Interest Based Research Underway!

I am ecstatic to report that interest based research projects are well underway in fourth grade! This week students began the process of taking notes that would help them to answer their great questions. Teacher librarian extraordinaire, Mrs. Redford, did a great mini lesson on note taking which included a sample video. Then students jumped right in!

I was impressed by student engagement and enthusiasm. Note taking was not a boring mandated job.....it was fed by their need to solve their problem. Each student tackled their plan in a different way. We watched as some students jumped on line to find a book or a resource, while others read and took notes, while others underlined and outlined. I found myself having to take pictures of the process of learning as it unfolded because it was a natural curiosity combined with structured tool and resource support that is hard to express in words!

We were also lucky to have Joanne Finnegan, district technology educator, support student research. She has volunteered to help one student build a website, and connected another student to a veterinarian expert via email. As time goes on we will have other adult volunteers support our great learners! It is an exciting experience. Please let me know if you would like to be involved!