Kelvin Almonte

Fred R. Moore Academy

Fourth Grade

C.S. 133

WEBQUEST:

Discipline: Profanity Awareness

INTRODUCTION:

In the present time there is a great deal of disciplinary problems among the students. These problems occur for several reason but ultimately start from the structure or lack there of in the home. The students’ come into school constantly fighting, using profanity towards their teachers and other classmates. The problem seems to be ongoing and as a result the environment of the class is being effected by the ongoing disciplinary problems occurring on a daily basis. In this culture where profanity seems to be a norm students are under the impression that it is OK for them to express and share certain types of language with others in the school. It is not uncommon to hear students as young as six years old using inappropriate and adult language.

TASK:

You have been asked by the Principal of your school to brainstorm about the problems with profanity and you are asked to come up with three different strategies for how this problem could be addressed. You will make suggestions to her that she can use at the school and also create a presentation that she can take to the District Superintendent. You will make the presentation by conducting a survey and by writing a one page paper summarizing what you have found out from the survey and from your research. You will create a poster board with what you have found out. You will first present you paper and date poster board to your Principal in person with your team members and then if she likes your paper and data poster board she will present your project to the Superintendent.

PROCESS:

You will assigned along with three others members of your class to brainstorm about the problems in the school with profanity. You will meet with the members of your team two hours a day for an entire week and talk about the project and to do research using the Public Policy Analyst tools . At the end of the week you will have written a one page paper based on your research. Complete the steps below during your teams meetings.

Next you need to complete the following Public Policy Steps:

The following steps are required for the final presentation:-

¨ ¨ Identify the problem.

¨ ¨ Gather evidence that this is indeed a problem.

¨ ¨ Identify the causes of this problem

¨ ¨ Evaluate the existing policy by ours schools and others that deal with this problem

¨ ¨ Develop possible solutions that the classroom may adopt

¨ ¨ What, in your opinion, would be the best solution for the classroom to adopt? Your decision must take into account effectiveness and feasibility.

¨ ¨ Assess the costs and benefits of this solution.

Use the TIPS Public Policy Analyst web site to guide you through these steps. www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal

Next Step:

Once the team has gathered their research they will then create a survey to be conducted among their other classmates and students from different grades which will highlight questions that will assist you with your assignment. You will survey two students from grades three through six. After you have obtained your information from the survey you will write a one page paper on your results. You will also create a poster board highlighting your suggestions and ideas, which will be presented first to your teacher and the class and then to the Principal.

Last:

Meet with the Principal present the one page paper and to talk about the poster board suggestions and ideas. You and your team members encourage the Principal to take your presentation for you to the District Superintendent.

RESOURCES

http://www.rpinet.com/products/wtd.html

http://www.earlychildhood.com/Articles/index.cfm?A=59&FuseAction=Article

EVALUATION:

	A	B	C	Redo
Research	*Problem well identified and thoroughly researched *All six steps of the PPA are thoroughly addressed *Evidence of notes and action research	*Problem identified and reasonably well researched *All six steps of the PPA are addressed,	*Problem identified with limited research. *All steps of the PPA are addressed,	*Problem identified but research is lacking *Incomplete work
Written One Page Paper	*Well organized, demonstrates logical sequencing and sentence structure *Thoroughly addresses each of the six different parts (see Task)	*Well organized, but demonstrates illogical sequencing or sentence structure. * Addresses each of the six different parts	*Well organized, but illogical sequencing and sentence structure. * Barely addresses each of the six different parts	*Weakly organized. *Does not address each of the six different parts
Presentation On Poster Board	*Social problem introduced with authority based on information *Utilizes clear and helpful visual aids *Generate and field questions and responses from audience around their topic of discussion. *Every member in group participates in presentation.	*Social problem introduced with some authority *Visual aids used *Generate questions and responses. *Most members of group participate.	*Students state the social problem *Students require prompts to generate questions *Limited participation within the group	*Teacher generates discussion
Group cooperation	*Group establishes and maintains an equal distribution of labor among all participants. *Differences are dealt with maturely and students exercise listening skills, leadership skills, and compromise skills	*Group makes attempts to maintain an equal distribution of labor among all participants. *Almost all differences are dealt with maturely and students exercise listening skills, leadership skills, and compromise skills	*Groups make unsuccessful attempts to maintain an equal distribution of labor among all participants. *Only some differences are dealt with maturely as students attempt to exercise listening skills, leadership skills, and compromise skills	*Group is unable to equally distribute work. *Differences are not dealt with maturely

ELA STANDARDS

Standard 1:   Language for Information and Understanding

Standard 2:   Language for Literary Response and Expression

Standard 3:   Language for Critical Analysis and Evaluation

Standard 4:   Language for Social Interaction

Standard 5 (Social Studies):   Civics, Citizenship, and Government

CONCLUSION:

By completing this PPA Webquest, you have now learned how to identify disruptive behavior and research policies and programs. As a Public Policy Analyst, you have identified the causes of the problem, provided evidence, researched the current policies, and written a one page paper and made a poster board highlighting your suggestions for best solutions. As a result of this project, you have learned how important it is to address the problem of profanity at the school.