motivating and challenging your students with extension menus strategies for differentiating rti...
TRANSCRIPT
Motivating and Challenging your Students
with Extension Menus
Strategies for
Differentiating RtI
Presented by:Sharon Maeda
Tustin Unified School District, GATE and AVID PROGRAM TOSA [email protected]
Gifted Learner “Typical” TraitsDo any of your students exhibit one or more?
Are sensitive (to other people as well as to various issues)
Have a strong vocabulary or demonstrate fast acquisition of English
May be keenly observant Enjoy learning new things Only require 1-2 repetitions for mastery Think or act above and beyond Display ease in ability to absorb, retain, & recall
information Have an intense interest in something being studied or
something not being studied in school
Watch for the “Flipside”
Gifted Traits CAN look different than what we expect to see. A few examples include...Typical Traits/Demands Flipside-What it may look
like- Is friendly and outgoing - May talk a lot or during inappropriate
times
-Has lots of thoughts and ideas -May be disorganized in thought; sloppy; messy writing or messy desk
-Enjoys and requires unique and -May have a difficult time learning new ways of learning basic facts; may have problems returning homework; may become bored-To be creative or inventive; to -May have difficulty following
directionsseek an unusual or unique or doing what he/she is told to doapproach to an assignment
Many of the flipside traits can lead to or look like lack of motivation, underachievement, or behavioral problems…
Diamond Approach to Behavior
(Diana Browning Wright’s Classroom Needs, 1998)
Belonging – Collaborative groups; peer support buddies; teacher-student-peer dyad opportunities; reinforcers from others; opportunities that recognize differences
Empowerment – Shared controls; jobs/responsibilities; negotiation opportunities; privileges; special recognition;opportunties that recognize differences
Freedom – Choices (structured freedom); movement opportunities; opportunities to select group or partners
Fun – Humor; application activities; dramatic opportunities; art/music/PE; access to desired activities
Extension Menus
What is an Extension Menu?
An array of independent learning opportunities
Activities presented in a choice format
A menu of options to enrich and extend the curriculum
“The Menu”
Use Extension Menus to…
Enrich or extend the essential curriculum Challenge the abilities of students Provide alternative activities that address the
differing abilities, interests, or learning styles of students
Allow student choice Promote critical and independent thinking Enhance student motivation
WHEN to Use Menus…
Follow-up activityCulminating activityLearning centerGroup tasksIndependent learningAnchoring activity Flexible group activities…endless possibilities!
Squiggle Art…
+
Extension Menus…
…Are embedded and interwoven into the instruction
…Are not “busy work”
…Have distinct objectives and are meaningful, engaging, and thought-provoking opportunities
…Always include teacher instruction and higher level thinking
Use the Publisher Wizard to create a birthday card
Create a business card
Make 5 study cards for the basic toolbars and tasks on Publisher
Create a board game with questions about Publisher
Create an Earth day flyer promoting a clean-up event
Make a magazine cover with your picture on the front cover
Import a template from the Microsoft on-line site to create a project
Computer Applications Menu
History/ELA Extension Menu
Create a Timeline with 15 important events
Draw or paint a portrait; add famous quotes
Write or select songs to illustrate 6 major events
Answer 3 Unanswered ???’s; use the Internet to research
FAMOUS PERSON
RESEARCH
Write a poem about your person’s life
Read a biography, article and story. Compare each and show in an interesting way
Create a Frame using 4 icons + an illustration
Compare and Contrast a person to 2 others living at different time
Advantages of Extension Menus
Strategy spans all curricular areas Can target specific learning activities for an
individual student or small group Allows student choice as well as challenge Students’ choices reveal their interests, abilities
and learning styles Promotes higher level thinking skills Encourages the development of independent
thinking
Bloom’s Taxonomy
Bloom’s Taxonomy
Multiple Intelligences
Multiple Intelligences
Varied Use
Multiple Intelligences
Extension Menu
Point Value Option
Using Menus in RtI
Menu for On Level Students
Menu for
Below Level Students
Menu for Advanced Reading Group w/ GATE Students
Vocabulary Menu
Today’s Super Helpful Tip…
Be sure to check your TE and curriculum support/supplemental materials for menu items! You can build menus using them very easily!
Language Arts
TETE – R pages in backClassroom Management HandbookChallenge HandbookTeacher Resource Blackline MastersNew Medallion materials
Primary Grades Menu
“Build a Menu”
Helpful Websites
http://rubistar.4teachers.orgwww.teachnology.com (annual fee)
Menus within Classroom Structure
GATE Intranet Site
Go the district homepageType in tusdgate in the address barGo to Teacher ResourcesExtension Menus
Some Final Thoughts…
Recognize the needs and challenges of all learners
Begin the differentiated approach in small steps, but begin
Network with others
Understand that you may finish the first leg of your journey with more questions than answers
Continue to fill your toolbox with many strategies and ideas to meet the needs of these unique learners
Don’t be afraid to take risks! Learn and grow from how your students respond…
