Music Catalogue Order Project

Submitted by Gretchen Taylor, Illinois

Idea posted July 2, 2005

Tomorrow my "challenging" 8th graders will embark upon their first extended in-class project (in lieu of regular curriculum unit plans). Here's the low down:

• 16 students, divided into teams of two (pairing one relatively strong student with one less strong student). Each team will have a catalogue kit containing:
• 2 music catalogues (everyone will have the same catalogue)
• 1 order form
• 1 report form
• 1 master rubric sheet stating objectives
• 1 calculator
• paper for jotting down notes

Requirements: Each team will be given a budget of $1000. At least one drum, one classroom game, and one teacher resource of some kind MUST be included in the order. Beyond that, teams can order anything else they wish according to the following objectives:

1. Stay within budget (including 10% for shipping) but come as close as possible to spending all the money allotted.

2. Allow for a variety of items ordered.

3. Choose items that have the widest scope in usefulness for the greatest number of classes K-8.

4. Orally report to the class what you will order, reason for including it, and how you feel it will best be used in the music classes.

Ok, that's the general gist of it. Now for the grading part. I've prepared an assessment rubric which each student will fill out for each presenting team based on a number range of 1 - 4 (1 being poor up to 4 being excellent). Half of each student's grade will come from the student's assessments (totaled and averaged), the other half from my assessment. The two assessments will then be added and averaged for the final grade. Partners will receive a "team" grade.

Now, I'm anticipating that some of my more difficult students may choose to just "blow off" this project as they have done with other activities they've been expected to participate in. So, I will let them know that I expect everyone to make a positive contribution to their team. If a student is not pulling their weight, well, the others in the team will have to deal with it (after all, they'll have to work with many different kinds of people in their lives, not all of whom will be great workers). But if anyone throws attitude, behaves badly, or constantly disrupts others and is asked to leave the room, that student's individual grade will be docked one letter grade. So if at the end of the project after reports, a team ends up with a "3" (B), but one member was removed for misbehavior, that individual will only receive a "2" (C). Anyone removed twice will have to do the project solo (along with a two letter grade deduction from their assessment total). This means the other teammate will be finishing their project on their own (although they were doing it alone anyway).

After any removal, a parent contact will be made explaining the situation. This way one student's misbehavior and failure to contribute appropriately to the project will not be held against anyone else's grade.

Of course, the students know that their music grades don't really count on their report card, but they'll still all be required to stand up before the class and present an oral report of their order. I'm planning on three to four sessions for the entire project, including reports and assessments.