Dear Parents:
I’m sure you’ve heard your sixth grader talking about the I-search (Individual Search)project, and I wanted to write and give you an overview of what the project entails.
I-Search provides an opportunity for each student to research a topic of his or her choosing. This project will entail long-term planning, researching a topic, taking notes and organizing information, writing multiple drafts, and will culminate with a paper (3-5 pages), and a presentation (comprising an oral presentation and accompanying visual element). We’ll be spending our English time on this project in upcoming weeks, but students will also need to work outside of class to complete the project.
I know this project can seem dauntingly large at the start; one of the goals for the project is to break a big project down into pieces to be completed a step at a time.
Students have chosen their topics, started research and notetaking, and will be writing introductory paragraphs this weekend.
Today we reviewed the calendar for the project as a whole; the deadlines on the calendar are not set in stone, so we’ll continue to tweak them as a class when we need more or less time.
We’ll be working next week on outlining and organizing information, citing sources and starting to write. First drafts are due on Friday, May 18.
During the week of May 21, we’ll be doing peer review of one another’s papers, and students will get back my comments and suggestions. We’ll spend time in class revising and finishing our papers. Final papers are due Tuesday, May 29. (My intention is not that students will spend Memorial Day weekend writing, but since their spring concert is on May 24, I want to give them another night or two to finish up.)
During the week of May 29 we’ll prepare to present information (students will speak for 3-5 minutes, with an accompanying visual element), with presentations during the week of June 5. I’ll share details on dates and times for presentations when we get closer to that time.
Please contact me with any questions or concerns.
Best,
Tara
