Citing Across the Curriculum

There are always new initiatives...Writing Across the Content Areas, Reading Across the Curriculum...I propose a new one called Citing Across the Curriculum. For years, my ears would burn as students told me, "My teacher said I did not need to do a bibliography for this project." It is like librarian blasphemy!
I decided to take the bull by the horns two years ago. During staff development sessions, I implored that this could not go on. It is like saying to your students that it is okay to steal sometimes, but not other times. Students need not do a formal bibliography every time they complete a project, but they need to cite their sources, even if it is just a hand-written attachment to their paper.
Well, like Oprah says, "When you know better, you do better." By just bringing this issue to our staff's attention, things have improved. I've even deputized my students to "gently" point out to their teachers that it is not right to take something without crediting the source. If the teacher replies that we don't need to do it "this time," I've told my students it is okay to say, "With all due respect, that is not correct." My teachers must love me :)

My First Book Trailer

I took my love of book trailers to the next level. Here is my first book trailer for the book So B. It by Sarah Weeks. I used Movie Maker and a site called Freeplay Music. Had so much fun! Can't wait to make another :)

Podcasting---not just for your upper grades

I started a podcasting project with my third graders, and they are VERY excited. They are going to create a mini book review. So far, they have planned their script, following a template that I created. Next week, they will record using Audacity and they will save it to the network. We are not going to do editing or music, but I think they are so proud that their voices will be on my website. I really believe that to get kids to read more, you have to meet them on their level. What is their level, you ask? TECHNOLOGY!