To post a comment about the
project or a class poem, send email to Marci. Thanks!
Project
Home Participating
Classes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'm happy to share this news with
all participating
teachers and students:
3/11/03
Hello Marci,
I am writing to let you know that the members of the RTEACHER
listserv 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 example of a classroom home page located at: http://www.mrsmcgowan.com/winter2003/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
Best wishes for continued success in the important work you contribute to our
instructional worlds!
Cindy Held
Manager of the RTEACHER listserv
VISITOR COMMENTS |
2/19/03 Dear
Marci, I think you made some kind of collaborative Internet project history
with 92 participants! After seeing your wonderful project I can understand how you
were able to draw such a crowd! Congratulations on an exemplary
project!
Susan Silverman
Susan's Webfolio
http://kids-learn.org
Board Member-Iste-Sig for Telelearning
http://www.iste.org/sigtel/officers.html |
2/12/03
I have just visited your "Read A Winter Book...Write A Winter Poem" project.
It's outstanding .... really a wonderful piece of work.
Patti Knox - Technology Support Specialist, North Canton,Ohio
http://www.northcanton.sparcc.org/~ptk1nc/index.html
|
| PARTICIPANT
COMMENTS |
2/24
We enjoyed doing the project and seeing the
many different types of poetry used by different classes. Our first grade worked together
creating a winter unit using several different big books. Even in our own school you can
see the growth because some classes actually did the project as much as 5 weeks earlier
than other classes.
Linda Johns, Mohegan Lake, NY |
2/22
My students loved the project. They loved the book, and we
got
to hear some very descriptive language.
The free form poetry gave us an opportunity to really pay
attention to how the author used words. By doing a verb poem, an adjective poem, and
a descriptive poem of what the snow does and what it looks like, we were able to pay
attention to how these words can add to visual images you can make.
As a teacher I really enjoyed having the opportunity to review
verbs
and adjectives, combine the project with a unit I was already integrating, and a chance to
show the children what free form poetry could look and sound like.
The book we used, White Snow Bright Snow, was
copyrighted in
1964 - wow - and it is still relevant today! That blew their minds. ;-)
Thank you so much for doing this project. I hope it doesn't
get old for
you. We have new students every year, and the projects are also a
GREAT
resource of ideas. Teacher can be so creative! Thanks again for including us.
Ada Swanson, Smith Road El., North Syracuse, NY |
2/22
I just wanted to thank you for hosting the
winter poetry project. I can't
imagine all of the work involved! My class enjoyed writing their winter
senses poems, then compiling a class composite poem. They especially
enjoyed seeing their work online, and the work of other classes. This was
our first internet project and now we're looking for another! Thank you
again for all that you do!
Dolores Foltz, East Waterboro, Maine
|
2/19
Hi Marci,
I loved the project. The kids enjoyed it, too. Poetry writing is something
I don't always do enough of, so this was a great incentive. Thank you again
for all your work.
Nancy Golubic, Gr. 1, Boardman, Ohio |
2/19
Just wanted to let you know my comments on this great project. I personally loved
the easy way you could participate in this project without feeling overwhelmed! We
write poems often in our class and it was great to post it on the Internet for all to read
in a concise, organized manner that your website is set up as... the students had a
great time reading all of the winter poems, especially the Snowflake Bentley ones
to see how our poem compared to others. It also incorporated a great geography
mini-lesson on why some students don't see snow and how they view winter. Lots of
great discussions came from this one project. You do an amazing job of compiling and
keeping track of who is doing what... How do you do it all? Anyway, thank you
for letting us participate and also helping us teachers out there to incorporate
technology seamlessly into our curriculum... the way it should be!
Catherine Inzer, Gr. 1-2, Foster, Rhode Island
|
2/19
We enjoyed taking part in your winter project. It inspired us to write great winter
poems. We had fun sharing lots of winter stories. We also enjoyed checking out
the site and reading the poems written by other classes across the USA and Canada!
