NewsQuest

The Wonders of Weblogs

"I think this is a really good idea...one of the many wonders weblogs have provided us with...working with children interactively miles and miles away." What a great lead Kristine gave me. Kristine is one of a group of terrific students from Mr. Richardson's high school journalism class in New Jersey.

Mr. Richardson pointed his journalism students to our weblogs. Then his students posted responses giving their thoughts as to how they saw this collaboration working and any other ideas they might have. I am really impressed with their thoughts and ideas. I'm going to share their responses with you:

Emily....
I was quite impressed with these kids' writings. I think that they are doing really well for their age and comprehension of the topic. I do think that they may be acting more like readers than journalists may. I am not sure how much I can help them, but after reporting from a story, I think I could let them know some information on the topic. I saw that Emily has questions she wants to ask.

Alexa....
I think that these kids have awesome weblogs for their ages. Some of them even have pictures, I havenª­t even posted pictures yet and I am older than them! However I do feel that some of them are just using their weblogs for personal things and not really for journalism, but maybe thatª­s what their teacher asked them to do. I think that collaborating with this class and trying to improve their writing is a really cute idea. Maybe they could try and write a story or make up a news story and we could help them edit it and give suggestions on it. Or we could each be assigned a person and just comment every week on how they are doing on their weblogs and writing in general.

Amanda....
I am absolutely amazed by these kids! I decided to chose two random WebLogs. They were Brianna's and Dane's. These kids have a lot of views on the world, and understand what is going on. Brianna's first article was about taxonomy, I just learned about that this year! I think that we could really give them a new insight on their work. We can give them comments on how they are doing, and also teach them how to ask questions to their sources. I think that if we do that, in the long run we could teach them how to write an actual article. I would like to see them write some sample pieces just to see how much they know and understand about journalism. That could give us a better insight on them.

James L....
I looked at a few but not all of the studentª­s blogs. I was particularly impressed with Jennifer's, and I posted a response to her. She seemed to understand what the point of her blog was where as some other students did incorporate more 'reading' type work rather then journalism. I think all the students though have awesome web-logs with pictures and just about everything we have. It would be interesting to help them and teach them a little more about journalism. It also would be very neat to see if any of their writing styles changed after we corresponded with them. I also liked Alexa's idea to comment on a students work every week. They most likely will appreciate it and grow as writers.

Vanessa B....
These kids are so cute! (sorry, just had to say it) Their weblogs are very nice too, I think that this is a great idea, collaberating with them is going to be fun. (After our stories today, I'd wonder if we should really be trusted...just kidding, really) We could go post responses in the kids' blogs and stuff, maybe everyone in the class could be assigned someone specific to mentor. They seemed very advanced for their ages, if I was their teacher I'd be very proud.

Christina K....
As I looked at their weblogs, I was surprised that they were talking about some of the same things we were, such as the war on terrorism. By looking at what they have done so far, I think that they are pretty mature for their age. I think it is a really good idea to collaborate with them because as they are learning about journalism, so are we. We can share with them what we learn, and maybe they can even teach us a thing or two! I also like Vanessa's idea about us each being assigned a student and "mentoring" them in their writing. I think that they would probably really like having an older student look at their work and respond to it. I am actually going to go into some of their weblogs and write some posts. And as far as Alexa said, I haven't put any pictures into my weblog either, except under the pictures link! I haven't figured out how to do it! I think that after writing our stories, we could help them with knowing what types of questions typically generate helpful responses, and in some way teach them about nut graphs and the set up that we learned. I think this collaboration is a really good and interesting idea.

Kelley F....
The weblogs from the kids in Georgia were pretty good! I definately don't think I could be able to make all that stuff at that age. They seem to be doing a pretty good job and making good points in their posts. I think the main thing we could help them with is teach them how to ask even better questions and go into more detail in their stories. Otherwise, I think they seem to be doing very well for their age. It will be a lot of fun to get this started and once they start asking us questions, I think we could help them a lot.

Kristine....
The first thing I thought of when I read some of these students web logs was "How old are these kids?" I definitly would not have been able to do half as good as some of them did at their age. I agree with Alexa's idea about pairing each of us up with a student "buddy" type thing. That way they will have a one-on-one helping hand. I think this a really good idea...one of the many wonders weblogs have provided us with...working with children interactively miles and miles away.

