That's What Happens When it's Spring!
A Global Internet Project
Spring 2002

Assessment

Tell Us What You Think!

To post a comment about the project or a class poem, send email to Marci. Thanks!
May 25:

I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed your That's what happens when it's spring poems.  We recently had author Louise Borden visit our school, and to celebrate her book Cap Hats Socks and Mittens we wrote poems about each season using your format.  I had the kids work in groups, which was quite an experience in itself!  Some groups had the entire poem written while others still hadn't decided who would hold the pencil!   But they all got poems written, one for each season, and they were all quite good!  Thanks for the idea!  Joan

~ Miss Rumphius Award ~

May 21:
I am writing to let you know that the members of the RTEACHER listserv
(mailing list) have awarded you "The Miss Rumphius Award." RTEACHER is
a discussion group for literacy and technology
(http://www.reading.org/publications/rt/rt_listserv.html) run in
conjunction with The Reading Teacher, a journal of the International
Reading Association. We present this award for your wonderful resource
located at:

http://www.mrsmcgowan.com/spring/index.html

Members of the RTEACHER mailing list (listserv) present the MISS
RUMPHIUS AWARD to educators who develop and share exceptional Internet
resources for literacy and learning. It honors teachers who make our
world a more beautiful place, like the title character in the book Miss
Rumphius by Barbara Cooney. Because Miss Rumphius scattered lupine seeds
wherever she went, we use this flower as the symbol for our award.

If you wish to learn more about this award, the web page is located at:
http://www.reading.org/awards/rumphius.html

Don Leu
John and Maria Neag Endowed Chair in Literacy and Technology
The University of Connecticut
Manager of the RTEACHER listserv
May 20

My students and I have enjoyed the entire process of participating in your
project.  it's so nice to see all of the many different things being done
with students...  Thanks again for the opportunity to participate.

Sandy Huling
Mc Kee Elementary
Oakdale, PA

May 12

WOW!  That Internet Project was really fantastic!!  I visited the site and saw all of the work and presentations done by such young elementary children. Absolutely fabulous presentations!!!  I used to teach these youngsters a long time ago (sometimes I miss them).  ~  Carol Carlson, Joliet, IL

Carlson's Courier
May 9

To all the talented students that participated in the spring project:
You have all done such wonderful projects.  Keep up the good work.  We love sharing ideas and work.  Have a great summer!  See you in the fall!
Mrs. Rhoden's class
May 7

Marci,
This was the first internet project I have been involved in, I found it to be a rewarding and educational endeavor for both my students and myself. My students and myself have enjoyed reading the other classrooms' work, and by so doing, the children were so anxious to see your page with our own "little flower" to show we had finished our "assignment". I also must add, that it forced me to look at our new English/lLanguage Arts standard book that had been in my "must read" pile.
Thank you for the experience and all of your hard work.  I hope you will extend an invitation to me again if you ever decide to offer a project like this again.  Have a great summer!
Sincerely,
Lola Plough
May 5

Dear Marci,
Where do I begin?  It has been a wonderful experience doing the online projects with you!  Your online projects even became a part of our web page.  The children enjoyed reading other children's poems!  Parents enjoyed the poetry and sharings!  

Victoria Lundin, Shelter Rock School, Manhasset, New York
victoria_lundin@manhasset.k12.ny.us
May 5
     This was absolutely an awesome project. It is such a wonderful resource of ideas
we can use with our own class this year and hereafter. It is evidence of what can
be accomplished and the variety of ways information can be interpreted. It opens
up so many possibilities. I am so happy we were a part of this project.
     This is not our first project, but it is the first time we wrote poetry together using a science theme. It was so easy to integrate it into many areas of the
curriculum.
     We were able to tie it into planning (brainstorming, organizing, writing (creative,
phonics, spelling, structure...you name it...even printing) editing, and final draft...
besides illustrating, listening skills, observation, science, everyday life... you name it,
and there was a way to tie it in.
     Thank you so much for doing this awesome project. CHEERS,
Ada Swanson, North Syracuse, NY
May 5
Marci ... I'll be sharing your pages with my students this week and I know they will be so excited to see their poems on the web. They still have such a hard time grasping the fact that everyone in the world with internet access will be able to see and read their work! What a powerful motivator! I know they will love seeing what the other classes did too. Thanks again for creating such an enjoyable collaborative project.

