Digital Smile for the Day
All posts by Dr. Cathy Miyata
Travel is an Education
When I (Cathy) was a grade school teacher, there were times when parents took their children out of school for a family trip. Often, a parent would ask if they could borrow a math or language text book to bring along so the child could “keep up”. I begged them not to. “Please,” I would say, “have them keep a journal. Draw what they see. Describe the people they meet. Take pictures and keep a record of them. Videotape a special event. Make a scrap book. Record the weather. Calculate the distance you travel every day. Follow the map. Plan an excursion.” In other words, I would ask the parent to use the trip as a resource. I would also suggest the child prepare to share some of their experiences with the class when they retuned, so we could all learn from the trip.
I was alarmed to think they would imprison their child in a hotel room or trailer to keep up with what we were doing in the classroom sometimes hundreds of miles away. There was so much to see and learn from the incredible world around them!
Now, the affordances available for a child to investigate, record and share a trip are so much more interesting! A colleague of mine asked a grade one student of hers, who was going to the Olympics, to Skype the class every Tuesday morning from wherever she was and share her experiences. Her class loved it. They felt like they were there with her. After the Skype meeting the class would research the people and places she talked about. That one student’s trip became a class project.
This past summer, I travelled through Greece with my husband. I was delighted to see so many children capturing the sites we visited on an tablets and smartphones. I wondered if they would share any of it with classmates. I would still encourage a parent to not use a text book on a trip. The real world is just too interesting and there are so many creative ways to explore it. It’s all learning.
Workshopping Literacy in East Germany
Last month, I (Cathy) was invited to present a workshop on literacy and the arts in Gotha, Germany, for a group of educators. At the beginning of the workshop, one of the teachers admitted, “I really don’t know what literacy means.” I wasn’t really surprised as interpretations of literacy are so varied. When a few others also admitted they were not sure, I invited them to find a matching-shoe partner and share with them what they thought literacy meant.
Once the discussion was opened up to the whole group, it was interesting to hear what they came up with. They started off with the traditional reading and writing interpretation and we decided together these were forms of communication. From there, the definition really expanded. One participant suggested literacy included reality, while another suggested emotion. As we probed deeper the idea literacy was a view of the world was introduced. Eventually I asked them to look around the room at the fabulous paintings hanging on the walls. They were painted by local school children and they were emoting wonderful narratives. Yes, they decided, the paintings were also literacy. Throughout the rest of the workshop we explored ways to use storytelling and drama as literacy.
It was exciting to witness the development of a deeper understanding of an enormous concept like literacy. I like to think this encounter helped these teachers to see meaning-making in a new way. I wonder how it will affect their use of literacy in their classrooms. On the chart we created together, it was also suggested literacy was fun. It was. Hope it is for their students too.
Prank it Forward
I (Cathy) had never heard of “Prank It Forward” until today. It is heartwarming. If you want to feel good about people this is long weekend, watch the following video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2zUf06iy1A
This ‘prank’ reminded me of a project one of my students started last year in her classroom during her practice teaching. She called it Spread the Joy. Everyday she initiated an event that would make a student happy and challenged the class to spread the joy. It was one of the most powerful things I have ever seen happen in a classroom. She turned the class around.
Big or small, giving a car or a compliment, we can make a difference.
Just for Fun- A Literacy Word Search
In the word search below, can you find…
1. The name of the theorist generally accredited with the origins of Social Constructivist Theory
2. The term used to identify a branch of linguistics which contends that meaning-making manifests through human interpretations of sign systems
3. The names of the two researchers accredited with constructing the four resource model
4. The term assigned to multiple modes of communication
5. The Literacy Theory that purports literacy and language are not neutral but political.
6. The name of a pedagogical approach designed by 10 scholars known as the New London Group in 1996
Scroll down for answers- but no peeking!
