TEA Collaborative Learning Group
Annual Report

Forbes
2002

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How did your work with your team help you meet the professional growth goals you set for yourself?
I have learned a great deal this past year. As a group we have constantly reviwed the MA frameworks, assessed and modified our projects, and added new projects. Brainstorming as a team helps all of us. I have used my polar study as my evaluation plan with my principal for this school year. It is a very co-operative team.

How did your work with your team impact your content knowledge and pedagogy?
I think by constant assessment and using modification, I learned a great deal. I have added to my program with my PI's encouragement. As a result of the help of Dr. Roger Harritt (University of Alaska, Anchorage, ENRI), I will be presenting a paper with 4 of my students in Fairbanks, Alaska this March. The oral history project has been great. I have also incorporated oral history into this years study of archaeology.

What materials / resources / workshops did you use / produce / host with your team members over the last year?
Materials: many texts, novels, and magazines for research. We used the Internet often to research projects. I conducted workshops with my team memebers on power point presentation, polar study to other classrooms, question and answer with power point to other classrooms. Personally, I conducted workshops for 85 4th grades in Ayer, MA two times, 125 5th graders in Waltham, MA, all grades 1 and 2 in Orange, the Rotary Club, The Athol Bird and Nature Club, the Fire Department in New Salem, MA, a town meeting in New Salem, MA.

Based on the past year, what ideas do you have to improve the effectiveness of your team interactions?
Be better prepared for some meetings. Have more material for my team memebers. It is hard to now co-ordinate meetings as a result of a contract dispute. I hope this change very soon.

Total hours of collaboration with each team member:
Ethan Forbes with Jake Strunjo, Courtney Neal 27 hours. Kelli Gervais 22 hours, Ann Murray 25 hours. Johnna Herbert 25 hours

Additional reflections:
It has been a very exciting year. The archaeological dig was great. The studenst loved it, they learned a great deal, and even led others teachers form other school systems to a question and answer period. My upcoming trip to Fairbanks Alaska, at the Anthropology Conference with 4 students and another teacher (Ann Murray) will be a once in a lifetime experience for all of us.