RR #10: Celebrating and Reflecting

1. What is the importance of setting aside for reflection?
Reflection is a time for students to take a step back and really think about their learning process. Reflection gives students the opportunity to feel proud about the work they have done and with that they feel accomplished. It also gives them the opportunity to figure out what they could have done better so the next time they do a project they can feel even more accomplished and proud of their improvement. As teachers of project based learning we want our students to remember what they have learned for each project they do and have it stick in their brains! Reflection gives students the necessary thinking and comprehending of what they have worked on and learned they need to fully grasp the learning and keep it in their heads.
2. What are reasons that students need to reflect and elaborate?
Students should really focus on how much they have learned and how much they have accomplished throughout the project. The progress they make from beginning to end will have students reflect on how far they have come while working through the struggles of their projects. While they reflect on how far they come they can also reflect on how much new information they have learned or new material learned, and new experiences that they have witnessed throughout the project. When students reflect its a great way for teachers to get feedback about the knowledge the students have gained as well as what worked for the specific project and suggestions for the future to make the experiences better for the students. Elaborate helps students becoming more detailed and learn more information. As teachers probing students to answer questions will guide the students and have the students provide more detailed answers. Also it will help them elaborate on their thinking process to enhance what the students are learning. Having students be part of the planning process of projects will have the students be able to create goals and elaborate on what exactly they want to learn about the project and how they are going to go about it.
3. How do schools build tradition and identity?
Many schools that have tradition and have established an identity keep in contact with the parents, families , and communities. They have opened communities and are willing in anyway to help out. In order to have a tradition or an identity is important to create awareness around the community of the strengths and what the institution is special for. Once the community is established about the accomplishment of the school they will have the awareness they need. Communication is key in having a tradition and identity. When the community realizes all the institution has to offer they will wanna become more involved and apart of the institution. The book discusses celebrating learning of students while talking about tradition and identity which is a great way to celebrate all the hard work the students have done and to gain the community support.
4. Why is it important to celebrate a project?
Sharing students work allows the students to show off their hard work. It gives the students a sense of accomplishment and pride as well as joy. Students have been working hard all year and as a teacher having a display where the students can have their parents come or the community will show them that their work does matter and that hard work pays off. Also having the students reflect on all the work they have done will really mean a lot to the students to see their growth from the beginning of the year to the end of the year.It is extremely important for the students to celebrate their work!
5. How do these concepts relate to gardening?
This chapter relates to our project in gardening because as the beginning of our project students are going to be consistently reflecting on what they are learning and want to continue learning about gardening. The students will also be knowledgeable in the growing process of their vegetables so they will be able to help the community and explain to customers what they have done and what good vegetables look like. As a class the students will always have opened communication between their group mates as well as teachers to get the most out of the project as they can.