FOX 17 News Interview for ePals

Check out our video and article here: http://www.fox17online.com/news/fox17-sparta-students-befriend-epals-in-australia-20120411,0,5362445.story. Enjoy!

Australian Press with ePals

We are getting press in Australia for our ePals adventures! See the articles below!

As a side note, there will be an article in our Sparta's Bellringer and the Sparta Today newspaper in the month of May about our ePals experiences. Check it out! 

ePals Photos

Check out the photos our Australian friends are sending us as well as the photos our students are taking with the Australian mascots by clicking on "ePals Photos" under "Language Arts Links." Enjoy!

ePal Mascots

Below are pictures of two of our language arts classes with our Australian mascots, a koala and kangaroo!

The ePals Adventure Begins!

Mrs. Ley's and Mrs. Owen's language arts students will be communicating with ePals (like pen pals) from Somerville, Australia! The process will begin next week when the students introduce themselves to their ePal through e-mail. Students will communicate with their ePal on a weekly basis.

Currently, language arts students are learning about the elements/parts that make up narratives/stories. So, students will practice implementing story elements by sharing day-to-day stories with their ePals. Also, as students write a narrative for a final assessment in this unit, they will share their work with their ePal to gather feedback. In addition to learning about the elements of stories, students are also gaining knowledge about how people's stories are the same and different. By the end of this unit, students should have an understanding that all humans have unique, valuable stories to tell.

As a part of the ePal experience, students will also take part in something called the Teddy Bear Program. Mrs. Ley is sending 3 "mascots" to our Australian friends. And, our Australian friends are sending three "mascots" to us. Different students will take the mascots home nightly and will take digital pictures of the mascot in various places that represent Sparta and/or other parts of Michigan. Then, the students will send the photos through e-mail to their Australian ePal, so their ePal can gain an understanding of how people live their lives in Sparta and/or the surrounding areas.

Below are pictures of the three mascots that will be sent to the Australians and a small note that will be attached to each. Let the journey begin!

Lesson Plans Reminder

You can view our weekly lesson plans on the right-hand side of the blog under each content category. So, for example, you can view Mrs. Pfahler's weekly lesson plans at "Social Studies Lesson Plans" under "Social Studies Links." The same goes for math, science, and language arts. 

Language Arts Argumentative Essay Deadline

We are wrapping up our argumentative reading and writing unit. Students have started to complete an argumentative essay in which they have to argue, in three paragraphs, how a person they've read about in class is courageous. Students will be working on composing a rough draft of the essay for the next couple class periods. Wednesday, December 14 and Thursday, December 15, students will have the opportunity to type up their final draft at school in a computer lab. However, the students do not have to type their essay; they can handwrite it. Please see the "Final Draft Requirements" document under "Language Arts Links."

The final draft of the argumentative essay is due Thursday, December 15. The grading rubric for the essay will be under "Language Arts Links" shortly.

Mrs. Ley and Mrs. Owen