Technology Brings the World into the Classroom
October 13, 2011 at 3:31 pm 3 comments
- Sam Mathiowetz reads from Kuwait
By Alexis Mathiowetz, Tarik Pasic, and Jake Bialowoz
Alexis’s dad, Sam Mathiowetz, was the guest reader in Mrs. McCormack’s class. BUT, he is in Kuwait, all the way around the world. How did he do this? He used a special camera, read the book Clifford and His Pals and make a DVD for the class. We all watched it.
Alexis was really surprised. “I was bouncing and clapping.” Tarik thought it was amazing that her Dad could talk to them from Kuwait. Jake thought it was cool because he doesn’t usually see soldiers.
Last year, the class used technology to skype with author, David Martin. We could talk to him. He read a scroll to us. It had pictures of animals on it and they were asking which animal was making the noise. The class had lots of questions.
What is a guest reader? We all try to guess who the reader will be. We ask questions like, “Is it a boy or a girl? Does s/he like to cook? paint? swim?
Mrs. McCormack gives us clues such as, “S/he wears glasses.” We write guesses on our whiteboard and keep adding or taking away names. Some of our guest readers have been Mrs. Wentz, Mrs. Benoit and Ms. Blaine.
When trying to guess we think who it might be. We wonder if s/he will be using technology to read to us or if the person will just come in and read!
Alexis’s dad, Sam Mathiowetz, was the guest reader in Mrs. McCormack’s class. BUT, he is in Kuwait, all the way around the world. How did he do this? He used a special camera, read the book Clifford and His Pals and make a DVD for the class. We all watched it.
Alexis was really surprised. “I was bouncing and clapping.” Tarik thought it was amazing that her Dad could talk to them from Kuwait. Jake thought it was cool because he doesn’t usually see soldiers.
Last year, the class used technology to skype with author, David Martin. We could talk to him. He read a scroll to us. It had pictures of animals on it and they were asking which animal was making the noise. The class had lots of questions.
What is a guest reader? We all try to guess who the reader will be. We ask questions like, “Is it a boy or a girl? Does s/he like to cook? paint? swim?
Mrs. McCormack gives us clues such as, “S/he wears glasses.” We write guesses on our whiteboard and keep adding or taking away names. Some of our guest readers have been Mrs. Wentz, Mrs. Benoit and Ms. Blaine.
When trying to guess we think who it might be. We wonder if s/he will be using technology to read to us or if the person will just come in and read!
1.
Lucy Jones | October 13, 2011 at 10:08 pm
What a fantastic idea and heartwarming story – thank you for sharing!
2.
Samuel Mathiowetz | October 14, 2011 at 7:13 pm
Thanks for the little note in the paper. We, all soldiers serving worldwide, appreciate everything the public does to support us and our families while we do our jobs away from home.
3.
will bialowoz | January 6, 2012 at 5:43 pm
So, Who was the guest reader?