Literacy Changes the World
Jamie Wojtowicz, Literacy Coach, Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES
Hello and Welcome!
With schools moving to online learning, there are ample free resources (videos, worksheets, online games) being shared to assist educators and families in making this transition quickly and smoothly. Rather than provide yet another resource, this newsletter will instead aim to provide a literacy-based project that families can integrate into their day and teachers can adapt to meet the specific grade-level needs of a class, while possibly utilizing a pre-existing resource!
A disclaimer, however. Remember there is no "normal" in any of this. There is no "right" way to balance home, work, and family right now. And so:
"You don't always have to be doing something. You can just be, and that's plenty"
(Alice Walker)
To get a better sense of who I am: here are a few "fast facts" and photos:
- My family and I recently rescued two cats and named them Georgie and Peppa
- We have a Beagle/Jack Russell rescue named Maisy
- I have a 2-year-old daughter named Savannah
Create Your Own Time Capsule
How do we help kids develop their own primary source documents and images?
Photo Essay/Captions
Materials: Phone camera or digital camera and laptop.
Extension: Have students write a reflection or look for a news' article and attach. They can do this through printing the images and writing about them or developing an online blog or journal. They could share with a teacher, family, or friends.
Ideas:
- During a walk, snap photos of the rainbows or teddy bears in peoples' windows and add text/key words to help "tell" story through the images and text.
- On a drive, stop and take photos of now empty store parking lots or playgrounds. Place together in a Microsoft Word Doc, Microsoft Photostory or print scrapbook and caption.
- If your neighborhood participates in "neighborhood social distance" walk or porch conversations, snap some photos and write an article about it.
- Snap photos of the things each member of the family is doing at home to stay busy. Journal about the pros/cons.
Journal/Vlog/Blog
Materials: They can type entries and/or journal articles in Microsoft Word (or Google Docs) and submit to a class blog, newspaper or discussion forum.
Kid friendly articles can be found at:
- Tween Tribune https://www.tweentribune.com/
- DOGO News https://www.dogonews.com/
- https://www.democratandchronicle.com
Extension: Students can interview friends and family as well and include in the class blog or newsletter!
For journal writing, here are some ideas of prompts:
- What do you miss the most about life before this?
- What have you been able to spend more time on?
- What have you learned about your family?
- How are you staying connected to friends?
Resources to Support This Week's Idea!
- Blog with lessons to help kids process this experience:Two Writing Teachers COVID-19 BLOG
- Kelly Gallagher and Penny Kittle Covid-19 Writing Unit Lessons for MS/HS: Kelly Gallagher & Penny Kittle COVID Writing unit (MS/HS)
- Covid-19 Time Capsule Workbook: https://res.cloudinary.com/letsembark/image/upload/v1586199555/2020-Covid-19-Time-Capsule-US_o7igbf.pdf
Tech Ideas:
- Use Schoology, Google Classroom, etc. to have kids post photos/journals and respond to one another. Use the discussion forums to discuss photos.
- Have students contribute to a class newsletter.
Text Connections
- Fever, 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson (Middle School)
- Yellow Fever Primary Source Documents: https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/the-yellow-fever-epidemic-of-1878
- Primary Source Documents on Influence of 1918: https://cnu.libguides.com/diseases/flu
- The New York Times Learning Network: Coronavirus Resource Page for Students: https://www.nytimes.com/spotlight/learning-network-coronavirus
Content Connections
ELA (reading, writing)
Art (photos, images)
Journalism
Social Studies (primary sources)
To Reach Out...
Email: jwojtowi@monroe2boces.org
Twitter: @ELATeach34