Testimonials from School Colleagues
Gretchen Hazlin and Corey Thornblad have made great innovations in bringing literacy, writing, and critical thinking into social studies classrooms. Through their own BubbleUp Classroom website, students can engage in a wide array of activities from a thesis-writing workshop to a hands-on activity involving LEGOs. Gretchen and Corey have taken the fear, intimidation, and tedium out of writing and made it engaging, enjoyable and accessible for all students, and their website makes it possible for other librarians and educators to employ these techniques as well. Literacy instruction in Civics warms this English teacher's heart. Awesome station activities. I can't say enough about your creativity--to take a dull subject like OPVL and get the kids to buy in like that is great. I love the "FUN" aspect of analyzing an article. It is so important to keep students engaged and your approach did that. Your creativity is inspiring! Your "ice cream" activity was a clever and engaging way to teach OPVL. I loved the way you compared your task to an ice creat shop: the hats, aprons, tablecloths, and the ice cream scoop analogy. Your task was presented in a very logical, organized and well thought out way. Wow! I love this -- you make research and writing fun. The students figured out reasons for support easily because of how you broke the steps down for them using fun fairy tales. You ladies are incredible educators. |
I was so inspired by your energy and creativity. I was amazed at how effortless you made a "stations" activity look and how you checked in on each group of students. What an AMAZING lesson plan on thesis statements! You both have such creative ways for helping the students understand the material. Thank you! This is a great way to have students work on document-based questions. Students rotate tables having lively conversations. All students are engaging in the activity. You both are so creative and fun to watch! Fun approach to research! The kids were having great conversations. The [thesis] workshop is a ready-to-use instructional device that allows students to organize their thoughts, and to produce a high quality position on any topic they are given. Thanks for your collaboration! Wow! OPVL! Looking at primary and secondary sources in a super creative way!!! Supporting junior and senior high school -- a must see!! Students become more effective writers when they practice cross-curricular techniques. For example, the collaborative work between the English and Civics departments in the Thesis Writing Workshop reinforces strong writing structures that may be used across all curricula. |
Testimonials from Conference Presentation Participants
I just wanted to write and say thank you for your passion and great ideas. I like the 'end results' and I didn't feel overwhelmed! I can't wait to share with my colleagues. Excellent! I really appreciate having stuff I can use immediately. WOW!! This was great! Very helpful for my Global Project. Great resources and presentation. Very useful information and you covered all levels of education. One of the best sessions I’ve ever attended! |
SPECIFIC, RELEVANT, ready to use. Packed with tips and ideas :) I've been trying to find ways to introduce DBQs to my 8th grade students in Civics. This is perfect! Lots of variety and ways to adapt info. Really creative and engaging ideas! I LOVED your presentation. I teach 6th grade and all of your ideas are perfect. I can't wait to use these ideas in my classroom! Thank you!! Love the generator! Everything was great! Very practical and useful! I can’t wait to use in the classroom! |