This is a new book, written by Lori Pickert. I searched the hive for info on her and I just got one thread on her. Has anyone read this book? I like following Annie's blog Bird and Little Bird and she wrote about it today on her Library Monday at http://birdandlittlebird.typepad.com/blog/ If you have read this book then what is your opinion of it? Or has anyone else explored project based learning? I am always hesitant to jump on the latest and greatest ideas because everything out there can seem interesting at first but may be just repackaged or not worthwhile. This year my son would love to do do a "unit" on World War II because he is so interested in it (the types of planes used, the submarines, etc.). He knows more about it than most high school students but I have been hesitant in putting it all together because I want it to be about HIS interest in the topic and not what I think he should get out of it. He's already approached this as a rabbit hole but he would love this to be a "subject" (above and beyond history) that he's doing in school. I think that he should do most of the planning and legwork for this subject (or "unit") but I don't know how to guide him with this process (without taking it over and doing it my way). This method seems like it might have some answers for me. . .any thoughts?

Has anyone tried project based learning with their different learner? I am particularly interested in those that are doing this while following a classical or eclectic approach in your homeschool. I purchased Lori Pickert's book on Kindle a few days ago after seeing mention of it in the K-8 board and I am currently more than half way through. I am looking at hopefully implementing some of what I am reading next fall (if not sooner) and am hoping for some ideas from others. I have found several blogs but most seem to drop it after a year or so. I know it would work well for both my boys since they are very visual, very hands on, and very particular about what they like. At the same time though, I am not an unschooler (it's just not in my nature) but I noticed that Pickert says that the approach can be used by classical homeschoolers, eclectic homeschoolers, and unschoolers. So has anyone looked into adding some project based learning as part of your homeschool? I have always felt that I was doing some of that already but I will admit that I plan the projects/ activities so this does not really fit in with the real project based philosophy of them being child led. Any thoughts or ideas to share ?

A few people thought it would be fun to have a thread about this book and her blog. I would love to hear how people are implementing her ideas, no matter how small. I have some thoughts too, but want to hear from others first :tongue_smilie:

I have finally realized that my dc learn best through hands on activities. I have a couple of struggling readers who LOVE to build with legos. They really need to be moving and be active in their learning. We will be studying ancients this year and earth science and astronomy. I have been looking at TOG because I like how it is all planned out and there isn't a lot of planning for me, on the other hand reading is the main modality of learning. I just don't know what to do. I've been thinking of trying to pull together my own curriculum but I have 5 kids and no time! My though was to read a little out of an encyclopedia at the beginning of the week and then plan projects from the rest of the week. Maybe include some audio books. My dc don't enjoy being read to but they do love audio books.

Well I'm bummed. This is the first year in my 8 years of homeschooling (not as long as some, I know, but still) that I haven't been fixated on a single fad or new product we're all wanting to try just to say we did. What's wrong with me? Maybe you have something to recommend? A convention's coming up and I'm feeling nothing to indulge on! :D :lol::lol:

This isn't really K-8, it's more for the preschooling forum that doesn't quite exist here, but bear with me: I'm imagining a book that explains how to do a series of food prep/cooking/baking projects with little kids. Ideally, this book would have a series of recipes of increasing difficulty, it would recommend tools and techniques appropriate for toddlers, and it would suggest "extensions" that would reinforce concepts and skills. I'm thinking of like a foodie version of The Read-Aloud Handbook or Young at Art. Any ideas?

I want to start a discussion on project based learning. I am not necessarily looking for more links as I did do a search on this topic and followed many of the links. Does anyone here follow a project based learning method as laid out by Camp Creek blog ? I'm trying to wrap my brain around how this may actually play out here. I have done this to some extent in the past, but either I didn't really know what I was doing or......I'm not sure what. I do need to read more, but I have some questions up front. When I tried this in the past, dc came up with ideas they were interested in. Often, the interest lasted about an hour.:confused: In other cases, the interest was only to have me read books aloud to them on the subject (well, older ds is doing more of his own reading now, so that will probably change) and maybe watch a youtube video. This is not how I envision project based learning. --Does it need to go further than this? I know not on every topic of interest, but some should, no? --How do I guide them to do other things with it? If they never want to do more than that, is it really PBL? --If the topics they pick are already their hobbies which they pursue, does it make sense? for instance, one son likes coin collecting. He already reads books about it, collects, puts them in coin thingies (can't think of word right now and I don't want to lose this train of thought) then why try to turn this into PBL? He did say he wants to learn a bit about coins in the history of the U.S. So, okay. I still feel like I'm missing something.:001_huh: I am hoping to incorporate some of this into our days, but I'm not sure how to start and I think the kids don't have the knack of it as this isn't exactly what we've done before. Though, I do think in some ways it is, just not formally. Okay, now I'm not even sure I'm making sense. Project based learning anyone? Let's talk. :lurk5:

Ok so my two girls are interested in adding more projects. Real projects, not dioramas, lol. Basically with the way we have restructured our year they will have the time, and they certainly have the inclination. These would be child directed, mom approved, the same setup that my oldest had. So this year - we are going all out, lol. And we all agree that a digital portfolio is important as part of the process. This is from them more than me, lol. They are surprisingly formal about such things. However, none of us are impressed with the examples of portfolios we can find online. The ones at High Tech High ~sometimes~ have great concepts, but to me they are very rarely put together well enough that I can even tell what the heck the kid actually accomplished. We will not even go into the grammar, writing, etc. I have googled for better examples to no avail. Maybe I just can't hit the right search. Maybe it's just me! :D So...anyone got any better examples? Any other ideas about project or problem based learning in general? All I can say so far is wow - the intense motivation they have when they own it and have the time to work it. I had almost forgotten that. thanks! Georgia

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I would love to hear what kinds of things you are having your students do for senior/high school projects. I am a local GED teacher and I just heard word that the colleges in Illinois are going to start requiring portfolios of all their students in order to graduate. The portfolios will reflect their creativity, critical thinking skills, project capabilities and communication skills. It got me to thinking that projects in high school may be looked upon as highly marketable in the college arena.

I'd like to find something that outlines how to set up a project for a student to do for credit. Like Clonlara's "walkabout" projects. I love the idea, but I need some guidance - it always falls apart when we try this. How do you organize the project in a way that it gets done and the student really covers some ground. At Clonlara if you do a project you get three advisors. That sounds great, but my kid is only going to have 1 - 2 advisors: my husband and I. I've been afraid to let go of traditional classes in favor of projects, but I want to follow their lead and give this a try. Any ideas?