This week was hectic.  The kids worked on their glogs all week during science time.  Another teacher needed the computer lab this past Friday so we didn't get a chance to finish up.  I'm extending the deadline until after the break but encouraged them to finish them at home over the break if they could.  I don't think anyone will.  They were as eager as I was for their nine day vacation break. 

Almost every student turned in their Choice Board Environmental Changes homework.  They have been working on these for the past two weeks.  On Wednesday, they did peer assessments.  Thursday night they did self-assessments and wrote justifactions for their score.  Friday we celebrated.  I missed my AM class since I left to attend my daughter's Fall Feast presentation.  Our reading coach stepped in to facilitate the celebration.  She said they did very well.  I haven't had a chance yet to look at their work but at first glance I see that students seemed to take my direction of raising their level of quality. 

I noticed that most students included a typed synthesis of their work, even if their project was hand written.  Several of the students who conducted surveys chose to create graphs using Microsoft Word.  The power points seemed to be colorful and interesting.  And all the students who did second grade lessons were able to teach, record, and have at least one other person watch it to get them feedback.  My goal is to help them increase the level of qulaity in their original product creation.  I can see that most of my students are rising to the occasion.

I have noticed a drastic difference in myself this year.  While I have always felt it was important for students to create to demonstrate understanding, during this past unit, I was able release a large portion of creating their own understanding of environmental changes through the use of a scavenger hunt.  My students spent a lot of time really hunting for answers and reading a lot of different online sources to find them.  It was a huge step for me to release the control of learning to them.  Once done, though, it felt wonderful.

I have overheard my students saying things like, "This is hard...but it beats reading a chapter from the science book." or "I'm so frustrated with this search engine!  I wonder if I could use a different one."  They know the work I'm asking them to do is difficult and can be exasperating...but they are willing and they know they are able. 

I think they know this because I set them up for success.  By searching for websites ahead of time, creating the search engine and hot list, by showing them how to analyze a website before they cite it as a reliable source...they know the answers are there...they just have to search critically.  I see some of them emerging as critical thinkers.

This is no easy task as these fifth grades not only adjust to hormonal changes but to all the social nuances that happen this school year.  Problems always crop up...we deal with them.  But I think down deep they all know I care for their success and just want them to particpate in their own learning.  What more can I ask?