Dear Parents,
The last unit in QUEST for the year is independent study. This is an in depth study on an issue or problem of each student’s choice which culminates in a product fair. Time in class will be devoted to both guided and self-directed learning processes, but listed below are some ways you may assist your child at home.

• Help your child locate appropriate books and information about the topic. (Arrange field trips, interviews, supervise Internet access)
• Read & discuss information about the issue or problem with your child.
• Ask questions about how the study is progressing.
• Assist your child in gathering materials for the product and visuals.
• Refer to the research guide, which has a time line, check list, and project criteria.
• Sign and return all proposals when asked for.
• Assist your child in collecting and preparing quality visual aids. (Some will be done at school, but these will be limited because of time restrictions.)
• Assist your child in creating a product at home.
• Watch your child practice the final presentation at least 3 times and give constructive suggestions on ways to make the presentation “even better”.

Please don’t let yourselves feel overwhelmed by your child’s undertaking in QUEST this semester. To some of you, this research study may look impossible at this point. Keep in mind that it is a long-term project and that we will be pacing ourselves by working in sequential steps. Your child will discover that he/she is able to take a long-term project from start to finish while producing quality work. You will be amazed by what they learn along the way!

Thank you for staying flexible and supportive during this QUEST research study! There is a lot of information on this website which will answer many of your questions, however, feel free to contact me at any time for assistance or clarification.

1st and 2nd grade: These students will work on a guided research project. Each class will choose a topic for the whole group to research. Although some of the research will be done as a class, each student will be responsible for an individual product and presentation. The 1st grade will choose a specific animal and each will study one aspect of that animal. The 2nd grade will choose one kind of animal habitat that they will all study, and then each student will select one creature from that habitat to research individually.

3rd and 4th grade: These students will be following their passions! The students will choose any topic about which they would like to learn more. In class we will work to refine their areas of focus to ensure that the students are answering complex questions and are engaged in higher levels of thinking about their chosen topics. For instance, a student who loves dogs would not simply research dog breeds, but might be able to look into how service dogs assist the disabled, or how the extinction of the species would impact other animal life, or the role of dogs in human culture, etc.

5th grade: These students will be tying their research topics to one or more of the Leander ISD 10 Ethical Principles. They will complete a full research project, but will also be required to make real world impact with their final products. Please see the 5th grade links page for more information.