Any Class Interested in Sharing Student Writing Projects

[Brian Fleming]

Hey everyone!  I'm new to One Day on Earth, but I'd like to set up a collaboration with other teachers to share our student's writing samples with each other.  I teach a 7th grade English class and I want give my students the audience they deserve for their writings.  I hope there is some interest in this collaborative project.

[Amanda McIntosh]

Here are the fairy tales I am using:

The Princess and the Pea
Rapunzel
Cinderella
Sleeping Beauty
Snow White and the Seven Dwarves
Little Red Riding Hood
The Three Little Pigs
Jack and the Beanstalk
The Little Red Hen
Three Billy Goats Gruff

[Brian Fleming]

No worries, I completely understand about not seeing the email. Are you free to Skype this week sometime between 7-10PM? I am free Monday, Tuesday, Thursday to do that. If not, this works too. I really like your suggestions. I will check right now with our librarian if those days are open at the library. I think it is totally fair if my students have 3 to 4 essays to look at, especially if they are looking for different things in each one. I have hit passive/active voice, figurative language, prepositional phrases, and simple grammar so far. My students could definitely look for that. Finding the topic sentence would help them segway into our next unit: expository writing.

I know I've said it before, but I am very excited about this collaboration. I think it will work out nicely. Yes, I just spoke with my librarian and the dates you mentioned are free in the computer lab. Which fairy tales are you having your students rewrite? I'm having my students write theirs from a different character's point of view and/or change the POV from 3rd to 1st. How long will your students' completed papers be?


Amanda McIntosh said:

Brian,

I am so sorry about not responding about a time for this weekend, but I didn't see this email. I was having a surprise b-day party for my mother-in-law, so I was running around like a crazy woman. :) I would love to Skype and talk about how things can work. I was thinking of maybe partnering like this...you tell me what you think...

What if your students had 3-4 of my students as partners? They could read the essays and look for different things in each one. This could help you teach the different skills of revision. One time they could look for paragraph structure, then topic sentences, then word choice, and then something else. I know it would be four essays, but that might be a good thing. They could compare and find great ones and not-so-great ones within my students' work. What do you think?

I had a little complication with computer lab dates, but what if we Skyped with the classes one day...like Nov. 3 or 5 to discuss rough drafts. Then, I am having my kids write their essays in Google Docs on Nov. 10th. Your kids could edit that week, and then the next week we could Skype about what they found, etc. What do you think?

I am sorry that it isn't working quite as we had talked at first, but computer lab time is hard to get to right now. If this doesn't work, just let me know. I totally understand.

[Amanda McIntosh]

Brian,
I am able to Skype tomorrow evening. Just let me know what time. I am very excited as well! Did you get my list of fairy tales?

I am a little scattered right now, so I just would like for us to nail down a timeline and get some ideas down in concrete, so that we both can finish planning. Sound good?

[Brian Fleming]

Yes, I have looked over your list of fairy tales and they all look like good choices. There are a few writing competitions coming up soon (deadlines for the second week of November) that I would really like my students to participate in. I just realized today, they will not be able to submit their fairy tale write-ups to this competition, so I think I may spend more time developing, revising, and editing their narrative stories. Would you still be up for a collaboration between our classes? Maybe my class can edit and revise your classes' fairy tales while your classes edit and revise my classes' narrative stories? If you think this will be too difficult, that is fine too. I can have my students develop their fairy tales like we had originally planned. Please be honest in your response, because, honestly, whatever works best for you works best for me too.

Yes, I would like to skype tomorrow. I am free any time after 5 (my time zone). Does sometime in there work for you?


Amanda McIntosh said:

Brian,
I am able to Skype tomorrow evening. Just let me know what time. I am very excited as well! Did you get my list of fairy tales?

I am a little scattered right now, so I just would like for us to nail down a timeline and get some ideas down in concrete, so that we both can finish planning. Sound good?

[Amanda McIntosh]

Brian,
Please forgive me for last night. I had an allergic reaction to something and broke out in hives...probably too much information for ya, but I didn't want you to think I just skipped out. I had to take Benadryl nd Zyrtec, which totally knocked me out. I am SO sorry! I am not a flaky, forgetful type of person, and I feel horrible!

I will be available this evening again, if you are. If not, is there a time this weekend that might work for you? I am SO sorry!!!

I think it is totally fine for my kids to edit something different, and that might help them anyway. What I have done in the past is have all the kids create a Google Docs account and shared a practice "Who am I?" paragraph with thier new partner. Then, they can respond on their own time. Then, we share the papers and go from there. The kids aren't allowed to use their full name in the Google Docs user account for safety reasons.

Hope this helps, and let's see about getting together again. Again, I hope you can forgive me.

[Brian Fleming]

You don't have to apologize! An allergic reaction is pretty nasty stuff. I'm glad you are better today. Yes, I would like to talk tonight, via Skype, maybe 2 or 3 o'clock my time? (So, I guess that would be 4 or 5 o'clock your time?) My Skype name is mr.fleming2. I just checked and LAUSD blocks Skype on their computers here at school. But like you mentioned, google documents will probably be the best bet. And, if the students record themselves reading their works, can't we also put that up on google documents? I think it supports video documents as well. And yes, I think the "get to know you paragraph is great. After November 3rd, I am free to collaborate with your class via google documents and google video until the 12th of November.

Are we on for Skyping tonight?


Amanda McIntosh said:

Brian,
Please forgive me for last night. I had an allergic reaction to something and broke out in hives...probably too much information for ya, but I didn't want you to think I just skipped out. I had to take Benadryl nd Zyrtec, which totally knocked me out. I am SO sorry! I am not a flaky, forgetful type of person, and I feel horrible!

I will be available this evening again, if you are. If not, is there a time this weekend that might work for you? I am SO sorry!!!

I think it is totally fine for my kids to edit something different, and that might help them anyway. What I have done in the past is have all the kids create a Google Docs account and shared a practice "Who am I?" paragraph with thier new partner. Then, they can respond on their own time. Then, we share the papers and go from there. The kids aren't allowed to use their full name in the Google Docs user account for safety reasons.

Hope this helps, and let's see about getting together again. Again, I hope you can forgive me.

[Amanda McIntosh]

Yes. I can Skype my time 4:00-4:30. Will that work for you?

[Brian Fleming]

Yes, definitely, so just so we are clear so we don't miss eachother, I am Pacific time and you are? There is for sure a two hour difference between us?

Looking forward to it!
Brian


Amanda McIntosh said:

Yes. I can Skype my time 4:00-4:30. Will that work for you?

[Amanda McIntosh]

I am central time. It is 12:50 right now.

[Brian Fleming]

Oh, okay, perfect, so just a one hour difference then. See you on Skype at 4ish your time. What is your Skype name?


Amanda McIntosh said:

I am central time. It is 12:50 right now.

[Amanda McIntosh]

McMandy1



Brian Fleming said:

Oh, okay, perfect, so just a one hour difference then. See you on Skype at 4ish your time. What is your Skype name?


Amanda McIntosh said:

I am central time. It is 12:50 right now.

[Amanda McIntosh]

Calling now, but didn't get an answer. Hopefully you are still there. If not, I can try when I get home after 9:00.