Ponn,+Julie

**__SOL Standards, Numbers, and Descriptors:__** **__ 21st Century Standards, Numbers, and Descriptors: __** **__ Length of Lesson: __** 3 weeks working with the classroom teachers
 * __Title of Lesson:__** What do you know about your favorite author?
 * __Grade Level(s):__** Grade 5
 * __Author:__** Julie Ponn, Librarian
 * __ Introduction: __**
 * While working with the 5th grade team on their book reviews I have expanded this unit to include some research on the authors of their books. The classroom teachers instructed the students to choose a novel, read it for literature time and complete a short book review to the present to the class. In conjunction with this lesson, while the students were in the library for library class I expanded on this and created a list of author websites that the students were reading and created an activity guide to help them explore. The students were given the choice of what book to read and author to study.
 * __ Goals: __**
 * 1) Read a novel for free choice.
 * 2) Complete an in class book review presentation to their classroom teacher and other students.
 * 3) Browse through author website and complete activity guide.
 * 4) Write on librarian’s blog addressing the question “Would you want to be friends with the author and why?”
 * C/T 3-5.7 ** The student will use technology resources for solving problems and making informed decisions.
 * C/T 3-5.8 ** The student will use a variety of media and formats to communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences.
 * C/T 3-5.5 ** The student will demonstrate knowledge of technologies that support collaboration, personal pursuits, and productivity.
 * C/T 3-5.4 ** The student will practice responsible use of technology systems, information, and software.
 * ICT Literacy **
 * 1) // Apply Technology Effectively //
 * Use technology as a tool to research, organize, evaluate and communicate information
 * Use digital technologies (computers, PDAs, media players, GPS, etc.), communication/networking tools and social networks appropriately to access, manage, integrate, evaluate and create information to successfully function in a knowledge economy
 * 1) Apply a fundamental understanding of the ethical/legal issues surrounding the access and use of information technologies

1 Computer 2 SmartBoard 3 Internet 4 Speakers 5 Student lab with at least 25 computers 6 Author activity guide 7 Librarians blog 8 Pencils 9 Student free choice of a novel 10 Portaportal website
 * __ Equipment, Materials, Worksheets: __**
 * __Pre-Activities:__**


 * 1) The students will review how to access the [|Alvey Library Portaportal] website and how to access individual author websites.
 * 2) Review internet safety that has been covered by our ITRT ( Instructional Technology Resource Teacher).
 * 3) Teacher and students will have a discussion about appropriate blogging language in a classroom setting.
 * __ Writing Assignments: __**
 * 1) The individual classroom teachers are asking for book reviews in a variety of formats. Small groups are sent to the library for word processing, skit practice or what ever their small group may need assistance with.
 * 2) Successful completion of author activity guide.
 * 3) Successful posting to [|Librarians Blog].
 * __ Extension and Adaptations: __**
 * 1) Students are given the opportunity to read a novel of their choice as long as it is at the students reading level.
 * 2) The students are given the free choice of how they present their book review to their class with the approval of their classroom teacher.
 * 3) Students may use any equipment to aide in the book review that the school has access to.
 * __ Assessment: __**
 * 1) Teachers will assess individual student book reviews and presentations.
 * 2) Librarian will require students to complete an author activity guide, where they will answer the questions based on the information they are able to attain from the author’s website.
 * 3) Teacher will grade and record the activity guide as a language arts grade for the quarter.
 * __ Possible pitfalls and difficulties that I face: __**
 * 1) Creating a permission form with the assistance of my ITRT to get the kids going on Edublog.
 * 2) Educating the kids on how to use a blog and what one is, as I learn I won’t have all the answers and I don’t know how I feel at times when the kids know more than I do.
 * 3) Permission from my administration, they are very unfamiliar with any type of technology other than e-mail so they can be a bit afraid to try new things.
 * 4) Relying on our network within the building is a huge pitfall. Technology is wonderful when it works but you always need a backup plan.
 * 5) Approving all posts prior to the students comments being posted to the blog. Never using a blog in a classroom setting before I don’t know how long it will take me to read through all the posts before I approve them. I would imagine that it would go pretty fast but I just don’t know enough right now to anticipate all the problems this could bring.

