potter_learning

Many classes, from kindergarten to graduate school, begin the year with introduction exercises. Frequently students are asked to tell their classmates some things about themselves, or they interview and share information about one another. I've done an exercise in the past that involved using a few items to share their hobbies and interests. I think this could be done in a fun way by using digital photos, so that a student could share "things" like pets, or other items that shouldn't be brought to school. As a website or PowerPoint presentation, this could double as a writing exercise, to gauge students' writing abilities. My example is below.

I love to sing! When I was in high school, I was in three different choirs--one in school, and two in the community. One of my favorite singing experiences was during my senior year of high school. Three of my close friends and I put together a barbershop quartet. We took it to a state competition and did extremely well, and we also performed it elsewhere. This picture is of us at a talent show, and it combines two of my favorite things: singing and my friends.

The next picture is me with my mother when I was in my cousin's wedding. I was in sixth grade, and this picture is so wonderfully "90's!" My mom and I were very close as I was growing up. For this wedding, for example, I remember her putting my hair into a French twist. Also, the dress my cousin ordered for me came in an adult size instead of a child's size! So my mother took the entire dress apart and cut it smaller, and then put it back together again. She passed away right before I started college, but she really influenced my life, and I couldn't describe myself without at least one picture of her.

This picture is my cat, Desiree. She's been a part of my family since I was in third grade--she's now fifteen years old! She moved out of my dad's house with me, and I'm pretty sure she's my best friend. We have conversations sometimes, and she's clearly pretty weird, which explains the dryer as a napping place. As with my mother, I couldn't introduce myself without mentioning Desi.

This last picture is a pair of Irish dance shoes that I recently received for my birthday. I've been dancing my whole life, and have only started Irish dancing recently, but I love it! These shoes were ordered for me from Ireland, and they're the best in the world. I'm glad I took pictures of them now, because I haven't had them long enough to get them all scuffed up and dirty. I'm not very good at Irish hard shoe dancing yet, but I'm definitely eager to learn. My Irish dance class even does performances around town!