Innovative Approaches to Literacy Education - Chapter 3

Chapter 3 – Giving It Away: The Earth Day Groceries Project

By Mark Ahlness

This project is extremely close to my heart due to the fact that it involves aspect of protecting the environment. In addition, to being a trained teacher, I have also done extensive training in environmental management. In chapter 3 Mark has not only explained a very good project, but also gave a number of useful educational websites.

Ahlness commented that the idea about his project had a humble beginning but over time grew both national and international. The project has had such a huge impact on a number of school communities that it was a recipient of the Ms Rumphius Awards. Ahlness said that the idea for the project came from a summer workshop back in 1991.

The Earth Day Groceries Project involves students decorating groceries bags intended for homes. Mark’s project is a prime example of networking. Mark explained that he sent the idea of his project to websites such as Kidsphere and Ednet. Due to this exposure of his project on these websites a number of schools adopted the idea and used it. As soon as Mark received an up dated report from any one of the participants involved in the Earth Day Groceries Project, he would pass it to all the other participants. In this way all the schools would get some feedback on what the other schools were doing.

Mark admitted that he developed his school’s website and eventually the Earth Day Groceries Project’s website for the love of sharing information and not for the monetary rewards which can be gained from them. He reported that he constantly update his database with numerous reports in order to share the information with his viewers.

Mark reported that his Earth Day Groceries Project has many facets. He suggested that the project can be utilized in more than one subject areas: with an Environmental Awareness theme – in geography, art, science, social studies, etc. Ahlness highlighted the magnificent artworks that the students drew on the grocery bags. He commented that the most important idea behind the project was the messages which are written on the bags. Mark hopes that the content written on the bags would bring about some positive behavioral change towards preserving the environment.

Another valid point which Mark has made is giving credit to the author of any resources that his students used in their works. He advised that this new literacy is just as important as using good grammar in doing a paper.

Mark’s notion on literacy is captivating due to the method he used to introduce computer skills to his students. His writing brought me back to when I was first introduced to computers in 1992. Mark ingenious plan to use a cardboard box to cover the phone to prevent any one else to use it, while he and the students were using the Internet was really amusing. Mark is obviously a truly dedicated teacher who made sure his students were exposed to new information and communication technologies (ICTs).

Ahlness was very innovative in his approach in providing Internet assignments for his young students. Unfortunately the students at the school (incarcerated facility) I currently teach are not allowed to use the Internet due to security reasons. Nevertheless, I applaud Mark for his gallant effort in getting his students involved in the Internet as early as third grade. He certainly makes learning fun and interesting for his students.

Mark introduced me to Louis Schmier’s website, a professor at Valdosta State University. I found his writing to be both inspiring and encouraging. I enjoyed reading “The Classroom is not a Factory” and “Teaching and Caring”.

Mark believes that, “Teachers are in the business of providing service and building careers for others”. He really has demonstrated that teachers can make a difference in their students' lives if they provide the necessary tools needed, as in the case of exposing students to ICTs.

Mark gave an excellent example on how the Internet can be incorporated into the classroom to enhance learning as in the case of the webcam story. The webcam story is all about a camera set to take a series of films of a falcon’s eggs hatching. The students were able to view this entire phenomenon over the Internet for several days. The follow up activities after viewing the hatching of the baby eyasses were excellent reinforcement task. This included naming one of the males baby eyasses and writing stories about the bird’s first flight.

Mark ended his discussion on the power of the Internet in spreading information. He said, and I do agree with him, that “as long as teachers inspire their students by example and share their passions, students will grow to do the same”.