The CRAAP Test

Independent Project Reflections

 Now that you're done presenting your projects, share and reflect on your experience.  Include the following:

• Make sure you've submitted your project on Canvas.
  
• Now reflect on Canvas.  Briefly describe your project, both your topic and the format in which you presented. 
• What do/did you like most about your project?  Explain. 
• Were you prepared to present on the due date?  Did you use your time wisely in class?  Explain your work ethic during the project work time.
  
• If you could do the whole thing over again, what would you change and/or improve?  Why?
• How does your project meet each letter of our Class Mission Statement?
• We Grow by challenging ourselves and each other.
• We Overcome our limits and failures.
• We Advance our thinking and our expectations.
• We Learn today to improve tomorrow.
  
• If you have any genuine suggestions for Mrs. Edlin about how to improve this assignment or how to make this project more meaningful to future students.
  

 

Submit your reflection.  When you finish, you may visit any link under Idleness Prevention Society at the left-hand side of this blog.

 

 

 

 

Independent Project Reflection

Independent Project Reflections

Now that you're done presenting your projects, write a blog post sharing and reflecting on your experience.  Answer each section as its own paragraph, in complete sentences.  Remember, we want your posts to make sense to people who look at them without knowing what questions you're answering.  Include the following:

• Embed your project into your blog.
• Briefly describe your project, both your topic and the format in which you presented. 
• What do/did you like most about your project?  Explain. 
• What was the hardest part of this project, and why?
• How did you improve as a learner or as a student during the process of this project?  Explain.
• If you could do the whole thing over again, what would you change and/or improve?  Why?
• If you have any genuine suggestions for Mrs. Edlin about how to improve this assignment or how to make this project more meaningful to future students, please include them at the end.

Publish your blog post, and after you publish, please comment on the posts of at least three other people.

When you finish, you may visit any link under Idleness Prevention Society at the left-hand side of this blog.

Independent Project Reflections

Now that you're done presenting your projects, write a blog post sharing and reflecting on your experience.  Include the following:

• Embed your project into your blog post.  If you did a poster or a model, take a picture of it and insert that picture into your post.
• Briefly describe your project, both your topic and the format in which you presented. 
• What was the best/your favorite part about your project?  Explain. 
• What was the hardest part of this project, and why?
• How did you improve as a learner or as a student during the process of this project?  Explain.
• If you could do the whole thing over again, what would you change and/or improve?  Why?
• If you have any genuine suggestions about how to improve this project or how to make this project more meaningful to future students, please include them at the end.

When you finish, you may visit any link under Idleness Prevention Society at the left-hand side of this blog.  You may also go to any of the coding or logic links provided (look at previous posts for links).

Independent Project Brainstorm List

Need some help getting ideas for independent projects?  Look here!

Independent Project Reflections

Now that you're done presenting your projects, write a blog post sharing and reflecting on your experience.  Include the following:

• Embed your project into your blog.
• Briefly describe your project, both your topic and the format in which you presented. 
• What do/did you like most about your project?  Explain. 
• What was the hardest part of this project, and why?
• How did you improve as a learner or as a student during the process of this project?  Explain.
• If you could do the whole thing over again, what would you change and/or improve?  Why?
• If you have any genuine suggestions for Mrs. Edlin about how to improve this assignment or how to make this project more meaningful to future students, please include them at the end.

Publish your blog post, and submit the link on the Canvas assignment (for GOAL, not for language arts).  After you publish, please comment on the posts of at least three other people.

When you finish, you may visit any link under Idleness Prevention Society at the left-hand side of this blog.

Independent Project Reflections

Now that you're done presenting your projects, write a blog post sharing and reflecting on your experience.  Include the following:

• Briefly describe your project, both your topic and the format in which you presented. 
• What do/did you like most about your project?  Explain. 
• What was the hardest part of this project, and why?
• How did you improve as a learner or as a student during the process of this project?  Explain.
• If you could do the whole thing over again, what would you change and/or improve?  Why?
• If you have any genuine suggestions for Mrs. Edlin about how to improve this assignment or how to make this project more meaningful to future students, please include them at the end.

Publish your blog post, and submit the link on the Canvas assignment (for your class, NOT the read-aloud section).  After you publish, please comment on the posts of at least three other people.

When you finish, you may visit any link under Idleness Prevention Society at the left-hand side of this blog

Independent Project Reflections

Now that you're done presenting your projects, write a blog post sharing and reflecting on your experience.  Include the following:

• Briefly describe your project, both your topic and the format in which you presented. 
• What do/did you like most about your project?  Explain. 
• What was the hardest part of this project, and why?
• How did you improve as a learner or as a student during the process of this project?  Explain.
• If you could do the whole thing over again, what would you change and/or improve?  Why?
• If you have any genuine suggestions for Mrs. Edlin about how to improve this assignment or how to make this project more meaningful to future students, please include them at the end.