=__**Deliverable #3**__ = Dear Ms. Candace Rotruck, (Principal of Alvey Elementary) I am writing to propose the use of a school library wiki to be used for an on-line book club. With all the access to current technology, we have the opportunity to tap into this new and exciting technology to promote literacy beyond the classroom for the 21st century learner. Please consider the following proposal: A Wiki is a place on the internet that allows users to communicate and edit word together. One key for the popularity of wikis is that you don’t need to know special computer language. Wikis are able to be created and edited by simply knowing how to use Microsoft Word type tools. For some time now I have wanted to create a book club here at Alvey, but I haven’t been able to fit it into my daily schedule. I thought that using a wiki to create an online book club where the students and teachers could share their thoughts on the title that we are reading, explore websites and recommend future books for the group would be a great way to encourage literacy in today’s student body. This would be a blend of traditional text with some new technology that the students are interested to be learning about. There are many students at Alvey who are our “Frequent Flyers” in the library and they plow through our books. This would give them a structured environment where they could share ideas and thoughts about books that they have read. Also this is a great tool for the staff who enjoy young adult literature as well as staff who have elementary aged children of their own, who may not even attend Alvey to participate in a group activity with their parent. 1. http://kcassidy.wikispaces.com/rituals This wiki was created by students in a 1st grade class and you can see the usefulness at even the primary level. If a 1st grader can use it then anyone can use a wiki. 2. https://k12onlinespeters.wikispaces.com/Tips+and+Tools This wiki is great because of its value to a new wiki user. Sharon Peters puts all her tips right out there for everyone to benefit from. This is invaluable when a teacher is beginning work on a new form of technology. 3. [] This article was very helpful for a new user of blogs and wikis, it went through the pros and cons of each and you could determine which to use for you specific purpose. 4. [] This article supports the use of wikis in the library as community builders. Schools are built currently centered around the library. Using a wiki will allow us to do this beyond our school and reach out to our larger community. As with any new technology there will be roadblocks that will need to be tackled. Such are administrative and parent approval, and maintaining security for student’s on-line safety. I believe that communication is important to overcoming all of these problems. Administrators can be shown any of the above wikis or articles that support and explain wikis. As for parents and security issues when the wiki is created paying special attention to the wiki security such as limiting the page to only those who are invited, using this feature that [|www.pbwiki.com] offers will help ensure the on-line safety of the parents and students. Additionally having the students, parents and teacher sign a contract for acceptable use of on-line tools will commit all parties to the intended purpose of this technology. Suggestions for types of wikis to use in a school setting are Wikispaces and [|PBWiki].
 * __[|Wiki], what is a wiki? __**
 * __Evidence of using a wiki in a school setting:__**
 * Wikispaces is free to use in an educational setting and is extremely easy to use. Additionally they have tours that are easy to follow and understand even for teachers who are new to the technology.
 * PBWiki is also free, however this wiki has a much more kid friendly look to it and you can for the pages. This allows the moderator to view who has made changes to the pages and when.

Ultimately I envision the creation of the Alvey Library wiki book club not only being a tool that the students and teachers can use during the school year but one that they can continue to use over holiday breaks and even after they move on to the middle school. This book club can be used to foster the joy of reading for pleasure, which is a life skill that will benefit the students long past graduation. This tool can be used to enhance the student’s lives into adulthood.

I sincerely hope you will contact me with any questions that you may have concerning this proposal and will consider the creation of this new and exciting technology.

Sincerely, Julie Ponn, Librarian JW Alvey Elementary 5300 Waverly Farm Drive Haymarket, VA 20169 ponnjm@pwcs.edu 571-261-2556

=Final Project for Julie Ponn= == = = == = ** ** =