A Distance Learning Book Club
As we continue to shelter in place, we have many students in our class who love to write and make books. Earlier in the school year, I challenged my students to complete a demanding math assignment with the promise that they could write a story in their journal once they completed their work. The students were empowered. I then had several of them read their stories to their peers to help each author develop his or her story. Through this reflective activity, the students were eager to peer review each other’s work. After more class discussions about writing books, I asked a classroom volunteer to read a book she had recently published to the class. They were enthralled with the story and how the author self-published her book.
Book Club Rules
Right after the winter break, we launched our second grade book club. The students created the following list of book club writing and illustration guidelines:
- No violence
- No potty talk
- No bad language
- No guns or sabers
- No fights, murders, or battles
- No killer clowns
Writing Themes
During the first week of book club activities, students wrote about their dreams for a peaceful and equitable life in the classroom or at home. They illustrated their dreams. All class work was displayed on the bulletin board below the book club rules. The students continued to use this writing prompt for the rest of the month. In February, they focused on diversity while celebrating African American Month. And in March, we wrote about community service projects to celebrate Cesar Chavez Day.
Adapted for Distance Learning While Sheltering in Place
Now that the students will no longer attend school, we are encouraging them to continue their creative writing. During the month of April, students will write about thankfulness after listening to this story with a writing prompt created by Mary Ann Burke at https://www.youtube.com/embed/RY_mOASNd-U. They will celebrate Mother’s Day by writing about family values. And in June, students will write about gardens for Father’s Day. We will post the student’s work on an online website link.
May our children become inspired with the many writing adventures that we share with them.
Danielle
Danielle’s first step in education did not begin with education at all. It began with her first love for science. She received a B.S. in Biological Science, with a concentration in Molecular Biology. Her five years of experience as a chemist in the biotech industry at SYVA and Dade Behring Diagnostics include both areas of quality control and research and development. Her contributions were qualifying products for release to sell to the diagnostic market as well as developing new diagnostic technology for immunoassay detection. Danielle’s subtle transition to discovering her passion for education was through the birth of her daughter. She became a stay at home mom. Her uber volunteerism at her daughter’s elementary school gained her access to her path of education. She now holds a multiple subject teaching credential and M.A. in Education from National University. She has over ten years of experience at Sakamoto Elementary School as an educator in kindergarten, sixth grade, second grade, and a 2/3 combination class. Her teaching is rooted in a constructivist model while fostering independence and accountability in the classroom.