I’ve been part of some incredible, and even complicated projects that have utilized combinations of Google Docs, Wikis, Blogs and on and on (we’re part of one now – more on that another time) and have involved students across the country and around the world. But today we (a few of my fifth graders that came in during their lunch recess) did this incredible thing:
We Skyped for 5 minutes with Kathy Cassidy’s 1st grade class and shared what jobs (chores) we do around the house (I even got to share mine!). That was it. 5 minutes, during recess … and the 4 students that came in had smiles as big as the great outdoors … and want to leave comments on their new friends’ blog ASAP (so they would be writing because they want to … with 1st graders! … let it sink in).
AND if you knew the students (well 3 of the 4) that came in … you’d have to know my students real well … that was the biggest part of this story … not the students you would guess IF you knew my students well … the tough guys … the cool people that you would guess would think this was dumb. When everyone came back from recess, you’d never guess what they heard as they entered the door and what they feel left out about now – because these guys were all-stars with 1st graders!
5 Minutes during recess. Because it’s easy … and free … and important in ways so many just don’t get.
Learning is messy … and not always all that hard! : )
Absolutely fantastic. What a great initiative. I have visited Kathy’s blog and seen the work she does with her class. Congratulations Brian.
You are doing an excellent job helping your students be successful. Like I’ve said before, it is so good they are starting this so young, compared to how old most of us were the first time we used a computer. I hope you continue to change the way kids learn by incorporating so many important tools into your classroom!
Hello Again! My name is Rebecca and I am a student in Dr. Strange’s EDM 310 class at the University of South Alabama. I have read through many of your post and they have meant a lot to me personally to see teachers doing so much with technology and kids. But I do have to admit this short one has touched me the most. At the beginning of this semester I was so very skeptical of Dr. Strange and his intense push to teach us all the tools we needed for our future as classroom teachers. I wish you could have read my mind when he said blogging in classrooms.. This post on just the smallest reaching out that meant so much is really what it is all about! I love it and can’t wait to start using such tools in a future classroom!
Keep up the great accomplishments you are doing with your students!
Rebecca Sisson