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Freshmen learn of Angel Potato Revolution (17 photos, video)

Freshmen+sample+book+selections+for+the+new+Ninth+Grade+Project%2C+the+goal+of+which+is+to+get+students+to+unplug.+Credit%3A+Megan+Kearney%2FThe+Foothill+Dragon+Press
Freshmen sample book selections for the new Ninth Grade Project, the goal of which is to get students to unplug. Credit: Megan Kearney/The Foothill Dragon Press
Freshmen sample book selections for the new Ninth Grade Project, the goal of which is to get students to unplug. Credit: Megan Kearney/The Foothill Dragon Press

Freshman gathered in Spirito Hall Monday morning for the introduction of a new project for all Education in the Digital Age students, the slogan of which is the “Angel Potato Revolution” The goal of this “revolution” is to encourage students to unplug themselves from technology.

Project creators Kristen Pelfrey and Connie Carr are asking their EDA students to choose three to five books to read for pleasure. The students will be choosing books from the YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association) Top 100 Best Fiction for Young Adult lists.

Throughout the course of the project, students will be communicating with authors through email, blogs and posting on the author’s forum. To help with writing skills, students will be writing book reviews that will later be posted on online review sites like Barnes and Noble. Students will also be creating storyboards, posters and book jackets. Freshman Odalis Perez is excited to finally get the chance to read books that are not assigned reading material.“I will be looking forward to reading a good book of my choice,” she said. “I love reading.”Students had the opportunity to talk with two authors in the media center during the project launch, both of whom donated their time to the students. Andrew Smith joined students to talk about what it is like to be a writer, and A.S. King also talked with the students via Skype.

“Sometimes as writers, we don’t get to do what we love to do most: read,” said Smith when asked about his favorite books.

King talked to the students about how they should not let go of their dreams.

“I had to write seven novels before I was published,” she said.

Perez was very happy that Smith and King encouraged her to not give up, even if it takes a couple of tries.

“It was nice to know that it is possible for people to reach their goals,” said Perez.

Perez is looking forward to reading a book published by one of the two authors that she met Monday.

Other rotations that the students participated in included carnival games and book reading, to help them narrow down what books they plan on reading for their project.

Pelfrey and Carr did not put on the rally alone; they had help from parent volunteers Linda Kopp, Karen Myring, Cheryl Shaw, and Martha McIntyre as well as former EDA students to organize activities and encourage students to read.

“It is a way to become reconnected with books and try to get students to broaden their horizons with reading,” said sophomore Manaila Woods who helped Pelfrey organize the event.

To close out the day students checked out books that they were interested in reading, and took them home so they could unplug and read.

 
Editor’s Note: This article was updated at 9:35 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 10 in order to correct that the “Angel Potato Revolution” is not the Ninth Grade Project. 
 

Credit: Megan Kearney & Maddy Schmitt/The Foothill Dragon Press

Credit: Kazu Koba & Erin Maidman/The Foothill Dragon Press

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Freshmen learn of Angel Potato Revolution (17 photos, video)