Brian- while I thought our new young team finally had one consistent mission down (which the team is ok with as a goal)- we had to change the batteries and it's like a completely different robot.   i really feel like now we are at  point when we could desperately use two more weeks- I actually read the second paragraph in the "advice for coaches" on page 8 of the coaches manual- for "rookie teams" to them today- and I have reminded them that whatever happens Saturday- they have worked hard and learned a lot- when I look at the rubric, I feel the same way- but it's kind of too late now- I think as a second year team we'll be able to work on more- I told them I'd be willing to meet with them once a month or so just to "play around with the Mindstorms." I think those of us who have Rookie Teams should feel good about giving them this experience and reminding them to learn at this tournament- I reminded them there would be some teams that would be able to accomplish a lot of missions- but we are a new team.  Our team work is not quite fully developed as I would like, and again, not enough time- but I'm proud of them. You're not alone.  Laura
On Oct 30, 2009, at 1:08 PM, Brian Nussbaum wrote:

Hello VDACFLL,

(My thoughts with a question at the end)

I am a first-year coach with a very young team of 5th graders.  Earlier in

this listserv there was some conversation about coaches who do not feel that

they are ready for the competition.

We have a week until our day at JMU, and I can definitely say that ateam and

bteam from Thomas Harrison Middle School will be bringing up the rear.  It

will be quite amazing if our group is able to complete one task on the

table, and have any sort of powerpoint with a linear thought process.  We

have not completed any of the requirements on the rubric for our research.

HOWEVER, as coaches we are looking at the process rather than the end

result. Learning has happened on the part of both the students and the

coaches (for example, some of our students are learning that it is not a

good idea to completely dismantle the robot a week before the competition).

On the whole, it is a good example of how this particular group of 5th

graders has some significant growing to do in the thought-process and

maturity departments.

As coaches, we have done significant scaffolding for them to try to break

down the problem into smaller chunks, but we will just call our students

'creative thinkers' rather than linear or result-oriented thinkers.

But this is OK, because we have made progress, even though very little of it

will appear on Saturday.  We are trusting that this will be a learning

experience for this very young team.  At this point they don't even realize

what they don't know.  Seeing other teams will be a good opportunity for

them to realize their potential for the future.

If we work together a few times in the spring to go back and solve a few of

this year's tasks, and then get an earlier start next fall, we may be more

in the middle of the pack next year (I'm thinking optimistically).

This is to assure all of you that are feeling worried--it's OK.

Question:  will there be an opportunity for my teams to watch other groups'

research presentations?  I think they never really got a full understanding

of what we were going for on the research end of things.  Seeing a

successful group could be helpful for them.

Thanks.

--

Mr. Brian Nussbaum

Mathematics Teacher

Thomas Harrison Middle School

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE:  This email message and any attachments are

for the sole use of the intended recipient and may contain confidential or

privileged information.  Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or

distribution is prohibited and may be a violation of law.  If you are not

the intended recipient or a person responsible for delivering this message

to an intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and

destroy all copies of the original message. Thank you for your compliance.

Copyright (c) 2006 Harrisonburg City

Public Schools.

-- To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE your settings, please visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or leave the list".

-- VADCFLL administrative announcements are sent via VADCFLL-ADMIN-L. Visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-admin-l.html to subscribe.

-- To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE your settings, please visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or leave the list".

-- VADCFLL administrative announcements are sent via VADCFLL-ADMIN-L. Visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-admin-l.html to subscribe.