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Virtual Visit from Jennifer Richard Jacobson: Author of "Paper Things"
On Tuesday, November 13th the Battle of the Books Club students were able to experience a virtual question and answer session with children and young adult books author, Jennifer Richard Jacobson. From her web site, www.jenniferjacobson.com here is a brief bio on the author: JRJ Coming from a long line of educators, I always knew Iโd be a teacher. I didnโt always know Iโd be a writer, but somehow it turned out that way. I kept a diary since the age of nine, and I won the Edith Bird Bass Essay Contest as a senior in high school in my hometown of Peterborough, NH. While an undergrad at Lesley College, I took a course in childrenโs literature and fell in love with the genre. I tinkered with writing while teaching, holding administrative positions, and getting my masters, but it wasnโt until I moved to Maine and returned to the classroom as first grade teacher, that I became determined to write a childrenโs book. I told my students we were going to write up a storm that year. I was going to teach them everything I knew about writing, and they in turn would help me to become a better writer. And they did. I consider the childrenโs novel I wrote that year to be โpracticeโ and although it will never be published, it kept me on the path, kept me writing. When my daughter was born, I decided to try my hand at a writing career. I wrote articles, books for parents and teachers, teacher guides and emergent readers for first grade reading programs โ anything that would give me the time and space to continue trying to break into the childrenโs field.
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Providing Meaningful Postitive Feedback Through Gallery Walks
On Thursday, November 8th, Mrs. Bradleyโs 8th grade students showcased their Anthem book projects through a Gallery Walk in the classroom. The students displayed their projects on their desks and the desks were arranged in a circular fashion. Students were able to walk through the โgallery of projectsโ, while leaving feedback slips for their classmates. Mrs. Bradley instructed her students to provide specific, meaningful, feedback to their peers by using the following criteria: Understanding of Novel, Creative Engagement with the Task, Clear and Engaging Presentation, and Whether the project was complete. The gallery showcased the studentโs creativity is a variety of different mediums such as: movie trailers, newspaper articles, video game designs, book jackets, top ten favorite websites for the character of โequalityโ as presented in the novel, and movie soundtracks. Mrs. Bradley provided the students with examples of meaningful feedback, and stressed how hard she knew the students had worked on these projects and how important it is to be able to receive specific feedback from peers as well as teachers. The projects were truly engaging and thought provoking. It is clear that the students put a great deal of time and effort into these โworks of artโ as well as into the feedback they provided for their classmates.
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STEAM Day "Petting Zoo" in the Media Center
On Thursday, November 8th, which is identified as National STEAM Day, Kelly Cehelnik from the Union County Public Library along with Ashley Ponscheck, instructional coach, organized a STEAM Petting Zoo to inform teachers of the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) kits available for teachers to borrow and use in their classroom.
Select a School...
Select a School
- Antioch Elementary School
- Benton Heights Elementary School of the Arts
- Central Academy of Technology & Arts
- Cuthbertson High School
- Cuthbertson Middle School
- East Elementary
- East Union Middle
- Fairview Elementary
- Forest Hills High
- Hemby Bridge Elementary
- Indian Trail Elementary
- Kensington Elementary
- Marshville Elementary
- Marvin Elementary
- Marvin Ridge High
- Marvin Ridge Middle
- Monroe High
- Health Sciences Academy at Monroe Middle
- New Salem Elementary
- New Town Elementary
- Parkwood High
- Parkwood Middle
- Piedmont High
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- Porter Ridge High
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- Rock Rest Elementary
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- Sandy Ridge Elementary
- Sardis Elementary
- Shiloh Elementary School
- South Providence School
- Stallings Elementary
- Sun Valley Elementary
- Sun Valley High
- Sun Valley Middle
- Union County Early College
- Union Elementary
- Unionville Elementary
- Walter Bickett Education Center
- Walter Bickett Elementary
- Waxhaw Elementary
- Weddington Elementary
- Weddington High
- Weddington Middle
- Wesley Chapel Elementary
- Western Union Elementary
- Wingate Elementary
- Wolfe School
