RAP 2007: Reading with the World

March 2, 2007

We have now finished two days of Read Around the Planet. Here are a few photos of some of the amazing connections that we facilitated. There were too many to get photos from all. Check out the costumes and backdrops! Our teachers have done an excellent job showcasing best practice in collaborative connections.

So far we have bridged 18 classes for their connections. Five classes dialed point-to-point to their partners. One connection with LaFargeville, PA had to be rescheduled due to an ice day and one connection did not happen due to a miscommunication on my part. (NOTE to coordinators: if you have to switch a teacher or building, be sure to follow-up the email with a phone call!) I totally goofed on that, but all was well. I watched an excellent Texas Independence Day presentation by Bynum ISD and then shared Green Eggs and Ham with them.

The best part of this HUGE project is seeing the students interact with each other. I watched two groups of 8th graders from Alberta and our school, Groesbeck, have a lively discussion after their presentations…the connection went longer than an hour, but the students were totally engaged even with less than perfect video and audio. It made the flurry of emails and the agony over trying to juggle all the necessary pieces worth while.

Posted in Collaborative Projects, Read Around the Planet