The students in lab participated in 3 internet projects this year:
The Monster Project
http://lces.lumpkin.k12.ga.us/~bfulgham/monster_project.htm
http://www.monsterexchange.org/scripts/ms/showcard.asp?id=1012
Spring Into Life
http://comsewogue.k12.ny.us/~ssilverman/spring/about.htm
http://lces.lumpkin.k12.ga.us/~bfulgham/mcabeespring.htm
and of course yours.

We really enjoy doing internet projects and hope we can participate in more next year. I really felt that yours was perfect for my first graders!
Thanks again,
Bonnie Fulgham, Technology Curriculum Specialist, Lumpkin County Elementary School
Dahlonega, GA
May 5

I enjoyed participating in this project very much. The directions were clear
and specific, but still allowed enough room for personal "tweaking" or
creativity. I also enjoy your projects very much because the are projects I
feel I can handle time management wise, - start and complete successfully.
They aren't overwhelming, yet educational and effective. :) I look forward to
participating in future projects. Thanks again, Nicole

Nicole Taormina, Port Jefferson Station, N.Y.
May 5
It helps the students to work on a project when they know it is going to be
published.  It gives them real purpose.  My class enjoyed coming up with all
the things that happen when it is spring and then writing a poem with what
they chose.
Ann Heatherly,Greenville, SC 
April 20

Dear Mrs. McGowan,
We so enjoyed, once again, one of your wonderful projects.  Your project inspired us to really work hard to write our descriptive paragraphs, revising and improving our work.  We are also enjoying the terrific work of other participants - they always give us great ideas!
Thank you so much, and Happy Spring to all!
Ms. Jacoby and her second graders from Arlington, Massachusetts

Please take a peek into the Window to Our World
http://www.geocities.com/ljacoby_2000/window.html

or hop on over to Days at Frog and Toad Road
http://myschoolonline.com/MA/MsJacoby
April 1
Dear Marci,
Say hello to your children please.
Syu

March 31:  April in Japan
Hello friends,
The school year in Japan begins in April, just at the time with cherry blossoms are in bloom.  Seeing cherry blossoms with blue sky, we feel a fresh sense of hope.
Sakura means Cherry in Japanese.  Sakura is a symbol of spring in Japan.

You see Sakura photos at http://www2s.biglobe.ne.jp/~syuLove/
And 4th grade kids' spring picture is also wonderful. I hope you enjoy them.
Have a nice spring!
Syu
syu@mqg.biglobe.ne.jp
http://www2s.biglobe.ne.jp/~syuLove/

Education and Computer in Japanese language.
http://www.hoops.ne.jp/~syuLove/
coats_jakechels1.jpg (28075 bytes)

March 20

Wisconsin's first day of spring!

from Debbie Coats
March 20

Loved how the page is shaping up. I can fully understand your excitement. I am finding it hard to believe that Spring is here. No snow to speak of all winter and now we get spitting snow and cold, cold winds. The crocus want to croak, the pussywillows are meowing pitifully and it is hard to go look for Spring when Old Man Winter is peering in your window. But we have been reading and working, so soon we will have our Spring project done. The kids all wanted to plant seeds yesterday in honor of Miss Rumphius until we looked out and it was snowing. Sometimes you can't win, but I am happy to break even.
Have a great day.
Bev
Scamper to our Mouse Hole at
Http://myschoolonline.com/ME/Mrs_Sirois

March 19

Dear Libby Rhoden's First Graders,

We liked your picture of the robin.  Guess what?  We saw a robin outside
our classroom window today.  We have many bird feeders on our school
property.We enjoyed reading your wonderful poem!

Mrs. Lundin's First Graders

March 19:  From a student in Mrs. Lennon's Class:

Thank you for letting us enjoy this project. Our whole class enjoyed the project. We did an acrostic poem. All twintey of us drew.  We all wrote realey good sentences. I had a very good time. The poem was called springtime fun.  I chose to add fun because a person  said flowers bloom.  it was so fun. Everybody had lots of fun. It was nice of you to let us join in this project. Here we say thank you. This project was so much fun. Every   person was so happy when  Mrs. Lennon told us. It was so exiteing to here the great news. Here I say think you again.

* ed. note:  You're welcome!
Marci McGowan

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