Getting WIKI with White Lilacs
Hi Ms. Howard’s Class – we had quite a fun discussion today about White Lilacs and wikis! I am excited that you are excited about starting our own WIKI for the exciting novel we are about to read. Did I need to edit that sentences? I think so! BUT I am just so excited!
If you need a review, here’s the short video we watched in class today. You may even want to show it to your parents. You can teach them about wikis…
Take a moment to think about the following questions. Please write a comment (or two or three on this post) with your thoughts…the more you write, the more I will be able to plan for this new, exciting, groundbreaking, earth-shattering experience.
1. As we work on our wiki, what necessary sections (or pages) must we include? Should we include an area with character studies, plot summaries, vocabulary? Why or why not?
2. When you read a novel, how do you interact with the text on a deeper level? Do you like to daydream about characters? Setting? Do you like to draw what you read? What are your TALENTS – and HOW can you use your talents to SHOW how you interact with a text?
3. What are some of your classmates gifts (for one, Emma K is a great writer – could she make a play that goes alongside the narrative?) that we could use to make this wiki a phenomenal learning experience AND a phenomenal example of learning through technology in 2008?
YOU ARE THE CREATORS…this wiki is YOURS! It’s up to you to make it great!
Ms. Howard
January 8th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
1. I think we should definitly include something on character, plot, and conflict. We could do a powerpoint or something to put on the WIKI
2. I like to put myself in the character’s shoes and imagine what it would be like for him or her. I don’t know much about WIKIs so i won’t be much help but throught the time that we do this, i’m going to try and learn more about them.
3. I know that Jon Farrel is very good with technology and i think he knows some things about WIKIs so he could help with that. Also like you said Emma K. is a very good writer and so is Christopher.
Hope this helps,
Emma R.
January 8th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
1. I think we should have a character and plot study. I like the idea of vocabulary so we can get a chance to show our readers some new words. Maybe we could do a little skit about the conflict that is going on in the book.
2. I like to think how the character thinks. I also like making connections like text-to-self or text-to-world. I am not the best drawer but drawing helps me visualize the characters more.
3. Linzy is very good at making up cartoons to a cartoon script. I think we should ask him to help us make a cartoon strip about one of the events that happened in the book. Also, Ta’Neal is good at making funny voices and she could be the voices of the cartoon!
I am so excited about doing a wiki!
Can’t wait to see how it turns out,
Helen
January 8th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
1. I think we should have a good spot about discussing each chapter and what we’re all thinking. I also think we should include a vocab section. We could all check back to it if we need help. We could even make a little movie on character studies like their emotions.
2. I like to reflect about it after I stop reading and i usually make connections while doing that. I don’t really draw it because I’m not the best at it. But I’ll try my best to help on the wiki.
3. Well I think that Christopher and Phoebe are good, thoughtful writers so maybe they could use there skills to write about things that happened in White Lilac. They could even write the script lines for a future skit.
This is going to be great!
Linzy
January 8th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
1. I also agree that we should have all of the things that are listed above.
2. I also think that we should have a place where we can predict things that will happen in the book and a place to reflect on how that time really was and the similarities between the book and the real world.
3. Another thing that we should have is a place to put links to pages that may have something to do with the book or what is happening in it.
4. I think that we should have sections where people who are good at writing can write about it and people who are good at drawing can draw comic strips about it and people who are good at reflecting and making connections can do that. (I think that I would be good at drawing comic strips.)
January 8th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
1. I think the skits are a good idea and T’neal could defiantly do great voices and maybe even a short animation
2. I know lots of websites that do alternative ending of books so maybe we could set up a section for that where people could add alternative endings to the end of chapters
3. I think we could also have an opinion section where we could write whether or not we think the characters made the right decisions throughout the book
I am so excited!
Emma K. =)
January 8th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
1. I think that it is important for us to include character study in the wiki.
2. I like to empathize with a character in a book, trying to think how the character think, and putting myself in their shoes. I don’t like to draw the characters, because when I make a drawing I am fixing an image of them, which doesn’t leave much room for imagination.
3. I think Jon Farrel and Austin M. are very good with technology and they could help us explore some parts of a wiki.
I am very interested to see how this turns out.
-Christopher
January 8th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
Sorry, I didn’t see the questions…
1. I think we should only do vocabulary if over half the class doesn’t know the word
2. I could, as you said, write something. I also think that maybe we could all include drawings of what we thought the main characters looked like.
3. As I said, T’neal could make a small animation using her many funny voices!
still excited,
Emma K.=)
January 8th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
1. I think we should have a spot for reflecting on what we read for our homework. I also would like a space for video input(skits about chapters to clear things up)
2. I normally think about exactly what the characters look like. If there is no sequel, I think about the story past the book.
3.Although he is not in our class, Brian would be great putting on special items that would normally be almost impossible. I also like Linzy’s Idea about writing things about White Lilacs
January 8th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
1. I think we should focus mainly on plot study since we just finished up learning bout that area of reading. Also, I believe that we should only describe the exposition and complication because we don’t want to give away the whole point of the novel.
