Day 73: Dana Humm, 5th Grade Teacher

Kidblog:  Why my students enjoy blogging about their reading with total strangers.

I have learned that no matter how enthusiastic, energetic, funny, or entertaining I try to be, I will never be completely “cool” in the eyes of my students.  It’s something about the fact that I am the one assigning work, giving out homework, and nagging about forms that are due that make me seem almost like a second mom.  Do I think my students like me?  YES!  Do they want to blog with me about the books they are reading?  NO!

Enter Kidblog:  a website that safely lets students blog about books with total strangers!  Ok, not total strangers.  Currently my students are blogging with students at Columbus State Community College.  The college student and my 5th grader read the same book and then blog weekly to each other about what they read.  They ask each other questions about the book, answer questions from previous blogs, and talk about themselves.  (The whole time I get to monitor their posts to make sure they are appropriate and withhold any personal information).  The quality of writing and book analysis that comes from my students when there is a real-world purpose for it is phenomenal (not to mention that they get to use the laptops!)  I even find my students using their newfound audience to talk about other books they are reading and to make new book suggestions.  It is nice to see them engaging as real readers over real books.  Now if only I were as “cool” as their book buddies!

Student Blog:

“March 7, 2013 at 10:32 AM

Hello again you should get a chinchilla their so cute! I agree about how Jay is selfish. The book Hoot is really good im really far in it. Its probably going to be like Lost and Found a book that you never wished ended. You should read it its an awesome book. Ya I agree never knowing what happens next in a good book is what makes a book so good. Thats what happens in Hoot if I leave off at a good part I just wanna keep reading on. If I were Melissa and I knew the secret then I wouldn’t tell anyone even if I trusted a friend not to tell. Because like what happened in the book everyone was only telling friends they trusted,and then thats how the secret got around. Because every one just had to tell one of there close friends who they trusted. What would you do if you knew RAY and Jays secret? hmm would I tell melissa the secret if I were Jay? I think I would because Melissa seems like she could keep a secret, but like what happend in the book I think I wont tell Melissa my secret ,but I would because Ray even said he felt good to tell someone so maybe I would tell Melissa my secret. What would you do?

I do think that the whole school is going to find out. Because its getting around really fast, and sooner or later the whole school is going to tell because it is a cool secret. So yes I think the whole school is going to find out. Their going to get in trouble probably by there parents. I cant wait to hear back from you. Bye!!!!!!!!!”

Day 56: Authentic Learning

Building Excitement for Reading with Book Clubs

One of the biggest motivators for students when it comes to learning is when we create authentic learning experiences.  These learning experiences go beyond the "ditto sheet" learning of the past and instead provides students with real-life experience in which to learn.

Earlier this week, Mrs. Meister, a fourth grade teacher at Hilliard Horizon, emailed me about an authentic learning experience she was creating for her students.  Here's part of her message:

I just thought I'd let you know that my class will be browsing several books in class and choosing one for their book clubs tomorrow. They are pretty excited about this. Just thinking maybe we could chat with a few of them about how they decide what book they choose for book club and what they are looking forward to the most. We spent today talking about the purpose of a book club and tomorrow we will brainstorm discussion topics before they have time to make their top two selections.
Just a thought...not super interesting, but they seem pretty excited about it and that's all that matters. :)

Students created a list of discussion topics to use during book club

As Mrs. Meister mentioned, one of the authentic learning experiences many teachers, including Mrs. Meister, provide for students at Hilliard Horizon is through providing time and support for students to be involved in their own book clubs.  Just like book clubs many adults are apart of, student book clubs share the experience of reading a book together as a group and discussing what they have read.  This is a highly motivating reason for reading for students.   

In the video clip, Mrs. Meister is asking Alex about his process for choosing which book to read for book club.