Jess A....
I am really impressed with these kids weblogs. I can barely just grasp the whole concept of blogging and these 5th graders can post pictures. I think that what we should try to focus on teaching them about is just how to put a story together. Lead, nutgraph, source, etc. Also, I think it would be really benefcial to the kids to ask ur their specific questions about things they are having trouble with or are wondering about. I think that as long as we don't try to smother them with information they don't really need, it will be a really good experience for all involved.

Jennifer L....
I was so impressed with these kids. Some of their weblogs were so interesting, and you can tell that some of them really spend a lot of time on them. I didn't know how to do half the stuff they can do with weblogs (like pictures and posting and stuff) when I was in 5th grade! I am really looking forward to working with these kids. I think they are definitely on the right track to becoming very good journalists. (not saying I am but ya know). I don't even have a picture in my weblog, and they have 2 or three for some of them. They are really cute kids, and I like how they have the sketch of themselves in there. Tomorrow, I am hoping I can respond to soem of them even more, and I am hoping we can do Vanessa's idea and be their mentors. I think that would be a lot of fun to do. Who knows, maybe they could teach us somethin we dont know yet too. Its possible. I think this will be fun though.

Jenna....
I thought these children are really making progress with their weblogs. It's just fun to look at sometimes how jumbled together they are, and some of the things that they chose to write about and the questions they would ask reporters. I was also impressed how they had posted pictures on their's, and I really did like those caricatures they had posted. They also seem really creative with the different fonts and colors they use, and they really seem like they're going to be a really fun class to teach and also learn from in a way, since they have those creative minds of children. I can't wait to teach them and really see how their minds work and what way they think about the news.

Wow! This is going to be a good project for all of us. Now, J.H. House students, put your thinking caps on because we have lots to do this Thursday. Be sure to have all your papers for your research projects and make sure your three news reports are well-written. Your audience is expanding...be worthy!

Journalism, Reporter Questions, & News Stories

I asked, "Can anyone tell me what the word journalism means?" I looked out and viewed blank stares around the room. Emily rushed over to the dictionary. She located the definition and carefully and thoughtfully read it to the class.

"The work of gathering and reporting news for newspapers, magazines, and other media."

"That's what we do!" , "Ohhhh", and nods of understanding were apparent around the room. We talked about the meaning and lots of good discussion followed.

Then I told the students about the good news that we would be collaborating with high school students from Will Richardson's journalism class in Flemington, NJ. Will is the Supervisor of Instrucional Technology at Hunterdon Central Regional High School. He does some top notch things with weblogs - check out his Weblog-Ed to see links to some really terrific educational applications of weblogs. The excitement in the room was electric. The students are so excited to be getting this kind of help with what they are writing.

Next on the agenda was the possibility of hearing from a USA-Today reporter. We visited a couple of good sites about this topic. One was the USA Today Reporter Responses and the other was the NY Times Ask a Reporter Site. Lots of good thinking and ideas from the students ensued. My students know that this may not happen because the reporter may not have time but when I asked what questions they might have of a "real" reporter I was astounded with what they came up with. My plan was to limit this to 5 but we had so much to do today and everyone was so excited that we never got to a vote. So I will post 5-plus.

1- How many times do you check your work? How do you go about checking your work?

2- How can reporters improve their writing?

3- I would like to be a reporter when I grow up, could you give me some tips?

4- When you write a news story, do you ever state your perspective on it?

5- What inspired you to become a reporter?

And even more questions....

Have you ever gotten so involved in your writing that you forgot your home life and other things?

Out of all the stories you have done, which one devastated you the most? Why?

How can people become reporters?

Have you ever risked your life to reveal a story?

Do you ever worry that readers won't like your story?

What kind of school did you go to to learn to be a journalist?

How many years of schooling did it take you to be a journalist?

What character traits do you think a reporter should have?

There are many more good questions. Check out the individual student blogs to see them.

The remainder of the class time was spent posting their news stories.

Students, you are working at "bumping up" your stories. I'm proud of you!

It was a great learning day. See you next week. Keep up the good thinking and writing!

