This is the place where we can discuss the details about the project "A day in my school" and also share some useful software which can be used in the blog!

Friday, August 29, 2008

Hello! Prepare to launch up

Hi Carrie, Andrea and Greg:
Our new semester will begin on Monday!
This summer I appreciate all your amazing ideas.
The blog environment offer everyone the ownership to wok on this intercultural project.
And I can't wait to let my students know how wonderful it is!
And from now on we are going to help our students experience the joy, discovery, and excitement.

However, it may happen when students meet problems during the process such as getting lost in the conversation, getting no response from their partners, or even forming stereotypes becuase of misunderstanding .

I think as teachers we can try our best to help them overcome the difficulties.
Therefore, I will suggest my students to wirte down or share their feeling about the peoject regularly. This way we can know what they think about cultural differences.

By the way....I haven't receive your address so I can't mail my textbooks to you! Please tell me your address soon.

Keep in touch

It's great to cooperate with you.

Ling

Saturday, August 16, 2008

About My School

Hey there Folks,

While I don't have pictures of my students for the current year as of right now because our year hasn't started I'm going to share with you some other photos and information that you can share with your students. I've also included some photos of my students from last year. Most of these students have since left our school for middle school.

Pointers Run Elementary School








Clarksville, Maryland
Howard County
United States of America

Teacher - Carrie Trudden - I teach Technology which students have 1 hour per week.





Our school has students from Kindergarten through Fifth Grade - Roughly 5 years old - 11 years old.















Our school website is http://pres.hcpss.org/
My teacher website is http://truddentechnology.edublogs.org

Textbook exchange!

Hello everyone:

Andrea and I just think of a idea as an interesting start for the project.
Why not exchage textbooks through postal mail since the first topic is learning subjects?

I can exchange our math, chinese or English textbooks with you!
Of cource if you wanna recieve textbooks of other subjects (Science, social study...but they are all written in Chinese)

Tell me what you think.
Thank you

Ps. Carrie, can you share your students' picture with us?

I will post Andrea's and Greg's pictures in my classroom.

Ling

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Once School Begins


Good Evening Everyone,
I will not be able to send a photo of my new students until after September 2.
Ling, I looked over your plan on the Google site. I will use it as a reference in order to stay on the same page as everyone else.
Carrie, I got Animoto to work. It seems too easy!!! I am also going to try out Jing. Keep'em comin'.
Hi Andrea.
Above is a picture of some of my students from last year. Their goal was to get every ball off the floor.
Greg

The updated project timeline

Topic 1. What subjects do we learn in school? 1st ~5th weeks (in September)
(The follwoing tasks are optional. But if possible, we can do these tasks together and then we can compare the result.)

We might have some subjects in common (like math, science) and other different subjects from those of different countries. Please design the materials to share with our partners.


1. Class schedule: Post your class schedule on blog “A day at my school”

2. Choose a special learning subject which you think is not available in schools of other countries. You can present what you learn in the special class through text, presentation slides, pictures or videos.

3. Ask at least three questions to your partners based on what you want to know about their learning subjects.



Topic 2. Our lunch in school 6th ~8th weeks (From October 1st to October 24th)

1. Food is important in different cultures. Tell us what, where and how you eat for lunch in school. Show your answers through pictures, text, presentation slides or video.

2. Ask at least three questions to your partners based on what you want to know about their lunch in school.

Topic 3. Extracurricular activities the 9th ~12th week (From October 27th to November 21st )

1. What do you do out of class? Playing sports or reading? And is there any special school fair or exhibition in your school? Show your answers though pictures, text and presentation or video.

2. Ask at least three questions to your partners based on what you want to know about their extracurricular activities.


Topic 4. School rules: the 13th ~ 16th week (From November 24th to December19th )

Here let’s discuss more details about school rules. For example, in Taiwan, students are always required to wear uniforms. We can compare the school rules in different cultures and analyze the reasons behind the rules.

1. You can make the lists of school rules, or do survey to your classmate how they think the school rules and Show your answers through posts, presentation or video.

2. Ask at least five questions to your foreign partners based on what you want to know about their school rules.


Here is the URL of a more detailed table about what and when I plan to do the project.
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dg9krhx_24hk99wmc7
If you can't read it, I can email this to you
Thank you!

The information about Mingde elementary school (Taiwan)

our school logo

(From left to right:Ryan/Gary Lu/ Brian/Daphne/Teresa/Gary Chou)


Mingde elementary school


Teacher Name: Ling-yun Chang (just call me Ling)

We're in Taipei city, the captal of Taiwan


Nice to meet you:)

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Hello Friends

Hello there! Well the school year starts in under 14 days here. I can't believe how fast the summer went this year. I think the three graduate classes had something to do with it. =) This week I've been setting up my classroom and I am putting together a bulletin board highlighting our project. I have a world map that I would like to provide a brief introduction about each school on. Andrea was so kind to send a photo of his students. Thanks Andrea! Can you please email me or post the following:

  • School Name (If you have an image of your school logo or mascot that would be a great addition as well)
  • Teacher Name
  • City, Province, or other Information about your Location
  • Country
  • If you have any quick snapshots of your students that would be fabulous, but not required. I can download and print on my photo printer if you post them =)
Thanks so much!
--Carrie
carrie_clark@hcpss.org

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Welcome to Howard County MD

Since we are sharing photos about our area! Check out my Animoto with images from Howard County and the surrounding areas.



--Carrie


Hello Everyone,
Here are some shots of Mystic, CT. I wish I could say I took these pictures. Mystic is part of the town of Stonington where I teach. This is also where the movie Mystic Pizza took place.
Ling, The schedule looks fine. Thanks.
Greg

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Hi Friends!



To Ling: I think your new timetable is ok.


To Carrie: thanks for the interesting ICT tools you are sharing...

Andrea


Attached, some pictures about the South of Italy - Campania and Basilicata Regions

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Tools for Sharing

Hey there Guys!

I just found out about two great products that may be useful to us as we are sharing and completing the A Day At My School Project. Check them out!

Animoto - free program that allows you to add digital images and set them to music like a real music video. Check out a sample I made for a graduate class. Fun way to just share images back and forth. If you sign up for an account put in the promo code of discovery to upgrade your pass to an all access pass.

Meebo Rooms - free program that allows you to set up chat rooms that can be embedded into HTML documents and are private. Thought it might be good if we can arrange time to all be online at same time to discuss and share. =) Check out the room I made for practice.

--Carrie