Implementing a Project

In order to prepare for a successful project I would need to organize myself first! My first step would be to preview some books in the library and have the librarian help me create a cart of books that are geared towards the topics my students are working with. Next I would preview some websites and have our librarian add them to the 5th grade research link. Since my students have never created a brochure I would need to create some samples to show them. I would need to schedule the computer lab for the days we would need research. The more I am organized, the more successful and at ease my students will be.

Congratulations! You have finished the Intel Teach Essentials Course! Now that all of the hard work is behind you, take the time to reflect about what you have learned.

It has been my good fortune to have lead you through this course. Thank you for your courtesy and support. I know that you will find that your students will benefit from your experience here.

Of everything you learned, what do you think will have the biggest impact on student learning?
Read all of your colleagues’ responses and start a conversation with any that interest you

Showcasing Your Portfolio

Showcasing products created with technology tools often demands different methods of facilitation than showcasing products created with more traditional tools. Share ideas for showcasing projects in your own classroom:
Which of the showcasing ideas could you most easily incorporate into your own classroom?
What would you need to do to prepare your students for an effective showcase?
How could you support students in providing constructive feedback to their peers?
What strategies could you use to ensure students use the feedback from their peers as well as their self-assessments to improve their work?

Browse your colleagues’ responses and note any ideas you can use with your own students.

Implementing a project

I would need to arrange time in a computer lab, or access to a laptop cart. I would also need to purchase the wood, glue, boxcutters, wax-paper etc before hand. We would need access to a lab or area to leave the bridges to dry. It all comes down to knowing the project well enough to plan ahead so there are no surprises or down times for the kids.

Self-directed learners and the role of differentiation

How ironic that this is the topic I am blogging on after I attended training this week on response to intervention which stresses the need for differentiation. When I went back to school this week and spoke to some other teachers they all have their input on how time consuming it is, etc. But a thought struck me this week and I am still thinking about it this weekend. Each and every day I hear teachers, including myself, talk about the way students have changed over the last however many years. All of our students are on different levels, come from different economic situations, and have a variety of learning problems. How then are we to meet the needs of all of our learners? DIFFERENTIATION!!!! It sounds like a lot of work and effort, but I once took a staff development session called "Start small, don't just stand still" and I believe that says it all. Even though it seems time-consuming and difficult, take one step at a time and eventually you will build a variety of lessons and strategies to pull it off. It is better to a little, than to not do anything at all. I became a teacher to educate and enrich the lives of the students I teach. It is my job and my responsibility to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to learn no matter what level they are on.

Student Assessments

I think the key to having students assess themselves is to teach them how to do that. We can't just present them with an assessment or rubric and trust that they will be able to accurately complete it. Especially in the elementary levels, students will base the value of a project on what looks nice rather than the quality of the work. We recently finished food chain stackers and I had my students help me pick some projects to hang in the hallway. Several students picked a project that had awesome illustrations and coloring, but the organisms in the food chain were out of order and were not labeled properly. They never even considered that. They immediately chose the one that looked the best. Before I turn over a self-assessment to my students, I will need to go through each section and explain what they are looking for and maybe give them examples of what would fall in to each category. It is not impossible, but will take some extra effort to get a true response.

Student Centered Assess

It's hard for me to let go of "the old ways"...where everything is---was---teacher centered.

Now, I'm learning to let go and give the students more responsibilities. Assessing oneself or peer assess...really can take a load off a teacher....And, to tell ya the truth isn't that when we learn the most....looking back and reflecting upon it all. All this has been a real learning experience!