2. I like to create a movie in my head while reading a novel. I imagine every step that the characters make. I think we might be able to do a little act out/skit of certain sections of the book on our WIKI.
3. I think a gift that Emma K, Christopher, and Jon Farrell all have is a strong writing ability. This skill by all three of these classmates plus many others could help enhance our WIKI.
I can’t wait!!!!
~Eric
January 8th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
I think that we should do a scavenger hunt on the web. We can make the clues on wesites about fomous books and authors similar to the book White Lillacs. It could be alot like the Math Trail thing we are doing in math class, but not having to do with Trinity and not having to do with math. Also I think that we should have a page of the book or something that would get the person interested in reading the book.
January 8th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
1) I think we should do a section on each chapter so that if a person didn’t read because they were sick or something, they could be caught up.
2) When I read I try to imagine what is happening to the characters as the story moves along.
3)I think that Phoebe has a gift of being imaginative and we could use her “imaginativeness” to plot out what would happen to the characters before and after we read chapters in the book.
I am very excited to read about this book! Just from the cover it looks interesting!
-Anne torrey
January 8th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
1. I think we should definitely include the more difficult vocabulary, and a summary of every chapter and character. We could also do PowerPoints about plot, because this will help us to understand the story better.
2. The way I interact with text is I highlight in the book, and think back after every page, and make a movie, which is also my way of kind of day dreaming. Since I find I am not the best artist, I don’t enjoy drawing what I read. Instead, I use my talent of writing to write an occasional summary or overview of the chapter.
3. So many of our classmates have talents that I think we could use. Emma K. and Isabelle are amazing writers, and could write a play for us to do. Also, Helen and Anne Torrey both have a really good imagination, and could make a funny song or video for us to do. This is going to be so much fun!!!!!!! Can’t wait!!
~Wellie
January 8th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
1. I don’t really think that a powerpoint would be a very good idea because there isn’t really a point. You could include any information that you would share on a powerpoint on the wiki (and you can include pictures, like a powerpoint). I also think that we should include a link to our blogs, so that our readers can see what we’ve done. We also, if we were required to write a post, write one about White Lilacs, and use our blogs instead of powerpoints.
2. It’s hard to explain what I do when I read. I don’t pay attention to the text I just…read it. Sometimes I forget that I’m reading a book. Also, a lot of people say that they make a movie in their head, but I don’t really. It’s more like a colletion of images, with no sounds or dialog. I put the images together to make sense of what’s happening in a book. In a movie, there are fluid motions, but what I picture is snapshots of events, and that’s all I need to picture what’s happening. Whenever something is spoken in the book, I don’t picture them talking, but I just pay attention to what they’re saying.
3. Pictures sound more realistic than a play, and Isabelle’s a good artist. Maybe she could make a short cartoon for each chapter (like in spanish class). I also think that some of our more creative writers (me, Christopher, Emma K., Isabelle) could write a prologue after we’re finished with the book. I think that might yield some interesting results.
January 8th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
WOW!! I just walked in my house (it’s late – I’ve been running around like crazy today, playing tennis, at bible study, and grocery shopping – yikes!!) and I was SO anxious to check my blog AND the wiki. You have outdone yourselves with your imagination, creativity, and thoughtfulness. I plan to meet with Mr. Kjellstrom tomorrow (he has so many great ideas and knows a lot about wikis!) and then we can get starting on creating the best wiki that anyone has ever imagined. Did anyone try to google White Lilacs?! There is NOTHING substantial on the internet. You guys will be doing something new and exciting – way to go.
From your comments, it sounds like you really know YOUR gifts and those of your classmates. Remember, EVERY single one of you has a talent (in fact, many talents!) and we can use your talents as we travel down this new technological road.
I am very proud of each one of you – it sounds like you are so excited to get started! I promise we will get started very soon! Keep up the great thinking – feel free to post some questions or more comments if you think of new ideas or new avenues to travel down.
January 8th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
Some other ideas I have been thinking of…
(in addition to those mentioned above – JF, Linxy, TC, Christopher, Phoebe, Isabelle, Emma K, Helen, Anne Torrey, Austin M)
Grant W – passionate about architecture – maybe use sketchup?
heehee
Emma R – kinesthetic activities – creating a movement activity to learn more about issues in the novel (similar to what we did in ss class today)
Wellie – great writer and creative thinker – could help with the editing because she has such a keen eye!
Allwyn – dig deep into character with her sensitive nature – connect with characters (maybe think of mock interview questions and pretend to interview a character)
Stephen – with his great personality, he could be the contact person for the author – Carolyn Meyer…she’s still alive and writing and I know would be very interested to see what we’re up to.
Ms. H – could stop teaching, sit back and relax, and let her amazingly smart students teach themselves and WOW everyone around them with their maturity, intelligence, and critical thinking skills
Just some ideas…
January 8th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
Still waiting to hear from Stephen, Phoebe, Grant W, and Ta’Neal…