Latrice+Gettings

My name is Latrice. I am a second grade teacher at Skinner Classical Fine Arts and Technology Elementary. This is my sixth year at Skinner. I've taught pre-school, kindergarten, second, and third grade. I have been teaching for 12 years. I was interested in taking this class because this is the first year that Skinner Classical has changed its name. Prior to this upcoming school year, it was called Skinner Classical Elementary School. So, I wanted to learn some new ideas on how to incorporate technology in my curriculum.

My unit title is Decisions! Me or Us. The real-world connection that I am considering is working well with others. I am a primary teacher and have found that some students in my class have a problem working with others. They don't want their grades affected by others. So, they choose to work alone on projects. Therefore, I plan to come up with activities which allow the students to work in groups. My subjects that I plan to address are social emotional learning, language arts, social science, and fine arts. The grade is second. I was thinking of making my essential question: Does everything I do have some type of effect on others. That would be a question that would cross multiple units throughout the school year. The students would work collabortively, persuade others, and have various discussions. One project scenario that I am thinking about is posting four large sheets of chart paper around the class which would have always, sometimes, usually, and never. I would pose the essential question - Does everything you do have some type of effect on others. I will ask the students to stand in front of the chart paper that applies to their thoughts. Then students will begin to debate and persuade others to join their side. I will also provide examples (if you receive a poor score on your paper, does anyone else have feeling about that, etc.). After our discussion, we will begin the read The Lorax and discuss that story. The objectives that I've thought of so far are: Students will develop team work skills by creating a science fiction story and designing a jigsaw puzzle. Students will express their feeling about why they think their actions have an effect on others. Students will be able to differentiate their knowledge of cooperation and cohesiveness through reciprocal teaching and cubing activities. How much of an affect does your decision have on others How can I find the similarities and difference in others Why should people work or not work together Could our history teach us about relationships with others What is a decision How do people make decisions Is there a job that I can do without the assistance from someone else Who did the slaves depend on to get through the Underground Railroad
 * Unit Topic**
 * Essential Question:** How do the decisions I make affect others 
 * Unit Questions:** Should my decision affect only me or should it affect others as well
 * Content Questions:** What does team work mean to you

Project Name**: Decisions, Decisions, Decisions //Now, you will be apart of a cooperative group of decisions makers to review the list of book titles that relate to decisions. Within your group, you will use the Visual Ranking Tool to organize this list by the book that had the most impact on you for the decision that was made to the book that had the least impact from the decision that was made. This ranking is from your perspective and/or experience. So, you will need to use your negoiation skills with your team members. // //After you finish ranking the list, you will need to write your rationale for the ranking in the comment section. You will need to explain why you ranked the book titles the way you did. // Boy Overboard The Colour of Home Out of India An Angel Just Like Me Clever Tom and the Leprechaun Hunches in Bunches Little Pig's Tale Making Up Your Own Mind People Who Help People Critical Decisions
 * __Visual Ranking Tool__
 * Project Description**: //You may not know it yet but making decisions is a lifelong and important skill that you will take part in daily. People make decisions with everything. Some decisions are good and other decisions are poor. Sometimes people make poor decisions that will have a negative effect for a long time (murder - prison). Sometimes people make decisions that will have a positive effect for a long time (college – president/career). Sometimes your decision to work or not to work with others can have a positive or negative effect. //
 * Project Prompt**: Rank this list of book titles in order of the most important impact decision making to the least important impact decision making.
 * Project Sorting List:**

Research Question: Why Do People Make Decisions
 * Seeing Reason Project Name**: WHY SHOULD I
 * Project Description**: As you are finding out, making decisions is an important skill to have in daily life. It is important to understand why people make decisions and some of the factors (positive and negative) that influence your decision making outcome. In this creative activity, you will work in a group of three to generate factors that causes people to make decisions. You will need to develop positive and negative correlation with why people make decisions. You will need to explain your cause and effect relationship. After you finish your map, you will be able to compare your map with other groups in the class. Have Fun!, Work together and remember your negotiating and collaborating skills.