Tracye's+Project+-+Discussion

=Tracye's Project - Discussion=

Getting Started:

I must admit that working with someone else is really difficult for me to do, especially when I'm not really that clear on what I should be doing. However, after really separating myself for the world basically, and hearing from my partner I'm getting it. We are creating our own lesson, but helping each other out? I'm really glad about using the online community to communicate and virtually connect with my partner. I'm planning for the students to use the required reading in their literacy circles to answer and pose questions about the book and respond to their peers thoughts as well.

Okay, yesterday went quite well. I found several lesson plans that I was able to adapt to the lesson plans that I already had. I guess you can say it will be a hodgepodge of various ideas and strategies rolled into one effective plan that would integrate technology and engage students by improve reading, writing, and oral vocabulary skills as well as creating a love of literacy. I hope I'm on the right path. :( From your understanding of the task at hand, Pam what do you think?


 * Pam:** Tracye, I agree that it can be difficult doing collaboration with someone else, let alone someone you really don't know. I know that since we're both librarians that we can offer some beneficial suggestions to each other for consideration.

About your project idea....can you explain a little about "required reading"? Are these books that students must read at their grade level or their reading level or for this project? Also, are these fiction or non-fiction books? (or does it not matter). I saw your link about animal research....so I also wondered how that would fit with your project.

You are lucky that you found lesson plans to adapt. I love the idea that your goal is to engage the students in the activities while working on their reading, writing, oral vocabulary skills, and love of literacy. This is so important in elementary school. This approach also opens so many doors for technology tools that you can use.


 * Tracye:** Title of our lesson, "Animals All Around Us". The students will be paired to work together in cooperative learning groups. The required reading would be a nonfiction book on an animal of the student's choice. I want the students to read what interest them, so so their collaboration and communication with their classmates will be effective. Grade level reading is not required, however students should select a book within their ZPD to be able to effectively participate with the online discussion and feedback.

I'm planning for PebbleGo to be used as a second reference source. A source students can use to support the "Animal All Around Us"literacy sheet. (Does this help, or is it too much?)


 * Pam -** I agree that letting students pick the animal of their choice would help to keep their interest in the lesson/project. Here is another website to consider to use. It's not as interactive and colorful as the PebbleGo database, but information is good and easy to find. The site is the Enchanted Learning - Little Explorers Picture Dictionary. I like it because if its simplicity. I've used it with grades 1, 2, 3. I'm vaguely recalling that your lesson was involving grade 3 (but I may be mistaken). If so, though, the Little Explorers Picture Dictionary has very diagrams for most animals and the diagrams show physical adaptations--which is a 3rd grade SOL. The information is presented well with good subheads.

How were you planning to have students share or report their information?


 * Tracye** - At the end of the unit the students will present their report in presentation format (orally or keynote), {this will be a collaboration project with the teachers help} I'll record them with the flip camera/video camera, download them and sync them on the iPods. Have any other suggestions for reporting out?