Differentiation in a Project Based Learning Classroom

I found this link that gives six strategies on how to differentiate in a project based learning classroom. I have been really working on strategy 4 & strategy 6. Strategy 4 says to allow for choice with projects. Right now, my students are learning, summarizing, and creating a way to teach a lesson to two other groups. We just started the project today, and it's due next Thursday. I'm excited and nervous about the results. This is the first time I've tried it this way in this class. Strategy 6 says to fluctuate between team and individual work. A lot of the work in my class is individual work, but this project they are starting is in groups of 3-4. I'm hoping it goes well.

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/differentiated-instruction-strategies-pbl-andrew-miller

AGAPE - Spiritual Dimension of Leadership

• What are your initial thoughts about the idea that spirituality is the missing piece in the puzzle?

I agree with this thought that spirituality is the missing piece. When I work in an environment that I feel welcome and needed, I am going to perform better and be more willing to go above and beyone especially for students.

• Most teachers would want to avoid the pitfall of moving from compassion to callousness. One way to do this is to remember why you became a teacher in the first place. Briefly describe why you entered the teaching profession and mention any mentor who inspired or guided you.

I entered the teaching profession based on a friend who switched from engineering to teaching and from my mom and dad who supported me throughout the process.

• The article concludes with the notion that the 21st Century is "the best time in history to be an educator".  Do you agree or disagree with this statement?  Why?

I agree with this statement that it's the best time to be an educator, but I also feel that it's the most challenging time as well. There is so much change in the world especially with technology and to keep up with all of it and apply it to teaching can be daunting at times.

• In what ways does your own notion of "spirituality" (not necessarily religious in nature) inform and affect your actions as a teacher in your own classroom and as a teacher leader among your peers?  On which of the 8 SDL principles do you rely most heavily?

Spirituality affects my actions in my classroom because I really try to get to know all of my students by interacting with them and asking them personal questions to build a relationship with them. I can't do that with my students if I'm not in the right place emotionally to do that. This ties in with the principle of openness. I need to be open and accepting of change and the needs of others.

Praxis - Leadership "One Word"

patient
caring
committed
courage
supportive
peaceful
considerate
grateful
relaxed
purposeful
decisive
calm
collected
diligent
appreciative


My one word is:  appreciative

I chose this word because I want to be more appreciative of my life, my work, my students, my coworkers, and my family. I am very appreciative of all of these things, but sometimes I can take them for granted. I want people to see me as calm and peaceful. I don't want them to see me as stressed. This all applies to appreciating where I am at in my life and in my teaching. I need to appreciate what I am capable of doing. This does not mean that I won't keep trying to improve myself, but I won't beat myself up when things don't go right or when I am feeling overwhelmed by everything I need to do.

January 27 -
I'm trying to be appreciative of the cold days and no school, but it's hard when I feel like I keep getting more and more behind with the schedule in my classes. Having the end-of-year exams looming over my head makes me feel stressed out when I can't be in the classroom teaching. On the other hand, it has been nice staying home with my own boys and spending time with them. I appreciate the time that I get with them and the chance to play games with them. Right now, my middle son is making chocolate chip cookies and my youngest son is curled up on the couch taking a nap by the fire. He is 10 and hasn't taken a nap in years. It's cute to see him relax and look all cozy.

I'm hoping we have school tomorrow . . .

February 13 -
Being appreciative can be a stretch for me some days, but for the most part, I am very appreciative of my life, family, and teaching. For the past two weeks, my civil engineering & architecture students have been working on a water project. They worked in groups of 3 to learn a water topic using resources I provided, they had to create a presentation, example problem, notes sheet, worksheet, and answers and then teach two other groups. After one of my students finished presenting, he came up to me and said "Wow! This teaching thing is hard". That made me smile and feel very appreciated and appreciative.

Curricular Design - Strategic Teaching Activity

This week, I tried using the strategy "Concept Attainment" in the "Understanding Strategies" group. After looking at all of the strategies, I decided this one was the best one that would fit for what I was teaching. I admit, that most of the strategies intimidated me!

My students are learning about residential development. This week, we covered the topic residential foundations which can be a little boring. Using the concept attainment strategy helped to make it more interesting and understandable for the students.

To begin the lesson, I told the students that we were going to discuss residential foundations and that they would need to take some notes. I showed them 6 pictures of foundations and told them that three of the pictures were "yes" examples of the concepts we were learning, and three pictures were "no" examples. The students totally picked up on the concepts and were intent on figuring out what we needed to learn. It was great to see their excitement and interest in a topic that can be a little dry. They brought up some great points about foundations and had a great discussion, and I didn't have to teach them - they taught each other based on the pictures I showed them!

I will definitely use this strategy again and may be more willing to try another strategy based on the results of this one.

DI - Assessment

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLff86I93i8

I got this link from my critical friend. It has some great ideas on differentiating for assessments. Since I teach a project-based, elective class, I want to try to implement some of the ideas from the video but am not sure how to do it. I love the idea of getting away from exam and also inviting parents in to see what their students are learning, but I'm intimidated by some of the logistics:  when would the parents come in, how can I make sure all parents are able to come in, what type of problem would I give the students, do I have enough time to implement it during the school year, etc . . .  help!!!

DI - Continuation

I have now pushed ahead a few more students in my 9th grade engineering class. They are working so hard, and it is so fun to see their excitement. It is a little bit of a challenge for me with teaching and keeping it all together, but the results will pay off!

When we get back from break, I need to get the class back together for some teaching to finish out the semester, and then the students can go back to where they were on their projects. I think it will all work out . . .  :-)

Vision/Mission/Values Statement - Ramirez Family

Ramirez Family:  Michael, Jodi, Tyler, Christian, & Sam


Vision:  To be united with God and our family in Heaven

Mission:  Gain wisdom daily through church, school, and relationships and to share that wisdom with others

Values:  Faith, Respect, Trust, Love, Honor our Family's Name, Integrity, Hard Work, Service, Responsible, Confidence, Loyalty, Grounded, Principled

Motto:  God has good plans for you (Jeremiah 29:11))


Which parts of the process were easy? Difficult? How did you embrace these parts?

Listing our values was very easy - we could rattle off a list of values very quickly. We have also done this process before and had the family motto already. What was difficult was not letting my husband control the conversation and make sure we had input from everyone in the family especially my younger two boys. I made sure that I asked for each boy to contribute something to the process especially during the vision and mission part of it which was harder for us.

What did you learn about yourself during this process?

I had already embraced the idea of having a family vision, mission, and values statement; so it was easy to convince my family to do this with me.

What did you learn about others?

My sons all had great things to contribute - it was a great conversation.

What were missed opportunities?

I should have done this process with my family a long time ago to give us more direction in our life and our family.

How would you amend (change) the process in the future?

I would do this process every two years or so because as my boys get older, they will have more to contribute and great ideas, and it will get us bound together as a family.