FYI- This is the final blog post for the Adams Author Project. If you haven’t already done so read Part 1 and Part 2. Of if you want read part 3 then 2 then 1. It might be confusing but I’m not the boss of you…
Just to refresh, the students chose three chapter books and determined a theme that all three books shared. The students then wrote a story using the same theme. Our young authors Skyped with author John David Anderson for guidance on how to revise their stories. The students then moved into the marketing phase of the project. The students met with Andy Jenks and Chris OBrion from Henrico County Public Schools for advice on how to persuade other students to purchase their stories. That takes us to the last phase of the project, the marketplace.
Mrs. Arkwright and I brought in students from the grade level below our future authors to experience every presentation. The authors prepared some awesome presentations. Some used Google Slides, some made traditional posters, while other used a combination of both. In addition several students added interactive elements to their presentation.
One story was about being immortal. This student gave out tiny cups of water and called it water from the Fountain of Youth. Another student’s story was about magic. This student sprinkled glitter on other students saying that it was magic dust.
At the end of all the presentations the students purchasing the stories then voted on which one they would buy. Once the students voted they received a slip of paper to a Google Site where every story was housed. The author with the most votes was announced on the morning announcements the next day.
I have never seen the students so engaged as I did when they were working on this project. Behavior problems seemed to disappear while students were working. We had student come up to Mrs. Arkwright and I from the younger grades and ask to be part of the project next year. There’s nothing more you can ask for in education, students excited about learning.
Check out a sample below.
