As a teacher, I feel it is important to experiment with new approaches to teaching, especially using technology! Today was one of those days I experimented with technology and loved it! What technology did we use you may be asking? It was an application that allowed us inside Mrs. Donofrio’s Sixth and Seventh grade classroom in the Sunshine State. Did you figure it out yet? I won’t keep you in suspense. Today we used Skype to communicate with our blogging buddies at Hey Kids!
The purpose of today’s session was to initiate communication, a chance to get to know a class. Students in the classes read previous blog posts (Mrs. Donofrio’s class read our blog, and we read Hey Kids) and created questions in order to initiate discussion. The students in both classes asked questions and provided answers. Some of the questions asked were as follows:
- What sports do you play?
- How do you fit blogging into your busy life?
- How did you come up with the idea of book trailers?
- What are some of your favorite books?
- What is Genius Hour?
- What were some of your favorite activities for the year?
Through reading one of the blog posts on the Hey Kids blog, we learned that last year for summer reading, Mrs. Donofrio’s students read the novel A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park (A Long Walk to Water begins as two stories, told in alternating sections, about two eleven-year-olds in Sudan, a girl in 2008 and a boy in 1985. The girl, Nya, is fetching water from a pond that is two hours’ walk from her home: she makes two trips to the pond every day. The boy, Salva, becomes one of the “lost boys” of Sudan, refugees who cover the African continent on foot as they search for their families and for a safe place to stay. Enduring every hardship from loneliness to attack by armed rebels to contact with killer lions and crocodiles, Salva is a survivor, and his story goes on to intersect with Nya’s in an astonishing and moving way.)
This is the required novel for our sixth graders going into seventh grade to read this summer. Mrs. Donofrio’s class explained how they incorporated the novel into their class. They took quizzes, engaged in discussions, and raised money for fresh water in the Sudan. Mrs. Donofrio explained how they incorporated the novel’s message- One Step at a Time- into their learning everyday. I am excited to have our students read this novel and share their thoughts and connections.
Students in my classes were excited to talk to the students in Mrs. Donofrio’s classes about their blogs and what their student lives are like. Students were jealous that Mrs. Donofrio’s classes last day of school is tomorrow. But just because the school year is over does not mean communication has to stop. We will stay in touch through blogging. In addition, students in both classes will be able to share their summer time experiences by sending post cards to the schools. Sharing summer time experiences through post card experiences will be an exciting way to start the new 2014-2015 school year.
Thank you Mrs. Donofrio and your class for taking part in the wonderful experience. Next year I would love to connect again in order to share our learning. The possibilities for collaboration are limitless!