Publish your blog post, and submit the link on the Canvas assignment (for your class, NOT the read-aloud section).  After you publish, please comment on the posts of at least three other people.

When you finish, you may visit any link under Idleness Prevention Society at the left-hand side of this blog

Independent Project Reflections

Now that you're done presenting your projects, write a blog post sharing and reflecting on your experience.  Include the following:

• Embed your project into your blog post.  If you did a poster or a model, take a picture of it and insert that picture into your post.
• Briefly describe your project, both your topic and the format in which you presented. 
• What do/did you like most about your project?  Explain. 
• What was the hardest part of this project, and why?
• How did you improve as a learner or as a student during the process of this project?  Explain.
• If you could do the whole thing over again, what would you change and/or improve?  Why?
• If you have any genuine suggestions about how to improve this project or how to make this project more meaningful to future students, please include them at the end.

Publish your blog post, and submit the link on the Canvas assignment (for your class, NOT the read-aloud section).

When you finish, you may visit any link under Idleness Prevention Society at the left-hand side of this blog

Independent Project Introduction

It's time to start thinking about independent projects.  Take some time to browse the idea list sent to you in your e-mail.  Take some notes, and make a list of topics you'd like to explore, adding any of your own that you think of, as well.

Next, take a look at the rubric also e-mailed to you to see how the project will be graded.

Finally, take your priority list, and use it to answer the following questions on a sheet of paper to be approved by Mrs. Edlin:

Weekly Preview: 10/22-10/26, 2012

I apologize for not updating in a couple of weeks.  Last week, Jennifer Mangler and I presented at the 2012 ITEC (Iowa Technology & Education) Conference in Des Moines.  I learned so much in two days.  It was a great conference.

This week marks the end of the quarter.  Where did it go?  We're busy in room 101 wrapping up first quarter business.

6th GOAL:  Students are finishing up their 2nd mock trial.  This one is a civil case instead of a criminal case.  The kids have learned a lot and are playing their parts well.  On Wednesday, independent reading contracts are due, and students will complete self-evaluations to assess their progress.  After our mock trial unit is finished, they will move on to independent research projects.

7th GOAL:  Students are in the middle of their literature circle unit.  They have daily discussions on a book that their group has chosen.  All the books tie to this year's theme of Culture Clash.  This will be the only time this year where GOAL students have daily homework.  On Wednesday, independent reading contracts are due, and students will complete self-evaluations to assess their progress.

8th GOAL:  Students are working hard on research for their independent research topics.  This is the time of year where they determine their own learning, investigating a topic that is a learning passion for them.  We have everything from geckos to the Manhattan project to Vera Wang.  I'm looking forward to seeing what they learn.  After we're done with library research this week, students will have a week to compile their projects, and then we'll take a week to present.

8th Critical Concepts:  Students are in the middle of presenting their How-To speeches.  They are doing a great job remembering all the parts of a speech and all the skills that go into good oral presentations.  We will hopefully finish up this week.

Weekly Preview: 4/30-5/4, 2012

I can't believe we're into May.  Where has this year gone?  Here's how we're spending our time together in room 101 this week:

6th GOAL: On Monday, students will be presenting their Oral History assignments.  On Wednesday, we'll be starting research for our Westward Expansion unit which will culminate with our trip to historic Nauvoo, Illinois.

7th GOAL: Monday will be students' last day to work on Independent Research Projects.  We'll start presenting on Wednesday, and that will take us through the rest of the week.

8th GOAL: Students will continue to work on their documentary films this week.  They should be recording scripts, editing video, creating titles and transitions, and finding music this week.  Movies need to be finished by May 10.

7th Language Arts:  Parts of Speech packets are due Monday.  For the rest of the week, students will be splitting into small groups and choosing a part of speech they will teach to the class.  They can design this lesson in any way they'd like.  In the past we've had raps, game shows, and many other creative lessons to learn the parts of speech.  We'll start presenting these lessons on Friday.  Spelling words this week focus on the endings: -tial, -cial, -cious, and -tious.  Pretest corrections and book page 196 (1-20) are due Wednesday.

Week 32 Spelling Words
conscientious
crucial
substantial
spacious
repetitious
spatial
confidential
ferocious
residential
financial
gracious
impartial
vicious
facial
influential
ambitious
glacial
suspicious
potential
superficial

 

Weekly Preview: 4/23-4/27/2012

I'm getting this out a little later than I'd like, but there are many great things happening in this last part of the school year.  Busy times!  Here's what's happening in room 101 this week:

6th GOAL:  Students are in the middle of their unit on consumption.  They're keeping daily consumption logs, and they have an oral history interview project due next Monday.  In class, they've been reporting on the secret lives and histories of everyday things we use every day, and they've been comparing consumption habits of people in other countries compared to ours.

