OBJECTIVE 6

Effective and Knowledgeable Teacher

ARTIFACT: 8th Grade Research Collaboration Reflection, Unit Plan and Lesson Plan

REFLECTION:

It's that time again! Everybody's favorite unit - RESEARCH! This year, during my internship, I had the wonderful experience of working with an 8th grade reading teacher who had not previously taught 8th grade research. Although she was a talented and veteran teacher, she was a bit anxious when approaching this unit. We both knew that we wanted to make this project as interesting and manageable as possible for the students and for ourselves. We wanted to instill in our students a sense of comfort and success for future research endeavors. So Ms.Wright (name changed for privacy) and I put our heads together several times and for several months to create well thought out lessons that incorporated the 8th grade research objectives as well as the media information skills the students would need to be successful.

We decided that the ultimate purpose of this research unit was to establish prior knowledge in order to read, examine and discuss Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes and I Am the Cheese by Robert Cormier. At the same time, we wanted to teach the students compassion, tolerance and understanding. The students were asked to research physical and emotional disorders and how society views people who are afflicted with these challenges. The media lessons I developed focused on locating materials as well as accessing and evaluating resources and information. Non-fiction note taking strategies, database use, and evaluating websites were lessons that provided the students with tools for success. Over the next several weeks, Ms. Wright and I worked side by side supporting the students and each other through the process.

From planning to implementation to reflection, we alleviated each other's anxiety and cultivated in the students a desire to present a well designed project. The students I'm looking forward to next year's research!

 

 

© 2004 McDaniel College and Stephanie Greene
McDaniel College