It’s never too early to plan our end of the year activities, and this post is simply to remind those who in the past have found success in late spring using the Children’s Story Project (found in A Natural Approach to the Year) to reserve the month of May and possibly even a few weeks earlier than that to do those projects. Carly asked some questions a few years ago about the process and this is a repost of that conversation for those interested who are thinking of doing spring projects again or even for the first time this spring.
Carly: I have some questions about the Children’s Story Project and seek your input. Our school year isn’t over until June 28th, but I am thinking of starting this project the first week of April. One reason is that June is full of trips and assemblies. Another reason is so the project can be finished before grades are due in mid-May. Another is because I have to put my desks back in my room for April and May testing and so I thought I might as well have them do some writing sitting at the desks.
My response: This project is designed to give you a rest, so whenever you need a rest, do it. I would suggest some “final assessments” at the end of the year then.
Carly: Do you see any down side to starting the project this early?
My response: Just that you need to come up with some time fillers before the end of the year.
Carly: Do you have any classroom management words of advice when doing group projects, especially with the damn desks filling up all the space?
My response: Give them broken-down deadlines like it says in the original children’s book project that is in A Natural Approach to the Year.
Carly: I’ll be following the instructions in A Natural Approach to the Year, but is there any other information related to pacing that I might need to know? For example, when you do this project, do you keep free choice reading or partner reading at the beginning of the class period? Our classes are only 43 minutes long, but I could see splitting the period between reading and project.
My response: That will spread the project out a bit as we usually stop all reading, even during FCR to start class, for the duration of the project. But at that point in the year, it is all about stretching things out.
Carly: I have shut down all projects in recent years because I found I was working harder than the kids on them, so I am nervous. Any words of encouragement are appreciated!
My response: Tell the kids that they can only bring two pages to you at the time and you will call their parents if they do not bring you the required # of pages per day/week.