim
This morning a 5th grade class from Brown Elementary is participating in a special TWICE ASK session with Sue Stauffacher about her comic books called Wireman. This particular series is designed for students who are struggling with reading; common sight words are carefully sprinkled through the comic to increase student’s reading skills. In the picture, Sue is showing the difference between writing a comic book script and writing a novel. Students learned in this program the long process it takes to get from idea to finished product.
Here are some of the questions the students asked:
- Do you like writing comics or books more and why?
What is your favorite issue of Wireman and why?- Why did you decide to write a comic on Wireman instead of another book?
- Are you going to write another story line with the same characters?
- Are you planning on adding any new characters? (There’s a Navaho code-talker in one of the pictures and he’ll be coming back in future issues.)
Lucky for the students in this class, Sue is sending them the script and the draft comic strip for volume 3. They’ll be the first class to see it!
Because we didn’t fill this session, this class got to be one-on-one with Sue. The students had written their own sequels for volume three and they shared them with Sue.
Sue also read her new book, Nothing But Trouble: The Story of Althea Gibson, which is coming out in October. This book is a feast of words and pictures! We’ll have to schedule an ASK program on this book for sure. Check the TWICE ASK website in the fall for next year’s sessions with Sue Stauffacher.
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New NETS & VC
Posted on March 21, 2007 by Janine Lim
Did you know that ISTE is updating the NETS for Students? Now is the time to give feedback before the deadline of March 31.
I thought I’d share with you a quick little comparison I did. I wanted to see where videoconferencing fits into the new NETS for Students and if it seems appropriately represented.
The current standards potentially address videoconferencing in the 4th standard: Technology Communication Tools.
- Students use telecommunications to collaborate, publish, and interact with peers, experts, and other audiences.
- Students use a variety of media and formats to communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences.
Have you noticed or thought about the fact that these standards are focused more on students interacting, communicating and collaborating than on “receiving” content? There’s definitely a basis here for collaborative projects and highly interactive programs, don’t you think?
The draft of the new standards move the communication standard to number II with the new heading of Communication and Collaboration. Higher importance? Don’t you love the word Collaboration in there?!!!
- Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others. Students:
A. collaborate, publish, and interact with peers, experts, and others employing a variety of digital media and formats.
B. communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences utilizing a variety of media and formats.
C. develop cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with learners of other cultures.
D. contribute to project teams to produce original works.
Emphasis mine. Note how the wording in B is very similar to the previous standard, but the focus is on the learning task at the beginning of the sentence instead of the technology used. Excellent!
Isn’t C. awesome!! I love that line! Succinctly expressing the need and value of international connections. Can anyone say Read Around the Planet or Megaconference Jr.?
D. sure gives food for thought. I’ve had simmerings of ideas before on projects that could happen via VC. Time to dig up those ideas again and see how they could be implemented. Science MysteryQuest, Global Business Uses of VC, VC in the Real World, Dream Factory. How could we have students collaborate at a distance to produce original work on some “big problems“?
I am pleased that the new standards make a stronger case for videoconferencing and other forms of communication technologies. Wouldn’t you agree? Then give feedback before the deadline of March 31!
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