I invite teacher bloggers to write about their digital literacy experiences in the classroom and link back to this round up. Please leave your link in the comments. I will update the post during the day.
This week I read an NCTE article in Council Chronicle entitled Students as Makers and Doers by Trisha Collopy. At the end of the article is an “Authenticity Test” for student activities. This test includes two major priorities: 1. Is the activity used outside of school? and 2. Is it a literate habit of experienced adults?
As a reflective teacher, I wonder about the activities and lessons that I setup for my students. In gifted education, we strive to center our work around student interests. When students are interested, they remain engaged and motivated. When you think about authenticity, adults usually engage in activities that interest them. When we are interested, we immerse ourselves in the subject. If you were to look at my email inbox and my Facebook feed, you would know immediately that I am a teacher who loves to read and write.
How do I make activities that advance a students’ learning, engage them in their interests, and practice an authentic task? Blogging. As I sit here at my computer writing about an intense interest of mine, I realize that this is what I pass on to my students. In the Slice of Life Challenge, they are allowed to write about their interests. They are engaged in the process. They are learning by doing. Some of them are even choosing to write outside of school.
Erin is a third grader. She is a voracious reader. She loves all things Rick Riordan. She devours these books within days. But her writing. Well, that has not been quite up to my expectations. For some reason, though, with the SOLC, something has clicked in her. She came to school on Monday with pages of a notebook filled with slices. Her typing is slow, so I helped her type them in. Not any more. On Friday, she went home and typed 3 slices. You can see Erin’s blog here. She writes just like she speaks, with great enthusiasm.
I am probably preaching to the choir here about blogging with students. I love that I have found “real, authentic” articles to back up my convictions.
Don’t forget to leave your link int the comments. Thanks!
Tara Smith tells about preparing her sixth graders for historical fiction book clubs. https://ateachinglifedotcom.wordpress.com/2015/03/15/sol15-march-15-2015-digilit-sunday-preparing-for-historical-fiction-book-clubs/
Julie Johnson tests out Animoto by creating her own six-image story. Great idea! http://www.raisingreadersandwriters.com/2015/03/spring-break-with-puppies-6-image-story.html
Julianne Harmatz is here with a reflection about blogging with her students. https://jarhartz.wordpress.com/2015/03/15/sol15-day-15-reflections-on-tech-in-writing-workshop/
Deb Frazier is trying out Nutshell to define her maker space. http://debfrazier.blogspot.com/2015/03/slice-of-life-my-maker-space.html
Cathy Mere defines a Maker space and invites us all to participate in the Digital Maker Playground. http://reflectandrefine.blogspot.com/2015/03/digilit-sunday-digital-maker-playground.html
Carol Varsalona shares some of her experiences in digital literacy. http://reflectandrefine.blogspot.com/2015/03/digilit-sunday-digital-maker-playground.html
The point of your post is exactly why lockstep curricula makes me shudder. Students learn best when the topics are relevant and engaging. Your students are learning just as much, if not more, about reading and writing through slicing as they might be in “sit and get” lessons. Thanks for reinforcing the importance of student engagement through your post!
Thank you. Next year. My goal is to have students slicing next year. I think they will love it just as we do.
I set up a student blog as a requirement for graduate school this fall. I won’t ever go back. Students who need to create, write, and share their voice can do so at any time. I do have students who are writing from home. It’s just amazing. Thanks for the article that reinforces such authentic technology use.
Yes, probably teaching to the choir, but I am loving that I have the chance to share this blogging with my students. My colleague Max did it last year, but I’ve been unable to persuade others. Hopefully our enthusiasm will spread. Thanks Margaret, the argument is sound!
Nice. My typing went from 12 to 60 words a minute when we got AOL. God that was a long time ago…
I think the message needs to be repeated. Thank you for doing so. Here’s my link for today’s round up. http://www.raisingreadersandwriters.com/2015/03/spring-break-with-puppies-6-image-story.html
Here’s my Digilit Sunday link, Margaret:
https://ateachinglifedotcom.wordpress.com/2015/03/15/sol15-march-15-2015-digilit-sunday-preparing-for-historical-fiction-book-clubs/
[…] Margaret Simon’s blog Reflections on the Teche has link up every Sunday that highlights technology use. I haven’t posted much because I didn’t think I had anything to share. […]
Your post has me thinking. We have #2 in the classroom, but #1 is a challenge for my students. That is a subject for another posts. Here is today’s reflection https://jarhartz.wordpress.com/2015/03/15/sol15-day-15-reflections-on-tech-in-writing-workshop/
I whole-heartedly agree that the Slice of Life Classroom Challenge is bringing out the best in students! It’s so rewarding! I directed a fellow Slice of Lifer to your link-up today. She wrote about the benefits of Twitter. Her name is Cathy Sankey, and she is a principal. Look for her!
Thank you for the article link and authenticity test reminder. I love blogging with students https://31students.wordpress.com/. My students were stretched thin this spring and the challenge started just as testing season did, so they are not posting every day as I am. I’ve come to be okay with that. Sometimes authentic means slowing down. My gifted students forget that on occasion especially when perfectionism takes over.
I’m going to have to stop over to read this article. Choosing authentic activities does help students to engage in learning. I loved your story about Erin and the way she has taken off in the challenge. I have an after school writing club with students from grades 1-5. I have many who are very passionate about their writing. I’m enjoying participating in the challenge with them.
Today I am sharing a quick post about The Digital Maker Playground: http://reflectandrefine.blogspot.com/2015/03/digilit-sunday-digital-maker-playground.html
Thanks, as always, for hosting.
Cathy
Margaret, I am happy to say that I along with working on the gallery, I was able to compose a DigiLit post showing my new feats at integrating literacy with technology: a transformed digital image with poem and a Nutshell video (first attempt, albeit awkward). I love the fact that you are constantly providing your learners with authenticate opportunities to use their skills as readers and writers.
Margaret, thank you for linking me up on your site. I feel so pleased that I actually got a piece up for DigiLit Sunday. Let me know if any of your students are participating in Winter Whisperings.
[…] Sunday, Margaret wrote about the Authenticity Test. This “test” hit home with […]
[…] One of the most important and easiest ways to improve our teaching? Ask ourselves if what we’re doing passes the authenticity test. […]