Yahzier's Vision of Peace

Yahzier from Fast Track Video on Vimeo.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. valued non-violence.  He believed that we should relate peacefully with each other.  In honor of Dr. King's dream, my students used descriptive words to create poems that provide sensory details and images of their attainable dreams.

Yahzier wrote:  Peace is like a quiet park.  Peace looks like a beautiful place.  It never sounds loud and makes me feel jubilant.  Peace is never awful, but it's always marvelous.

Toni-Ann's Vision of Peace

Peace Poem 2013-Toni-Ann from Fast Track Video on Vimeo.

Toni-Ann wrote:  Peace is  like a beautiful day outside.  Peace looks like a rainbow in the sky.  It sounds like the wind blowing on the beach and makes me feel excited.  Peace is never horrible, but it is always fair.

Eternity - Chinese Sumi brush painting with Darrell Wilson

Tutor-Darrell Wilson-Chinese Sumi Art1 from Fast Track Video on Vimeo.

Through our partnership with William Paterson University, my students and I were fortunate to have Darrell Wilson, New York University Professor of Sculpture and Filmmaking, join us as a part of the Young Audiences grant.  What a meditative moment we experienced! Students got into the zone for creative expression.  We learned the symbol for "eternity".  This lesson on Chinese Sumi brush painting will remain with us for many years as we seek to preserve these memorable moments .

WPU Partnership yields a bucket-filling surprise!

WPU Tutors - Ms. Marrone's serenade-You Are My Sunshine from Fast Track Video on Vimeo.

Mr. O'Reily, WPU tutor, prepared my students for a bucket-filling serenade of our WPU practicum teacher, Ms. Marrone.  She returned the sentiment by presenting my students with a heart warming tribute...a box of crayons, which symbolized our uniqueness and celebrated our diversity.  What a beautiful surprise!

Making a Difference

Ask Me-Making a Difference from Fast Track Video on Vimeo.

During a morning meeting, Nikayla began by sharing a collection of her favorite things.  Among her treasure, were some encouraging words from her grandmother, Abuela Mirtha.  This opened the door to our discussion of choices that we can make within our spheres of influence that will result in us making a meaningful difference in the world.

It's okay to be different!

Celebrating diversity from Fast Track Video on Vimeo.

As a part of our collaborative action research project, my students and I participated in a joint third grade book reading of It's Okay to Be Different by Todd Parr.  Afterwards,  my students analyzed the qualities that make us uniquely different and our decision to celebrate our diversity.

The Perloff Family Foundation - Donors committed to social action, digital citizenship, and education justice

Thank you! from Fast Track Video on Vimeo.

Dear Students:

We have been very pleased to support Mrs. Anderson and all of the interesting things you do in your classroom.  We look forward to seeing your photos, videos, poems, and stories.  We wish you continued success in your classroom studies and a fun summer.

Our best,

Sandra and David Perloff