Making Room for the Self in School

Making Room for the Self in School

Posted using ShareThis

Storms come in Many Forms!

Well, if it doesn't rain, it doesn't pour. But that's not what can be said for this week. I learned what a harrowing experience an hour rideto and from work can really be like. I also learned to adjust my wake up time to 4:30 am on mornings like this. Let's just say that God taught me that a lot of storms aren't th ones on the outside that we have to worry about. It is the ones of the heart that can catch us off guard and make us question why are we doing things.

This happened for me this week. I can actually say that I have worked into a routine in less than three weeks. It all kind of got thrown into a spin mid day on Friday when I found out tw of my students had been arrested and wouldn't be coming back. It threw mw off kilter. I set my mind on teaching and worked through the day. But after work, I sat at my desk wondering if actually being there in that classroom would have an effect for these kids. I know that several said they love history class with me. Especially, after we switched all the kids schedules this week again.

My friends Tammy and Michele reminded me that I can't save them all. They had other teachers who were good before they met me and it still hadn't prevented the life choice they made. They reminded me though that the rewards are bountiful for those that we do manage to encourage and keep working on to their future. Then my daughter happened t bump into Mrs. Atwood a former teacher of my kids and friend of the family's. Kris told her about my heart break. Mrs. Atwood told her to tell me that, if I continue on and just happen to be in teaching for six or seven years I would one day get a student who returns most likely and tell me that I was the reason they showed up every day. Then I would realize the what I did made a difference.

I know that when I worked in special education their were always rewards each day. They came from students who realized they could succeed, teachers who gave me new insight, administrators who fund a way to get something a child needed, or parents who accepted or realized something new that could help their child. The battles in special education are easier because a problem is found or recognized.

It's little different when your not in those type situations. The battles are harder in general education where the problem may be known, but their is no solution or ability to get assistance for the student. Sometimes even with that assistance the student will not make changes. I love what I do. Even with the students that go to jail, get suspended, choose to stay home hoping to be sent to the alternative school because of it, and even the parents who assist their students in their low goals. I do love what I do. So unfortunately, I have to learn to deal with the storms even when they are not seeable or when I have no power. Then i have to get on my hands and knees and ask God to take the problem. No wonder teachers bow their heads so much!

Open House!

Picture Location: http://www.borg.com

Okay, Monday the 31st of August we had Open House. WOW! I have never shakin so many hands in my entire life or talked with so many parents. I stated only positive stuff and I have about 1/3 of my students family show up. I truly did enjoy the night. It made for a long ride home. Open House went from 6:30-8:00. By the time I got home it was 9:30 and there was only time to kiss my sons, chat for a few minutes with my daughter and tell my friend I would talk with her tomorrow. I then laid down and promptly fell asleep.

A couple of significant things this week:

1) Don't get involved in seperating people in a fight. Call security and keep the rest of the students in the rooms.

2) The student that you think may be causing problems in room behavorially because he doesn't want to be there, may be too proud to ask for help. Change the way you react. You can't control students all the time, but you have control of yourself all the time.

3) Annoying Fire Alarms mean that you should take head ache medicine afterwards before addressing your next class. Oh, one other thing. They will always ring during yor conference period taking up most of your time.

4) Just when you think they don't get it, they say something brillant and blow you out of the water.

5) If a teacher says they want to be your best friend, there are strings attached!

Other than it was a long week I did have an enjoyable time. I hope your teaching time and week went just as well.

Students first week

This is the library bookshelf of my room. It has since changed and holds all the student binders. Each student within my classroom has to have a 2 inch binder or larger to hold a spiral of 180 pages, a set of dividers, and looseleaf papers, and a pencil holder with pencils and blue or black pens in it. The binder stays within the classroom, and the students always have their work.




Here is the view from the front of my classroom at an angle. The desks are no longer rows. I have changed them into groups of four for better Cooperative Learning. I also have made up a set of face cards for each class to change up the seating. Each student was given an index card. They put their name, period and on the bottom the face of someone in history that was pictured on the front. On the front is a famous person from US History. Each student received someone like Thomas Paine, Abraham Lincoln, etc... They cut out the person from the paper and glued it to the card. I laminated these cards and then I deal them out each day. Dealing these cards out by me has become difficult. So I took another page from Dr. Cunninghams book and I have designated a student to do this weekly. The student knows they must be prompt to class and deal them out quickly. So far it is working.

