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In the summer of 2017, Tina Zureick and Craig Dunlap attended a Project Based Learning training together and co-wrote a book commercial unit. Over the past three years, nearly every second grader at Yealey has created at least one book commercial. Students learn about persuasive writing, Google Docs, peer feedback, and filming and editing videos. Tina's core extension class become the peer experts and teach various elements of the project to other kids in their grade.
Over the years, this project has enabled our school to form partnerships with a number of professionals and organization in the Children's Lit world.
In Spring 2018, after producing videos on nearly 100 books from our public library, we taught our students how to send email. They emailed videos to the authors of the books and asked for book donations to fill our school library. Authors and illustrators sent us over 60 books because they were so impressed with our work.
In Fall 2018, we started doing video chats with Christy Mihaly, author of Hey, Hey, Hay! Christy has become a permanent fixture in our project and has even donated her latest book, Free for You and Me, for us to preview before its publication. One of our 4th grader classes produced the video at the bottom of this page for her to use to promote her book.
In Fall 2019, we started chatting with Jessica Linn Evans, author and illustrator of Penguin Sets Sail. Jessica has agreed to chat with us again next year and we created videos for all four of her published works.
In Fall 2019, we emailed publishers and asked for book donations in exchange for commercials that authors could use on their social media posts. We received quite a few books from Lerner Books, Free Spirit Publisher, and Flashlight Press. We have had a lot of positive feedback from the authors of these books, and at least one of these publishers is poised and ready to donate more books next year.
In March 2019, Tina and Craig presented the project at KySTE in Louisville, KY. Click here to view their presentation materials. As a result of that presentation, Tina and Craig were invited to speak to Jefferson County (KY) Public School Teachers at their summer seminar.
This project has gotten a lot of attention outside of our school walls.
In Fall 2017, Children Inc produced a video of our project and sent it to news outlets in Cincinnati. You can view the video below.
In Spring 2018, we were invited to present our work at a philanthropic symposium hosted by Horizon Community Funds of Northern Kentucky. You can watch the presentation below on the video entitled "Power in Numbers." Two of our second grade students stole the show in a room full of business people, doctors, and professors.
Through our partnerships with Lerner and Free Spirit, we were able to post blog entries about our projects.
In January 2020, Spectrum News 1 aired a segment on our project. You can view it here.
After taking a COVID break during the 2020-2021 school year, we brought the book commercials back in January 2022. Click here for the full playlist.
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