Formative Assessments Within PBL Units:

Dr. Monica Burns always has great digital resources, and I love using them within PBL units. Here are some great ways to start implementing quick, easy and engaging formative assessments:

5 Tips for Formative Assessments

PBL Students Searching Online

PBL Students Searching Online

As the Digital Literacy Coach of students grades K-8 at The Children's School, I often support student research for classroom projects, as well as research for projects in my specialists classes. Typing the question right into the search bar is the strategy I frequently see students use when finding answers to a question. Of course there are pitfalls to this strategy. Using this classroom data to inform instruction, I will then usually teach a lesson about keywords and narrowing down a topic, etc. 

What I realize I should also be doing is encouraging classroom teachers (along with myself) to share their search stories out-loud when doing an online search in class. This is similar to the idea of showing your mistakes and modeling how to fix them, including your self-talk out-loud, in front of your students. It will be crucial to include what to do when you don't get the results you want, when there are too many responses, or when there is conflicting information. 

As I reflect, I realize I do this all the time when I am researching a topic for a lesson or presentation. I need to put aside a few minutes to model how this process progresses and how I problem solve as problems occur.

Next Step for 2nd Grade Block Coding

So we have just about finished our introduction to the blocks in scratchjr. When we return from holiday break, 2nd graders will review using beebots and will learn how to use the beebot app. Then, we will be ready to build challenges for each other. Does anyone have experience or ideas for this?

Almost Spring!

And time for our unit on the declining monarch population.
Found a great article for families:
http://theherbexchange.com/help-bring-back-the-monarch-butterfly-with-asclepias-tuberosa/?utm_source=WC+All+Customers&utm_campaign=8f2c50eb3a-Growing_a_Kitchen_Herb_Garden_2_20_2016&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_5f4e0522f7-8f2c50eb3a-175905545&mc_cid=8f2c50eb3a&mc_eid=24246e3581

Most Likely to Succeed

So glad I've been doing it right all along:) Just made play-doh for our weathering/erosion experiment for our new unit about Earth's changing land forms. Can't wait to share our challenge...
see the site 
#pblchat

Didn't know Reading A-Z had PBL units...

Just found a new page that had a unit I can easily use AND it will be better than what I've done in the past...driving question is:
How does our school demonstrate an understanding of equality and respect for all people? 
This will fit perfectly into our African American History/Historical Fiction unit.  They have some anchor texts and I will still use the ones I like too, such as Granddaddy's Gift.

https://www.readinga-z.com/project-based-learning/project-based-learning-packs/

New PBL Unit 2015-16

Can't wait to begin work on our new SS unit Processes That Shape the Earth.  Love how the NSTA standards really lend themselves to PBL.

Has anyone done this unit already?

Thinking about the guiding questions:
What processes shape the Earth?
How do people respond to the changes?

New PBL Unit

2nd Grade Life Cycles Unit-why not PBL?
We will be studying the declining Monarch population, GMOs, and milkweed.  Covers plant and animal life cycles AND allows for interest based problem solving/solutions.

https://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/monarch/conservation_overview.html

We have 2 raised beds for each class at our school (TCS)...what other forms can this take?

My students are beginning to bring in their vacation map projects.  The first one out of the gate is a website; perfect in every way including how I can hear the child's voice in her work.

Welcome

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to 

live forever."    Mahatma Gandhi

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use

 to change the world.”    Nelson Mandela