Exploring Rhode Island Through Project Based Learning

Exploring Rhode Island through Project-Based Leaning includes 50 well-thought-out projects designed for grades 3-5. In assigning your students projects that dig into Rhode IslandÕs geography, history, government, economy, current events, and famous people, you will deepen their appreciation and understanding of Rhode Island while simultaneously improving their analytical skills and ability to recognize patterns and big-picture themes. Project-based learning today is much different than the craft-heavy classroom activities popular in the past. Inquiry, planning, research, collaboration, and analysis are key components of project-based learning activities today. However, that doesnÕt mean creativity, individual expression, and fun are out. They definitely arenÕt! Each project is designed to help students gain important knowledge and skills that are derived from standards and key concepts at the heart of academic subject areas. Students are asked to analyze and solve problems, to gather and interpret data, to develop and evaluate solutions, to support their answers with evidence, to think critically in a sustained way, and to use their newfound knowledge to formulate new questions worthy of exploring. While some projects are more complex and take longer than others, they all are set up in the same structure. Each begins with the central project-driving questions, proceeds through research and supportive questions, has the student choose a presentation option, and ends with a broader-view inquiry. Rubrics for reflection and assessments are included, too. This consistent framework will make it easier for you assign projects and for your students to follow along and consistently meet expectations. Encourage your students to take charge of their projects as much as possible. As a teacher, you can act as a facilitator and guide. The projects are structured such that students can often work through the process on their own or through cooperation with their classmates.

Project Based Learning in Real World U.S. History Classrooms demonstrates how a project based learning approach can enrich and enliven the learning and teaching of U.S. history for middle and secondary level students. It offers rich, pedagogically innovative, and academically rigorous project based learning units that can help students connect with and deeply understand key events and trends in U.S. history. For each major topic that is covered in U.S. history classrooms, this volume shows how rich historical material can be made accessible and exciting to a wide range of student learners using projects that engage them critically, imaginatively, and analytically. This book is essential reading for pre-service and practicing teachers in Social Studies Education, History Education, and Secondary Education.

This book will inspire, challenge and engage you—and transform your teaching and learning. Each chapter in this book is written by a different educator or team about their experiences with project-based learning, both in and out of the classroom. They reflect not only on the how of project-based learning, but more importantly, on the what and the why. They offer insight into how connecting with learners, honouring their experiences, and promoting deep and rich questioning can be the path to powerful projects and learning. Their writing and thinking is saturated with empathy, expertise, a desire to improve their practice, and an acknowledgment of the need to collaborate.

Handbook of Student Engagement Interventions: Working with Disengaged Students provides an understanding of the factors that contribute to student disengagement, methods for identifying students at risk, and intervention strategies to increase student engagement. With a focus on translating research into best practice, the book pulls together the current research on engagement in schools and empowers readers to craft and implement interventions. Users will find reviews on evidence-based academic, behavioral, social, mental health, and community-based interventions that will help increase all types of engagement. The book looks at ways of reducing suspensions through alternative disciplinary practices, the role resiliency can play in student engagement, strategies for community and school collaborations in addressing barriers to engagement, and what can be learned from students who struggled in school, but succeeded later in life. It is a hands-on resource for educators, school psychologists, researchers, and students looking to gain insight into the research on this topic and the strategies that can be deployed to promote student engagement. Presents practical strategies for engagement intervention and assessment Covers early warning signs of disengagement and how to use these signs to promote engagement Reviews contextual factors (families, peers, teachers) related to engagement Focuses on increasing engagement and school completion for all students Emphasizes multidimensional approaches to disengagement

The allure and marketplace power of digital technologies continues to hold sway over the field of education with billions spent annually on technology in the United States alone. Literacy instruction at all levels is influenced by these evolving and ever-changing tools. While this opens the door to innovations in literacy curricula, it also adds a pedagogical responsibility to operate within a well-developed conceptual framework to ensure instruction is complemented or augmented by technology and does not become secondary to it. The Handbook of Research on Integrating Digital Technology With Literacy Pedagogies is a comprehensive research publication that considers the integration of digital technologies in all levels of literacy instruction and prepares the reader for inevitable technological advancements and changes. Covering a wide range of topics such as augmented reality, literacy, and online games, this book is essential for educators, administrators, IT specialists, curriculum developers, instructional designers, teaching professionals, academicians, researchers, education stakeholders, and students.