Yesterday, Sheryl and I finished up the culminating session of our year-long work with a Western New York Powerful Learning Practice cohort, and while the teachers were once again pretty impressive in articulating and showcasing the shifts that have occurred in their professional practice and their classrooms, the highlight of the day was a presentation by Laura Stockman, the fifth grade blogger at 25 Days to Make A Difference. Laura is the daughter of Angela Stockman who was a member of our cohort, and as I’ve noted elsewhere, her service project blog in honor of her grandfather has gained national attention. She talked about how she started her quest to get donations for charities by finding sponsors for her daily good works, how surprised she is that over 30,000 people have visited her blog since last December, and how she’s been able to donate over $1,600, 50 pairs of pajamas, and over 400 books to charities in her area. It’s a great story and example, one that I’ve shared with Tess on a number of occasions.
But for some reason, the moment that jumped out at me was when she was talking about how she decided which charities to support. “I asked my readers,” she said. And I just felt like, “How cool is that?” Here is a fifth grader who is first and foremost making a difference in peoples’ lives (which is cool enough) but also who is connected to a community of others who are passionate to make a difference as well. (She dropped some names of some pretty well know philanthropists that had been in touch with her.) She gets it on a practical level that not only models what’s possible but that will no doubt serve as a support for whatever learning experiences she will have in her life.
And one other note. Today in a presentation to some New York City middle school principals, I talked about Laura in the context of how we begin to help our kids create their own digital footprints in positive ways, to be, in a word, “Googleable.” Even fifth graders. Here’s what comes up when you Google “‘Laura Stockman’ Buffalo.”
Pretty good start, I’d say.
UPDATE: Please read what Laura’s mom Angela has to say about the experience.
I’ve hand the good fortune of participating in the PLP project mentioned by Will.
I’ve written on the group’s Ning and in comments on various blogs about how my learning has been completely transformed. I’ve written on my own blog about how inspiring and “human” the web can be. I’ve been awed by Jill Bolte’s “My Stroke of Insight” and Randy Pausch’s “Last Lecture”.
I can honestly say that Laura’s presentation was one of the coolest, most enlightening experiences of all my years in education. Since her presentation I’ve been wondering…If Laura can do what she is doing as a fifth grader, what will she be able to do in the future? If Laura can do what she is doing as a fifth grader, why the heck can’t I be doing more? Will my daughter be inspired do something so special?
I wish I had a more powerful presence in the blogosphere so I could steer more people to Laura’s blog and her work. To borrow from Scott McLeod, Laura’s blog “deserves a bigger audience”.
I’m am becoming more and more amazed at the minds of our students. We had 4 students, 3 teachers (myself included), and 2 principals present in our recent cellphone policy committee. Guess who came up with the fairest, strictest policy that will not only *work*, but will be easily enforced by teachers? (Plus, they added a “peer component” that all caused all the adults in the room to go, “Wow! Why didn’t we think of that?”)
Thank YOU Mr. Richardson, for doing work that helps my mom and dad feel okay about me blogging like I do. You ROCK! And also thank you for supporting me in so many ways. I am feeling a little famous today! Wow! I am on Mr. Richardson’s blog!!!!!!!!
“Thank YOU Mr. Richardson, for doing work that helps my mom and dad feel okay about me blogging like I do. You ROCK!”
What a very important insight you just provided, Laura! As if the power of your blog wasn’t enough, you just nailed a vital element of promoting the use of blogs with our students–education of their parents! Not only are they vital in terms of supporting what we do in the classroom, but they can and should provide educated guidance and inspiration to our students. Thank you for the reminder of the work that still needs to be done in my own district!