goodbye

So this is it. The end of our journey. Here is your homework for the summer:

1. Read good books
2. Write in your journal
3. Post and comment on the blog

This year, your class has published a total of 83 posts on Freedom of Voice! This is totally AMAZING! I am so proud of you for your courage to take on something new, for sharing your stories so openly, and for being willing to share them with the world. I look forward to seeing some new posts during the summer. If you want to save them first as a draft, I will check them over for you before publishing. I will check the blog daily and hope to keep in touch with you this way. I'm going to take some pictures of our potluck today, and I will post them next week. So be sure to check in!

I also wanted to take this opportunity to wish Graciela good luck on finishing up her last two GED tests next week. Good luck Graciela!!

Ivis will be taking her first test on May 20th! Good luck Ivis!!

Also, Adriana, who started in our class in September and moved on to GED in December, graduated on Tuesday night! Congratulations, Adriana!!

Thank you, everyone, for making it a joy for me to come to work every day.

close to the end

We are getting close to the end of the school year. Our last day of class is Thursday, May 15th. I have mixed emotions about this. Part of me is excited for summer vacation, and the other part of me will miss you. Creating this blog together has been an amazing experience as I have watched you grow as both as writers and computer users. I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I have. Keep posting stories and comments over the summer, and we can keep in touch!

updated photo!

Our class has changed a a bit over the past few months since we started this blog. Some students have left. Others have arrived. It's just part of the process. Here is an updated photo of our class:



Front: Bernardette, Esperanza, Martha
Middle: Myrna, Lorena, Ivis, Evelia, Lilly, Lucinda
Back: Graciela, Jennifer, Dayra
Not Pictured: Refugio, Giang, Karl

computer lab

Here are some photos from the computer lab, where we do most of our blogging. Some students have computers and internet access in their homes, and so they can post and comment from there. Most, however, use this one hour a week to read and write and connect with each other through the power of their stories.

beaches and blogging

Sometimes I read what you all write about your vacations to the beaches in Mexico and other Central American countries, and I find myself daydreaming about a little cabana somewhere down south. Some place where the sun shines, the water is warm, and you can forget about your worries for awhile. Maybe I'll get there someday.

Until then, I want to teach you how to post an image from the Internet onto one of your stories. Follow the directions I'm going to give you carefully, and you'll be amazed at how easy it is to "illustrate" your stories. Good luck, and as always, ask questions!

Happy New Year!

Hello everyone, and a special welcome to the new students who will be making their first posts very soon. I look forward to reading all of your personal narratives here. It took an enormous amount of work for you to get your stories ready to publish-you should be very proud of them. Write On!

Also, take a look on the side of your blog at the new "recent comments" section. Here is where you can see if anyone has left you a comment recently. Click on the person's name or the title of the post, and you will be taken there!

reading and writing

The Constitution

I found a cool Powerpoint presentation about the Six Principles of the US Constitution. If you want to see it, follow the link, and then click each time you are done reading and are ready to go on. I hope you enjoy it! It's all information that we read about on Tuesday. Which of these principles do you think is the most important? Why?

Happy Birthday Ivis!

Introducing Freedom of Voice

back row: Myrna, Refugio, Lorena, Jose, Dayra
front row: Ivis, Lequisha, Sara
center: Sue
not pictured: Adriana, Amanda, Martha, Retha

why?

I created this blog in order to expand our classroom community beyond its four walls, and to give my adult students a chance to write for a real audience. The digital divide is so vast; this is one humble teacher's attempt to cross the chasm.
My students collaborated for over 20 minutes before deciding on the title for their blog. I love it! Don't you?