HOW IT WORKS
A World of Hope and Peace combines language arts and
technology. Although the content surrounds the tragic events of
September 11, it can easily be adapted to other subject areas. The
writing workshop is the basis for instruction, where the students are
encouraged to write anything special, meaningful, and important
pertaining to a specific subject in their writer’s notebook. All of the
discussions, mini-lessons, writing, conferencing, and sharing are
done in the classroom. Depending on their needs and the stage of the
writing process they are in, students gather for either whole class or
small-group mini-lessons. Then the students reread their work and
review it with a partner to revise and edit cooperatively. Individual
conferences with the teacher follow for further support prior to
publishing. From here, the students are divided into small groups to
work in the multi-media lab to input their writing, scan their
illustrations, and record their voices. They also take photos of
each other with a digital camera. The work is then put together into a
PowerPoint presentation. The writing pieces are also collected to
make two big books. All this is done within a four-week span.
THE STUDENTS
Twenty-six second grade students participated in this program, which
can be adapted for students in grades two through eight and can be
used with both large and small groups. Students with limited English
proficiency build listening, speaking, reading, writing, and computer
skills while also developing their self-confidence.
THE STAFF
Suzy Poon currently teaches second grade at P.S. 124M Yung Wing
Elementary School. She has taught there for seventeen years and has
been a Reading Recovery Teacher for seven of those years. She
works with many limited -English-proficiency children and has done
workshops on reading and TERC math for teachers and parents. Wai
Yee Chan assisted on this program. She has been a middle-school
computer teacher for two years and also offers technology guidance
to teachers while assisting them in their class projects. Martin Yu also
assisted the class for this program. He is an American Read tutor
from New York University who works in the multi-media lab.
WHAT YOU NEED
Necessary materials include computers with Microsoft Office,
word-processing, Photoshop, and PowerPoint software; a microphone; a color
scanner; and a digital camera.
OVERALL VALUE
A World of Hope and Peace provides students with an opportunity to
discuss their hopes and fears about the world in general and their
lives in specific. They express themselves orally and in writing, while
developing their technology skills and exploring the various ways
technology can be incorporated into the learning process. The
PowerPoint presentation allows them to see themselves in a different
light and promotes their self-esteem. Integrating learning with
technology prepares them for the future. They come away from the
experience with added skills and a newfound confidence.
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