Day 3 The Limpopo Writing Project

After 2 days of struggling with the computer center, we decided not to go there. Instead, we worked in the room and had a very productive day. Since we knew that we would Skype with SAWP teachers today, we spent journal time writing questions that we had for the teachers in America and describing the teaching situation in The Limpopo Region of South Africa. This led to quite a discussion about the difficulty of teaching 21st century literacies when you don't have computers or the Internet in your classroom. They wondered if the teachers could help them get computers. When I explained that many classrooms in San Antonio don't have computers for every student or even a few in each classroom, they were shocked. They imagined that every classroom in San Antonio had a computer for every student.

We looked at the google-site and read every introduction from the SAWP teachers. Then we looked at their pictures, and I helped them associate the writings with their faces. At lunch we took several group pictures that we will put on the google site tomorrow. We held up our name tags so the SAWP teachers will know who we are. We are hoping to connect every South African teacher with a SAWP participant. The challenge will be how to keep in contact without computers and email to rely on. We want all the learners in the teacher's classrooms to connect with American students through writing.

As we prepared for SAWP to contact us on Skype, my Mother and Father Skyped us. We only had a minute before the SAWP call came in, but the teachers were glad to meet my parents and amazed that they were so computer proficient.

We were very excited to Skype with SAWP and this time we knew each other better and had more questions to ask. Barry from SAWP was amazed that the SA teachers meet for 12 hours a day and he promised to help SAWP look for technology grants for the Limpopo teachers. Shannon gave us a tour of the SAWP room. The SA teachers encouraged Dr. Hanlie Dippenaar to return to SA soon and lead the Writing Project with them. But the funniest moment of the day was when one SA teacher asked for Justin to come to the screen and told him that Roxanne has said that he was single and available and was that true? This caused teachers on both sides of the ocean to burst out laughing.

Day 2 Limpopo Writing Project

Today Ngokoana & Nakedi spent the day with us and shared some of their experiences with the San Antonio Writing Project and the Limpopo Writing Project. We spent time discussing the presentations and looked closely at Vicki's demonstration. Her demo and the videos she shared had us thinking about our lives as digital immigrants. There is so much to learn! Later when we went to the computer lab we finally got everyone an email and invited to the google site.

I had dinner with Nakedi, Ngokoana, and Ngokoana's friend who is a professor. We found that we had so much in common as we talked about the importance of bringing writing to all the learners in South Africa.

Here is what I wrote during our journal time today:

I am so happy to be back at The University of Limpopo with all of you. This is truly a dream come true. Yesterday was a long and productive day that ended with a dramatic program and dancing. Then as we went to the lodge, the electricity went out and the sky was spectacular. Everywhere I looked the stars shimmered and they seemed to almost touch the earth. I've lost that view living in the city by a highway with the cars whizzing by leaving a perpetual hum and the stars obstructed by the city lights. I needed to come back to Africa to restore my sense of peace.

Day One of the 3rd Limpopo Writing Project Institute

Today was a fun, packed first day of the writing project. We skyped with both Mashaba and the San Antonio Writing Project 2011 ISI. It was amazing to see the teachers in the US. Really technology is mind-boggling. Then after dinner we had a theatrical performance by the Limpopo students that ended with us singing and dancing to "It's Time for Africa," a happy song. On the back to town, we stopped at the lodge where the teachers are staying. The power had gone out and it was completely dark outside. The sky was filled with thousand of stars that reached across the horizon and seemed to touch the ground. The Southern Sky in winter is spectacular!

The Limpopo Writing Project 2011 Institute

I have arrived in South Africa and the 3rd Limpopo Writing Project Institute begins tomorrow. We are very excited to begin our 3rd institute and I can't believe that I am back to help with the institute. I feel very grateful to be here and to be able to work with Dr. Leketi Makalela and the South African teachers. Today I was lucky enough to spend time with Ngokoana and Nakedi, who stayed with us during the 2008 San Antonio Writing Project Invitational Summer Institute. We had a wonderful time together and we all feel so connected and lucky to be together. These are magical times.

Confronting Bullying by Roxanne Henkin

Confronting Bullying: Literacy as a Tool for Character Education
By Dr. Roxanne Henkin
Published by Heinemann


Everyone has a stake in bullying especially when we know kids who are bullies are much more likely to end up in jail as adults. In many of the recent school shootings the victims have experienced bullying themselves.

Even though as individuals we can’t stop every act of violence, we can in schools work to reduce bulling on our campuses. “Everyone must identify a personal role in the formal and informal policies that seek to reduce violence, harassment, and bullying…Only when individuals are aware of a problem can they begin to consider taking action”. (Hazler 1996, p155)

Although bullying is receiving attention in schools, Confronting Bullying is the first to offer the inclusive inquiry cycle and the critical literacy perspective on bullying. Most books about bullying in classrooms offer suggestions that aren't embedded in literacy practice. Most character education books don't provide rich literacy instruction and quality book recommendations. Confronting Bullying provides all of these.

Confronting Bullying is available in over 223 libraries across the United States, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore and South Africa. It is also included on the parentbooks Violence and Bullying booklist and the Action Alliance for Children Booklist.

Avaliable at Heinemann, Barnes & Noble, Borders and other retailers.

Please Donate to the Limpopo Writing Project

Please Donate to the Limpopo Writing Project in South Africa

The purpose of the Limpopo Writing Project is to have teachers at all levels focus on the teaching of writing in their classrooms and after the Invitational Institute, to have these teachers share their knowledge with other teachers. Please consider making a donation to the Limpopo Writing Project. 100% of funds are tax deductible and go directly to the project.

Teachers Teaching Teachers
The San Antonio Writing project (SAWP) is raising money to help the teachers in Limpopo, South Africa start their own writing project. Funding is needed to subsidize 12 teachers at the University of Limpopo for the Invitational Institute in June 2011. These teachers will be coming from all over Limpopo province and will need room and board, as well as computers and supplies.

We need your help:

$50 would allow one student to pay school registration fees, receive a school uniform and provide lunch for the entire school year.

Please support The Limpopo Writing Project.

Send your donations to:
The Limpopo Writing Project
207 Northcrest Dr.
San Antonio, TX 78213

If you have other contributions or questions, please contact us at
maryloud99@gmail.com.

Thanks for helping this dream come true.

Limpopo Writing Project
African Proverb
“ Until the lions get their own
historian the tale of the hunt
will always glorify the hunter”

San Antonio Writing Project's 5th Annual Conference

Our SAWP Conference will be on Saturday, February 5th, 2011. Reporter James Munoz will be our keynote speaker. The Power of Story is our theme and we have many wonderful presentations from our San Antonio Writing Project's Teacher Consultants. Go to www.sanantoniowritingproject.org to see the full program. We look forward to seeing you at the conference.