Choosing & Charting: Helping Students Select, Map Out, and Embark on Independent Projects

Embarking on an independent project is an exciting endeavor, but it can seem overwhelming the first time.  Lindy Redmond helps students make their way through the journey of independent research.  Choosing and Charting guides students step-by-step through the process of  choosing a topic, finding information, taking and keeping track of notes, conducting interviews, developing an appropriate product, and finding an audience.  Reproducible pages help students discover their interests and work-style preferences and present hundreds of topic ideas and product suggestions to help students focus in on projects that they find relevant and engaging.  The Chart of Choices helps students keep track of their decisions and focused on their goal.

While Choosing & Charting is designed for students to use independently, it also includes teacher guidelines and forms to help teachers assess and understand students’ interests and learning styles and a certificate of completion to present to students when they have finished an independent project.  All forms are reproducible for classroom use.


Table of Contents

To the Teacher
To the Student
Path of Progress

Section I: Charting a Course
What Makes Me Tick
What Lights Me Up
General Category Titles
Undecided about a Category
Topic Pages

Section II: Embarking on a Journey of Discovery
Reference Materials
Taking Notes
Conducting an Interview
Wondering

Section III: Sharing Your Journey with Others
Product Ideas
Select an Audience
How to Do It
Evaluation

Section IV: In Your Travel Case
Parent Letter
Chart of Choices
Future Planning
Certificate