| Z | C | X | B | N | O | L | M | R | T | Y | Y | I | O | P | K |
| A | C | V | N | Q | W | R | U | T | U | J | L | A | S | D | F |
| B | V | M | N | W | E | F | L | A | S | D | F | G | H | H | J |
| Q | Y | W | E | M | U | L | T | I | M | O | D | A | L | O | P |
| A | G | D | G | J | K | O | I | M | N | B | V | C | X | Z | A |
| W | O | E | T | Y | P | U | L | U | K | J | H | G | F | D | S |
| Z | T | X | C | V | B | N | I | M | L | H | F | D | S | A | E |
| C | S | T | G | H | K | L | T | O | U | Y | T | E | R | W | Q |
| V | K | N | N | L | H | O | E | I | T | R | E | W | A | Q | P |
| R | Y | T | Y | U | I | P | R | I | Z | X | C | V | B | N | M |
| Z | L | U | K | E | M | V | A | O | P | U | Y | T | R | E | W |
| C | X | B | N | M | L | Q | C | R | I | T | I | C | A | L | Q |
| Q | W | E | R | T | Y | U | I | I | O | P | L | K | J | H | G |
| H | G | F | D | S | A | S | E | R | T | Y | U | I | O | M | N |
| D | F | G | H | J | K | L | S | E | M | I | O | T | I | C | S |
| Q | S | D | C | F | R | E | E | B | O | D | Y | C | A | T | Y |
Answers: 1. VYGOTSKY 2. SEMIOTICS 3. LUKE, FREEBODY 4. MULTIMODAL 5. CRITICAL 6. MULTILITERACIES
Stimulating Writing with Youtube
I (Cathy) teach Writer’s Workshop in my university literacy class by having my student teachers participate in one. They engage in the entire process from selecting a genre, to peer editing, to learning from descriptive feedback, to publishing their work. I am amazed every year how much the student teachers gain from the experience. They often begin the process terrified of being a writer and of teaching writing. The Writer’s Workshop structure helps them overcome much of that fear. One of the biggest challenges they must overcome is selecting a genre to write in. Every year several students are completely stymied by this. To aid these students I provide wordless picture books for which they must write the words. They love it and swear they will do this for their own students when they are teachers.
The other day I came across a new source for stimulating writing. It made me laugh out loud. Would you write it from the sea gulls point of view, or the cat’s?
German Literary History
I (Cathy) make a point of reading a novel either about or from a country I am about to visit. As Germany is my next destination, Goethe became my author of choice. I was familiar with his now famous work, Faust, but the book I selected is known as The Sorrows of Young Werther. In all honesty, it was not the plot or the style, but the details about the book that enticed me to read it. This novel had an enormous cultural impact on Germany and surrounding countries.
Written in just six short weeks by a young Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (only 24), it was largely autobiographical. In the book, the hero, Werther, through a series of letters, describes his over-infatuation with a young woman named Charlotte. This novel was an immediate success and sold so many copies it became the first block buster novel. It even had merchandizing to support it: perfume, Werther dolls and Werther clothes. The book launched an entire literary genre, Sturm und Drang(Storm and Stress), inspired an opera, and instigated the romanticism movement. Sadly, the book was also banned in four countries because many young men imitated the tragic fate of the hero. I am intrigued that this book had such an extensive affect, long before the age of computers or mass marketing. This book was written in 1774. Such is the incredible power of literature. I am excited about going to Weimar, Germany to appreciate the monuments and museums dedicated to the work of Goethe. I may even buy a Werther doll.
Today’s Smile
Are Public Libraries a thing of the past?
As a girl, I (Cathy) used to walk to the library regularly. It was a good two mile walk and I usually went alone because no one I knew was as passionate about books as I was. I never minded. I loved the library. It was a treasure chest for me. I find I don’t go very often any more because I can often find what I need on line. But I still like the actual feel of a book. Guess it’s comfort food for the eye and hand. I wonder how many young children actually still go? 
Because of Mr. Terupt- I was touched
I’ve been striking it lucky with my pick of children’s literature lately. Because of Mr. Terupt is a juvenile fiction novel well worth reading to a junior level class. Also perfect as a sample novel for student teachers experiencing literature circles. This touching story, by Rob Buyea, brings up many discussion points regarding what makes a good teacher, plus many other school issues: diversity, inclusion, forgiveness, and bullying just to name a few. Terrific resource for ‘hot seat’ /role playing explorations. A must read for children’s literature fanatics like me!
Literacy Teaching and Teacher Education 