Well, other than feeling a little overwhelmed the first week and my feet needing the new shoes, I have to say I love teaching 8th grade. One of the things I didn't post about last Friday was that I learned at 3:30 that I would be teaching one class of 7th grade Texas History. I worked quickly and by the time I left at 5:00 I had a weeks worth of lessons in place.

The hour drive to and from work does wear on me. I have to make sure that I drink plenty of coffee before I leave in the morning and in the afternoon I have to make sure I have a cold tea or soda on the drive home. I have also had to learn to take a spare set of clothing, and to make sure that I have enough money for dinner or brought my dinner when I stay for students games. Yes, I attend their events. I get greater positive behaviorial response from them, no to mention it helps these students self esteem when they see that someone cares about what they are accomplishing outside of class. I always make sure to inquire on their other classes, what they are doing and how things are at home. I have learned a lot I don't want to know and stuff that hurts my heart. However, it allows my students to know someone cares and for them to move on through the day with little less of a burden.

Teachers return to Work!

The following week, August 17-21, was spent in workshops to learn how to operate the new technology, more Kaagan Cooperative Learning Method training, more Mind Map training, How to operate CSCOPE, Email, and more. The school district providedbreakfast the first day with an orientation meeting and encouragement. We got to see a gentleman speak on the use of computer blogs and media presentation within the classrooms. The remainder of the week was spent on our campus learning procedures, information we needed, and the final two days working in our rooms and with our departments in planning Orientation.
We did not get the Rosters for our classes until Sunday, so I was up on Sunday doing some finishing up. Without the rosters I was told to plan for 150 students for the first few days with copies. On Sunday when I went up I was able to orientate more and get make sure I had everything ready.
I have to applaud Dr. Cunningham who taught me clasroom management at Texas A&M University Corpus Christi and Dr. Bolick who was my supervising professor for field basing.
Dr. Cunningham taught us a multitutde of information for classroom management and it has been a God Send! She told us, if your classroom management is in place and working from Day 1, you will have a much easier life. She was absolutely correct. Dr. Bolick emphasized this and that we should over plan for each day. Having more than what can be done is better than have large amounts of time not planned for and students just sitting. When students sit, they misbehave. Also, Dr. Bolick told us to have comfortable shoes and take two pairs. One for the morning and one for the afternoon. She was right. I had terrible shoes the first three days. We are required to stay on our feet while the students are present and teach, move around the room. But we are always on our feet. Between classes, we stand in the hallway and monitor students and greet those coming into our room. My feet after the first three days were throbbing, and swollen. we do not have tiled floors. They are glazed concrete floors. I used my last 30.00 to purchase a good comfortable, supportive pair and my feet are better now.
The first week with only teachers there went well.

New Teacher Orientation

Okay, I am a little behind posting here. I have been overwhelmed by the begging of the year. I think most new teachers and regular teachers are anyway. New teacher Orientation was interesting. It was three days from August 10 - 12. On the first day, we spent it going over district policies, learning about different items available to us from the district, who was available to assist us and we were introduced to the new board of education and superintendent. It was a a wonderful day, we were given breakfast and lunch.
The second was filled with learning Thinking Maps, how to use them within our classrooms, and Insurance information for the district. I got to know a few of the teachers I would be working with in the district better and truly enjoyed the experience.
The third day was learning the Kaagan Cooperative Learning Method and how to institute it into the classroom. We were to use this method and the thinking maps at least once a week within our classrooms. We then finalized insurance information and were able to ask a few questions.
Thursday and Friday we were given off. I spent Thursday getting the keys to my room and putting it together. I also spent some time learning my way around the school and where everything was at!
My fears were assuage a little and now I was more excited than nervous.

Blessing in Transportation

Okay, one of the things that is difficult with beginning this new job is the distance to get to it. I have to drive 60 miles one way. My truck is old and not very dependable. Since I spent all these years trying to better my life going through college and working full time, I could not afford a car. What single parent making only about 19,000.00 a year could? So I had a lot of debt versus income. Well, no bank would loan to me. I thought I was sunk on getting a car to get back and forth to work with affordable gas mileage, good running, and good AC. Then a friend offered her car to me. It was like a breath of fresh air. Especially since, it was low payments to her. Now I will be able to get back and forth with no problem. The one here looks better than mine. But overall it is the same.

Freeware from Ronya!

I found this awesome site where you can create motivational posters, movie posters or wanted posters for your classroom by downloading the software. The great part? It's FREE! So go check out RONYASOFT for this neat and wonderful software to add to your room.
Now I have discovered that I have insomnia because I am getting so excited. This is not good since I need to be up early each morning to get to my school. It's an hour drive away. So I will need to find a way to relax. Any ideas? Just leave them in the comment box.

