Storybook

Even though testing week has come and gone; it still had major impact on my students. Before testing, to try to "relieve their stress" I had them help me with a Storybook project for my grad school class. Originally, we planned on using a Dr. Seuss character (we had just wrapped up that unit) in a new, original story. Unfortunately, the planning of that story line had my 4th graders way too stressed out; which actually served as motivation for Plan B...

...Students then decided instead of creating an original story, we would do a nonfiction story which is just facts. During that time in my class we were going over test-taking strategies and one of my Einsteins had the bright idea to make a "How To..." kind of book that's relevant to test taking strategies. She even came up with the idea to share this with other 4th grade classes to help them; how genius is that? I really do have the cream of the crop! We didn't waste any time in constructing the project. I had students divided into groups to summarize what to do before, during and after testing. They collaboratively put their information on PowerPoint slides; which I then saved as individual JPEGs and inserted into PhotoStory3. We then took photographs (since that is a trait of nonfiction) to support their ideas.

Then, the Friday before the week of testing, we were able to go to each 4th grade class to give them a pep talk and show this video. The kids loved the whole project from start to finish, and I was SO proud of their leadership skills; as well as confidence in test-taking strategies!