January 11, 2016 4 Grade Stem: Effective Questioning in STEM Projects
January 11, 2016 4 Grade Stem: Effective Questioning in STEM Projects
January 11, 2016 4 Grade Stem: Effective Questioning in STEM Projects
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1. What protocols do you follow in forming student groups for projects? How might
you improve those protocols?
When forming groups, I usually mix students based on their ability levels. I pair up high
performing students with low performing students as a way to help their peers improve. I also
pair more outspoken students with students who are shy to help them build their confidence and
speaking skills. I think my reasoning for pairing and forming groups has been going well. I
seldom have students chose their own groups because they tend to choose their friends and
work doesn't get done or the teacher will need to control the amount of side conversation that
goes on.
2. What can you do to prepare students to ask each other meaningful questions
during group presentations?
We can start off with simple questions and build on it- for example, have students sit in a circle
and ask each other questions pertaining to a certain topic. For example: what is your favorite
toy? why is that your favorite toy? As time progress, continue to have students practice asking
questions pertaining to a topic but also allow students to explain their reasoning for choosing
that certain toy or process. Practice, practice, practice.
3. In what ways could you enhance the engineering focus of the activity by guiding
the students to describe their roller coasters mathematically? For example, height of
roller coaster, distance traveled, average speed in inches per second, proportion of
base dimensions to total height, number of right triangles created in the roller
coaster, etc.
I would provide students with a list of math questions that they would work on answering as they
created their design. Also, as group roles are assigned, one role could be the "writer" and that is
the person who will write down all the information as they go along. It gives students direction
and information that they could share when they present their projects to their peers.
4. Since viewing this segment, what improvements have you made to your protocols
for creating student groups for projects?
I feel that I create groups in a way that benefits all students. Students are able to work with other
students who have different genders, interests, ability levels, thinking methods, etc, as them.
This allows them to be open minded to other people's opinions and thoughts.
5. How have you prepared students to ask each other meaningful questions during
group presentations?
We've practiced asking questions about specific topics to each other to initiate the conversation.
Then, we come up with a list of questions as a class, and eliminate questions that are not
meaningful, to kind of guide students in the direction of what kinds of questions to ask.
6. What plans have you made to enhance the role of math in your STEM lessons?
I've made Math more hands on and more interactive. Students are able to use manipulatives,
objects, shapes, etc. to help them learn Math in a more meaningful way.
students maintain their focus and make full use of instructional time. It's important
students are aware of how to enter and exit the classroom in an orderly fashion, it's
save, it's showing them how to be responsible and respectful, and teaching them how to
behave and act in the community.
3. What other strategies or techniques might you develop to facilitate orderly
transitions and maximize instructional time for students?
I ensure students are ready before entering and exiting the classroom. I ensure they are
in order and are following the school and classroom rules. I ensure that procedures and
steps that need to be taken are clear and that students know what to do. Rules and
procedures are established in the beginning of the year, and we continue to practice
and practice and practice, until students are able to do the procedures themselves.
I always teach my students about respect. I always teach my students about respecting
their peers and themselves and being polite and kind to others. This strategy will help
me reinforce respect.