Elementary Students Explore French-Canadian Christmas Traditions

by Polycom Employee & Moderator polycshuck Polycom Employee & Moderator on ‎12-08-2011 07:01 AM

Elementary Students Explore French-Canadian Christmas Traditions

 

Elementary students explored French-Canadian Christmas traditions in their interview with Margaret Willey and her book, Clever Beatrice Christmas. This is the third Clever Beatrice book, that are all based on French-Canadian folklore and set in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The students again, had great, thoughtful and interesting questions for Mrs. Willey:

 

  • What did you learn about writing the Clever Beatrice books?
  • How does writing make you feel?
  • Why did they bring their flour home on a sled?
  • Which is your favorite book that you’ve written?
  • What suggestions would you have for us as writers?
  • Will you write another Clever Beatrice book? This answer pointed to an interesting element of folktales. The number three is very important, i.e., the three bears, the three little pigs, etc. In this book Clever Beatrice gathers 3 items from Pere Noel to prove he is real to her friends. The number three symbolizes perfection and completeness so Mrs. Willey feels 3 Clever Beatrice books are perfect!

Polycom has offered this program every year for the 5 years, and probably will continue to do so. So watch their website for registration details. They have openings in other similar programs too.

 

Blog by Sue Porter Polycom Education Consultant

 

About the Author
  • Lynnette Whitfield Director, Asia Pacific (APAC), Education Industry Solutions With over 13 years in the Unified Collaborations industry, Lynnette is responsible for driving strategic business and academic initiatives and solutions for educational institutions. Based in Melbourne-Australia, Ms. Whitfield assists educational institutions across Asia Pacific to transform the way they teach, communicate and collaborate by leveraging Polycom’s high-quality voice and visual communications. Lynnette also spearheads two divisions; Polycom’s APAC Content Provider Program (where she recruits, and develops Museums, Zoo’s and Science Technology Centres who offer programs to K-12 schools) and Polycom APAC Special Events program which in 2011 offers over curriculum based programs for schools across Asia Pacific.
  • Marci Powell is Global Director for Education at Polycom and Chair Emerita and Past President of the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA). Powell is a classroom teacher, administrator, and industry expert in the field of educational technology with extensive experience in applications related to lifelong learning and innovation. She serves as an advisor to public and private sectors in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, and Asia Pacific sharing global best practices and trends in education as a fellow educator and futurist. Her articles on distance learning have appeared in publications such as USA Today and has been quoted in numerous publications such as Financial Times, University Business Magazine, and Auckland Herald.
  • Elaine Shuck, with a background in technology, curriculum, and integration, is the Director of Education for Polycom. She is a leader in collaborative learning and interactive videoconferencing. For sixteen years she has brought stimulating and engaging learning opportunities to K-20 classrooms. Her work ranges from hands-on demonstrations to educators, to reaching out to Polycom’s corporate partners, to facilitating hybrid solutions that enhance education and training. Prior to Polycom, Ms. Shuck was Director of South Dakota’s Interactive Videoconferencing Smart Centers. She also served as distance learning coordinator for South Dakota Public Schools where she consulted on distance learning programs, medical education, and corporate training segments at hundreds of sites statewide. Elaine is an expert in her field and a frequent speaker. Audiences around the world – both face-to-face and through videoconferencing – respond enthusiastically to Ms. Shuck’s lively style, technical mastery, and commitment to learning. She has designed and implemented programs that inspire faculty and students as they interact with world-class luminaries in medicine, education, or noteworthy events. Her work has garnered major awards from the International Society for Technology in Education and the US Distance Learning Association (USDLA). An authority on social and connective media, collaborative learning, and best practices in distance learning, Elaine works with a host of educational groups and serves on the USDLA Board of Directors