Here’s a link to a wonderful website where you can see the drawings and hear the fifth graders in Sendai, Japan thanking the rest of the world for all of their assistance in March and April 2011 after the earthquake and tsunami. The children, under direction of their excellent teacher, Sakari Sensei, learned the English pronunciation from a voice recording of a fifth grader student from my school. I think that they did well!
http://web.me.com/sakaripapa/サイト_2/Photos.html
We arrived near Johnny Kelly’s statue not far from Mile 17 early enough to catch the wheelchair and elite runners whiz by. http://www.bostonmarathon.com/ I didn’t know that Wesley Korir would be the winner, but I was drawn to him by his focus.
Wesley Korir Newton, MA
Wesley Korir Winner of the Boston Marathon 2012 near Mile 17 Newton, MA
Wesley Korir, Running by at Mile 17
Akiko Kudo, Japan
Robson Runs 2012 Boston Marathon
Majumi Fujita Top American Finisher Coming in 7th Place in the Boston Marathon 2012
Our young friend in Toyota, Japan got a new digital camera for Christmas. He recorded short videoclips wishing us a Happy New Year and showing us a temple. I uploaded the short clips onto Voicethread and students in grades 2 and 3 commented on them. They really enjoyed the opportunity to interact with the student just a few years older than them. Voicethread is a wonderful way to communicate asynchronously!
Kent_01
Here is an image from the Scratch animation completed by children in Aichi, Japan under the direction of Professor Yoshiro Miyata.
A screenshot of a Christmas tree created by Jackson students and Professor Yoshiro Miyata in Aichi, Japan as part of the World Museum Project.
Sixth graders completed a Christmas tree project in collaboration with students in Japan. Click on the link to see the wonderful animations in Scratch. Christmas tree animations Special thanks to Professor Yoshiro Miyata of Chukyo University in Aichi, Japan for all of his work on this project. Thanks also to the students in Japan for their wonderful creations!! Please feel free to leave positive comments on the World Museum Project blog.
We are thinking of our friends in Japan. Fourth graders tried writing haiku and animating it in Scratch. Learn more about this project
Children of Sendai 1
I think of the children of Sendai.
Their enthusiastic greetings,
their giggles,
their excitement.
I think of their teacher,
his passion for education,
the hours that we spend together planning for our lessons,
his dedication in sharing their learning experience with me.
He assured me that he and his family are safe, and his students are safe,
I am relieved…
but now I know that there is not enough heating fuel, they have a limited supply of water, rice and gasoline;
not enough.
Conditions are very difficult.
I know that the challenges that lie ahead for them are far different than I can even imagine.
I am hopeful that someday soon,
I will once again hear the sweet voices of the children of Sendai,
that I will hear their giggles and laughter,
and we will continue our learning journey together.
~L
segment
Fourth graders share our Valentine traditions with our virtual visiting teacher skyping in from Japan.
I was thinking about the BLC08 conference sessions that I attended today. The day began with Ewan McIntosh’s brilliant keynote. He demonstrated how social media tools help him stay connected in his community of family, friends and work. (His slides were exemplary; one or two key words or a strong graphic.) He challenged us to use these tools as lifelong learners.
I’ve observed Ewan using these tools for about a year. Through flickr I’ve watched Catriona grow. Through Ewan’s blog and twitter posts, I’ve learned of conferences and exemplary ideas of teachers across the planet and connected to amazing resources. Thanks for the inspiration Ewan!