Today, the paper on the economic system was due, yet several kids told me they didn't have their paper. A couple of kids told me it was because they were absent one day this week, but today that excuse didn't fly. I explained to kids that they were given the due date of December 15 on December 5, and that the date has been posted in the room since Monday on the planning board.
Doing a project like this asks students to apply knowledge, it's not memorizing facts to use on a multiple-choice test. It is a more difficult task, but I feel it's more important that simple memorization. I know students are at different places, developmentally, but I know they have been engaged in group work in elementary school. This is where one learns to use time effectively, work with a group, and set/meet daily goals. We will be doing at least one more group project this year, so hopefully students will take away from this activity a little knowledge about group work.
Unless your child is still working on their Economic paragraph, there is no homework today.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
It's Time!!
Today, groups began their presentations. It was interesting to watch a few groups "scramble" to complete work because they either hadn't worked as a group during work time or had trouble with time management. However, everyone managed to get something on poster board and turned in, so there was success.
Today and tomorrow each group will present its country to the rest of the class. The presentations have been interesting, and the kids really "know" their countries. I enjoy seeing their imaginations at work.
Tomorrow, the INDIVIDUAL paper(paragraph) about the economy of the group's country is due. I've been saying, for the past six days, that each student needs to turn in a paper about their country's economy. I shared an example paper yesterday, and explained that I should be walking out of school on Thursday with 135 papers to read over winter break. So, the only HOMEWORK is the individual paper.
Thanks,
Cathy
Today and tomorrow each group will present its country to the rest of the class. The presentations have been interesting, and the kids really "know" their countries. I enjoy seeing their imaginations at work.
Tomorrow, the INDIVIDUAL paper(paragraph) about the economy of the group's country is due. I've been saying, for the past six days, that each student needs to turn in a paper about their country's economy. I shared an example paper yesterday, and explained that I should be walking out of school on Thursday with 135 papers to read over winter break. So, the only HOMEWORK is the individual paper.
Thanks,
Cathy
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
The Projects
"The projects are due tomorrow, bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow, the projects are due."
An homage to "Annie", which the High School will be preforming at some point this year, but I digress. The Group Projects are due tomorrow, December 14. Because we have had shortened hours yesterday and today, I will be giving each class the first 30 minutes of class time to put on the finishing touches. If a group is done, the kids will be free to work on their individual paper, based on their country's economy, that is due on Thursday.
There seems to be some "mystery" around the individual paper. I'm not sure why; I've mentioned it every day since the project was introduced, it is mentioned at least three times in the planning packet each kid received, and it's written in two places in the classroom. Today I shared an example with each class, so hopefully everything is clear. I'm not sure what other steps I can take; it now becomes the responsibility of each student to make sure the work is complete.
Thanks,
Cathy
An homage to "Annie", which the High School will be preforming at some point this year, but I digress. The Group Projects are due tomorrow, December 14. Because we have had shortened hours yesterday and today, I will be giving each class the first 30 minutes of class time to put on the finishing touches. If a group is done, the kids will be free to work on their individual paper, based on their country's economy, that is due on Thursday.
There seems to be some "mystery" around the individual paper. I'm not sure why; I've mentioned it every day since the project was introduced, it is mentioned at least three times in the planning packet each kid received, and it's written in two places in the classroom. Today I shared an example with each class, so hopefully everything is clear. I'm not sure what other steps I can take; it now becomes the responsibility of each student to make sure the work is complete.
Thanks,
Cathy
Monday, December 12, 2011
The Deadline is Nigh!
Today the students are working on their group projects, with one day before the Group Poster is due. The poster is due Wednesday, December 14. The Group Project has been our focus since December 6th, and each day there has been a goal for each group to complete to stay "on schedule". There has also been information posted in class regarding needed information for the poster. All this information is also in the planning packet each student received when the project was introduced.
We had an Orchestra concert today,and we will have a Band concert tomorrow. This means the class hours are shortened, by about 10 minutes, but there is still plenty of time to complete this Group Assignment. I'm looking forward to hearing the group presentations on Wednesday!!
Thanks,
Cathy
We had an Orchestra concert today,and we will have a Band concert tomorrow. This means the class hours are shortened, by about 10 minutes, but there is still plenty of time to complete this Group Assignment. I'm looking forward to hearing the group presentations on Wednesday!!
Thanks,
Cathy
Thursday, December 8, 2011
And so it goes....