Thanks so much for hosting all of us! Sincerely,
Ellen Singsank and Gr. 2 Class, Buffalo Grove, IL |
2/19
Thanks so much for a great project! This was my first internet project with my class
and I even got my entire grade level involved! Some of us are a little scared
or uncertain about our computer skills but this project was something we were doing in our
class anyway and it was so easy to get involved in. Our children were especially
excited to see the other first grade class projects in our school and were sooo excited to
read projects from other states and other grade levels. We are definitely interested
in any up coming projects, so please keep me posted! Thanks,
Laura Betz, Grade 1, Ben Franklin School, Shrub Oak, NY |
2/18
Hey there! My class really enjoyed working on the poetry project. They thought it was
great seeing their work online. They really liked reading the poetry by the other classes,
and even asked about getting some of the winter books for our classroom library. I guess
if a project can get kids excited about both technology and reading, that is a huge
success. Hats and mittens off to you from snowy...and I MEAN SNOWY New Jersey! I am always
interested in new projects, so keep me posted!
Lori Vig, Grade 2, West Caldwell, NJ |
2/18
We really enjoyed doing your internet project. It was the first one that my class has done
this year. This was the first time this class has written poetry this year, too.
Thanks so much for hosting this project. It has been fun to read all of the other poems
and to see all of the different "winter" books that people have read!
Judy Bonzer, Grade 1, Marshalltown, Iowa |
2/17
Thanks so much for the poetry project. This is my first year in
third grade, and this was our first foray into internet projects. We
enjoyed everything about it - reading the book, writing the poem, seeing our work in
print, and, the simplicity! Now that our appetites have been whetted, I am trolling around
for other internet projects in which we could participate. Thanks for opening this door
for us!
Joan Wittman, Grade 3, Varysburg, NY |
2/17
Hi there! My class really enjoyed being a part of the project. We are a grade one class at
a very technological school. We were excited to share our poem with our "Reading
Buddies" on-line! We also sent home the link in our class and school newsletters so
that others could read our poem. We wrote the poem as a class (shared writing ) but then
we all did our own cinquains and they are so amazing!! I am really impressed with my grade
one poets! Thank you so much for providing this exciting opportunity and we will be
looking forward to participating in future internet projects!
Melissa Pearson, Churchill Meadows P.S.Mississauga, Ontario Canada
|
2/17/03
This project was an excellent idea! I teach first grade at the Martha B. Day School.This
was an excellent opportunity to introduce writing a name poem. We read many books on snow
and used the new language (along with our imaginations) to write our poem. The exciting
part was reading it on the internet! I sent the address home to all the parents! If you
continue to do this next year you can count on my class to participate again! Thank you
for this opportunity!
Renee Meich, first grade teacher,
Bloomingdale, NJ |
2/16/03
How I have enjoyed participating in Marci Mc Gowan's projects!
This is the third project I have participated in since last spring. In addition to
choosing excellent ideas to encourage and interest the children, Marci is super at
organizing and posting the many creations of the students. This has encouraged me to
try even more Internet projects for my class and to share them with not only my students
and their parents, but also fellow teachers. I will be coming back again and again.
Thanks again for creating projects that allow us as teachers and
students to reach beyond ourselves and move toward our potential.
Sandy Huling Mc Kee Elementary, Oakdale, PA
http://www.westallegheny.k12.pa.us/mckee |
2/16/03
There is a good reason that I am a veteran of Mrs. McGowan's
projects - they're simply wonderful!!! This, like all Marci's projects, takes an
idea that is an integral part of everyone's classroom - in this case, reading a book with
a winter theme - and let's people run with it. The follow-up of collaborative poetry is
perfect - poetry is part of every state's standards and the collaborative piece allows the
teacher to expose children to this genre in a very easy, doable manner.
I am always amazed at the diversity and creativity of the
participants' work. Because of this, I strive to challenge myself and my students to think
"out of the box." Our work for this project had my children writing Chinese
calligraphy in the snow and loving every minute of it!! The simple collaborative poem we
wrote took on another dimension as the children chose a part of it to illustrate in our
new Computer Lab using Kidpix.
Marci's projects always inspire me to be the best I can be as a
teacher, and when a teacher is at her best, that is what she gets from her students.
Simply put, her projects are the foundation for many "Best Practices" - just
what we all want in the classroom.
Lanise Jacoby
Please take a peek into the Window to Our World
http://www.geocities.com/ljacoby_2000/window.html
|
2/16/03
Marci: My class and I always enjoy your projects. Joining the
Winter Project makes me use computer collaboration which the students need to be exposed.
