Project Reflection

Innovative Project:  I have created a Project Based Learning unit for my Innovative Project.  A group of my students are reading the novel, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry.  They will complete a webquest and choose from a list of technology-based assessments.  I have encountered a few problems so far:  weather-related delays and cancellations have made it difficult to re-establish a routine in the classroom.  We have had many interruptions to our schedule lately and have not had "regular" school day in quite a while.  I have also experienced some negative feedback from a parent of one of my students.  They expressed objections to my choice of novels.  Although this particular parent admittedly has never read Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, they feel that some of the themes in the story, as well as the harsh language, is not appropriate for the classroom.   I offered to make a copy of the book available for the parent to read at home but they refused.  Sadly, my solution was to assign this student to a different novel that another group of students is reading.  On a positive note, many of the students have found out about the parental objections to the book.  This seems to have piqued their curiosity and interest in the story more than I ever could have. 

Contemporary Project:  For this project, I am introducing a Student Response System ("clickers").  We have successfully used them a few times.  The students are enjoying them and have given me positive feedback.  Based on my informal observations so far, they seem to be increasing student engagement.