Our Story Project :)

Last week we talked about the story. What it will looks like, who will be the hero, and we saw the difference between a story and a story line. A story line is for example the skeleton of the story and the story is all things which are around it.

We had had lots of ideas. Even if it was great and pleasant we take it very seriously. It is very funny to think about what type of stories children would like. We had founded some interesting ideas. I really like the end because it is really unexpected from the reader. But I can’t tell u more. We have lots of different  ideas but on Monday it will be more clear and Brintha will be with us it is great.

What it looks like to be sick!

Hello everyone,

I had a headache. It was a really terrible headache that I had, which stuck me to my bed for about one week. However, I am back, full of energy, motivation and excited by our project, which is in fact growing though little by little.

I also was in touch with Alexia, and she gave me some precious informations about our story, so we developed some ideas. I invited the girls to come at home on sunday, but I guess we all had lots of work to do,  so we'll see that during the holidays, hoping that everyone will be free.

I still didn't have the oppurtinity to write about what we did last week, being not present because of my headache, however, I'll post some more serious and interesting article about what we will do on next Monday !

May we all have lots of ideas !

Class of the 02/11/2013

On Monday, we started an interesting and quite important part : The skeleton of our story.

Language : We learnt some vocabulary around a story, especially the outline. I found the image truly interesting. The outline of the story is like a skeleton, and everything that is going to nourish it, is more like the blood, the veins, the skin. This image please me because it really helps to understand how a story is made and where to begin. It makes me think about drawing. When you draw, you do not do the  final drawing right away. First, you draw a sketch with the contours, with what will help you to do a first idea, a first vision. And thanks to this sketch, the real stuff will follow; you will full each part of the drawing, add some details, some shadows and colors, until the drawing is finished.

Pedagogy : We began to think about the main points of a story like the hero (age, name, gender), the style, the narrative person (1st person singular or 3rd person singular), etc... We chose each point according to what children would prefer. We really want them to have fun, to be interested and to identify themselves to the hero. :)
But, even with this idea in mind, it was not so easy to choose, especially in just 1 hour. Why ? Because these main points gathered form the skeleton.

Technology : We did not use technology this time. It was more about thinking.

Collaboration : This time, we were (again), 2/3. It is a pity, but that kind of things happens. Our comrade being sick, Salima and I made the skeleton. In an other hand, it was maybe easier to create the skeleton because we were only two, and so we both gave ideas and had something to say about it.
The difficulty is that Brintha could not give her opinion, and when you are absent twice, it is not easy to catch up, and in a way, you are less close to the other. It is more sad for her, but I explained to her what we chose, what we thought about and I think she will be fine. I will pay attention to it. And next time, we should be the three of us, so it is great and I am really looking forward to it !

Class of the 02/04/2013

Hello Everybody !

It's been a while ! (Just joking)

This is my first post about the class itself. "Why" you ask me ? Well, it is quite simple.
The first week, we did not create the blog yet. The second week, I was very sick (flu, I hate you!). I am still sorry for Brintha, because I was looking forward this class so much, and I really did not manage to be absent. But, well, the blog was still unknown. The third week I was cured. Salima was here too, but Brintha was absent. Well, bad luck happens...

For my first post, I will exactly follow the document with the points to reflect on. For my next posts, maybe I will do it with a different presentation.

To summarize briefly, during this class, we learnt how to use a freeware called "SimpleMind Free". It is like doing a brainstorming, but that you can directly re-organize. Each main theme has a color, to prevent us from mixing up everything. You can create as many mind map as you want, and save them. For us, the purpose was to brainstorm about the benefits of a good story and its characteristics.
In the end of the class, we saw pictures of different known characters and learnt how much the appearance is important. By facial expressions, clothes, colors, a child will instantaneously classify the character in the good or the bad guy category.

Language Improvement : 
I did not really have problems to understand. My true problem is that sometimes, I know the word, but it does not want to come out. It is the same for ideas. I always have plenty after and before, but when the moment comes, it is like they hide from me. I do not know where it comes from, maybe self-confidence, but I will definitely try to settle it.

Pedagogy :
Decisions are important while making a story for children. You have to think about the language, how you will increase their curiosity and their open-mindedness, maybe about a moral... And moreover, you have to create the story itself, with its hero, its other characters, its plan, its dialogues, its happy-ending... It is not that easy. I think it takes time, patience and motivation. But I like creating, and I look forward to it! Before this class, I knew all this, in general, but now it is more clear and detailed.

Use of Technology :
Nowadays, children are used to computers, TV, Cinema... Technology are part of their world, and our. Thanks to computers, software, and others, it is easier to catch their attention since the pictures (characters) can move. Even if, it is not the only important thing, it is quite helping. For now, I do not have problems, since I am used to technology.

Collaboration :
We did not know each other to begin with. We gave each other mail and phone number, but the communication is quite a problem. I speak about the blog for a while, but if I had not take the decision to create it, it would not have been done. I also wanted to add my comrades, but no answers. Maybe I would be luckier on Monday, who knows. I hope, we will solve this problem, because making a story like that is not the best way. But, well, I am optimist, we will do a great story! :)

Welcome in our little blog !

Hi Everybody !

We gladly welcome you in our "Story Project" blog !

Here, you will have the opportunity to discover our evolution concerning the creation of our story.

Over the posts, it will be your choice to comment (or not) something we have written on. A blog being a place of sharing, you are strongly encourage to give your opinion (we do not bite, we swear). 

The foundation stone being laid...

Have a nice discovery and ENJOY ! 

Alexia, Brintha and Salima

Picture "improved" by Alexia. With this picture, I leave you with a little quote from Christopher Moore : " Children see magic, because they look for it." :)