Oak Ridge 7th Grade Annual Movie Trailer Awards

On Wednesday March 23^rd, the Oak Ridge Media Center was turned into the Shaffgoomeier Theater, the setting for the 7^th Grade Reading/Language Arts Movie Trailer Awards Show.  Over the course of two weeks, Christy Good, Ryan Shaffer, and Brittany Hagmeier, had students create movie trailers using Windows Movie Maker showcasing books they had recently read.

The teachers enlisted the help of Todd Lane, Middle School Technology Integration Coach to demonstrate and assist students in the making of the trailers.  Ryan approached Todd about introducing students to Windows Movie Maker and to be an extra person to help when students had problems or questions.

Each student completed their own unique movie trailer  and uploaded the video to a personal YouTube account.  From there they shared it with their teacher via a Google Form.  Once shared, the students voted on their favorites in five different categories: Best Images, Soundtrack, Special Effects, Persuasive, and Overall Best.  The teachers also added a bonus category: Critic’s Choice.  This award was created and voted on by only the three teachers.  Students received trophies if they were the winner of the category.

When Todd initially heard about the awards, his brain started spinning and he emailed Sue Kraus, the Media Center Specialist.

Todd stated, “I instantly brainstormed ideas that I had that might make this an experience that the students would remember forever.  Why just present awards within the classroom?  Award shows present on stages, in front of peers, and it is a celebration.  If I’ve learned anything from the PLC process, it’s that we need some celebration when learning takes place. I wanted this for the students.”

After class Todd collaborated with Sue.  Within an hour, they decided on having all classes come to the media center for the awards, having red carpet, paparazzi, green screens, and students/faculty dressed to the T, just like a real award show.  When Todd and Sue shared the ideas with Christy Good, also a team leader for Oak Ridge, he’ll never forget the look on her face.  It was shock, excitement, and a little apprehension.  Could we really pull this off? It took a couple of discussions with the teachers and some careful planning of schedules, but the award show was planned.

The day of the show, the Media Center was transformed.  There were two green screen stations set up, Nicole Redington (Oak Ridge Instructional Coach) and Debra Barry (LM Teacher Leader Coordinator) posed at Paparazzi, taking photos as other Oak Ridge staff conducted interviews with the students as they walked on the red carpet to take their seats in the theater. 

Oak Ridge students pose for the camera.  A green screen transforms them to the Oscars.

Once the students were settled Todd became the host for the event, to which he added an amazing monologue, humor, and that once in a lifetime awards pose using a selfie stick that he just happened to have with him. The categories were announced with the nominees for each class with the winner coming up to accept their trophy from their teacher.  

Proud students with their awards.

Proud students with their awards.

Proud students with their awards.

More memorable moments of the day.

Students pose for the red carpet and with awards.

The excitement was real, the disappointment was real, and the overall energy and appreciation for their peers was genuine.

The many hats Todd Lane wore at the celebration.

"The students loved the experience and are still talking about that day.  I enjoyed working with the students and appreciated the trust that Christy, Ryan, and Brittany had for me and Sue to create an awards show that would allow for memories, fun, and some friendly competition at Oak Ridge.  I am thankful to the teachers, Sue Kraus and Susan Taylor for their contributions and transformation in the Media Center, and the participation of the staff and the students who made the day and the movie trailers amazing.”

                              

                                                                                                                        ~Todd Lane

Write like a SUPER HERO

Sometimes teachers need to draw upon super hero powers to help students succeed in the classroom.  At a recent 2^nd grade team meeting, Instructional Coach, Terri Streicher, teamed up with second grade teachers Jesse Hart, Kari Thomsen, Kristen Hatfield, Katie Kensinger,  and Ryan Gotto, Technology Integration Coach, to make some heroic leaps and bounds with writers.

Linn-Mar’s current literacy program is Journeys.  The second grade students had a story coming up in their Journey's textbook Dex: The Heart of a Hero, about a dog who wanted to be a super hero.  During a planning meeting, Terri suggested they use that story as a springboard for an opinion writing piece, “What is the best super power to have?”  What followed was an exchange of ideas, including having kids brainstorm the pros and cons of each super power. 

Ryan Gotto came in and took green screen pictures of the teachers and kids acting out each super power.  Mr. Gotto and Mrs. Streicher co-taught with the teachers on how to put their writing in their blog, too.

The teachers even created a Super Hero themed week with additional activities.  The teachers have all commented how engaging and motivating this writing project has been.  

"We really enjoyed the process of working with Terri and Ryan to create a fun and meaningful learning activity for our second graders. The superhero activity tied in perfectly to our theme and writing focus, and our students were extremely engaged!"

                                                                                                                                     ~Kari Thomsen

The next phase is to come back and co-teach leaving our friends comments on their stories/pictures.  This collaborative effort, shows teachers and coaches improving practice to impact daily instruction of Journeys.  Well done, Bowman Woods coaches and teachers.