I know I don't read aloud enough and this project requires reading aloud. I like the
different forms of poetry shown in the project and try to use a different kind each time.
Thanks for offering such a simple and educational project that is also fun for the
students.
Pamela Spann, Daingerfield,TX |
2/15/03
Thanks for hosting another Online Poetry Project this year. I have participated in several
of your projects and am always amazed at the creative and professional way you display
each individual's contributions to your project. I always end up integrating several
subject areas by participating in your projects. The Read a Winter Book, Write a
Winter Poem project involved reading, writing, art and technology in a very creative
way. The students enjoyed writing winter poems and reading the poetry that has been
submitted by the other classes. I am sure the site will be visited by thousands and they
will enjoy reading the poetry also. Thanks again for taking the time to host the project
and for the beautiful job you have done displaying the work. I will be first in line when
you announce your next online project. Enjoy the rest of the winter and may spring come
earlier than expected!
Debbie Coats
Second grade teacher, Berlin, Wisconsin
|
2/15/03
This was a great project because I was able to
tie many of our state's standards to it and it was of reasonable length. It helped me meet
requirements of our district ELA curriculum where I am responsible for a particular type
of poetry. Thank you for organizing it and giving of your personal time.
Susan Biltucci, Grade 3, Ilion, NY |
2/15/03
Thank
you so much for hosting the winter poetry project. My first graders enjoyed it so
much and did such a nice job with it. This is our second year participating in your
project and I hope you will be doing it again next year! Sign us up if you do!
Again, we appreciate your hard work!
Judi Robertson, South Sioux City, Nebraska |
2/15/03
My class and I loved doing the Read a Winter Book. . . .Write a
Winter Poem. For many of the students, this was an introduction to poetry writing
and they were fascinated by the process we used to create our Acrostic Poem for Snow
Riders (brainstroming wordbanks using the beautiful language from the story, then
using the words to spark ideas for writing about the mental images created when we read
the story). Because we now have the wonderful webpage that you have provided, we will be
continuing our poetry writing this year using the project page as "real world"
examples of the types of poetry we can write.
We are also using the webpage as a reading activity. My students
love it when I display the poems on our "big screen.". The poetry examples are
fun to read and the books that were used as springboards are many of the same ones we know
and have enjoyed reading. The students are making wonderful, meaningful connections as we
read the poems that the other classes have so beautifully written.
I'm looking forward to the transfer of the reading and modeling
and writing showing up in Writing Workshop as my students experiment with writing poems as
a format-of-choice.
Thank you everyone for the wonderful poems that your classes have
written.
Thank you Mrs. McGowan for hosting this project and for providing
the "world wide web" with a great resource of poetry writing models.
Julie Filer/1/WA |
2/15/03
My students love to see
their work online. They are amazed that other children in places where we get
postcards from have poems online too. It is fun to see the same people
participating! We call it "going on a trip". they love to see what
other classrooms are doing and to check mail from people sending us mail through your
site. Thanks for doing this for us.
Libby Rhoden, Pasadena,TX |
2/06
Thanks for sponsoring this project - we had a lot of fun (and learned a lot!). Carole Underwood, Baton Rouge, LA |
2/04
The poem was a good introduction for rhyme and counting syllables.
The class has browsed the project website and enjoyed all the poems.
They liked "The Black Snowman" from Newark, NJ. Thank you for having us and we
will check in again soon.
Yours in learning, Patti Beaudry, Cadotte Lake, Alberta, Canada |
2/03
What a wonderful experience this has been. I am very pleased with the process and the
product. Thank you for your motivation :)
Kathy Rowland, Poulsbo,WA
http://www.nksd.wednet.edu/schools/pearson/staff/krowland/ |
2/03
This was our first experience with writing an acrostic poem, and boy did we have fun!
Dina Peters, Mohegan Lake, NY |
1/23
Thank you for organizing this terrific project! We have been enjoying
reading the poems from other classes.
Laura Trapp in Helena, Montana where we finally have some wonderful snow!!
|
1/23/03
We had fun being a part of your poetry project. Thanks for organizing such a great
collaborative writing project. We have enjoyed the poems which have been posted thus far
and look forward to reading more!
Kirsten Davis, 2nd Grade, Pittsburgh, PA |
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