This semester I encourage my students to SHARE their ideas on PADLET and FACEBOOK before they begin developing their essays/ research papers on CANVAS.

• For me, INCREASED collaboration, leads to INCREASED performance.  That’s good for them.  And that’s good for ME.
• Often, students who work in isolation just lose interest in their writing.  WE DON’T WANT THAT.  Let’s Work Together!
• On the first day, I have them submit an ABOUT ME assignment on Padlet.  It’s COOL to know who you’re WRITING with.

Here is the METHOD to my MADNESS:

Often students voice their frustration to me when I introduce my writing assignments. – They say they don’t have anything to write about – They don’t really know anything about their subject – This assignment is BORING – They are CONFUSED – They don’t know where to START.

This is what I tell them:  Estén tranquilos. No pasa nada.

On Padlet, I have created these PRE-WRITING ACTIVITIES to RAISE THEIR INTEREST LEVEL in their RESEARCH TOPICS –  I ask them: How do you expect to write a 5-7 page research paper if you don’t care or know anything about your topic?  Let’s find something JUICY to get started.  Sharing with your classmates will help!

• In a few of my classes, we are developing SIXTIES RESEARCH PAPERS  – for many of my students, the SIXTIES is like ANCIENT HISTORY.
• Once they see the COOL STUFF others have selected to reserach, suddenly the SIXTIES doesn’t seem so far off anymore.

Here is what they need to do:

1. SEEK OUT A GOLDEN NUGGET OF INFORMATION TO SHARE WITH Their CLASSMATES – It could be something they already know.  It could be something  that a family member has shared with them.  It might come from YOUTUBE.  But, it should be SERIOUS and INTERESTING.

2. I suggest they  post in FOUR PARTS:  1) SUBJECT (Their Research Topic); 2.) IMAGE (From Their Research); 3) CAPTION; 4) BRIEF EXPLANATION (Start with DID YOU KNOW?)

3. They can Follow the Guest-Student Models Provided on the Padlet –  Did you know Marilyn Monroe once posed NUDE for a cheap calendar – Despite all the pressure to come down on her from the studios, she didn’t deny it – She needed FIFTY DOLLARS to get her car running, so she could conitnue working – Did you know Charles Manson fashioned himself a songwriter before he became known as a murder – One of his songs appears on a Beach Boys album!

See My Post for Charles Manson!

4. It’s important that they not FORGET TO INCLUDE THEIR NAME – I suggest in  the SUBJECT LINE – I mean, it’s important for us to know what each other is doing.  We can share our resources.   

This becomes like an ONLINE ICE BREAKER:

• At a certain point, my students TUNE ME OUT –  I mean, this is all to much.  They just want me to tell them when the paper is due.
• But, I feel their greatest motivation will come from others – When they see the JUICY NUGGESTS of INFORMATION coming from their peers, they won’t want to be left out.

Here is a SIXTIES DID YOU KNOW snip from my previous class:

( Above:  To expand these student ideas, please CLICK on the page above for BETTER READING!)

For EXTRA CREDIT, my students can share what they have on my classroom Facebook Pages

•      Constant opportunities to share work online will perpetuate a sense of writing momentum in my classes.
• Too many students walk into my classrooms with the expectation of submitting 2-3 essays, a midterm and a final – They don’t seem to focus on what’s most important – the JOY of the WRITING – They are TASK ORIENTED – They don’t think of enjoying the writing process – I’m hoping the SHARING will change their views.