Teachers of the 2008 NWP Annual Report: Yumi Matsui

Publication: 2008 NWP Annual Report

Summary: Meet Yumi Matsui, Life Academy High School, Oakland, California; teacher-consultant, Bay Area Writing Project.

Digital stories give voice to students who don't always participate in class.

NWP 2008 Annual Report

• View the Annual Report (PDF)

"Digital stories give voice to students who don't always participate in class," says Yumi Matsui.

A high school humanities teacher, Yumi also observes that "individual talents can shine." Yumi offers her students a modern-day connection to history along with new digital literacy skills. Over a semester, eleventh-graders study immigration by interviewing family or community members.

Working with a partner, they compose a digital story that will debut on exhibition night with their families as the audience. In the process, students work through multiple drafts and revisions, adding selected audio and video. As eleventh-grader Israel explains, "We put all the effort and time into the story because we are making it about someone who has sacrificed."

"What I wrote about my grandpa was the best stuff I ever wrote," says Adriana, eleventh grade student. "It really meant a lot to me. When I read it back to my grandpa, he said it was perfect."

Resources Featuring Yumi Matsui

• Literacy, ELL, and Digital Storytelling: 21st Century Learning in Action
• New Digital Media in the Lives of Our Children at Home and School

Other 2008 NWP Annual Report Profiles

• Renee Webster, Red Cedar Writing Project
• Robert Rivera-Amezola, Philadelphia Writing Project
• Bud Hunt, Colorado State University Writing Project
• Felicia George, New York City Writing Project