1st day in new classroom

Well, I spent the first day in my classroom just unloading boxes and setting things up. I know I have a great many items to complete and to that end I have made a list.

To be complete:

* create substitute folder.

* Write rules and place on wall.

* Purchase 9 binders

* Get chart box and sort history charts.

* Sort files and add new files.

There are a great many other items that need to be completed, but these are the first ones before I start with my new teacher orientation. My mentor teacher has been wonderful so far. He has shown me the scope and sequence. How the lesson plans are given to us. Then he has shown how he writes them for each week. He has told me in essence I can borrow anything and make copies. He has been wonderful.

I still am nervous, however, as I make the transition from being a former special education aide and college student to an 8th grade American History Teacher I find I am more excited about what the new year holds. What will my students be like? How will I find new ways for them to learn the material? Will my classroom management be enough? What ideas can I get from others?

I will continue to blog about these experiences here this year. I want to keep a record of how the year goes and how I change to help those around me who will come to teaching. Since yesterday I worked in my room. I am out today to locate a few items I will need. I have been warned that I will most likely not get any money for my classroom. So it is all on me. Since it is a low income district I have been told the supplies required of our students will be the basics. Most can barely afford to those.

So I will be like Henry Hudson, pictured above, who was an English Explorer of the 16th century and take these words to heart: "You cannot fly like an Eagle with the wings of a wren."

Tough Year for Teacher Employment

Well, it's been a tough year for teacher employment. Many friends who graduated with me are still having trouble finding a job. It seems school districts are cutting corners to deal with the economic downturn, higher energy costs, and less money flowing into districts. Even with the president and congress passing bills to assist disticts it seems there are so many string attached that most districts will not get much. It was an impressive amount that the president and congress passed for districts. But when that amount is broken down state by state, and then district by district most receive only very minimal amounts. It barely even registers as a blip on the radar. In a time when old shools need to be replaced with newer up to date facilities that not only are technology capable, but healthy buildings it begs one big question!
If we are nation who pride ourselves on educating our young why do we spend less than 10 percent of our National Budget on Education?
According to the New American Foundation, Ed.gov, and firstfocus the amount of the National Education budget is less than is anywhere from 4 to 8 percent. In other words we feel our kids are only worth the dregs of our budget. Forget about really want to educate them and further the United States position within the world.
It is obvious hat if America wants change to come, then education must be the key. It will be interesting to see if this can be accomplished.

Social Studies Center Activities

Hey Everyone,
I got together with a friend yesterday and we worked on ideas for Social Studies Activity centers. These centers are important fo hands on involvement with our students. I am a big activist of hands on interaction in teaching. First, we sat down and divided up the centers in primary sections: Mapping Skills, Biographical Information, Primary/Secondary resources, government, and the last is a changeable one. In this case since we are planning around explorationand colonization we chose the Native Americans.
The next thing we did is break down what we wanted to teach. We used the text book, Social studies resources we have used and created over the years to assist and websites. Note- It is very important that if you use a website for a game or center that you give the proper citing to it. These people worked hard to create the site and you are plagarizing if you borrow without giving due recognition.
Tomorrow I will post some of the ideas we came up with.
Have a great Day!
Becky

Weapons and Tools of the Cherokee Indians

CHRGIS Enhamcement Presentation

Tonight Deidre Williams came and spoke with us about the CHRGIS site. The talk was fascinating and allowed for another website for usage within the science TEKS area. I can see usage of this within the water ecosystems and Erosion section. I would have to do some more thinking on this, however, I can see this being valuable data for use within the classroom.
I would love seeing the use of the areal photos within a movie to show the migration of the sand over time and how the beach begins to take on natural formation.
I also would love to see the different types of sand used within a game to match to beaches in the area.
Another idea would be to see how the creation of University beach has changed the underwater ecosystem.
There are many idea..I just have figure out what more we could do.

Time passes too qucikly

This has been a difficult assignment. I am trying to work with the student, but the amount of time with all the other responsibilities I have and he has really causes problems. I have emailed my student and I am trying to get information from him. I am hoping this will be tomorrow or later. I am hoping to have the voicethread done by this weekend. I am sure it won't be done by the 16th.
Overall this would be an okay assignment, but it needs to come with a greater length of time for it to be done.
One I would do the KWL with the student and then assign the research to the student. (first week)
Second, once the student has had a week to research I would then create the blog with them. (second week)
After, this I would allow the student to take one day each to blog on each topic within his project. (second and third week)
Next, I would have the student pick one topic to do a voice thread..say wars or tools/weapons. (fourth week)
Then, we would do a slidecast of the the one famous person. (fifth week)
Lastly, I would require at least two comments from students involved in the project each week.

