Making Connections

This class (well, teacher) has had a blog since forever, joined Twitter and YouTube in 2014 and has been using Remind App since that same time.

We are social media embracers and have been embraced.  Here are some of our stats:

• Our YouTube channel has 75 followers and 20, 935 views.  Interestingly, about half of those views (12,244) are for a video we made called "Canadian Kids Try Swedish Candy" after having a Google Hangout with a classroom in Sweden and receiving some treats from them though the mail.
• This blog has had 3,493 visits since it went up in late 2015.
• This year, most parents (18 of my 21 students) have opted for Remind App notices over traditional agendas.
• We've tweeted 543 times on Twitter.

But, have we really connected?

The world is a big place and what we do in the classroom has the potential to affect others and make a positive impact on different people.  The student should NOT be writing or creating to impress the teacher.  With that in mind, we've set out to make connections with people we're meeting through Social Media or using Social Media to connect with those we'd like to meet. 

We are currently involved in the MasterCard Memorial Cup Draft with other Windsor schools from across all three boards.  We drafted Regina Pats and connected with them on Twitter on Thursday, Jan 26.   The following Monday, we received a package filled with Pats' swag!

The students, in a way to connect with our adopted team, each searched Google for an inspirational quote that would be included in a poster that we mailed out today.  We hope that Regina fulfills their dream of making it to the Memorial Cup this May because it's being held here, in Windsor!  

The poster was too big to get in one shot!

Just the other day, our vice principal handed me a signed copy of "The Secret Path" by Gord Downie with illustrations by Jeff Lemire.  

I already owned a copy and the students had studied "The Stranger" poem/lyrics while watching the video. We had used it to springboard conversations about residential schools in Canada and writing from a native child's perspective; namely, that of Chanie Wenjack.  

Why did this treasure came into our hands?   

The VP walked into our room the same day that I challenged the kids to decide who, in the real world, would be interested in hearing their Chanie Wenjack stories.  They decided that Jeff Lemire and Gord Downie might be interested to know that their work ("The Secret Path") had made an impact on students and also Chanie's sister, Pearl may be happy to hear that his story continues to be shared so many years after his death. We excitedly explained that we were writing letters to one of these three people and sharing our own stories with them.  The VP let us know that she was a friend of the sister of Jeff Lemire (he's from Windsor-Essex originally and his sister works for our same school board) and that she would try to get his autograph.  Which she did! 

These are only two examples of the positive impact social media has had on our classroom in the last month.  The biggest evolution has been the students approaching assignments with a bigger purpose.  If a student is no longer trying to create to please a teacher but because they are authentically engaged and wishing to share their ideas with the world, imagine the impact they will make!

How are you connecting with others in your classrooms?

~MissBrooks