Week 9 Blog
"Third-grade students at Rockledge Elementary join thousands of kids across North America to track migration patterns of butterflies and other species as part of this online project." What are the key learning and technology integration strategies that make this work? Does the curriculum support Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)? If you taught at Rockledge School, what talents and ideas do you have to contribute to the school's success?
The key learning strategies that make this work ties back in with project based learning. With project based learning, "students develop deep content knowledge as well as critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, and communication skills. Project Based Learning unleashes a contagious, creative energy among students and teachers." (pblworks.org). The curriculum supports CCSS and NGSS by allowing students to be active, critical thinking participants in their own learning. Two of the eight practices of NGSS apply to this project in particular, planning and carrying out investigations as well as analyzing and interpreting data (knowatom.com). I thought it was so neat that these children at Rockledge Elementary were able to actually experience the butterfly emerging from its chrysalis. As mentioned in the video, this is something these children will remember for a long time. When children have positive, memorable experiences while learning it creates an exciting space for future academic adventures.
The article Invisible Learning by Jim Dillon I feel really captures the essence of the practices of NGSS even though the content discussed in the article did not directly involve scientific projects. Jim saw students creating authentic scenarios from their everyday lives inside the classroom. Students were asking for help spelling words on the menus they were creating while others were creating fantastic art pieces with crayons. The children that Jim observed were learning through play. Thomas Edison did not simply wake up one day and create the lightbulb, nor did Albert Einstein awake reciting the Theory of Relativity. In order to learn, you must do, and with that comes the inevitable reality of failing. I too find it sad that the teacher of this classroom in the article did not recognize the rich learning experiences these children were being exposed to and thought of it as wasted time. While learning in the classroom does require some structure, the importance of kinesthetic, hands-on experiences needs to have more time in the spotlight. My hope is that I bring these experiences to my future classroom and remember that learning is not a black and white scenario, but an ongoing experience intertwined with all the happenings of our lives.
Bethany, yes, I so agree. Studying monarchs is a common lesson in 3rd grade that fits with the Common Core and NGSS standards. Journey North seems like they've created a very cool way for children to study the monarch's migration pattern, while interacting with students all over the globe. Ms. Koontz' students looked fully engaged doing this assignment. I also loved Journey North's mystery classroom game. I believe that's the same game we saw the kids so excited about in Mrs. Yollis' class. That seems like another great way to teach kids how to do internet research in an authentic and engaging activity that connects them with the world. Real life experiences, like these and the ones Jim Dillon described in his article, are crucial for student interest and success.
ReplyDeleteI loved how Ms. Koontz explained that the kids use their best handwriting and grammar when writing to the new friends they've made in other countries through this lesson. If I was hired at Rockledge Elementary and my class didn't already have a classroom blog, I would establish one there to give these kids an easy way to stay connected with some of their sister-classrooms around the globe.
Since this is a lesson many schools do every year, I would also consider establishing a garden there so that our students could see the monarch cycle first hand. The kids looked truly amazed watching the butterfly emerge from the cocoon. This is a video that my son's 3rd grade class made when they were studying the life cycle of the monarch butterfly. Making a video like this is another great way to engage kids. They helped with everything from writing the script, to editing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNzIm60xJ5U&t=150s
Yes! I would love to establish a garden at my school if there wasn't already one! The students could see the monarch cycle first hand, and they could learn responsibility from it as well maybe taking turns watering the plants and other things that needed to be done. Another reason I think a school garden would be beneficial would be to help close the food disparity gap in children from low income households while also providing fresh fruits and vegetables, or even just a pretty flower to take home to a loved one.
DeleteYes Em, I would establish a blog because as we all know that is a very fun and interactive way to connect with others! I also enjoyed watching the Butterly come out and its those things that kids will remember for a lifetime! Yes, I would love to also incorporate a garden of monarchs by my classroom if possible because they can make so many observations everyday and learn so much!
