Students get jump on back to school with Inspiration
software
The ìWhat I Did Over Summer Vacationî essay has long held its place
as the most popular first day of school activity. With the help of an
accident and a friendís mom, one student has already begun his
assignment.
Evelyn Woldman, Education Coordinator with the Massachusetts
Elementary School Principals Association, sent her eight-year-old son
off to summer camp in June expecting him to return with dirty laundry,
fun memories, and maybe even a case of poison ivy. She was surprised,
though, when his camp experience inspired an idea for a classroom
activity using Inspiration.
Eight-year-old Davey, a friend of Woldman's son, had an accident at
camp while working on his latch hook rug, resulting in an eye injury
serious enough to merit a trip to the New England Medical Center and a
month of quiet recuperation at home. Consequently, his camp stint was
cut short and he found himself facing two long months at home.Woldman
visited the homebound boy to cheer him up.
Using Inspiration, the two of them brainstormed activities to keep
Davey busy the rest of the summer. When his Activity Web filled up with
activities such as ìKeep a Sick Time Journalî and ìHelp Mom,î the
next two months did not look quite so bleak.Woldman sees many possible
variations of Daveyís Activity Web. ìWorking that day with Davey led
me to think more globally to a classroom setting,î she said. (Story
continues below diagram.)
ìActivity Webs could be used in the classroom any time a student in
the class has a mishap, a sickness, or even a worse scenario than Daveyís.
They could be great healing and coping activities, both fun for the kids
and an interesting outlet for their fears and healing processes.î
Classmates of a sick or injured child could use Inspiration to
brainstorm activities, both fun ones and assigned work, for the absent
child to complete. Materials needed for the activities could be gathered
and sent along with the web.
Come September, Davey will have a blueprint of what he did while
recovering at home. While his ìWhat I Did Over Summer Vacationî essay
on the first day of school might start with an unfortunate end to his
camping experience, it will more than likely go on to describe his fun
activities and adventures. And having an Inspiration blueprint for his
essay puts Davey ahead of the game.
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