Dear Crystal:

I am delighted by your lesson proposal because you realize the importance of identity work right from the start. Not only that, you are sharing that it is important for students to have options in how they choose to create. Your proposal demonstrates a consolidation of ideas from your summer learning. That is fantastic!

One sentence you wrote that stands out to me is: “A multimodal approach means a lesson is introduced in multiple ways; it can be performed using visuals, movement, auditory, reading, and writing to meet students’ learning goals.” I think this is a thoughtful way to explain multimodal learning because some people may think multimodal learning means all technology when they hear the word. However, as a group, the LUTE Stem group unpacked that it is so much more than that. Additionally, your explanation reminds me that our learners appreciate voice and choice when creating. By designing a multi-modal learning experience that allows for variety, you are offering learners a voice in deciding how they want to work towards expectations.

Another sentence that I resonated with was: “Since it is the beginning of the school year, it will serve as an introduction to the class and their classmates. This will help to get to know the students and make connections within themselves..” This stood out to me because it echoed the ideas of voice and choice again. Since you are focusing on an all about me project, your learners are introducing themselves to the community by sharing who they are but also by how they like to create. This is an important part of an individual as well and it is inspiring that you have decided to allow them to have choice of modality.

Have you seen this lesson on Scratch Jr. Connect? It is called Scratch Jr Art Curriculum: Self-Portraits. I thought you might be interested in this because of your experience with Scratch from this summer and because it is an option that you could offer younger learners on a platform that is appropriate for them developmentally.

Thanks for your writing. I look forward to seeing what you write next because you have shown that developing both the whole child and the community that they are a part of is important to you as an educator. That makes me so excited for your learners!

Marina

Dear Crystal

You did such a great job on writing your proposal. It was very clear, organized and understandable. I think the incorporating the activity ” all about me” is a great. One sentence that stuck out to me was when you stated ” The students will be given different options to choose from. For example, they can draw a picture, create a poster or record a video of the things they want us to know about themselves”. I believe this is great because it gives the students options to choose how to express themselves instead of having one way to do something. This shows the students that it is possible to have more than one way to do something. Students have different ways of expressing themselves and this activity will help them to find their way of expressing themselves and seeing how other students express themselves as well.

Overall, this is a great activity that will help students with self-expression and it will help students to understand and get to know their classmates better. Keep doing the great and wonderful work you are doing.