Day 19: Project Update

Your Story Matters

We've had three successful weeks with our project.  18 stories of learning have been shared so far.  And while we are a long way off of our goal to share a total of 165 stories, the stories that have been told have been terrific.

I am amazed that the project has become popular so quickly.  We recently hit 2,000 pageviews, which is more than I expected by this time.  What amazes me even more is that the audience that is reading our stories each day is a worldwide audience.  What this confirms for me is that your story matters.  People want to read stories where the storyteller is being reflective and is talking from the heart.

http://flickrhivemind.net/Tags/lindawoods

Writing for a global audience is usually not typical for an elementary school since most of the time our audience consists of the members of our learning community- our students, teachers and families.  This project allows the members of our learning community the opportunity to write for a global audience, which can be a more authentic experience.

The progress of the project has me reflecting on a recent blog post by David Truss that lays out what he believes are 7 ways to transform a classroom, which include inquiry learning, giving students a voice, connecting to a global audience, developing a broad community, leadership opportunities, chances to play, and connecting to networks.  I feel that our project is highlighting the things we do each day at Hilliard Horizon that exemplifies the 7 ways Truss describes.  Horizon's classrooms are already transformed and we are pushing ourselves each day to continue to change.

Thanks for continuing to read our stories, and I look forward to more members of the Hilliard Horizon community stepping up to the microphone that is connected to the world and sharing their story of learning.