Day 4

Friday/July 9, 2004

  Well, today I feel like we made some real progress with the B2B project.  We debated, and discussed, and struggled through the process but in the end I think we're laying down the groundwork for a really exciting program!!

  In the afternoon, I was getting a bit distracted (adult ADD here!) and as the group was talking, I suddenly remembered the TV show, NJN Classroom Close-Up.  I had thought about writing to NJN to propose our STAR-W program as a story idea.  But, the website kept launching AOL when I clicked on the "Submit Story Idea" link.  Well, now that I'm so "techno-knowledgeable" I was able to locate the email address and write to the program director!!  Yeah!  Long story short, within 2 hours I was able to submit a summary of the STAR-W program & our B2B project and the Executive Producer of the show emailed back saying that she would like to cover us!!  Wow!!  What a way to end the week!!

  Here's part of our email exchange:

From: Janine Riggins [mailto:jrigginsmlk@yahoo.com]
Sent: Friday, July 09, 2004 2:49 PM
To: Wanda Swanson
Subject: RE: submitting a story idea

Dear Ms. Swanson:
    Thank you for your prompt response. The following is a summary of the STAR-W program at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School. I hope you will find it interesting and worthwhile for Classroom Closeup. I hope to hear from you soon!
    Janine Riggins

"From Bullying to Buddies"
      The 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade teachers at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School Complex in Atlantic City, New Jersey are developing an anti-bullying program as part of the STAR-W project. The Students Using Technology To Achieve Reading - Writing (www.starw.org) program is designed to increase student achievement in Language Arts Literacy in grades three through five by providing classroom teachers with ongoing professional development and in-class support that focuses on integrating technology into the curriculum and instruction.
      The 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade teachers are currently participating in 80 hours of summer training (July 6-19th). During this time we are developing the B2B (From Bullying to Buddies) anti-bullying project. We are learning to use Contribute to update our website pages and Web-and-Flow to develop a variety of web-based activities which will help our students achieve educational goals throughout the year.
      The major focus of STAR-W this year will be the B2B project. We have a number of goals in mind. Here are just a few:
--Students will have an understanding of the causes and effects of bullying and will use resolution techniques.
--Students will be able to recognize good character traits in themselves and others.
--Students will have an appreciation of diversity within their school and community.
--Students will become aware of the positive resources available in the local community and will participate in positive community action.
      We plan to track progress of the program by studying trends in behavior referrals records. We are also planning a major culminating activity which may include producing and recording a public service announcement for television and creating a neighborhood mural. We feel that sharing this information with educators in New Jersey would be a valuable and powerful tool to spreading the message of nonviolence. This is a crucial issue for schools nationwide and we would like others to benefit from all of the work we will be doing. (All projects and activities will be available online as part of the starw.org website!)

Subject: RE: submitting a story idea
Date: Fri, 9 Jul 2004 15:08:09 -0400
From: "Wanda Swanson" <WBowman@njea.org> Add to Address Book
To: "Janine Riggins" <jrigginsmlk@yahoo.com>

I would love to come and do a story on this program. We spend one full day at a school – 1-2 hours taping the classroom activities and the rest of the day conducting interviews with the students, teachers and any other people involved in the project. I am booking shoots for the year and would be glad to schedule something with you now. When you pick a date… consider what is the best time to showcase this project. When are the students most comfortable and ready to show what they know.

We can book something now if you want….. I do try to avoid September just because teachers and students are still trying to get settled in for the school year.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Wanda Swanson
Executive Producer Classroom Close-up NJ

Day 5:  Monday/July 12, 2004

   Started the day loading software for my Palm.  Docs-to-Go will now work, according to Art, allowing me to beam back and forth to and from the Danas.  That is excellent news!!    There were so many times More good progress with B2B today.  Our group developed a beginning of the year student survey.  It was difficult to decide what to include, how long to make it, etc. but I think we have a good final product.  Art will tweek it so the students can take it online and then we'll be able to compile our baseline data easily.

   The afternoon was a blast.  We decided to create iMovies in which we acted out bullying scenarios.  These will be very useful during the year to get the kids thinking about this issue.   Then, Kelly suggested that we have the students create videos just like this.  Great idea!  They can write, produce, and film the scenes all by themselves!  Talk about hands-on learning!  I love it. 

   The first group filmed an excellent scene.  Then Art showed us how to bring it into iMovie and edit to create a final product.  Looks simple enough, but we'll need much more training and practice to become proficient with this one.   Can't wait to film ours.  (If we can stop laughing!!)  I also can't wait to get the new iBooks!!  We will be experts with all of the "i" stuff soon, I'm sure.  Time is flying by but we're getting alot done.  Hope this will make everything much easier in September.  I want to start off the year with a bang and get right into the B2B project.  I can't wait!

Day 6:  Tuesday/July 13, 2004

  Another productive day.  We worked on a Power Point for Open House to introduce parents & students to the B2B program.  Another group worked on a huge pep rally kickoff for grades 3-5, and the third group worked on a new behavior incentive program based on a points system. 

   We filmed our skit.  It went well. We will be learning how to work on iMovie.  I can tell it's going to take me a while to get back into Macintosh mode.  I started home computing with a 520c, but that was years ago.  I'm anxious for the new iBooks to come in so I can get up to speed and start working on things Mac-style.