A Peace Corps friend in Khazakstan and I have decided to start a Key Pals program in Jan.
Here is our e-mail forum. The most recent e-mail comes first. I can't figure out how to cut/paste into this blog. Hmmm...

Anyway, I'm really excited about trying Keypals. Excited about the tweek we're putting on Key Pals by e-mailing back & forth student-created digital interviews with LCPS students & staff.
Think it'll be a good visual way to learn about schools in different countries.

My only worry is that any video files we try to send will be too big for e-mail. Any suggestions?

~ Lisa


Here's the Key-Pals brainstorm dialogue....



(from Lisa)
Ford,
This will be cool! I think I'll want to have my grade 3-5 class be the Key Pals (write the e-mails, about 7 kids.) This will be easier than doing any voice recording since my K-2 would struggle writing a personalized e-mail. What we could do is keep e-mails coming/going from MY e-mail address. We can write first around Thursday, Jan. 7th
I'll have my class first type in Word and then copy/paste their initial notes into an e-mail. I'll send these e-mails to you and ANY other classroom teacher(s) at your school. Even if 5 kids from there write one of mine, that's fine! We're only 7-8 but we can read them all.
Either send me a list of teacher e-mails, forward this to the staff or do whatever you want to do. You can also just pick out one teacher for us...
Hey, I just thought of this - My class will take digital pictures and record their own digital video tour of our 2 schools (BST & SAN.) We'll interview students, teachers, principals (put your mom in it.) Will be FUN!
~ Lisa


(from Ford, PCV Khazakstan)
>>> Joseph Tordiff <jfthokie@gmail.com> 12/10/09 2:12 AM >>>The students I work with are either graduating from or already out ofhighschool and in the University. Their English is very good, it is a TOEFLprep class. I am sure they would love to just get the chance to communicatewith your students though, they might not have much in common with the agegap and all. However, where I work there are classes for all age groups sothere are definately younger students there as well. They wouuld certainlybe on the same level as the students in your class and I am sure thereteachers would love the idea of the classes communicating.
-Ford


(from Lisa)
On Thu, Dec 10, 2009 at 7:47 AM, Lisa Waters<Lisa.Waters@loudoun.k12.va.us>wrote:
> Hi Ford,>> Oh, thank you! We will try very soon to ask your class some oral> questions via a website called Voicethread.com. My list of to do's are> WRITE FORD's Class and teach plant/animal cells. How old are your> students? I need to set up the scene....>> ~ Lisa :)>>>