Bluebonnet Conference: Nov. 16 at 9:45 AM

November 26, 2007

Our final presentations on the Friday before Thanksgiving and completed the best Bluebonnet Conference ever.

Mrs. Jackson’s Class-Who Stole Halloween?

Mrs. Jackson was another first year participant who was mentored by Pam Hamilton. This presentation used a great backdrop to set the scene. The students used the skit format to share the story. Again, I am convinced that letting teachers pick their book is more important than keeping my little rules about only one teacher-per-book. The students spoke so clearly and the information transmitted well.

Mrs. Robinson’s Class-Earth Dragon Awakes

Another presentation by Mrs. Gina Robinson who is in her second year with the project. Gina is so enthusiastic and brings an energy to the project. Her students used the interviewing survivor format. They did compare the devastation of the earthquake to events following Hurricane Katrina. Again, look at how teachers are integrating curriculum through videoconferencing and literature. Good stuff, for sure!

Mrs. Pearce’s Class-The Ghost’s Grave

This is actually Kim Pearce’s real class. And look at the student in the front right, it is a little Shane Howard. Yes, this student played the guitar and narrated this story about The Ghosts Grave. There were numerous scene changes and the complete and total background. I love the scene changes with flipping the butcher paper over. The students are so completely involved in this process. Their Baylor partners were completely blown away by how talented these students are.

Coach Brown’s Class-Firegirl

Coach Brown asked me “pretty please” could she participate in Bluebonnet with her 8th graders this year. The project really if only for 3rd-6th grade, but last year Coach participated with a 7th grade class and knew the power of the project. So, of course, I welcomed her in for a second year. This was probably the most powerful presentation due to the content of the book and the grade level of the students. The book is about a girl who has been disfigured in a fire and how the students at school treat her. It was a shorter presentation and the students’ inflections and actions were so realistic that it resonated with all of us.

Mrs. Taylor’s Class-Chicken Boy

Gina is one of our 123VC converts! She took the book Chicken Boy and included all of the students in a creative presentation. The culmination of her presentation was when they asked all of the participating sites to join them in a rousing version of The Chicken Dance. Now, I don’t know if the Chicken Dance is universal or just a Texas phenomenon, but we really enjoyed it down here!

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