Digital Learning in Middleton: Global Read Aloud 2015

Global Read Aloud in Middleton, Massachusetts

Every student in Middleton public schools participated in the 2015 Global Read Aloud. Teachers read the book aloud to their students and planned/implemented projects and activities that align with our reading and writing curriculum. Students became connected to other students throughout the world using technology. Programs like Padlet, Twitter and blogging helped students to write to others about their connections and predictions and share with classrooms around the world. A virtual book club was created using Skype and Google Hangouts and allowed students to meet others in our country and Canada. We even participated in “Mystery Skypes” where the classes asked yes or no questions using maps to determine where they were from; building great geography skills.

What is the Global Read Aloud?

"The project was created in 2010 with a simple goal in mind; one book to connect the world. Now with five years under our belt and more than 500,000 connections made in 60 different countries, we realize we are on to something larger than us so we look forward to continuing the global connections.

The premise is simple; we pick a book to read aloud to our students during a set 6-week period and during that time we try to make as many global connections as possible. Each teacher decides how much time they would like to dedicate and how involved they would like to be. Some people choose to connect with just one class, while others go for as many as possible. The scope and depth of the project is up to you. In the past we have used Twitter, Skype, Edmodo, our wiki, email, regular mail, Kidblog, and any other tools we can think of to make these connections. Teachers get a community of other educators to do a global project with, hopefully inspiring them to continue these connections through the year." (Source: globalreadaloud.com and Pernille Ripp.)

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