Celebrating Digital Literacy

 Today is Digital Learning Day and when I accessed the link to learn more about this celebration, I found this graphic. "Digital Learning Day is a national campaign that celebrates teachers and shines a spotlight on successful instructional practice and effective use of technology in classrooms across the country." As I looked at this graphic and read the words surrounding save the date, I knew that I wanted to post about how I use Wonderopolis in my writing workshop.


So often I ask myself a simple question when I am thinking about writing, "Is this authentic writing?" Occasionally the answer is no unfortunately because the lesson is designed to complete a writing indicator.  However, for the past two years, I have used authentic writing with my students by leaving comments on different wonders at Wonderopolis.  Because of a schedule change (Spanish 2nd trimester), I had to switch from Wonder Wednesday to Thinking Thursday which the students named for us.  I like that title because the students are thinking and extending their wondering at home while they write their wonder comment.  We completed our first round comments several weeks ago, and I was pleased with the specific criteria that the students chose for this year's comments.   

 The students created our class rubric this year with the following criteria:  connections, new vocabulary, new facts, asking questions to extend learning, new facts, predictions for tomorrow's wonder.  

 In addition, every comment that is left on Wonderopolis receives a reply that is authentic to their comment. The students beam when they find their comment and are able to share the respons with our class the following day after Thinking Thursday.

For enrichment, I encourage students to some additional research so that they can extend other comments.  I was so proud of S. as he researched Dan's comments!  Way to extend learning at home.  Have you tried having your students leave wonder comments? As you explore different digital sites today I would encourage to explore Wonderopolis. It is an amazing site that is being used K-12 focusing on non fiction reading along with integrating all reading/writing standards.  One shop stopping for literacy.