HOW IT WORKS
The students are exposed to a wide array of thematic literature and poetry in which the concepts
of peace, anti-violence, and conflict resolution are depicted. Literacy is integrated
with art and technology in collaborative projects. Through class discussions, students delve
into real-world concepts and issues. Utilizing literature, poetry, and
reflective writing as a catalyst, they think critically, analyze, question,
and dissect issues and situations in a nonthreatening atmosphere.
Using double-entry journals, students respond to concepts/issues
encountered in the literature and in life that they feel strongly about.
The students also create a peace quilt that combines technology and
traditional quilt-making procedures. The children are first exposed
to a wide array of literature and poetry that includes the theme of peace.
They then choose a type of poem (rhyming, acrostic, haiku, etc)
to use to write about peace. The students can also write a reflective
paragraph about how peace can begin with them. They refine their
thoughts and writing skills and, when the final draft is complete,
students then type the poem/paragraph on the computer using Print
Shop 11.0 or another program with t-shirt making capabilities. Then,
the writing can be ironed onto a felt square or rectangle. (All
squares or rectangles should be the same size.) The students then sew (the X
stitch is a decorative, easy stitch) their square or rectangle onto
a larger, different-colored square or rectangle. The individual squares
or rectangles are either glued (using fabric glue) or sewed onto a
large banner. Digital pictures can be printed onto the iron-on transfers
and included in the quilt, which is then displayed at an art show and in
the superintendent’s office.
THE STUDENTS
Twenty-four heterogeneously grouped sixth grade ESL students
participate in the ongoing weekly program. They meet in their
classroom, which is equipped with six computers. The program
can be adapted for younger grades as well as small groups since
read-alouds, shared and paired reading, and reflective response are
integral components of the program.
THE STAFF
This is Lisa Radford’s fifth year at P.S. 20 as a Reading Intervention
Specialist/Staff Developer. She contributes to staff development by
creating and modeling reading lessons in selfcontained classrooms,
and is also utilized as a literacy consultant to teachers and
appropriate personnel with regard to children with learning difficulties.
She designs and implements a wide array of workshops to help parents best meet
their children’s needs, and is one of the coordinators of P.S. 20’s annual learning fair as well
as an active member of the school leadership team.
WHAT YOU NEED
To create a technological peace quilt, you will need: computers,
PrintShop software, books and poetry related to the theme, scissors,
yarn, needles, felt, and an iron and ink-jet iron-on transfers.
OVERALL VALUE
The Technological Peace Quilt utilizes literature
and poetry as a vehicle for the students’ intellectual, emotional, and social growth.
Students use the writing process to plan, create, edit, and revise
drafts to produce a final work suitable for publishing, and are exposed
to quality literature and poetry. This enables them to observe
different writing styles and techniques, literary language, and rich vocabulary.
The program addresses the needs of all learners by using a variety of
reading approaches and materials, and by having students work in
cooperative groups. |