Adora's Blog

Adora's Blog features Adora Svitak's thoughts, optimistic dreams, pessimistic predictions, opinions, and a journal of her daily life and memorable events.

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Name: Adora Svitak
Location: Washington State, United States

I am a twelve-year-old author and teacher. I live in Redmond, WA. I've published three books so far, Flying Fingers,Dancing Fingers, and Yang in Disguise. More books are in the works. I teach every day through school visits and distance learning mediums such as webcasting and video conferencing. I use a Promethean Activboard in my teaching. You can learn more at www.adorasvitak.com.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Platypus Poem written with seventh grade students through videoconferencing

The platypus—such a strange creature
It has such amazing features
The body of an otter,
And it swims in the water,
A duck’s bill,
It has no gills.
The tail of a beaver,
Seeing it, you might think you’re delirious from fever.

Tuesday, February 03, 2009

Journalistic-Style Article written with Whitney Young High School students in Chicago

On Tuesday, February the 3rd, Adora Svitak visited Whitney M. Young Magnet School in Chicago, Illinois, to talk about writing and publishing.

The presentation utilized an Activboard from Promethean, accompanied by Activexpressions (a voting system which allows students to vote, text in in answers, etc.) The Expression technology immediately collects results from students.

When polled, the majority of students believed that the presentation was inspiring, motivational, innovative, interesting, and educational. However, they didn't all immediately turn into scholars; when asked about their plans for action/publication, they jokingly responded that they would like to sit around watching TV. Adora said, "I read on your school's website that you have a...100% graduation rate. I guess they'll have to take out the thirty percent of you that responded [couch] potato." She added, "I'm glad they still have a sense of humor!"