Here is my developing presentation around the concept of reading across various texts and synthesizing information in writing. I am developing this as part of a professional development I am leading in a few weeks. Feedback appreciated, as always.
Peace (in the prezi),
Kevin
Visualizing Reading Across Texts and Synthesis Skills
I’ve been searching around for some good information and resources around the teaching of reading across multiple texts and teaching synthesis skills (using evidence from multiple texts in writing). In some ways, this is different than a basic research project. But I have not found much that I find useful (if you have links or ideas, please leave me a comment). This diagram is one way for me to visualize what it is I am thinking about, and I will be using it in an upcoming workshop around reading and the Common Core.
Does this diagram make sense to you? (feedback appreciated)
Peace (in the text and beyond),
Kevin
Digital Learning Day on the Horizon
In a few weeks, the second annual Digital Learning Day will take place. Check out the Digital Learning Day site for more information and resources, and start planning now for how you and your students can take part in the celebration.
Digital Learning Day, February 6, 2013, is a national celebration of teachers that shines a spotlight on successful instructional technology practice in classrooms across the country. Add your voice and expertise to tens of thousands of educators representing nearly 2 million students in ongoing activities, idea sharing, and collaboration leading up to the big event. Mark your calendar for February 6, 2013 and join the wave of innovation sweeping through our nation’s schools. Participation is free and easy.
The organizers also host a video contest, and here are the winning entries from last year:
Best Elementary School Celebration Video
- Union Elementary School (Buckhannon, WV)
Best High School Celebration Video
Best Middle School Celebration Video
- Poughkeepsie Day School (Poughkeepsie, NY)
Best Teacher Celebration Video
- Buckhorn High School (New Market, AL)
- St. Augustine of Canterbury Parish (Kendall Park, NJ)
- Monroe Public Schools: Stepney Elementary (Monroe, CT)
Best Teacher Impact Video
- Bob Jones High School (Madison, AL)
Best Middle School Impact Video
- Byrd Middle School (Henrico, VA)
Best High School Impact Video
- Westwood Regional High School (Washington, NJ)
Best Elementary School Impact Video
- Vincent Farm Elementary (White Marsh, MD
Peace (in the day),
Kevin
Exploring the Idea of Close Reading
I’m gathering some resources for a day of Professional Development I am leading with my colleagues in a few weeks, with a focus on reading in connection to the Common Core. We will be doing some work along the lines of the concepts of “close reading,” and “synthesis,” and “text complexity” — all of which are at the heart of the expectations of our readers in all content areas.
This Prezi is my first attempt at pulling together some coherent ideas around close reading, with some activities to be added at the end so that we do close reading ourselves. Let me know if I should add any ideas or resources, please.
Peace (in the sharing),
Kevin
Graphic Novel Review: Stickman Odyssey (books 1 and 2)
I wasn’t sure what to expect with The Stickman Odyssey, although I seem to remember a long time back seeing some of the frames by writer/illustrator Christopher Ford at his online site. I thought it would be yet another retelling of The Odyssey, which I can certainly live with but there often seems to be a lot of them out there. Ford takes his stories, told in characters who are little more than stick figures, in directions that echoes the ancient texts but keeps an original storyline going. With lots of humor and character.
In brief, the story in the two books (Book 1 and Book 2, The Wrath of Zozimos) is about the main protagonist hero — Zozimos — who is an exiled prince who seeks to return home to retake his lands. But of course, there are all sorts of adventures and mythical creatures and obstacles in his path. He hooks up with a band of friends, with various strengths and weaknesses and stories unfolding of their own, and Ford weaves an epic tapestry of comic art here in The Stickman Odyssey. The books really do honor the myths while building on them with humor and invention. Ford is able to this because he pays attention to character development, which you sort of have to do when everyone is a stick figure (the books are subtitled: An Epic Doodle). He imbues the characters with identity, and those weakness and strengths of character carry the plots along at a quick pace.
I enjoyed The Stickman Odyssey stories, but I had trouble finding the books in my house, as my three sons were also reading and enjoying the stories, too. By the way, we all agreed that the second book was a bit more exciting than the first book, but it may be that we got to know the characters a bit at that point.
Peace (in the sticks),
Kevin
More Conversations with Anna: Acknowledging the Naysayers
This is part of an ongoing discussion across digital platforms, about digital writing, that I am having with my friend, Anna Smith at the National Writing Project’s Digital Is site. So far, we’ve exchanged video talks, and then screencasts, and now, I am inviting her to create a webcomic via Dan’s Awesome Ragemaker Comic.
The topic? How do we acknowledge the opposite view of our discussions: the fear that digital writing is not unique, or that it is bad for our students to be composing with digital tools and spending time on digital spaces? This stems from a long discussion I had with a parent the other day, who supported my work with technology but expressed worries, too. Those concerns echoed ones I have as a parent, too.
Here is mine:
And as has been my custom, I created a webcomic reflection, with a little twist. I created Anna as a character and added her into my comic. I am hoping she is OK with that (I’m pretty certain she will be) and it will give me a chance in the future to do more reflections my talking to “her” in my webcomics.
Peace (in the discussion),
Kevin
Book Review: Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore
Let’s here it for the fans of old libraries, the mysteries of books, and the intersections of old and new technology! Booya! Writer Robin Sloan has woven these elements together in his debut novel, Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore, in a wonderful way that mostly keeps the pace and interest going (although the ending is a bit of a letdown). The story revolves around the narrator, Clay Jannon, who is skirting on the edges of the web design business in San Francisco when he takes a job as a clerk at an old bookstore. It’s an odd place, built more vertical than horizontal, with shelves reaching up high into the air.
And while the place has only a few customers each day, the regulars are an odd sort, who return and take out ancient texts from deep and high in the shelves — books that seem undecipherable to Clay, until he discovers a secret society and enlists his new girlfriend, a woman who works at Google, to help him break an ancient code and discover what the society — and his bookstore boss, Mr. Penumbra, a kind man with a heart like Yoda — has been seeking. With a mix of humor and acknowledgement of the programming power of Google, plus a love of old books, Sloan has crafted a fun and engaging story that mostly holds together.
This is a book for the hands of friends who love old bookstores and books, and I have just the right person in mind, too. He used to work at a bookstore, and loves a good mystery. If you are that kind of person, then check out Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore. Prepare to be pleasantly engaged and entertained.
Peace (in the stacks),
Kevin
Student Book Choices: First Line Audio Collages
Reading Like a Historian
This video from The Teaching Channel, and the series of smaller segments, about how to teach reading so that kids are in the role of critical historian is powerful, and contains much of what the Common Core is talking about: connecting reading and literacy skills to the content areas, close reading strategies, and recognition of bias of documents.
Peace (in the lens of history),
Kevin
Responding to Anna: A Screencast Challenge
Anna Smith and I are in the midst of a “digital conversation” about digital writing. Most of this is taking place at the National Writing Project’s Digital Is site, but I am also sharing my end of the activities here. We’re moving across platforms and strategies as part of our conversation, and adding a reflective piece to our role as writer/composer.
The other day, Anna shared a video screencast, and challenged me to do the same. Here it is:
And here is my reflection, which I am doing in comic form:
Peace (in the writing),
Kevin