7th GOAL:  Students are working hard on their independent research projects.  They're transferring the knowledge they've gained into a project to share with the class.  We'll start presenting these on Monday.

8th GOAL:  Students are working hard on their documentary films.  This week, they're finalizing scripts, getting scripts recorded, editing video, and finding pictures.  We have to be done with these movies by our big fundraising night on May 17!

7th Language Arts:  Students are working hard learning the 8 parts of speech with many in-class activities.  If all goes well with individual work, they'll be splitting up into groups to teach the class about a certain part of speech next week.  Spelling words this week focus on turning adjectives into adverbs by adding -ly or -ally.  Pretest corrections and book p. 190 (1-20) are due Wednesday.

Week 31 Spelling Words

specific

classically

mechanical

scientific

artistically

dynamic

historical

drastically

heroic

scientifically

artistic

mechanically

classic

historically

economic

heroically

dynamically

drastic

specifically

economically

Weekly Preview: 4/16-4/20, 2012

Spring has sprung! Here's what's happening in Room 101 this week:

Book Fair! All GOAL classes will be attending the Book Fair on Tuesday, along with having their regularly scheduled library day.

6th GOAL: Students are starting their "Stuff" unit on consumption. We'll be looking at consumption trends in our own lives and across the globe. On Monday and Wednesday, we'll be tracing our own stuff across the globe to find that stuff's path to us. Thursday and Friday, students will be analyzing one particular product to see its consumption history. Posters with data collected will be due at the end of the class on Friday.

7th GOAL: Students have this week to finish research for their independent projects. Next week, they will be working on the project made from this research.

8th GOAL: Students are continuing to work on their documentary films. This week, interviews should be completed, and students will also be working on research, scripts, and storyboards.

7th Language Arts: Students will be learning more about the 8 Parts of Speech this week. We'll be playing Preposition Ball, and students will be planning a way to teach the class about a certain Part of Speech. There will not be a spelling pretest this week because it's a review week. We'll have a Maintenance Test on Friday for weeks 25-29. Book pages 183 (1-20), 184 (1-20), and 185 (1-10) are due Wednesday.

Weekly Preview: 4/2-4/13, 2012

We're rested and relaxed after a great spring break... Here is what happened last week & what's coming up this week in room 101:

6th GOAL: Students have finished their daily literature circle discussions, and they have prepared their projects to show what they've learned. They could choose any format, so we have ideas for skits, news broadcasts, and journals. They will begin presenting projects on Monday, April 9, and presentations will go throughout the week. The projects need to show an overview of the book, deep thinking connections, and a highlight of the moral dilemma(s) in the story.

7th GOAL: Students are starting independent research projects this week. Last week, they chose topics, and this week, they'll begin their research. They can choose any topic that's an area of passion learning for them. They will be researching and becoming experts on their topics. They'll show what they've learned in a project to share with the class.

8th GOAL: Students are starting their documentary film projects. This year, we'll be focusing on the personal interview and using the personal interview to highlight a topic. Last week, they chose groups and topics. This week, they're arranging their interviews, writing interview questions, and doing preliminary research on their topics.

7th Language Arts: Students are busy working with the 8 parts of speech. Last week, we took the Parts of Speech Pretest, and we reviewed each part of speech in detail. This week, students will be making parts of speech flip booklets to become their study guides for the Parts of Speech test. We'll take the test several times before the ened of the school year. When students score 100%, they'll be added to the Parts of Speech Hall of Fame, and they won't have to take the test again. No one made the Hall of Fame from the pretest, so everyone has some studying to do! Spelling for week 29 focuses on the Latin forms: miss, manus, fluere, and animus. Pretest corrections and book p. 178 (1-20) are due Wednesday.

Week 29 Spelling Words

fluctuate

mannerism

missive

fluent

magnanimous

admission

influence

inanimate

manicure

remiss

manipulate

fluency

transmission

emancipate

unanimous

manual

dismiss

animate

fluorescent

intermission

Weekly Preview: 1/30-2/3, 2012

58 degrees today? Where is our winter? Get out there and enjoy it, and when you come back in, check out what is happening in room 101 this week:

6th & 8th Grade GOAL: This week, students are presenting their independent research projects. I can't wait to see the fruits of their labors!

7th Grade GOAL: This week is our last for library research for National History Day. Students are encouraged to work outside of school on this project!

