Just+Let+It+Go...

=How Are We All Doing Now?=

Lauren:
Honestly, I had to take a break after completing the learning contracts with my small group. In Pitt County, the units that we teach are already laid out for us, and I quite frankly didn't have the time needed to sit down with the next unit and modify it to be able to be used with learning contracts. That being said, the students and I have had a little break from learning contracts, rubrics, etc. and its time to get back to it. I am planning one more experience for the students this year with learning contracts, rubrics, and menus. Hopefully, being the second time for some and third time for others, this process will go a little smoother. We'll see. I know that this time around, I will DEFINITELY review all of the Notebook presentations that the students saw before. I'll also do another cooperative learning activity where the students have to put the pieces of the learning contract puzzle together. Having an example in front of them when they begin to write their own really gives them the confidence to give it a try. This time around, the students will also be responsible for writing more of the rubric, which is putting more and more of that control into their hands rather than mine. Hopefully, at this point in time, we're all ready for it!

After recently having a round table conversation with my students I have found that most of them loved the freedom the rubrics offered and can't wait to do it again. I did have a few admit that they missed the structure of being told the what, who, where, and how. I am about to start a water quality unit and am trying to figure out how to incorporate menus into the lesson. I have some ideas and will keep you updated and I am planning on letting it go!
 * Heather:**