Carrie Boduch

2nd Grade

&

Amy Stempniewski

Literacy Coach

Meet the Makers: Carrie Boduch and Amy Stempniewski

My name is Carrie Boduch and I am a 2nd grade teacher at Orchard Lane Elementary. My name is Amy Stempniewski and I am a literacy coach at Orchard Lane and Poplar Creek Elementary. We think maker culture is important because it provides students with meaningful opportunities to discover, design, and create to deepen their understanding of the world rooted in empathy .

Provocation:

How might we help students to feel that they belong so that they can have positive academic and social interactions at school?


Maker Plan:

MAKER PLAN - Students will be working through the steps of authentic problem solving rooted in empathy. Students will be provided with the opportunity notice problems, think of solutions, create a prototype, test, receive feedback and make changes based on audience feedback and group reflection. You can click HERE for a copy of our plan.

What we are making, Why we are Making, Who we are Making for:

Today there are many students who feel that they don’t belong or don’t have a strong support group of friends. We want to help students feel included and supported by their peers so that they have a more positive school experience both academically and socially.


Maker Skill Builders & Highlights

Setting the Stage

A short video that highlights the maker process

Link HERE to video

Texts Rooted in Empathy

Various texts we read that set the stage for developing empathy


Skill Builders

Classroom Problems

Ready, Set, Design

Disruptus


Process Leading Up To and Including Prototyping

Video highlighting beginning process

Link HERE to video

Student Product Samples



Students created a student survey and asked the whole school to answer one question about feeling invisible.


Students found that about 70% of the student population had felt invisible at one time or another.


Students brainstormed ways that they could help solve the problem of students feeling like they were invisible.


Students narrowed down ideas and finally settled on their favorite after completing a pro/con list for each idea.


Students designed what their Buddy Stand would look like.


Students designed what their Buddy Stand would look like.


Students designed what their Buddy Stand would look like.


Students chose a final design to use for their prototype.


Students created a list of materials that they would need.


The construction crew used cardboard pieces covered in paper to design the Buddy Stand.


The Buddy stand was completed according to their agreed upon plan.


Students came up with rules for the Buddy Stand and typed them for display.


Students created a script to read over the broadcast system to tell others in the school about the Buddy Stand.


Students put the Buddy Stand out at recess.


Students could step up to the stand to receive a buddy to play with at recess.

Additional Teacher Resources & Reproducibles:

Observed Problems in the Classroom HERE

School Related Observed Problems HERE

Instructional Read Aloud Stop and Jot HERE

Sample Student Idea Recording Chart HERE

Paper Copy of Student Need Survey HERE

"Invisible Boy" Planning Document HERE

Must know tips for Teachers:

Keep a running list of meaningful texts rooted in empathy.

After choosing a specific text, think about the various problems presented. This will help you brainstorm various solutions that might surface, therefore helping you determine what supplies you might need for students.

Setting the stage and engaging in skill builders is critical...embrace this time and reflect upon it with students.

Plan out ample time for prototyping, testing, and revision...this is where the magic happens!