1. Project Based Learning to Inspire Young Writers Cayley Garner Spartanburg Writing Project 2013

2. Instructional Roadblock As a future kindergarten teacher, I am faced with the question of what I can do to ensure that my students are engaged with our content and that it is meaningful to them. Secondly, I wonder about the best way to address all of the new Common Core standards. Third, I focus on the fact that in the real world, we learn everything together at the same time. This shows me that an integrated curriculum is the best option for my teaching style. Combining all of those items, I have become really interested in Project-Based Learning.

3. Agenda Where are we going on this workshop journey? Research that supports PBL My kindergarten example on Community Helpers How can you apply this to a unit that you teach?

4. When you hear the words Project Based Learning, what comes to mind? Inquiry Real-world Authentic Collaboration Engagement Communication Integration Critical-thinking Creativity 21 st Century Skills Meaningful Ownership Student Driven

5. What is Project Based Learning? In Project Based Learning, students are pulled through the curriculum by a meaningful question to explore, an engaging real-world problem to solve, or a challenge to design or create something. Before they can accomplish this, students need to inquire into the topic by asking questions and developing their own answers. To demonstrate what they learn, students create high- quality products and present their work to other people. PBL in the Primary Grades

6. History of PBL Dates back as early as the 1900’s John Dewey supported the learning by doing model which is an essential element of project based learning. http://www.nea.org/tools/16963.htm

7. Why should we use PBL? More effective than traditional instruction for long-term retention. Prepares students to integrate and explain concepts. Improves student’s mastery of 21 st century skills Especially effective with lower-achieving students More effective with skill development and satisfaction of students and teachers. http://www.bie.org

8. How can I apply Project Based Learning in my classroom? Design a realistic problem or project Provide Structured Group Work Many different types of Assessment Provide multiple opportunities for students to receive feedback. Multiple learning outcomes (problem-solving, content, collaboration). Participation in a Professional Learning Network http://www.bie.org

9. Tips for avoiding Pitfalls Don’t be afraid to make mistakes Model Active listening and full group attention Encourage students to explore discrepancies Be realistic and flexible in planning. http://www.bie.org

10. The 4 C’s of Project-Based Learning Collaboration Communication Critical Thinking Creativity

11. Enthusiasm alone isn’t enough of a justification to advocate project-based learning, but the results of that enthusiasm argue in its favor. http://www.edutopia.org/project-based- learning-student-motivation -Diane Curtis

12. Community Helpers: What Would We Do Without Them? In Kindergarten, students are asked to become more familiar with local community helpers. Driving Question: Which community helper is the most important and why?

13. Standard’s Addressed South Carolina’s Social Studies Standards K-2.2 Summarize the roles of people in authority in a child’s life, including those of parents and teachers K-2.3 Identify people in the community and school who enforce rules that keep people safe, including crossing guards, firefighters, and police officers. K-6.3 Match descriptions of work to the names of jobs in the school and local community, in the past and present, including jobs related to safety CC Reading Standards Craft and Structure 6. With prompting and support, name the author and illustrator of a story and define the role of each in telling the story. Range of reading and level of text complexity 10. Actively engage in group reading activities with purpose and understanding. CC Reading Standards For Informational Texts K-5 Integration of Knowledge and Ideas 8. With prompting and support, identify the reasons an author gives to support points in a text.

14. Standards Continued… 15 total CC Writing Standards Text types and purposes 1. Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to compose opinion pieces in which they tell a reader the topic or the name of the book they are writing about and state an opinion or preference about the topic or book. 2. Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to compose informative/explanatory texts in which they name what they are writing about and supply some information about the topic. Research to Build and Present Knowledge 7. Participate in shared research and writing projects 8. With guidance and support from adults, recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a question. CC Speaking and Listening Standards Comprehension and Collaboration 1. Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about kindergarten topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups. Presentation of Knowledge and Ideas 4. Describe familiar people, places, things, and events and with prompting and support provide additional detail. 5. Add drawings or other visual displays to descriptions as desired to provide additional detail 6. Speak audibly and express thoughts, feelings, and ideas clearly. CC. Language Standards Vocabulary Acquisition and Use 6. Use words and phrases acquired through conversations, reading and being read to, and responding to texts.

15. Parallel Experience What do you know about this community helper? What experiences have you had with this community helper? Why is this person important to society? *City Planner

16. Schema (What we think we know) Wonderings (Questions that we have) Misconceptions (What changed from previous Knowledge) New Learning (What did I learn that I didn’t know before) City Planner

17. Our Experience Our class will begin by drawing on students’ prior knowledge about community helpers in our area and listing any wonderings they may have. Throughout the unit we will read books, research, and have speakers come and speak to us about their occupations. Mini lessons will be about characteristics of community helpers, features of literary non-fiction ABC books, persuasive writing to model our writing after, research skills, and speaking skills. *Lessons subject to change based on students’ needs.*

18. A few of our speakers Administrators- Dr. Patterson and Mrs. Skinner Custodian- Mrs. Debbie Cafeteria Worker Librarian- Mrs. Kanipe Doctor- Dr. Kunda Mail Carrier- Rusty Tucker Chef- Farmer- Cooley’s Engineer- Mr. Pattillo Police Officer Fire Fighter We will provide the speakers with a list of guiding questions to ensure they address everything my learners need to know. 1) Please take us through a typical day on your job. 2) What tools do you use to complete your tasks? 3) Why is your job important to society? *Students will help me design questions for the speakers that they think are important and they will ask the questions*

19. Our Projects/Performance Tasks Students will begin making a literary nonfiction A,B,C book based on mentor texts as a class. Second, students will design and conduct a Public Service Announcement (PSA) about the importance of a community helper of their choice to our society. We will begin researching different occupations. Lastly, students will continue the research process based on the community helpers the children have chosen. Students will write their own persuasive piece about which community helper is most important to them and why.

20. Now, It’s Your Turn! How could you apply these strategies to your students?

21. Don’t lower your expectations to meet your performance. Raise your level of performance to meet your expectations. Expect the best of yourself and then do what is necessary to make it a reality. ~Ralph Marston

22. Resources Larmer, John. PBL In The Elementary Grades. N.p.: Buck Institute for Education, 2011. Project Based Learning for the 21st Century. Buck Institute for Education. Web. 12 June 2013.. "Project Based Learning (PBL)." TIDEs. Project Lead The Way, n.d. Web. 9 June 2013.. "Research Spotlight on Project-Based Learning." NEA Association. National Education Association, n.d. Web. 7 June 2013.. Vega, Vanesa. "Project-Based Learning Research Review." Edutopia. The George Lucas Educational Foundation, n.d. Web. 7 June 2013. "What Is PBL?" Project Based Learning for the 21st Century. Buck Institue for Education, n.d. Web. 6 June 2013..