Frederick Douglass Projects on Photovisi!

                                                                         -Jajuan Ortman

                                                                             -Hisham Ghanem

                                                                                -Hung Ngu

2011-2012

Welcome back Fowler Falcons!  I am extremely excited to start the new school year.  This will be my 8th year of basking in the sunshine on Magnolia Street.  I am privileged to work with the finest students in all of the land!  This was a busy summer for me as I participated in the NEH Institute on Abolitionism and the Underground Railroad at Colgate University for 4 weeks.  The classes were extremely intense and demanding, but I acquired an unbelievable amount of knowledge about our area and the legacy of courage associated with freedom seekers.  I have much to share with fellow English teachers and also U.S. History teachers. 
Additionally, I am currently participating in 30 hours of professional development for the ARRA Grant, which I incorporated into many of my classes last year.  I am excited by the usefulness of the training and know that I will continue to deliver incredible lessons based on the resources provided by the SCSD.
On a personal note, my wife is pregnant with our first child!  I am beyond enthralled and incredibly nervous, but she is a strong woman and is feeling great.  I can't wait to share him/her with all of you.  Enjoy your last few weeks of vacation and if I don't see you at The Fair, I will see you in 324!

The Research Paper comes to a close

Our two goals for this project were clearly outlined at the introduction of the unit:

1)  Select a social issue from the novel Push and develop a thesis proven through journal research.

2)  Understand the process of writing a research paper from beginning to end.

Students were given access to numerous databases, including Google Scholar, ERIC and the Syracuse University Library to effectively research their chosen topic.  They learned the process of proper MLA citations, including Bibliographies and in-text citations.  Students were also expected to formulate a working thesis, an outline and a short presentation introducing the class to their chosen topic.  No journal articles or papers have been printed; all work has been submitted using Google Documents, which gives me full access to view the work in progress and to comment on students' work.  The process has been effortless and the students really enjoy not having to worry about different versions of Windows when accessing their paper.  They are free to work from any system, including their iPods and phones.

Some papers that have truly taken flight include The Merit Behind Urban Literature by BreeAnn Calvo,  The Role of the Media in Teen Pregnancy by Noelle Dyba, and Alternative Schools by Celia Rivera.  Additionally, check out the video below featuring Marhianna Reaves and Dorothy Sparks sharing their research topics.

Research Papers

Students have begun the long and arduous process of writing a research paper in my ARRA grant class.  They are doing the paper completely online by saving journal articles, outlines and rough drafts to Google Documents and submitting them to me.  The process has not been easy, but I know the students are getting a lot out of the work they are completing.  The research assignment was given in conjunction with their reading of Push.  They were asked to choose a social issue from the book, choose a side to defend and then research the topic.  Many students have created incredibly rich projects based on their own convictions.  Please check out Marhianna Reaves' introduction to her question, "Why is Black Literature not accepted in the classroom?"

Cho's Prezi

Cho presents Ishamel to the class.  Sorry for the brevity of the video, the batteries cut out!

Big things in the making...

I am beginning to incorporate more technology into all of my English 11 classes.  Two of my classes participate in the Photo and Literacy (PAL) Project with Syracuse University Professor Steve Mahan and his students.  For eight weeks, our students participate in creative photo and writing projects that are displayed at the Warehouse Gallery on West Street each semester.  We have created a Facebook page for the students to post photos, journals, writing assignments and projects in progress.  This will help keep them in touch with each other and to promote their work to friends and family. We will also be developing blogs for the students to keep in addition to their written journals. 
My English 11 Advanced students are hard at work on their independent reading blogs.  Check out Cho Cheung's, Brittany Kazmirski's, Zoe O'Leary's and Bellotta Yambuya's blogs about their selected books.  Students will be moving on to Prezi.com to create presentations about their chosen books before we read the heavily anticipated novel Push as a class and begin the Research Paper Process!
Keep checking back for more updates!

FOWLER PRIDE!

March 22, 2011

I just finished talking to Manami and I am now creating a Prezi to use for my unit on To Kill a Mockingbird.  I am happy to gain some exposure to this as eventually I want my students to use this to present their independent reading books and eventually to present their research papers we'll be writing in April.  I want them to have a creative and innovative way to present their work and I am also hoping to film their presentations to post on my site.

I am excited about the further prospects of using technology in my classroom.  My students are currently completing blogs about their independent reading books, and at the end they will create a virtual conversation with the author to present their books to the class.  I am hoping to create a database of these conversations and videos to help suggest readings for other kids who are looking for a book to read.  It will help them gain confidence in their presentation skills and their familiarity with technology.

The Grapes of Wrath

Students are completing character journals based on The Grapes of Wrath and posting them to their blogs.  They have also used www.photovisi.com to create collages based on their impressions of the novel!

Past meets Future

Students have been diligently reading Steinbeck's classic, The Grapes of Wrath.  They are required to choose a character on the journey and create journal entries describing their emotions from the perspective of their chosen Joad.  The entries are serious, often sad and written in the dialect of the geographic location.  They also reflect on the reading using their own point of view to create a fusion of multiple references.  Students are posting selected entries in their blogs for all to see.  After completing the novel, students will use the website Xtranormal to create a conversation between themselves and their chosen character.  This project will prove to be very engrossing!

Technology in Full Swing!

I must say that after a long and relaxing vacation, I was more than startled to see the Transformer-esque set-up in my classroom.  The students were amazed on their first day and my new Smartboard has revolutionized my teaching.  With the 5 computers in class, students are free to explore and use technology in ways that were only available on a limited basis.  We have created innovative projects and enhanced student learning in many ways.  I am so excited to be a part of this grant because it directly influences our students and my teaching.  Thanks so much!