Getting creative with video and writing!

I'm including our restaurant recruitment video. I plan to re-record the voice over with student voices but during my ENTICE training today I wanted to play with the audio. We'll send this video to restaurants to prepare them for a arranged meeting to discuss the Tap Project.

In other news... I am joining a small group of teachers once a month to share our creative writing. I currently do not write creatively. I haven't since my junior year of college when I took creative writing. I feel absolutely terrified by the thought of sharing my (currently nonexistent) writing but I suppose a little discomfort in life is good for us right? Besides, it might be nice to have a creative outlet besides updating my classroom bulletin board once a semester. I mean there's only so much one can do with a little border and die cut letters.

Must See

Chris and I went to the Ragtag last weekend to see Slumdog Millionaire. I'd heard nothing about the movie until all of a sudden everyone was talking about it. The movie is great, the cinematography is wonderful and the story is tragic and victorious. It's about a "slumdog" in India who wins Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and is accused of cheating. The movie takes you through his life and the circumstances that provide the background knowledge for each of his answers. Go see it if you haven't already!

Missourian Article

Here's the article in the Missourian!!!

Binge blogging

So it's been some time and I haven't posted much but life is crazy right now. Crazy in a good way, but crazy none the less. First, let me update you on the Tap Project. The Missourian (Columbia's local paper) came and interviewed students last week. The story will run this week and I will do my best to get you a link or somehow share the article with you. Students were interviewed and they all thought it was the greatest thing that someone outside of our class cared about what we are trying to do in our community.

Now, on Tuesday, KOMU news is coming to film and interview the students as they present their pitch for how to implement the Tap Project. They're going to get to see their presentations and hopefully this publicity will only encourage local restaurants to join in the cause. The Tap Project just updated their website for the 2009 campaign and if you're interested in getting involved you can register there: tapproject.org

In addition to all the Tap excitement, I am speaking at a technology conference tomorrow. Two other teachers from Smithton and I will be presenting on using technology to teach literacy. My 30 minute section is about discussion boards, blogs, and online community. I feel honored to present but nervous to speak in front of my peers. I know as teachers we publicly speak all day long, but my usual audience is thirteen and I'm almost always more knowledgeable than they are. It's much more intimidating to speak in front of other professionals. I figure it's probably good for me to be a little uncomfortable sometimes and I am getting to incorporate some of my Fellow's presentation materials into this presentation. I think it will go well but I will feel relief once it's over.

In other exciting news, Chris and I purchased a small dresser for $25 from the Salvation Army yesterday. My plan is to strip it and repaint it and respray the hardware. I'll post a before and after shot when I get it finished. Here's the dresser now. It also has a mirror that attaches but we're storing that for right now.

Tap, Tap, Tap-a-roo

We started our two week problems-based unit on the Tap Project. The kids were brainstorming today about their research and presentations and they had some wonderfully big dreams. They talked about getting the media involved so that more people could know about the world water crisis and they're eager to get out there and come up with ways to raise money. It was beautiful to hear them so excited and to see the interconnectedness of it all. One student thought we could get HyVee to donate food to have a awareness night for parents and community, another student wants his mom to come in and share about PR, which is her job, so that we can do the best possible presentations. Other students plan to pen letters to Oprah, the President, anyone who might listen and take action. They care. A lot. Many have never thought of themselves as rich or powerful but we had some wonderful dialogue about the power and privilege they have simply by being born in the United States and how literacy can be a tool to change the world. Many of them were shocked to find out that there are illiterate pockets of they world. They cannot fathom a life without education. I am going to love the next two weeks. These discoveries and conversations are the things teaching is made of.

Back in the game

At what point do you emphasize social skills? I've always assumed that they are taught over the course of your entire life, beginning at the earliest stages of life. I sometimes wonder if my students missed out on early, developmental, social skills. For example, in ac lab today one of my students who rarely brings work to do but always owes works in his classes, was trying to discuss all sorts of topics with me while I busily respond to email and update the website. He is over by my bulletin board that has useful information as well as two, unflattering pictures of me from my middle school years with a sign that notes "middle school, no one is immune." I put them up to be funny, to poke fun at the fact that everyone looks ridiculous in these years of growth. Well my students tells me I look just like my middle school self. Excuse me, but I do not wear unflattering jean jackets anymore and I don't have bangs that start halfway back on my head and I've grown out of my rosacea and shed my braces! So I ignore him thinking maybe he'll drop it. But that's not the kind of kid he is, he wants to be heard and almost always believes he's right so he proceeds to ask every one in my classroom if I look identical to my old pictures. No one wants to agree because they get that no person wants to be told they look like they did in seventh grade but also they don't want to engage in a frustrating argument with this student so they just kind of ignore him. Finally I tell my student to drop it and get a book out to read. I mention that perhaps I don't want to look like my teen self. He then replies, "what it's a compliment, it means you look young. You're like the exact same, minus the fluorescent red hair!" Oh, the honesty just never gets old.