Peaks and Canyons

I would have to say that our reading blogs are going very well.  Students have gotten into the routine of getting their iPods at the start of class, silent reading and blogging their inner voice.  Stephanie and I have gotten into the routine of providing feedback on their blogs weekly.  This has become a well oiled machine.  What hasn't become routine, is students posting feedback to each other.  We have set each student up with a blog buddy.  They are to be posting a star (something that student is doing well) and a stair (something that student can work on) using the class rubric that we created earlier in the year.  However, not everyone is posting.  Students are to be posting on their blog buddy's blog during the first few minutes of tech class twice a week.  I wonder if Stephanie and I need to incorporate time in our class to ensure that this happens more regularly.  At least until it becomes routine.  

The Social Studies Wiki has yielded some AMAZINGLY deep thinking from the 6th grade.  I am blown away by it.  But I am disappointed by the lack of student involvement.  It seems to be a select few who continue to post.  So we are not reaching every student with this Wiki.  I wonder why - is it because some students fear posting because of spelling, or is it more of a technological issue and they can't remember their log in?  Or are they done with the topic?  We are about to launch into our next investigation - Mexican Immigration - a highly charged topic that may elicit more comments.  Any suggestions on how to reach all students with the Wiki?

We may try Survey Monkey and take a climate/readiness survey.  Will keep you posted...

Chapter 6 Review

I like how it was suggested in Chapter 6 of Reinventing Project-Based Learning that teachers should "Take time to inspire interest and learning what students already know and care about (95)" before launching a project.  Creating an immersion into a project helps to inspire and excite students about the upcoming work.  It may also help to aleviate student concern over the project as well if they aren't thrust into the project. 

I agree one hundred percent that teachers should teach "the fundamentals first (100)."  From experience, it is important to front load students with knowledge to give them the self confidence that they will need to perservear through a project.  It is difficult to, when first starting off, to identify what the fundamentals are, and easy to overlook things - especially with new technology.  Therefore, it is essential that you be transparnet with your students.  When you find you have made an error, and you need to take a few steps back with your students, you have to be able to swallow your teacher pride and take those few steps back with your students in order to move them forward.

There are a few things I would like to investigate further:

• I would like to see examples of Project Logs of Project Journals - sometimes I need to see examples of things before I can move forwad with them.  
• I would also like to further check out Screencasting - I have not heard of it until reading about it in this chapter.