Learning in Progress

At the end of the 2014-2015 school year, one of our Spanish teachers approached me with an idea.  Her primary grade Spanish classes were studying migration patterns of Monarch butterflies as a way to make connections between our region and different Spanish speaking countries in Central America, and she wanted to try to create a garden that would help promote the survival of the species.  The idea seemed like a great way for the two of us to collaborate, and it turned out that her timing could not have been perfect. The very next week, local businesses were giving away seed packets that contained milkweed, the plant that the Monarch butterfly caterpillars need for food.  We each picked up some seed packets and began working out plans. I began the 2015-2016 year with an email newsletter to our parents explaining that one of the goals for the year would be to work with students to build the garden, and within a few minutes, one of our parents responded to the newsletter with informati

For makerspace inspired Project Based Learning work this year in the library, fourth graders were given a choice of projects to work with .  One of the choices was to learn about aquaponics.  I first became interested in using the library as a place to spark interest in growing things after I read the School Library Journal article " Dig it! Library Gardens Sprout Up Coast to Coast " from August 2014.  I was completely amazed by the system set up by the Cranbury School in New Jersey and felt inspired to bring a more hands on sort of learning experience to my own students. When I discovered a Back to The Roots aquaponics kit while doing a little Internet shopping, I realized that it Kids unpacking the kit could be a manageable task for elementary students.  The Task: Students were challenged to learn about aquaponics, figure out how to put an aquaponics system together and create a project that would teach others about aquaponics. Key 4th Grade Standards Addresse

Makerspaces are an incredible way to connect to student interests, improve student choice and voice and possibly introduce them to a skill that they will use in a future career. Presentation Here is the presentation from the 2016 P ersistence to Graduation S ummit , hel d in Lexington , K Y.  Participants engaged in a maker activity and discussion surrounding makerspaces.   Resources for Further Exploration Hover over the Thinglinked image below and "hotspotted" resources will appear that you will be able to click on.  You can also view the image on Thinglink .   

For the last few years I've been working to develop a makerspace in the library and a model of Project Based Learning that works for me and my elementary students in the library - a model that I can use to convince classroom teachers to take the leap into PBL with me. At the conclusion of this year, I think I've finally got a good recipe for success, and teachers, having seen the outcomes, are up for collaborating. Projects in the library take a million times longer than in the regular classroom because I only see the kids once a week for 45 minutes, so what might take the classroom teacher 2 weeks to coach students through, takes me an entire semester.  But, without a doubt, these projects turn into meaningful conversations about content across disciplines and extended inquiry. U pdate - Some Additional Background For the course of the 2015-2016 school year, students in 4 th grade were focusing on developing strong research skills.   At the end of