Mindmapping the News

Students mindmap the news each morning at J. H. House Elementary School. As they listen to a daily 10 minute broadcast of the news, students take notes with a combination of pictures and text. Here is a sample of one of Shelby's mindmaps. Shelby is in the third grade.

Views on War

Remember the teacher who emailed us from the British School of Amsterdam? His name was Mr. Ford. On his class weblog, his students have written their views about war. Check it out. Do you agree or disagree with their views? We will be discussing this on Thursday.

Hope your idiom illustrations are nearing completion. We are going to really enjoy sharing these creations.

Tips for the Writing Team

A good story just puts into writing what you know. In order to know something you have to be a good listener and a good note taker as you hear the news on CNN Student News.

Then you need to find out more facts about a story you have seen. Learning more about a topic will help you write an interesting story. You can use the news links on NewsQuest to learn additional information.

After you have read about your topic and found additional information you are ready to create your own story.

Next think about how to organize the facts you have learned with your own thoughts that you plan to include in your writing about the topic.

You need to narrow the topic to a manageable size. For example, donª­t write about Iraq- write about the leader of Iraq, the Iraq debate in Congress, the Iraq fly zone, etc. You are focusing in on one area of a huge topic.

Construct a jot list of the things you want to include in your story. The sentences in your jot list do not have to be complete. Think in terms of the 5 Wª­s. Answer who, what, where, when, and why.

Begin your story with an excellent introductory sentence. Remember, the goal is to hook your reader and make them want to read further. Refer back to the PowerPoint slideshow for examples of how to write these opening leads.

Decide on the order you want to put the jot list of items you decided to include in your story.

Create interesting, expressive sentences. Use your CNN vocabulary words wherever you can. Use colorful, descriptive words so that your story will make a picture in your reader's head.

Remember that all stories have a beginning, middle, and end.

Your beginning is the hook for the reader.

The middle gives details, explains your ideas, and provides evidence to support your ideas about your topic.

The end summarizes your story and tells the reader why your topic was important. It also tells your opinions or feelings about the topic.

Plus, good writers always check their spelling and punctuation. They also proofread their story to see if it makes sense and is written in a clear way.

Do your very best! Remember you are representing J. H. House as a member of the NewsQuest Writing Team!!!

A New Twist

This post will be a little different from the others but we should have fun with it. I am going to list some of the sensational sentences written by the students.  Those of you who are reading this, please join in on this project.  We would like you to pick what you consider to be the top 5 sentences.  All you have to do is click on the discuss link button and list the numbers.  If you want to share some additonal comments as to why you picked your number 1 sentence that would be extremely helpful to the students. If you find it just too difficult to select 5, just tell us what you liked about the sentences.  Actually, we would love to hear anything you have to say about this site and what we are doing. So, here goes!

1. Lots of poor innocent children died because of terrible diseases.

2. The glorious flag flew Friday.

3. The humorous crowd was acting ridiculous, when the teacher had tripped and fallen in a dish of mash-potatoes.

4. Why have sixteen times, sixteen times Iraq refused our weapons inspectors?"Pres. Bush yelled angrily.

5. Devastating hurricane Isidore left many people homeless in its path of destruction last September.

6. I got stung by twenty ugly, wriggling, black scorpions!

7. Incoming news, Israelis destroyed Arafat's humongous compound!

8. Mrs. Mateling sings brightly and openly in public.

9. The hairy, spotted, green eyed, Bulldog jumped over the bulky fence.

10. A happy, cheerful kid rejoiced when he saw his Dad.

11. The terrible hurricane named Isadore hit the Yucatan.

12. Snakes are long, frightening and scaly.

13. The perilous hurricane, Lilly is going to hit Louisiana, New Orleans.

14. An anti-tobacco campaign was held for smokers to stop smoking.

15. It was unilateral or done by a group of people and in this case, teens.

16. Women in Afghanistan today have the freedom to go to school, dress as they desire, and have a full time job.

17. The enormous clown leaped up on the bulky window seal.

18. The girls were cheerful, friendly, and beautiful on the inside and outside.

19. My cross mother made me clean my cluttered room.

20. Uranium can cause critical cancer.

21. "We have found innumerable hiders." said the CNN newscaster.

