How will a project based learning approach impact student success and achievement in the middle school Language Arts classroom?

Seminar Title

How will a project based learning approach impact student success and achievement in the middle school Language Arts classroom?

Project Based Learning

7th Grade

Middle School

Language Arts

All Disciplines

“This class is so boring! All we do is read, write and take tests!” This statement can ring loudly amongst students, especially at the middle school level. Students and teachers alike are finding themselves becoming bored of the same old traditional teaching methods. If you are looking for a way to spice things up in your classroom, provide a successful working environment for your students, or to promote more student ownership of learning, then this session might be for you! My research and findings are aimed to supply teachers, across various content areas, with information on how to implement elements of the project based learning approach into their classrooms, and how its use can greatly impact student motivation, success and achievement.

The question that guides my research is as follows: How will a project based learning approach impact student success and achievement in the middle school Language Arts classroom? A review of the literature suggests that educators have seen successful outcomes with students, in a variety of ways, when implementing this project based approach. In response to the research, I took away several key elements of the project based learning method and incorporated them into my classroom. These elements consisted of developing the ways in which I as the teacher #1) set up my classroom environment, #2) implement PBL in the ELA content area, #3) structure student directed work days #4) assess final unit outcomes and objectives through student centered projects and products. Through the use of these elements in my classroom, my findings would begin to uncover several new trends in learning that impacted #1) student feelings and attitudes toward the content area, #2) motivation and future use of newly learned skills, and #3) student self assessment and reflection. Developing a project based approach in the middle school classroom proved to have a huge affect on both myself as the teacher and my students. The elements I implemented dramatically cut out the number of assessments I was needing to critique, and encouraged my students to work hard on projects that served an acquired knowledge of the various units we studied over the course of the year. My students also now have enduring understandings of how the process of reflection can serve as a valid tool for progression and growth, and which success indicators they can continue to develop and build upon as they further their educations. My students feel as though they are highly motivated to work in our class, find value in the productions they create, and ultimately feel successful when utilizing a project based learning approach. As a result of my research and implementation, I plan to continue the use of the project based learning approach in my 7th grade Language Arts classroom. Students will continue to have several opportunities to participate in a variety of activities and end projects that are rooted in self-development and are valuable to learners at individualistic levels.