Implementing PDI

 I have developed a plan for my fourth grade students to integrate the social studies and reading curriculum. Currently in my class we are working on locating and synthesizing information in the Wonders reading curriculum materials. In social studies, the students are learning about the Northeastern States in the United States of America using the TCI curriculum materials. My students actively work together on a wide variety of projects and treat others well. Over the last few weeks I have been setting up a community of learning and exploration. In previous years it was often difficult to get students interested in learning new social studies content. Often when learning about the states, my students would have little interest in learning about the different components. I used the PDI framework to frame a learning environment and I am using the PDI for these groups of lessons to engage my students in exploration of social studies content that relates to their interest. The goal is for students to actively learn about the different components of the Northeastern states and how people live there. 

Student Pairs in My Current Classroom

The first lesson engages students in learning about different ways people live in the Northeast. I use discussion and collaboration to engage students in wonder. I plan to guide the discussion and utilize online formats, like Jamboard, to assist students in keeping track of the questions they have over time. The lessons then progress students through the process of exploration. I plan to incorporate lessons that teach students the importance of evaluating the sources they choose. Due to the abundance of information that is provided online, it is important that students understand how to navigate through and evaluate valid resources. Students are provided with graphic organizers to help them organize the information they find, questions they have, and sources they have chosen. 

Utilizing graphic organizers will ensure that students can monitor their understanding and progress through the project. During each lesson and component, it will be imperative that I provide adequate feedback to my students. As they begin to evaluate resources, search for answers, and synthesize the information, I need to be sure to observe student progress. When teachers consistently observe and provide feedback it is easy to notice which skills need to be modeled again. It also provides opportunities to clarify any misunderstandings and guide students towards their own personal goals. Students will be provided with opportunities to collaborate, discuss, reflect on the process and understanding, and use what they have learned to make sound decisions. 

        This project will allow many of my students to be more independent in their learning and decision making. In my PDI implementation plan, linked below, students consistently communicate during whole group and pairing collaboration opportunities. They engage in critical thinking activities as they synthesize and share information they find online. Students participate in digital citizenship as they evaluate resources and make sound decisions when using the internet. Engaging in activities that allow them to plan their own creation as they create a final product that displays the new knowledge they have learned. During the plan I made adjustments based on the opinions of colleagues and professors from the University of Oklahoma. It was suggested that I add more forms of text, include the PDI planning guide, and consider how I wanted students to interact with each other during the project. When making the changes, I included the planning guide at the beginning of my plan, added a library visit, and included the option for students to use the digital online library to find additional texts. 

The choice in digital tools I selected were to help learners at all levels feel confident in their exploration. The text-to-speech tool will be used to assist students in my class that are struggling readers. Using a digital and traditional KWLS chart will ensure students who have writing or organization difficulties can keep focus, while utilizing multiple search engines will ensure students have access to a wide variety of content. It was important to include the options for students to browse through the school library, online libraries, and curriculum materials in order to ensure students were being exposed to different formats of text. Click the link below to view my plan on implementing PDI into my classroom, I am hopeful and excited to start this process.

Link: Implementation Plan