22. Last week U.N representatives met with Arafat in his partially destroyed compound to discuss a peace agreement.

Here is the story and picture written by Jennier that I had promised to post.  Be sure to read it!

Scorpions Galore

I know you will agree with me that we have some outstanding sentences and stories included in this post.  Students, remember to read, think, write, and connect!  Enjoy your week-end.

More Quotes from Kids

September 10, 2002

More Initial Thoughts from Students Who Have Joined Our Group

My name is Perla . I love current events because it helps me learn a lot more about the world. I have been watching CNN since I was in the third grade. I love CNN because I think it is a very educational show for children. I think J.H. House is a wonderful school because it helps you learn more than any other school. I also think current events has made me a better thinker. Since September 11, 2002 I've taken things more seriously and I am very glad I came to this school.
Perla

My name is Jennifer. I am glad that I can watch what's going on around the world. I know that other kids don't have a chance to watch current events like I do at JH House. I feel concerned about other kids when I see them on TV. Current events makes me be a better thinker. I'm glad that I know what current events are and how I feel about them.
Jennifer

What I like about CNN is that you are getting more knowledge from all around the globe. CNN has changed my life by knowing what happened in New York at the World Trade Center. Some people don¢‰Áçt have food and shelter for homes. Is Osama Bin Laden dead or alive? What is a question you would like to ask the United States?
Derrick

Current events have changed my life because when I was in second grade, I barely ever watched the news and I was clueless about what was happening in the world. I was so lucky in third grade because our school started CNN. CNN is a news show for kids. Then I got to see current events everyday. After a week or so, I was taking some of the best notes in the class. Now I can say that I know that in some places people die from waiting in line for voting. I have learned a lot from CNN, and I will never forget what happened on 9-11-01.
Emily

Quotes from Kids

August 29, 2002

Schoolblogs seems really fun and cool. My name is Jacqueline. I like current events because it ties up all the work that we do in class. I'm excited to be in this program. I especially like the fact that it's on the computer because I can communicate to kids all over the world. I feel important in a way I haven't felt before since the teacher listens to me! Now my ideas are important. That's why I like this program.
Jacqueline

Hi! My name is Benjamin. The news is fascinating to me because once I hear someone talking about something happening on the news, I feel that I have to know about it. And once I do learn about it, I want to learn more and more about it. That's what makes CNN Newsroom and learning about current events and graphics so interesting. Some of the things I've learned on CNN Newsroom have really made me more mature.
Benjamin

My name is Brianna and I go to a school called J. H. House. CNN Newsroom is a news show that teaches us about current events. It helps me learn and be informed about what is going on around the world.
Brianna

My name is Kayla. I am new to this school. I think this is very interesting. I would like to see other students and other peoples, etc. thoughts. I also want to make a difference in the world and learn at the same time.
Kayla

Hi! My name is Lucy. I originally came from Romania and I am 10 years old. We all watch CNN Newsroom to let us know about what's happening around the word, for example... when 9/11/01 hit us we had no idea what was going on. It was terrible what happened to the twin towers. Then I said to myself, "O-my-gosh, that Osama Bin Laden is mean."
Lucy

If you're someone who likes current events, this is your site! Hi! I'm Lindsay, a fifth grade student at J. H. House Elementary. I enjoy many things, especially current events and so should you. This project called NewsQuest is going to be so interesting. Kids communicate with the world! I am going to enjoy all the activities. You will, too.
Lindsay

I am Fernando. I remember the day when I saw the Twin Towers on the CNN Newsroom. I understood why my teacher was crying. It was terrible when I saw it. Two years ago I came to this wonderful school and I could not speak or write English. In Mrs. Barajas' class I learned about the CNN Newsroom progam.
Fernando

Note from Mrs. D
I had a great morning and certainly look forward to working with this terrific little group of students. Today we introduced ourselves, discussed why learning about currents events was important and talked briefly about schoolblogs. They know that their ideas, thoughts, and opinions are most important for this project. Then the students took some time to reflect and think and began writing their thoughts. I have pulled some quotes from each of their papers. I think their words say it all. I ended up the session asking them what made them unique, what were some things they wanted to learn about, and did they have any questions. More tomorrow.... I have lots to plan and think about.
Mrs. D