I’m going to share a differentiated lesson plan from start to finish. In the article Begin with the Highest Level Learner in Mind I promised that I would share the process, and here it is. I decided to do a 5th grade lesson on landforms. To be more specific, I decided to create a summative […]
Begin with Highest Level Learner in Mind
There’s a YouTube cooking channel called Chowhound that has a series called “You’re Doing it All Wrong.” They take fundamentals of cooking (mashed potatoes, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, etc.) and show how you’re making them the wrong way. Of course, they show you the right way and then you, too, can make creamy mashed […]
Differentiation Advice: Teacher to Teacher
Need Some Differentiation Advice? Have you ever wanted some differentiation advice from real, live teachers in real, live classrooms? How can teachers who are comfortable with a differentiated classroom support and encourage teachers who are new to differentiation or struggling with differentiation? I’ve got answers! I recently had the wonderful opportunity to work with a […]
Lectio Verum: A New Twist on An Ancient Technique for Reading in the Classroom
Interested in a great new reading strategy for your classroom? I’m excited to share this new twist on an ancient reading strategy with you, and I can’t wait to hear how it goes in your classroom! First, the backstory. Books & Podcasts I love books, and I love podcasts. When I find podcasts about books, […]
Explaining Differentiation to Parents: The Letter Home
Explaining differentiation to parents can be tricky. As a society, we value fairness above almost all things, and a differentiated classroom can look unfair from the outside if the definition of fairness is “sameness.” One important step teachers should take in the beginning of the year is to share their differentiation philosophy and practice in […]
The Problem with Reading Logs: Reader Q & A
There is a problem with reading logs that students are expected to keep for school. There is more than one problem, actually, but I’m focusing on one. I’m giving solutions, too, so hold tight. Reader Q: This is part of my Reader Q & A series, and this question comes from a parent in […]
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