We continued today to work on the "Create a Country" group projects. Each day I post the days' goal; today each member of the group should have completed the Economy planning page (page 5 in the planning packet). I've told the kids that this will be of the utmost help when they write their individual paper (really a one or two paragraph paper) on their country's economy.
Some groups are working together better than others, but I continually remind the kids that the project is due next week. I've also told them that goals that aren't met by the end of class on Friday will become homework. Everyone should be ready to start "building" the country poster on Monday. I'd like the posters to not have to go home on Tuesday; the paper is on the thin side and doesn't travel well.
There is no homework tonight, but you might want to ask your child about their Economic paper.
Thanks,
Cathy
Some groups are working together better than others, but I continually remind the kids that the project is due next week. I've also told them that goals that aren't met by the end of class on Friday will become homework. Everyone should be ready to start "building" the country poster on Monday. I'd like the posters to not have to go home on Tuesday; the paper is on the thin side and doesn't travel well.
There is no homework tonight, but you might want to ask your child about their Economic paper.
Thanks,
Cathy
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
No Homework!
Oops! I forgot to mention that there will be no homework for the next few days. The kids have the entire class period to work with their groups, and I am posting daily goals for the project. If a group has not been "productive" there may be homework over the weekend, but I'm not currently assigning homework.
Next Monday, December 12, each group will be given the poster board they need to make their country display. I explained to them today that I won't give them the "fun part" until all the pieces are ready to put on the poster. In the past, too much time was dedicated to smaller details, while the "meat" of the project was cast aside. It's a learning process of all of us!
The due dates have been changed; the poster is now due Wednesday,December 14 and the individual Economy paper is due Thursday, December 15.
Thanks,
Cathy
Next Monday, December 12, each group will be given the poster board they need to make their country display. I explained to them today that I won't give them the "fun part" until all the pieces are ready to put on the poster. In the past, too much time was dedicated to smaller details, while the "meat" of the project was cast aside. It's a learning process of all of us!
The due dates have been changed; the poster is now due Wednesday,December 14 and the individual Economy paper is due Thursday, December 15.
Thanks,
Cathy
A Long Break
Greetings,
It's been a while, but I'm back!! Yesterday was Ms Lytle's official last day, but she will be back on Friday for a visit. We are all going to miss her; she did an excellent job and the kids really liked her. She will be my first choice if I ever need a substitute!
I sent an "e-blast" on Monday about the "Create a Country" group project that we are currently working on in class. This project is your child's chance to apply all that has been learned about culture and economics over the past month. There is also a geography component, too, so all that atlas work will be important. There will be a heavy emphasis on the Economy component of this assignment; I have asked that per capita GDP be realistic. I think it's important that the students start to think of economics as an important part of Social Studies, even if the book only dedicates five pages to that particular subject.
Working in a group can sometimes be difficult, but according to employers, it's one of the most important processes required in the "work world". A few kids have asked to work alone, and I've tried to encourage them to stick with the group, but there have been a couple who have made the choice to work alone. I'm not sure if these kids understand the amount of work required, so if your child is working alone, be aware that it was a choice.
If you are interested in what is required for the "Create a Country" project all the information has been posted on my LAS/LMS web-site under "Classroom Documents" :-)
Thanks,
Cathy
It's been a while, but I'm back!! Yesterday was Ms Lytle's official last day, but she will be back on Friday for a visit. We are all going to miss her; she did an excellent job and the kids really liked her. She will be my first choice if I ever need a substitute!
I sent an "e-blast" on Monday about the "Create a Country" group project that we are currently working on in class. This project is your child's chance to apply all that has been learned about culture and economics over the past month. There is also a geography component, too, so all that atlas work will be important. There will be a heavy emphasis on the Economy component of this assignment; I have asked that per capita GDP be realistic. I think it's important that the students start to think of economics as an important part of Social Studies, even if the book only dedicates five pages to that particular subject.
Working in a group can sometimes be difficult, but according to employers, it's one of the most important processes required in the "work world". A few kids have asked to work alone, and I've tried to encourage them to stick with the group, but there have been a couple who have made the choice to work alone. I'm not sure if these kids understand the amount of work required, so if your child is working alone, be aware that it was a choice.
If you are interested in what is required for the "Create a Country" project all the information has been posted on my LAS/LMS web-site under "Classroom Documents" :-)
Thanks,
Cathy
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