2. Theprojectwasdeveloped in June. WHY ? Because I needed some excuse to enhance student’s motivation at the end of the term. And because I detected that my students didn’t know too much about jobs outside the school. WHEN? The project was developed during last month of the school year: June. Because we had finished curricular textbooks and I tried to work with almost one project each end of term (3 months terms).
12. Comments The principal idea was to improve skills of working in groups, to motivate the students and to involve their families. HOW? Introducing professionals with different kinds of jobs to my students. In this way, I asked my own family, friends and pupil’s families to collaborate in the project. I sent a circular with the project information you’ve seen before.
47. Characteristics of the model So I promoted a positive view of what they were creating. And we, as a group including the architect, were so proud of the final product. ROLES: The professional worker and teacher’s roles were answering and guiding their work, but not refusing ideas. Students: they were organised like in a job, we had: plan workers, painters, plasticine TM modellers, designers, etc.
48. Characteristics of the model They know very well their local school because is where they live! So they knew better than me where to place each building, park, traffic lights, bus stop, apartments, zebra crossing... But the most important of these elements is that they accomplish the objectives for first cycle of different subjects: maths, spaces distribution, knowing their surroundings, collaboration work...
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51. Having a social use: the most important We placed it at the corridor out of our classroom, so that all students passing through that could see it. Even more, we were sure everybody saw it because the music classroom was at the end of our corridor. The most important for them was that their families could visit it, and it was done because at the end of. the term parents came to give the school marks
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53. Final product: individual book I asked them to complete a sheet with each new profession they learned at class. Their final products, in these case were individual sheets with 3 questions about the profession and one drawing.
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65. Fire-fighter We had the opportunity to visit a fire station because one of the parents is a fire-fighter.
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76. Talkingaboutotherprofessions After the architect gave us a talk, everything was easier for them because they were highly motivated. Unfortunately nobody else collaborate with the project because of different circumstances I’ll analyse later on. So, finally I presented some other professions by myself to the students in the same kind of interaction: give a talk, asking questions, analysing realia (news, tools, etc)
81. Assessment of the project Project assessment: if objectives had been accomplished. Teacher’s assessment: To evaluate social answer to the project. To assess my role and professional’s role. Students assessment: final products, objectives and self-assessment.
82. Reflecting on the project Were objectives accomplished? Yes / No To work key competences To work in groups To know what’s to give a talk To reinforce concepts related to children surroundings and professions. Social recycling: using professional people from outside of the school. To develop creativity and project work 30% of assessment is based on the objectives. They were all achieved. PROBLEMS: introducing people from outside school can be a problem for the headmaster.
83. Reflecting on the roles Teacher’s role: is important to know your children and not to put them barriers. If so, I couldn’t imagine them doing all this hard work without getting angry! Another key is to ask for help, your school, other teachers, families may know what you are doing at class. Professional’s role: having good friends and nice families would be perfect! But if you don’t have it, don’t worry, try it!. Professionals can’t be anybody, but people with patience and passion for his/her work. Tip: ask positive people which is not working, like university students, unemployed... People with not hurry! 20% of assessment is based on my role. I received feedback from families, other teachers, children. And my objectives were achieved. 10% of assessment is based on professional worker’s roles. PROBLEMS: As a teacher the most useful for me was to detect needs on my students. If they were not interested on it I didn’t do it. I had problems to look for people who collaborate, but I did it! First opportunity started when we visit a fire station in the second term. Then I asked my friends and family to come and only one person answer. Lastly, I asked families to come and nobody came finally. But I was quite happy when many of them sign to allow me to use their children photos and works.
84. Reflecting on the students Were objectives accomplished? Yes / No To work in groups To know what’s to give a talk To reinforce concepts related to their surroundings and professions. Social recycling: using professional people from outside of the school. To develop creativity and project work To create a profession’s book To elaborate a building school’s model 50% of assessment is based on the students. They weren’t all achieved. I recorded a video with their final feelings. PROBLEMS: Collaboration of some families. Only one person visited us to talk about her job. Different levels of participation and motivation within the group (that’s not surprising).
