Connections Matter! Kids, Computers, and Curriculum

Two-way connections are a wonderful way for students to reach out through cyberspace and make meaningful contact with others. There are many ways to do this, but here are four of our favorites.

Online Class - I am a big fan of Online Class. Cathy DeMoll runs the classes, and she is extremely helpful and caring. The classes aren't inexpensive, but the rewards are many. The subject matter covers a spectrum from elementary to high school, but most of the classes seem to be aimed at middle schoolers.

I have used the Mythos and the Balloteers units, and the feedback from my students has been very positive.

Here is a run-down on the subjects available:

Blue Ice - Focus on Antarctica	Physics Park	Dinosaurs Alive!
Ocean Explorers	On the Trail with Louis and Clark	The North American Quilt
We're Talking Books	Mythos: Zeus Speaks	DoodleOpolis

The READ IN! - The READ IN! is an event started by Jane Coffey to encourage reading and discussion at her school in California. It has grown into a global event. Once a year a number of famous authors of books for children and young adults, and their readers come together online to discuss books and writing. This event is FREE!

This year the READ IN! date is Thursday, May 10, 2001 from 8 A.M. to 7 P.M. EST. One at a time, the authors will take the "stage" in a monitored, moderated chat room (chat clients are provided). Students will type in their questions, and the authors will do their best to answer them all.

My class last year was especially thrilled to take part in a special Halloween event held in the Palace featuring R. L. Stine. The graphics were spooky, and the avatar, or cartoon character representing Mr. Stine, really impressed my kids. They sent in numerous questions and really got a good feel for what an author goes through to write a book. They also talked books with other students outside the stage area. (All chat is strictly monitored, and students who break the rules can be "gagged" or even expelled from the READ IN! event.)

Here is the author list for May 2001:

Avi	Bruce Balan	Judy Blume	Geoffrey McSkimming
Tim Bowler	David Boyd	Jacqueline Briggs Martin	Peter Reynolds
Debi McNabb	Bruce Coville	James Moloney	Robert Munsch
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor	Roland Smith	Margo Sorenson	R. L. Stine
Ed Emberley	Guy Gilchrist	Carol Gorman	Diane de Groat
Virginia Hamilton	Daniel Hayes	Fred Bowen