DeleteAfter watching the video, I think children were very involved and learned through hands on real life science experience. The children got a chance to act as scientists, making observations of natural phenomena right outside their classroom door and sharing their findings with their peers and scientists around the globe using technology. The product the created was not only viewed by their teachers but by other students around the globe. They got to practice their writing skill because they know that other students are actually going to read their letters and respond to it, this is a great way to get students involved with technology in class. it helps keep the students interest and the need to go explore more. I liked Em idea of creating a garden so we can make the monarch cycle taught in 3rd grade as close to the real life experience as possible and as stated also by Bethany the garden can be used in so many other ways to meet many science common core standards about plants, seeds, living things .. and many others. I will as a future teacher try to incorporate these new learning strategies to make learning more fun and engaging for children.
DeleteWhile watching the video I loved seeing how engaged the children were. The whole writing back to someone in Mexico and getting a letter with their version of a butterfly back makes it that much more meaningful! Like in the video it said, "children watch their grammar, spelling, and are really into the writing process because they know someone on the other side of the world is going to read it and respond back". Now that to me is powerful because we want students to have fun while learning. This whole idea of project based learning is just wonderful. They became scientists, played games while learning was happening, cooperative with others, and they had all of this inside their classroom as well as outside of their classroom. It hits the NGSS and the CCSS by having the students be involved and become critical thinkers on their own. I agree with Bethany that in the article regarding the teacher who did not realize how much reach activity was going on through play and just thought of it as wasted time was really sad to read because through play that is where the kids imagination really starts! I work at a preschool and that article reminded me of my job and how much we let the kids have free play and so much language comes out of it. I see it everyday and it so wonderful to see where my kids are at versus at the beginning of the year. They have really evolved over the span of almost a year! We have to consider those moments because we want kids to have that for a lifetime!
ReplyDeleteJacki , I agree with you children in the video were very engaged in the learning process and worked really well in making their writing perfect because they knew that someone else is going to read and respond to their writing. As stated in the article using a computer program called Journey North that have activities and database for kids to use to record results as well as communicate with and learn about people from all over the world. This allows the teacher to use hands on and visual learning strategies that has a long lasting effect and endless teaching memories for both students and teachers. As mentioned by Ems, creating a blog is an amazing idea to keep children connected and share their knowledge and new learning experience with their classmates and with other children around the globe as well as bringing other children's experience on the same topic to learn from it in their own classroom.
DeleteJacki,
DeleteThis semester has really emphasized the importance of play in the learning process. Before, I probably would have felt that same way as the other teacher. Now I'm excited to incorporate these opportunities in the classroom. The students often learn more from each other and giving them the space to do so is important. That's so wonderful that you see that in your preschoolers. I love to see how much the students learn and change in the course of the year.
We need to incorporate more hands on and visual learning strategies so the students become more independent not so dependent on us as the teacher because we won't be there by their side all the time. We are there to be facilitators and give them the tools they need in order to become successful! It is fascinating what you get to observe when they do free play.
DeleteThe more I learn about schools that emphasize project based learning the more I would like to try it in my future classroom. It's amazing to see how these hands on activities positively impact the students engagement. It allows students to to come to their own conclusions and use their natural curiosity to explore. I enjoyed watching the children learn about the monarchs and take on the role of a scientist. The letter writing to Mexico seems like a wonderful idea to get students to interact with others from a different culture and realize that what they encounter in the classroom is also present around the world.
ReplyDeleteIn the article "Invisible Learning" by Jim Dillon the quote that stood out to me was,"Teachers can play, explore and learn with their students. They can use what they learn from those experiences to craft more engaging lessons..." It's easy to become preoccupied with the learning objectives, lesson plans, and time management. When we learn more about our students and their interest we are able to create lessons that they connect with. There are quite a few students who don't care or feel that what they are learning is pointless. When the teacher makes those real world connections and strives to make it engaging for their students, they are creating an optimal learning environment for them.