Request for classroom collaborations during the 2009/10 school year:

[Nerine Chalmers]

I am writing from Qatar Academy Primary School, Doha, Qatar in order to invite classrooms from around the world to join with our Grade 4 classes in a long term, but fairly low key collaboration. We are a PYP school, and our Grade 4s are 9 – 10 year olds. There are approximately 22 students in each class. What we have in mind is that each of our 5 Grade 4 classrooms will link up with a different classroom, preferably in different continents. We would be asking the students in the partner class to communicate with our students in a variety of ways – possibilities would be by email, voice thread, Skype, a discussion page on a wiki – among others. We would be anticipating some contact every month or six weeks through the school year. Examples of the activities we have in mind are sharing ideas on some pieces of work, survey responses, sharing of relevant photographs of their local area, culminating in participating in a collaborative writing project in April/May 2010.
The school website can be found at http://www.qataracademy.edu.qa/
You can also have a look at the Grade 4 wiki space at http://grade4.qataracademy.wikispaces.net/

[Nerine Chalmers]

Hi Bob
Your class blog is fascinating - I hope we will be able to join your group of schools working together - an amazing opportunity. Once school opens at the end of September, I will speak to the teachers and see how best we will be able to fit in. It may be best to look at one of our Grade 2 classes? What age are your grade 2 students? Thank you for responding

[Betsye Sargent]

Couldn't connect with your class bog?

[Betsye Sargent]

Bob,
Can't seem to open your class blog???? Any suggestions?

[Bob Greenberg]

Hi Betsye,
If I'm the Bob you're referring to, here are two links to our class blog. One should work. http://classblogmeister.com/blog.php?blogger_id=148947 or http://thebrainwaves.us
Let me know if this helps. I hope you like what you see.
Bob

[PNaugle]

Hi Nerine,
I teach fourth graders in New Orleans, Louisiana and would love for my students to join your collaborative project. They will be back in school for the 2009-2010 school year on August 17. They will have Gaggle email accounts shortly after school starts. I have used Skype and VoiceThread in the past and know how to create surveys using Google Docs.. I am in the process of setting up our class wiki so that parts of it can be viewed and edited by others.

Please add me to your list of contacts and keep me informed of the steps necessary to participate. Thank you so much for this opportunity.

[Nerine Chalmers]

Hi
Thank you for your interest - I will certainly keep you informed as to what we are doing. School opens at the end of September, so I will contact you once I have spoken to the teachers.

[Pam Long]

Hello! My name is Pam Long and I would love to have my class collaborate with a class from your school. I teach twenty fourth graders at the Providence Day School in Charlotte, NC. This is a K-12 private school. My class will be utilizing Google Docs, wiki pages, Voicethreads, and blogs over the course of the year and I know they will be excited about this opportunity.

[Nerine Chalmers]

Hi Pam
Thank you for your response. I will contact you once school opens at the end of September, and I have a chance to speak to the teachers. It is wonderful to be able to collaborate at such distances, using so many tools! Enjoy your summer.

[Brian Crosby]

Hi Nerine - I will be teaching 4th grade in Sparks, Nevada (next to Reno) USA this coming year. I'm always looking for global projects to do with my students who are very at risk (children of poverty and mostly 2nd language learners). My last class really benefitted from all the global connections we made, so keep us in mind. Thanks,
Brian

[Nerine Chalmers]

Thanks, Brian - I would be interested in learning more about what your students did, and how you integrated the global connections into your curriculum. I will contact you once school opens at the end of September.

[sharleen berg]

Hi Nerine,
I am the media specialist in a K-8 private school in Owatonna, MN. I am quite sure we have willing Grade 4 and Grade 5 classroom teachers interested in collaboration. It will be new to us as we have yet to collaborate on a project with another school. I understand you begin school in Sept. Please keep us in mind.
Enjoy your summer!
Thanks,
Sharleen

[Nerine Chalmers]

Thanks, Sharleen. Good to hear from you. I will be in touch at the end of September.