Pocantico Hills CSD

The excited chatter quieted, and a sense of concentration was felt throughout the room. The soft “click, click, click” of a keyboard could be heard, only broken by a suggestion.

“OK, I got you. Just wait here, you are good,” was one such note.

The library had been converted into a room of creativity during two sessions of a pop-up event, “Using Book Creator to be an Author: Tell Your Story.”

Sessions were led by third grade teacher Marina Pisto and Education Technology Director Alana Winnick, along with a group of teacher volunteers. One session was enjoyed by kindergarten and first grade students and a week later older students had an opportunity. In all more than 70 students participated. Students were using the Book Creator program to write autobiographical stories.

“Are you excited about using Book Creator,” Ms. Pisto asked at the start of the first session.

The response?

“Yeah!” from the students.

“Today is all about being an author,” Ms. Pisto said. “Today you are going to create a story about YOU.”
She suggested student’s think about what is in their heart, maybe reflect on a fun vacation they took, their favorite toy or food or a game they like to play.

“We want students to be creators, and we want technology to be fun and creative,” Ms. Winnick said. “We want to bring what they are learning about to life.”

As the students worked on their stories, members of the Innovation Club walked around lending assistance, helping students log in, showing them how to add photos to their pages or how to change the font and more.

“I like to help people,” fourth grader Ki-Ann W. said as to what motivated her to volunteer. She would return a week later to participate in the session.

“I like creating books and telling stories,” Ki-Ann said when it was her turn to write.

She said one of the things she had learned was to not simply start the story by saying something like “this is my story about . . .”

Ki-Ann said she was planning to write about her experience taking dance lessons and participating in a dance competition.

“I really like making things and creating things about what I love,” said fourth grader Layla G.

Second grader Matthew G. said he was going to write a non-fiction book about escaping from a bear, inspired by a book he had read.

“I know Book Creator,” Matthew said. “I just like creating things.”

The older students were treated to listening to an excerpt from a story ENL teacher Joy Scantlebury had written about her family roots.

She had begun her story with “clink, clink, clink.” Its only later readers learn that the noise came from her mother’s bracelets as she was stirring food that would be a part of the holiday meal she was preparing.

Ms. Scantlebury offered the aspiring writers several tips to keep in mind: Brainstorm, show, don’t tell what is happening with words, use the five senses and revise and edit.

“Never give up with your writing,” Ms. Scantlebury encouraged.

Having time to be creative was a common theme when students were asked what they liked about the event. Several said they enjoy having the time to do what they like and not be confined to a particular school assignment.

Kindergartner Henry C. said his story was about his desire to own a snake. He said he loves snakes and wants an anaconda.

For classmate Charlotte R., her story was about her favorite shape, the star.

“I like the points,” she said of what attracted her to that particular shape.

As part of her storytelling, she researched for star shapes to find just the right one to put in her story.

As the students worked, they would often ask their friend sitting next to them to take a look at their work.

The two sessions were part of what has now become a regular event at Pocantico Hills. Other pop-up sessions have included an Hour of Code and a closer look at Black History Month.

“Can we do this every Thursday,” one student inquired.

The answer was, yes, not exactly every Thursday, but students will have an opportunity to engage in other upcoming pop-up sessions as they school year continues.

“We’re very committed to having experiences with technology that are creative,” Ms. Pisto said. “We want to help them have positive interactions with devices.”