Past projects 2
Establishing Student Voice Through Creative Media
Funded Sep 16, 2022The Speech students and I here at Mansfield High School are forever grateful for your donation of brand-new MacBook Airs and IMAC to our classroom. My students now have tools that they can use to create multimedia presentations and digital art projects and record and edit audio and video files. We use the IMAC as a central editing station, while the students utilize the MacBooks for small group presentations and projects.
My Speech students are responsible for recording and editing the school-wide announcements called "Wolverine Weekly." The students create digital presentations using tools such as Adobe Creative Suite, Google Slides, and Adobe Illustrator. Each week two students are responsible for using video recording and editing tools to present the weekly message to the student body. These tools have empowered the students to create and deliver their creative presentations and voices to their peers. The project-based learning allows student choice and creative control over the learning artifacts they produce.
Some speech students have taken to this new technology and must be more vocal with their voices. For example, students who prefer not speaking in front of the camera can work on video editing and graphic design, so every student has engaged and is a part of the production of multimedia presentations and projects. As we continue to build out speech and media course offerings, we hope that these tools will lead the effort in encouraging students to join in on these courses. In addition, learning with these tools fosters 21st-century skills that will allow students to thrive in a competitive post-secondary environment and the workforce.
Thank you for your part in creating a classroom that is equitable, creative, and passionate. Your contributions provide learning opportunities to students who may not otherwise get to experience on a day-to-day basis. I will continue to do may part in making sure my students have the tools and resources they need to support student-centered learning.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Dufour
Reading Inspires Hope: Build Our Classroom Library
Funded Jun 30, 2016The new classroom library has launched a new enthusiasm for reading in our classroom, and students are constantly asking if they can browse the collection of new books in order to find new material to read. The collection of new novels has allowed us to explore collaborative reading strategies such as literature circles, paired reading activities, and sustained silent reading. My classes are working toward reading goals for the year, by setting an attainable goal of how many books we can read as a collective whole. The students also have the capability of taking Accelerated Reader exams right in our classroom.
Reading was almost non-existent up until the current school year. Kids were reluctant to check out books from the school's library, due to the main concern that there was a lack of variety or checking out the same type of reading material. Sustained Silent Reading is a new norm in our class and everyone reads for at least 30 minutes, two class blocks per week. I also participate in this activity with my students in order to model positive reading experiences. We are currently expanding the library and working on a check-out system, so students can borrow novels to read outside of class hours.
There are some who thrive on reading, and usually searching or asking for suggestions on new novels they can read. The students particularly enjoy the contemporary works and those genres that are in a series collection. Some students are so enthusiastic about having the classroom library, they have suggested starting a book club as part of extracurricular activities. Thank to all of those who have been a part of this project. Due to your support, the impact of the classroom library will have a tremendous impact not just on reading skills but in other academic endeavors for my students.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Dufour