Service Project Meeting

I just finished with my student, Matthew, that I am working with. His topic is Native American Stories. He has to research the following areas on Cherokee Indians: war, where and when they lived, shelter, language, culture, tools/weapons, one famous person, clothing, tribal leaders, art, religion, and myths & legends. My student said he didn't know anything. In fact, it was difficult to get him to speak about his project.
I am still not quite sure about the parameters of the project. However, I am planning on diving in and doing the best I can for my student. His father and mother were very receptive and I am sure we will be able to get him to a nice design.
The one thing we did do today was establish his blog site and get his first blog on it. This was also the most difficult as we had problems with email addresses and he couldn't remember his. After about 15 minutes of working on it we finally settled on his fathers email address and will be working from there. I will also be helping Matthew add in his K-W-L chart.

Spring 2009 Service Project

Well this week we are entering into the realm of service projects. We are selecting and will be working with students from the Corpus Christi Montessori School and/or students from the Early Childhood Development Center. I am looking forward to this project as I will be working with a student whom is researching Native American Stories. I can't wait to begin this new project and to see the resulting projects from hardwork.

Spreadsheets and Googledocs??

I have to tell you all this has been one rip roarin' wild ride on the side of Spring Break to figure everything out in Excel. I think I have figured items out, however, Google Docs hates charts. Yeah, just can't stand them! Which for such a sophisticated program you would think is weird.
Now, I decided to do My Teacher Budget with this wild amount of $10,000.00 as my first year start up costs. Yes, many of you are out there saying your dreaming Becky. Since most teachers get only $200.00 to $150.00 from their schools. True, but in my dream world I live in the country in a log cabin with a nice wrap around porch to sit back on, all the kids in my classroom come ready to learn, and the President of the United States just consulted me on my secret meatloaf recipe......HA!
As for doing a teacher budget instead of a wedding budget, those of you who know me know the wedding budget is not in the cards. The teacher budget was something I really thought about. Graduation is just around the corner and starting out as a first year teacher can be kind of expensive. Especially in the Social Studies realm. So I decided to look at the categories of Apparel, transportation, videos, books, recordings, technology, professional development (not paid by the school district), Office supplies, Networking, Associations and clubs, and then miscellaneous. The spread sheet took me five hours to figure out, even with the tutoring videos. The charts about an hour. So I made two. I would recommend this be done in relation with the technology teacher training students. Once they have a basic idea of what their doing, then you can help to reinforce this skill by setting out a project with some basic items within the template.
Now Three Guiding Questions to help with the Template:
1) What do you want to measure? This could be the differences in what types of music in their CD collection to the number of women in the first wave, second wave and third wave that participated and what they participated in the women's rights movement for.
2) Is the thing you have chosen measureable? One must have a true handle on what they are measuring and whether it is a measureable concept. In measureable I can see things like How many women employed in 1880? 1890? 1900? Not only would this make a good chart, but it can show a direct relation to the cultural changes taking place across America during this time.
3) Have you made your data your inputting too complex for this simple project? The more information you place in your spreadsheet and want to calculate the more complicated the form becomes. Start off simple and slowly add elements in to projects.
Well, thats all I can think of now. Hope you all enjoy the Spreadsheet. If you have any ideas please email or comment for me.

EMBEDDING!

Just a quick, short note here on embedding. When I went to embed this video on the website I found that blogspot would not let me. It had something to do with the script line. So I have placed the video here for you all to see, however, I am still attempting to figure out the embedding part. It is also on Teachertube for all the world to see.

