The EYEpod!!

At the end of our Video Conference this past Tuesday, our friends in Melbourne sang us this song…half way through…we joined in…it was a moment for the ages!!! A true merging of cultures!!! Below you’ll find the lyrics so that you can sing along as well!!! Enjoy!!

I Am Ameralian…

We came from Ameralia, from the dusty red dry sands I am the ancient voice, the keeper of the land I stood upon Charbourne Island I watched the tall ships come For two terms in school we’ve been the first Ameralians I came from Brunswick East from North Carolina too I am the grizzly bear also the kangaroo I am the black, I am the white the lands from which I come A child of the millennium, I’m Ameralian Chorus: We are one but we are many And from both the lands on Earth we come We like to sing with many voices I am, you are, we’re Ameralian I am an Aboriginal - a native American too Set around a camp fire i play the didgery doo I’m a native American costume, stick the feathers on with glue I’m a bushy, I’m an outlaw I am a convict too I am a bush ranger - holding out my guns i am Albert Namajura and I paint the ghostly gums I am Poccahontas with black and wild hair I am Whistler’s mother in her rocking chair Chorus: We are one but we are many And from both the lands on earth we come We like to sing with many voices I am, you are, we’re Ameralian I’m singer of protest, I love my freedom too I have my own opinion, I’m free to share with you I have a voice, I know my land, to my house you’re free to come I welcome you with open arms, I’m Ameralian We say g’day and howdy, I totally agree We’re mates and we are awesome and we sing along with glee We know when we’re fairdinkum, but can also disagree We’re the future of our country – now come and sing with me Chorus: We are one but we are many And from both the lands on earth we come We like to sing with many voices I am, you are, we’re Ameralian

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Many of you know that this Spring, we worked on a global inquiry project with a class in Melbourne, Australia. Writing with (and to this group of students) gave us a unique opportunity to learn the value of writing to a real audience. Our guiding questions were; What does it mean to be American? What does it mean to be Australian? The project involved both classes using a variety of different texts as a form of stimulus which facilitated opportunities to write to each other on the Internet as well as discuss that writing with each other. In one instance, we compared and contrasted the American song This Land is Your Land with the Australian song I Am Australian. After reading the lyrics to each song and listening to each song, we wrote about their similarities and differences. These ideas were then posted onto the Internet for each of us to read and respond to. This project gave us an opportunity to do what writers do…write to real people…for real reasons using technology as a tool to communicate. It became a very empowering project because over time, each class (both USA and Australia) found that they could, through writing, share with each other thoughts, feelings and opinions about what they’d learned in their separate classrooms. Being able to get immediate feedback from their writing buddies on the other side of the world was very motivating as the project took on a life of its own.

Recently, thanks to my friends at IBM…we had a video conference in which we were able to see our new friends and talk to them about what we liked about the project as well as what we learned. What you’re about to hear are reflections that my students wrote the day after the video conference. They are very powerful to listen to so I hope you enjoy them and as always…feel free to respond!!!

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We’re learning the art of inquiry in preparation for a global project with some friends in Melbourne, Australia. Listen in on our short discussion about Mobius Strip II. Feel free to post comments and questions about what you heard…we’d love to hear from you!! If you’d like to see a picture of Mobius Strip II…check out the link I’ve provided titled: World of Escher in the Podcast Directory in the right most column of this podcast site.

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Many of you already know about the struggle my students and I are engaged in when it comes to blogging in a totally public space. We’ve recently made the switch to a more secure site (see the Podcast Directory) and go check it out. At any rate…we had a discussion today about the whole public/private thing…we’re also having a discussion about it on the class blog. Both are amazing and I’m so excited to share it with you.

I need to warn you…the quality of the recording isn’t the best…we’re playing with a new microphone I bought over the weekend. However, the ideas that the students brought up cannot be captured in text alone…it needs to be heard. Sit back and give it a listen and as always…thanks for your support!!!

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The EYE Group is back with a new issue to discuss…Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I have a dream…” speech. We welcome your thoughts, questions, and comments. Thanks so much for taking the time to listen!!

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Recently, our school held its annual Spelling Bee. In an attempt to teach my students a valuable lesson about competition and the effect it has on people’s judgment, we “sat out” and did not participate. My principal was very receptive to my reasoning but requested that we attend the Spelling Bee as a part of the audience to lend moral support. We did so with a critical eye and ear!! After the competition ended…we went back to the class to process what we’d seen and heard. I asked students that were interested to write about the event then “point at their own text”…meaning…pick one or two words out that best captured what they’d seen or heard…good or bad…this very short podcast is the result of our efforts…please feel free to respond with questions or comments after you’ve listened and as always…thanks!!

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Come here each week to learn about a writer from our learning community…post your comments and questions and the featured writer will respond…as always…thanks for listening!!

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This is always a great time of year to reflect on what we’re all thankful for. This week…the class spent some time talking to each other about what they’re thankful for and why they’re thankful for it. They were then asked to take these thoughts and create a 6-Word Story that communicates what they’re thankful for. We hope you enjoy listening to the “stories.” Please reply and tell us what you’re thankful for…we’d love to hear from you!!

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Ernest Hemingway…famous writer…once wrote a story in just six words…”For sale: baby shoes, never worn.” He claimed that it was his best work. Recently, our class gave the six word story a try. We wrote in our Daybooks, shared with our Writing Buddies, drew pictures to go along with the stories and we now present them to you…the world!!! Enjoy!! Please feel free to post a comment…we’d love to hear from you!!

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This is a question that my students have been “mentally wrestling” with since the beginning of the school year. At the onset of each Writing Workshop, I start by posting a quote from a famous writer (from the book titled: shoptalk) for the students to discuss. So…why write? This podcast is our attempt to tell the world what we think!! Feel free to respond to our podcast…we’d love to hear what you think!!

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