BP4_2009112_BloggingWeb2.0

My Web 2.0 Choice: http://letterpop.com

As an English and Journalism teacher, I am very interested in desktop publishing and design. I have been newspaper advisor at two different schools, back a few years ago before the internet stole away print journalism. I still love to tinker around with newletters and print journalism. I sent home a newsletter to my parents about a month ago. I still like being able to hold that piece of paper in my hands every once in a while to read the latest news, whether it be world news or news from my classroom. As I was browsing through all the Web 2.0 gadgets and tools available to us, I saw many tools that interested me more on a personal, more "outside of school" level. When I noticed the newsletter button, I did not hesitate to click on it. I signed up for a free account and am now ready to use my newfound Web 2.0 tool!

The Assignment:

In ninth grade English, students read William Shakespeare's classic love story and tragedy, Romeo and Juliet. Before, during, and after the reading of the drama, I present information about Elizabethan England and the time period during which Shakespeare lived. As a project for students at the conclusion of our reading, I am going to ask students to create a newsletter (two pages long) that highlights and demonstrates students' knowledge of Elizabethan England and William Shakespeare. Students will have to do some internet research to supplement the information that I present in class. They will be allowed to use images and photos from the internet to place on their newsletters. Students will be required to include certain articles in their newsletters, such as Fashion in the Elizabethan Period and schooling during the time period. Students will also have some free reign to be creative with their articles. I will also ask students to include two "advertisements" from the period.

Evaluation of Assignment:

I think this assignment is full of potential and promise and I cannot wait to pull it all together! I will be meeting my course objectives, but I will be using several tools to help meet various learning styles. Most of my students are very familiar with the computer and technology; I have 8 computers in my classroom, and when I tell them that they can "get on" after tests or any time when they complete their work early, they get so excited, even racing towards the computer stations! I feel confident that the use of technology in any form will appeal to the students and make them more excited about doing research on Elizabethan England and Shakespeare. Asking the students to log into LetterPop will introduce them to a Web 2.0 tool that they probably are not familiar with. Students will be able to go back and utilize the tool even after my project. I suspect that some will even share the tool with their parents. On another level, students will be improving their writing skills while being asked to use proper grammar and mechanics - all objectives I cover in my class. After everyone publishes their newsletters, I will display them on the two bulletin boards on my hallway to share with other students in the school. I know that my freshmen will be proud of their Web 2.0 creations, and I will be, too.

Image Citation: LetterPop, LLC. (2007). Available from http://letterpop.com