Teaching with Moviemaker

I have to admit this was one of the most challenging assignments I have ever done. It was not because of the difficulty. It was because of the time allotment for the assignment to be finished in a week. One of the major problems I had was finding time to get the movie done in a busy schedule. Also pulling together all the outside sources, ie.. actors and setting, was difficult. It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience though. I had to make a comic window sketch of each scene to better be able to see what I was doing. I then had the area set up with assistance. Once the actors knew their lines, which was more difficult than I imagined due to personal liberties and just plain tom foolery, we were set. (Pardon the pun Thomas) I used CSPAN on the TV for some of footage and I used 5 to 7 second pieces of video from the IRAQ war 2003, Hillary Clintons confirmation hearings, Speaker Pelosi's overriding of the MEdicare video and the National Archives for a picture of the United States Constitution. We also used normal props around the house like money, and tied up paper in ribbon for symbolizing different parts of the video. I believe that yes, I can teach this to students to use as a presentation factor. However, I believe that it would have to be done with a longer timeline to allow for better production and not too much hyperventilating on the students part at first. I can see serious problems in time, lack of technical skill, lack of avaiablity of technical machines like computers and such or current computers with enough RAM and such for doing this product. As a teacher I am looking forward to using this technology more and introducing it to my students. I believe my students will probably have a better handle on it than I in most cases. I will tell everyone that the last 8 seconds of the film were the most difficult to complete, due to the film being done at almost midnight, a bad fit of giggles on all actors and producers parts and the purse. Enough said. What are the powers of the Legislature:

The 7 Elments of Digital Storytelling

I think one of the most challenging parts of Digital Storytelling is putting together the script. In my Unit plan I have chose the Legislative question to present.
There are seven steps to doing a great storyboard script:
1. Point of View – what is the perspective of the author?
My perspective is a fact based presentation of the powers of the Legislature
2. A Dramatic Question – a question that will be answered by the end of the story.
By the end of the story the students will know and understand the powers of the Legislature.
3. Emotional Content – serious issues that speak to us in a personal and powerful way.
How the Legislature uses those powers is shown throughout the story.
4. The Gift of your Voice – a way to personalize the story to help the audience
understand the context.
Using characters, this story gives a personal view.
5. The Power of the Soundtrack – music or other sounds that support the storyline.
Supportive sound from different events the Legislature has participated in give the video real life "I am there" attitude.
6. Economy – simply put, using just enough content to tell the story without overloading the viewer with too much information.
Each clips is 3-5 seconds long, a few are a few seconds more. This allows the student to view the presentation quickly and absorb the information.
7. Pacing – related to Economy, but specifically deals with how slowly or quickly the
Story progresses.
The story progresses quickly, but not too fast so the story cannot be absorbed.

After learning the seven elements and thinking about how to input them you can create a storyboard. I normally create a comic window board before I move to the Digital storyboard for details. The comic window board allows me to rough sketch out my ideas and then allows me to figure time a little better. My comic board is just a normal sheet of typing paper where I quickly sketch out nine 2" x 2" windows and begin making notes. The more clips I need the more windows I add.
Just give it a try and you'll find it's easier than you think.

Three Branches Of Government

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

Three Branches Of Government

View more presentations from Becky Lutzke. (tags: politics)

Digital Storytelling

Digital storytelling is just another name for Place-based storytelling. It is a way for teachers to link and work technology into their daily lessons smoothly. Teacher and student collaboration allows for greater comprehension and higher order thinking. By beginning with digital storytelling, students soon proceed into areas of more in depth work. This type of storytelling allows students to connect the past and the present. Through the use of digital storytelling combined with digital mapping the student not only reads the story but can become a part of it. As creator of the story, he can show locations in more detail giving the reader a new sense of adventure within the story. The student discovers his abilities and walks away with a new found confidence he previously did not have.
Digital storytelling venues like voicethread, slideshare, and slidecast help give added depth to a teachers lesson, and a greater interest on the students part. As I developed my Unit plan I carefully considered how each of these could enhance my lessons. The three branches of government are a very important unit in life because it has far reaching ramifications and influence for each of us. By using voicethread as a feedback forum my students will be able to make adjustments to the information they are absorbing. Also, voicethread can be used as a wonderful interactive forum on first and secondary resources. Slideshare will give the student a freedom of expression that is not normally available to them.
In her online blog, Karen Smith talks about how even though digital storytelling is used in business and education, this is not the first thought for those who wish to use it. Instead, their ideas run to family memories, extraordinary events, and personal expression. The uses for Slideshare, slidecast, and voicethread are unlimited.

