Digital Media Literacy

The genre, historical fiction, has been enjoying a resurgence.   Besides books, there have been an interest in movies (Victoria and Abdul, The Darkest Hour, Good-By Christopher Robin) as well.   A historical fiction unit is taught to my fifth graders every year.   The beginning of the unit focuses on the traits of historical fiction.   Students are responsible for reading a novel and sharing them with peers during literature circles.   What separates this genre from fiction is that stories take place in the past and usually include significant historical events.   Reading historical novels makes it easy to combine both language arts and social studies.   This is important since many districts and schools are finding it difficult to find time to teach social studies in test prep environments.   More alarming are academic communities that do not find it necessary to teach social studies anymore.   As I teach this unit, we...

I watched very few Disney movies as a child.  The only one I saw was Pinocchio, and I was younger than five.  However, I knew the stories and remembered I had a few children's books that took scenes from the movies to use as illustrations; therefore, Disney texts played a more important role than movies.  Looking back on my own memories, I do believe those princesses affected me, especially Cinderella .  She was blond, similar to almost all other princesses during that time, except for Snow White.  I had dark short hair and hated it.  Although I didn't consciously think it, she was thin, while I was big boned.  Believing in the magic portrayed, talking to animals and having a fairy godmother, I thought one day it would happen to me.  And of course, there was the prince who was extremely handsome and portrayed gentleness towards the protagonist.  Who wouldn't want to marry the prince, live in a castle, have children and never have a ca...

"John Perry Barlow, a renowned poet and cyber-libertarian, leveraged this concept to divide the world into “us” and “them.” Barlow, best known as the former lyricist for The Grateful Dead, was quite comfortable using provocative words to express political views"(177).  Boyd argues that digital natives, a term that praises the articulacy of our “tech savvy youth” seems, at times, degrading towards adults who did not have the benefits of growing up with computers and digital devices. However; we need not perceive ourselves as technologically ignorant. Many adults have similar technological abilities as younger generations, even though society will always identify them as digital immigrants based on age only. Educators should not be threatened by students’ knowledge, so much so, that is dangerous to feel we do not need to teach them how to become literate digital citizens and how to think critically as they navigate the internet. These types of lessons are simila...

I am, by far, a digital immigrant .  Although I spend many hours on my computer, mostly completing school work, it does not come easy for me.  At times, I can feel frustrated when I have "technical difficulties."   Technology is being developed so quickly, it is as if the world is passing right by me .  I would like to think it is because of my age, yet I have colleagues that are experts.   However, I know I am probably more savvy than many of my friends and family members, except my brother . At home, on the computer I read newspapers, catch up on Facebook, google ideas for school and personal items, and as of lately complete college work. At school, my students complete research, and they blog using Kidblog , a friendly COPPA compliant site.  In our Technologist's Unit , they blog as their technologist, our definition of a technologist is an inventor or a person who has used technology successfully.  They also create PowerPoints and use ...

My name is Vanessa Percoco.  I am a fifth grade teacher at Henry Barnard School .  I am enjoying my summer; however, I am finding it difficult balancing school and fun, since I am taking three classes.  I am always up for advice and suggestions!  The best part of the summer has been meeting one of my closest friends on the east end of Long Island , my favorite place and where I spent my summers growing up.