Can. Ch. LD (Canadian Champion Literacy Dog)

Project Information:

1. Project Name: "Buddy's Bearded Collie Literacy Notebook"

2. Start Date: January 31, 2002 (tentative).

3. Purpose: Students will respond via email to "Buddy", a bearded collie who helps kids write and read by providing online literacy activities. Visit Buddy's website: http://www.skylinc.net/~scarfone/buddy.htm. Exemplary literature ("Bentley and Blueberry" by Randy Houk) will be the basis for this project.

Teachers and parents may expect students to develop reading and writing skills. Children and teachers will have the opportunity to use email and chat, since information technology is the cornerstone of this project. Though a school-based Pentium system would be best, applications from I.T. "novices" are encouraged. The possibilities are limited only by the imagination.

4. Subjects: Multidisciplinary including: Language Arts, Math, Information Technology, Values, Problem Solving.

5. Grade Levels: This project would appeal to Grades 2 or 3.

6. Summary: An elementary school principal wishes to provide mentoring/modeling for teachers and students in the use of online inquiry projects: "Mr. Scarfone's" bearded collie, "Buddy", has his own website full of literacy based activities. The children will interact with Buddy. Teachers will interact with Mr. Scarfone. At the end of the project children will have participated in various literacy activities and had the opportunity to work with information technology.

Teachers (and parents) will have the opportunity to assist children with writing and reading skills by participating in this online inquiry project. Participants will receive, via snail mail, a Beardie plush a.k.a. "Buddy" and a journal, both of which must be returned to Buddy. Free to keep, will be a paperback copy of "Bentley and Blueberry", an audiocassette of the story and photos of Buddy.

Teachers will obtain and follow the unit plan as outlined on Buddy's site. Class responses will be put online so participants can view one another's work. Timeline for each class will be approximately 6 weeks. Teachers should be willing to display their results online using html programs or any number of web-publishing sites. Teachers will be asked to complete a project evaluation. Mr. Scarfone will be glad to answer questions. Email: scarfone@skylinc.net.

7. Number of Participants: One class - any where in the world. Others possibly added at a later date.

8. Project Coordinator: Mr. Anthony Scarfone, Principal, scarfone@skylinc.net, c/o Saint Patrick School, 200 Kenwood Avenue, Burlington, Ontario Canada L7L 4L8. Telephone: 1-905-639-3975, fax: 1-905-639-9638.

9. How to Register: Send email to Mr. Scarfone outlining teacher's name, grade level, teacher and student experience with Information Technology, computer equipment available and how much you love Bearded Collies (Very Big Grin). Send school address, phone number (fax if also available) and school district. Include any other details you wish, including why this is a good project for the teacher and children. Remember you are making a commitment if your class is selected to participate.

10. Project Outline and Procedures: For more information consult the project's online address, Bentley and Blueberry @ http://www.skylinc.net/~scarfone/bentleyblueberry.html

Welcome | Cute Pix | Pedigree | Projects | Beardie Buds | Write Away
Story Vault | Games | Links | Teachers | Credits | HTML .etc| Awards