New literacy curriculum, technology spark skills
December 4, 2023 - Seventh graders at Conway Middle School have created their own illustrated e-books about the Lost Children of Sudan using a graphic design tool and what they’re learning from Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) new reading and literacy curriculum. The students’ books are aimed at third graders and are featured on a website developed by their English Language Arts teacher, Dr. Kimberly Johnson. The students’ storytelling shines a light on the challenges faced by the Sudanese people.
“This is an example of students taking everything they’re learning in JCPS and at Conway - a new reading curriculum, using technology at a Verizon Innovative Learning School (VILS), and student-led collaboration through the Modern Classroom Project – and applying it to create wonderful, visually stunning e-books,” Johnson said. “This hands-on exercise has given my students a fun way to learn about and write about the experiences of people in another part of the world. They’re becoming engaged, global citizens.“