Internet Resources

Hey Everyone!
We were discussing in class the other night about great ways for teachers to get viable and relavent information for their students when studying subjects. Just take for example, the three branches of government. Technology today allows us to go way past the normal worksheet and lecture style. Now we can draw our students in with the use of current online information, website videos, soundclips, webquests, images, scavenger hunts, email projects and so much more. I took some time this weekend to bring a few of my favorite websites up for perusal. This is a list that grows more and more each day. The Three Branches of government is one of my favorite subjects. I think it's because I love to see how people work together and don't work together to accomplish things. One of the things I haven't included in this post is how to set up a chat room for your class. I love this idea for working with students. Now some of you may be saying, Hold on one minute! I don't do chatrooms. Well, I can undertand some of the wariness. However, a chatroom can be a great way of giving online help to students afterschool when you are at home working. A set site allows for them to know they can contact you not only by phone, or email, but in a medium they can get clear explanations.
Think on it!
Remember, teaching is a life long learning process. When it ceases to be that we become stagnant! Have a great day and may your students desire to learn.
Becky

Using Blogs Within the Classroom Environment

I believe that classroom blogs are the present and future for students who have trouble with handwritten journaling. In a blog students are able to express themselves whereas using pencil and paper they may be more reticent. The keyboard and ability to post their thoughts quickly allows them a greater sense of accomplishment and freedom. Perhaps one of the more interesting reasons for blogs is because students can get instantaneous feedback from their peers and others.

One of the websites that talks a great deal about how the blog can influence your classroom is David Warlick's . On his 2cents worth website he goes on to explain how educators can interact within blogs and learn new skills technology wise. He also shows how these educators can become very savvy in relation to their students needs and providing information for their parents. Educators can also talk back and forth with each other allowing for an interchange of ideas.

Inquiry-based and Project-based Learning

Hello all!

I thought I'd just give you a little information on what Inquiry-based Learning and Project-based Learning is about. Most of our classrooms today could really benefit from this hands on approach.
Inquiry-based Learning is hands on learning. Instead of the child listening to a teacher lecture, the child is working one on one with materials learning how to create or do. It has its historical roots and underpinnings within the teachings of Socrates and John Dewey.
The constructs of inquiry based learning are critical thinking, skill building, and problems solving. By using the relevant information and giving students activities to put the information into practice they allow for faster acquisition and quicker connections on how this information can be integrated with other information.
Therefore, within the classroom students are able to use information in applicable areas quicker and make changes to allow for the continued acquisition of higher information.
One of these hands on activities I can envision is the surveying of a section of the school grounds in an actual archaeology dig by allowing students to use the hands on methods they have learned in math of setting up a grid, calculating depth where they find items and then using science to figure out how it got there, for example erosion, or flood. They can research the time period for the items and there different uses or purposes. They would need to research what was in the area before the school was there. After their findings were completed they would then write them up for presentation to the class. However, this report could also be presented in the form of powerpoint, video presentation or even a website. This allows for all subject areas to be covered and a faster acquisition of the knowledge. It also shows students how all the subjects they study in school correlate together and their importance.
If your curious about inquiry-based learning just check out the highlighted links within this website. The use of Multiple Intelligences is deeply involved within inquiry-baed learning.
Project-based learning or PBL is the use of the use of classroom projects, intended to bring about deep learning, where students use technology and inquiry to engage with issues and questions that are relevant to their lives. These classroom projects are used to assess student's subject matter competence compared to traditional testing. The historical roots of Project-based learning are with educators like John Dewey and the reported benefits of hands on, student directed learning. These are strategies and ideas that have been tested for over a 100 years.
The constructs are recognixing students drive to learn, engage students in central concepts and discipline to learn, highlight provocative issues that lead students to in depth exploration, requires the use of tools and skills, specific products that solve problems or dilemnas, includes multiple products that result in frequent feedback and cconsistant opportunities for student inquiry, use performance based assessments that communicate high expectations, and encourages collaboration through either small groups, student-led presentations or whole class interactions.
The project must take into account what is plannable for your classroom. It has to take in the length of the process, bell schedules, outside work, and standardized testing. The teacher must recognize that the PBL will take time away from the normal content of the regular curriculum. Students learn the same information, however, it is over a lnger term and applied to real life scenarios. This also allows for teacher to give students less busy work. While teachers gain more work due to the depth and length of the project.
One of the ideas I have for a project-based learning activity is for students to do an Oral History of the Portland, Texas area. I also would like for them to help reconstruct the history of San Patricio. This would involve a great deal of research with the end result to be able to present this to the Texas Historical board.
If your interested on more information on project-based learning, then click on any of the highlighted links within this webpage. This website gives excellent guidance at the middle school level.

So for an Essential Question like:
What are the three branches of government and How do they operate?
We can ask Unit Questions like:
What are the responsibilities and powers of the Executive Branch?
What are the responsibilities and powers of the Legislative Branch?
What are the responsibilities and powers of the Judicial Branch?

As a teacher we then can move into hands on reasearch and production of a product to show these answers.