Eve
Graduate
Elementary Education |
Eve
Graduate
Elementary Education |
Please enjoy a little self-indulgent poetry to kick off this blog post. Am I the Drama? Or, Reflections on Wellness. Reawakening after illness, Processing the long moment; The realignment of self. Praying for the fog to lift, Emerging from the dark dark woods. It comes not after two days in bed. It comes not after 12 hours of sleep. It is after a day spent sipping Vernaccia under sunshine. It is after a night of dancing and laughter. It is sharing the outside world again. Watching Palm Sunday mass on TV with you, Writing postcards in particularly penned voices. Lifting with sunlight that brightens the colourful puppets in the window. Waking is being together again. La Vita nelle FotoScuolaThe sixth grade students are in full swing production of their Primary Year Program Exhibitions (PYP X). Their topics range from studying galaxies to fashion, endangered animals, chemistry, and classical music. Our job as teachers is to guide students to examine their topics through a variety of disciplines and skills, and synthesise their findings. Since there is an emphasis on writing in the Language class, we connected it with their projects to avoid giving writing projects for the sake of writing projects. Writing has a purpose and it supports the PYP X. I designed two mini-units over the past two weeks. The first writing project was an “introduction to a guidebook.” The assignment: Students were “hired” to write the intro to a guidebook on their PYP X topic. We reviewed and discussed the form and function of guidebooks (I pulled about 12 from the library), and then set to writing and designing a concise introduction that pulled together the research they’ve already collected. I made a writing organiser that students used to dissect the topic into form, function, and purpose, and then put it back together, with the intention of inviting an audience who has never experienced the topic before. Hence, an intro to a guidebook. Students had the choice of designing it by hand or electronically. They added visual aids and references. Giving analogue or digital choices reveals so much. Some students are much more tactile/kinaesthetic and prefer working with materials, and others prefer digitally designing their products. I learned how and why students wanted to take risks based on their choices, and it alleviated the stress of forcing one way to do something. There is no “one way” in this school and I appreciate it every day. The introductions turned out well and students pasted them in the PYPX books, which is like a large research-scrap book of their thinking, creative process, and products - a tool I will use in my future classroom! The second writing assignment prepared students for their professional interviews. For the PYPX, students must find an expert in their field and conduct an interview for further research. These are 6th grade (5th grade US) students who are excited to dive in and learn more, but we need a procedure to capture all of this good energy and info. So, I created a mini-unit last week on preparing, conducting, and sharing an interview. Students interviewed each other about their PYP X exhibitions and then wrote a brief article using their findings. Students included a picture of their interviewee with their PYPX project, images of the topic, and references used to research the topic. These articles are pasted in their PYPX book to show collaboration. One of my favourite lessons in the mini-unit was during a jigsaw activity where students cooperated in small groups to learn about each part of an interview (collecting information about the interviewee, researching the topic, writing questions). Then, once the class collected the data they needed, they interviewed their guest about his favourite topic. The guest was Mr. Warner, their teacher, and they learned all about cycling. The students were so excited to learn more about him and his passion! They wrote long, detailed summaries using the notes that they took (we went over “pro-tips” of note taking and summarising). I think it was an inspiring experience for everyone in the room, and set the stage for the mini-unit. In the world of Inquiry-Based Learning, it was a solid "provocation." Students now have a process for preparing, conducting, and writing about an interview, and they may use it for their professional interviews. The cherry on the cake was the fact that the mini-unit continued on even though I was out sick two days this week! Since I had completed all the lessons in advance, I emailed them to CW each morning with a few notes, and he delivered them. On Friday we wrapped up on time. We make a good teaching team! All the more reason to plan that scope and sequence ahead of time (shout out to JH <3). Lettere Dei Burattini (Letters from the Puppets)Ciao Tutti! Well, we haven’t gone far this week since we needed to take care of Miss Eve because she was sick for two days. She’s better now! The big excitement was going to school to read to students during Drop Everything and Read week! On Friday Miss Eve and her teacher Mr. Warner dressed up as Thing 1 and Thing 2, and we visited the 2nd graders. In the USA they would be 1st graders. So, they’re your age! We read aloud the Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch. I introduced Poindexter II who acted out his cousin’s role in the book. His cousin is a foolish dragon. He burned down 100 forests and a castle! Poindexter II would never do that, but he will act the part to entertain. Then, we read the story to the 6th graders in Miss Eve’s class. They loved us! One of the girls hugged me so tight because manatees are her favorite animal! Manatee is lamantino in Italian. The 6th graders all wanted to touch us and play with us after they finished their work. See, puppets are for everyone! We would like to share this photo of us warming our scales and skin in the sunshine. Zara, the German Shepherd, is our neighbor. You can see her on the balcony below. We hope you find time to lay in the sunshine and daydream. Un abbraccio (a hug!) Manny and Poindexter II Poesia dei BurattiniZara the German Shepherd by Manny and Poindexter II
Zara announces herself. Bark! Barkbarkbark! mild woof. Pause. Barkbark– sneeze; unenthusiastic bark. Toenails tick-ticking on tiles.
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AuthorEve is a palindrome. She started out as a theatre artist, and now she is a combination theatre artist-teacher. She is grateful for the opportunity to finish her degree while studying abroad in Siena, Italy. It is her second time studying in Siena. Eve enjoys long meandering walks, daydreaming, creating new projects, and chilling with her husband, Dave. Archives
May 2022
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