7th Grade Language Arts: Students are continuing work with Writer's Workshop this week. Pen pal letters are due for teacher edit this Friday, February 3, and all pieces are due in final draft form on February 10. Spelling for week 20 focuses on the assimilated prefix -ad. Pretest corrections and page 124 (1-20) are due on Wednesday. The posttest will be on Friday.

Week 20 Spelling Words

application

asset

affirm

according

attain

applaud

assurance

account

assortment

affix

appetite

attempt

accustomed

approval

attire

assemble

appliance

afford

assert

attentive

Weekly Preview: 1/17-1/20, 2012

I hope all you students enjoyed your day off on Monday. I got a lot done today during our teacher work day, but there is ALWAYS more left on the "to do" list!

Here's what's happening in room 101 this week:

6th & 8th GOAL: Students will be continuing (and finishing) research for independent research projects. Friday is our last day in the library!

7th GOAL: Students will begin working on projects for National History Day competition in March. Our goal is to have topics finalized this week and tons of research done!

7th Language Arts: Students will have a maintenance test for spelling (weeks 13-17) this week, so there will be no pretest on Tuesday. Spelling book assignment pp. 111 (1-20), 112 (1-20), and 113 (1-20) will be due Wednesday with the actual maintenance test on Friday. For the rest of the week, students will be working on Writer's Workshop. Students are all in various stages of the writing process, working toward the teacher edit deadline of 1/24 and the final draft deadline of 2/3.

Weekly Preview: 1/9-1/13

Here's what's happening in room 101 this week:

6th GOAL & 8th GOAL: These classes will be in the library this week, becoming experts on the topics they've chosen for their Independent Research Projects. It will be a great unit with a wide range of topics... everything from the stock market to poison dart frogs, from the abortion controversy to constellations... everything from the Eiffel Tower to survival skills. These projects are always a highlight of my year. I love experiencing the results when kids are finding their learning passion!

7th GOAL: Students will be continuing their unit on consumer testing, moving from paper towels to bubble gum. They're designing their own experiments, collecting data, and graphing the results.

7th Language Arts: Students will be working on Writer's Workshop this week. On Tuesday and Thursday, we'll be in the classroom working on rough drafts, revisions, and peer conferencing. On Wednesday and Friday, we'll be in the lab typing. The grading scale for Writer's Workshop is as follows:

4+ final draft pages (must include 3rd pen pal letter) = A

3-4 final draft pages (must include 3rd pen pal letter) = B

1-3 final draft pages (must include 3rd pen pal letter) = C

1 page or less of final draft (must include 3rd pen pal letter) = D

The deadlines for Writer's Workshop are:

January 24: Teacher Edit box closes... no new pieces will be accepted for teacher edit after this date

February 3: Final Draft deadline... any writing that students want to count for their Writer's Workshop grade must be finished by this time

For spelling this week, we'll be focusing on words that come from Spanish. On Monday, we'll take the pretest and work on the book assignment. Pretest corrections and p. 106 (1-20) are due Wednesday. On Thursday, we'll review the words and take the posttest.

Week 17 Spelling Words

avocado

bravado

cabana

cafeteria

canyon

cinch

fiesta

iguana

lariat

mesa

mosquito

mustang

patio

pronto

rodeo

sierra

siesta

stampede

tornado

tortilla

Weekly Preview: 1/3-1/6, 2011

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a great holiday. I'm rested, rejuvenated, and ready to tackle the last half of the school year! Here's what is happening in room 101 this week:

6th GOAL & 8th GOAL: These classes are starting their independent research projects. The theme for this unit is "Find Your Passion!" Each student will have 2 weeks of research on a topic of their choice. Independent projects are the chance for students to become the expert on a topic of their learning passion. They will have 2 full weeks to research, another week to work on an action projects showing what they've learned, and a week to present and hear the research of their classmates.

7th GOAL: Before we begin the intense experience of preparing for National History Day, students will be spending 2 weeks in the world of consumer product testing. This week, we'll develop tests to determine which paper towel is best. Next week, we'll develop tests to determine the best bubble gum.

7th Language Arts: We have begun Writer's Workshop. During the month of January and into part of February, students will be writing a piece of their own choosing, both topic and format. They will also include another pen pal letter in their total volume of writing for Writer's Workshop. Aside from spelling, each week will be filled with the writing process and should be a very productive time. This week's spelling list focuses around words with pronunciations that change depending on the suffix added. Spelling p. 99 was due today. Also, please note that because of typing lab restrictions, we will be taking spelling tests on Thursdays during Writer's Workshop times.

Week 16 Spelling Words

confer

conferred

conference

occur

occurred

occurrence

omit

omitted

omitting

prefer

preferred

preference

infer

inferred

refer

reference

referring

compel

compelled

compelling