#LearnLAP occurs on Mondays starting at 7pm Central Time. Guest moderators and participants discuss topics from author Paul Solarz's book Learn Like a PIRATE.
Phil from Northern Virginia. I teach 6/7 US History I&II and am the founder of #waledchat (Thurs @ 9pm ET) and host of #Edusations (Youtube). Thrilled to be here! #learnlap
Thanks to everyone who participated in this evening's #formativechat & THANK YOU to @goformative for allowing me to guest moderate!
I hope you'll check out my #formativesummit session that was posted today!
If you have a little more time to chat, please jump to #LearnLAP now!
A1 allow students options and choice in how the tell you what they have learned and when they have learned it to start with. It may also may include how instruction looks in your class for individual learners #learnlap
A1: My school has committed a lot of resources to PD on this very subject! Differentiation is a process of finding ways to promote student voice and choice and helping every child have an opportunity to learn! #learnlap@ERobbPrincipal@PaulSolarz@KTuttleEDU@DrCBishop
A1 Differentiation means to ensure that ALL students have equity in access to the curriculum through process, product or content choices. Multiple pathways are key! #learnlap
A1: Differentiation means our teaching accommodates for different learning styles. I make sure that the structure of my lessons varies daily so we aren't learning the same way every day. Differentiation involves creativity from our end but sparks creativity for Ss. #learnlap
A1: Differentiation to me has always been about meeting kids where they are and allowing for multiple entries into the content and multiple ways to express that learning has taken place. #learnlap
A1: Differentiation means meeting each student where they are on the learning curve. It means giving them choices. In my lab, it's all about choice. If students are interested in the work, thet will learn! #LearnLAP
A1: Differentiation means that every student has the means and ability to access the material in a way that maximizes their learning. It means choice: both students having a say, and educators being intentional about giving options. #learnlap
A1. Differentiation is a process where every Ss has an opportunity to learn in the classroom through voice, choice,, and leadership in classroom. #learnlap
Thanks. It was my work with differentiation that led me to growth mindset and goal setting, which is really the foundation of differentiation in my opinion. #learnlap
Haven’t read the book, but I have seen it with so many of my fellow educators. Just had a great #goformative session so I will pick it up soon!!! #LearnLAP
A2: Oooooh this question is loaded. I constantly straddle the line of letting students choose their groups (reflective of culturally responsive teaching) and grouping for differentiation. What I've landed on is giving students a voice in who they work with (cont. - 1/2) #learnlap
A2 This has to start with conversations with students and asking them how they like to learn, and what their passions are. We also need to take note of what their strengths are as learners and use that to direct our plan for each student. #learnlap
A2 cont: by allowing them to give me a list of their preferred partners/teammates and giving them the opportunity to discuss in private students they may not want to work with. I then group intentionally with at least one student on their list. #learnlap
A2: Reading groups work. Give them different questions depending on needs. They do not have to know they are answering different questions. We also level the students for language arts, which allows us to teach the same material using different strategies. #learnlap
#learnlap Wait time is an effective way to increase the quality of our Ss' answers while building confidence & differentiating for those who need a moment to process.
In my lang classes, I incorporate this simple technique to ensure comprehensibility: https://t.co/TYeZkao2mU
A2: Groupings must be founded on a triangulation of data. This can include pre-assessment, learning interest inventories, or other methods in combination together!#LearnLAP
A2: I also think it is powerful to provide many supports for all students to choose to use. It helps students who are constantly using scaffolds to feel less different, and opens the door for kids to feel confident in their own abilities to access the material. #learnlap
A2: I vary strategies all the time. After all, one way will not work for all! That’s the point😜It depends on the work. I often give choice of workmates-nothing stops my workflow more than forced grouping-but I also create groups w/balance of ability too or BY ability #LearnLAP
I often use Google Classroom for differentiation. I can similar, but different assignments to students without anybody being singled out. I also will have different tracks of scavenger hunts posted for different levels. #LearnLAP
A2 Sometimes I group students who need the same kind of extra support other times certain students may need to use the same tools like Read Write Gold or Google speech to text #LearnLAP
Plus- the "Curse of the Kidney table" Is real in elementary- being pulled out in some rooms automatically means "you're the low one." How do others combat that concept? #LearnLAP
Yes!! Great addition to choice. I also tell them (I teach MS) that I reserve the right to step in if they don't make the best choice -- first to reflect and troubleshoot, then to change the grouping, if necessary. #learnlap
A2 #LearnLAP there are many ways to group students but the one I use the most is teacher observation. Other items are reading levels, assessments, classwork, and oral responses. The key is to realize that these groups are very fluid and constantly changing.
A2: I try to allow Ss the opportunity to form their own groups sometimes, but then other times I set groups according to topics they submit via Google forms bc I want them to learn to work with others and I know they can challenge each other. #LearnLAP
A3 technology can provide us with a variety of options in how kids research and present what they have learned. It also gives teachers the opportunity to direct learning or track learner in more efficient ways #learnlap
A2 In science it is important to create lab groups that allow active participation and positive collaboration. It is a process to do, with data and observations to help you think. #learnlap
A3: Can I use part of my answer from #2? Google Classroom is such a great tool for differentiation! Also, allowing for student choice really opens the door for differentiation. #LearnLAP
One of the courses I teach used to only be open to the magnet kids. Last year, I opened it to everyone, but it still has "STEM" in the title. Each semester I have students who tell me they're low and don't belong in my class -- it's neat to get to prove them wrong. #learnlap
A2 Differentiation doesn't always have to be about levels I like to give students a choice at times but I also like to form the groups myself when I think some students bring specific strengths to the task The key is to mix the groups frequently #learnlap
Students often live up (or down) to the expectations we put on them. We have to give kids the opportunity to try the tough things, while normalizing scaffolds and supports. I mean, heck, teachers use tons of supports to lesson plan daily, and we're the experts! #learnlap
A3: tech is so helpful-I have to be careful not to overuse and miss simpler solutions tho. From allowing self-paced learning to adding supporting info/videos,tech adds options. Kids can ‘secretly’ get needed support & feel independent. Tech allows S to share work too #LearnLAP
A3 I love using tech to do quick formative assessments. I have also done branching google forms a couple times. I also want to explore using screencastify to record myself reading some of the more difficult texts. #learnlap
A3 #learnlap Technology can be very helpful tool. There are a lot of apps and programs that can help the lower kiddos obtain visuals and read aloud. For the higher kiddos, research based activities can assist them do deeper thinking.
NOTHING makes me more sad/frustrated than a kid who has already decided he/she isn't worthy of education or CAN'T do it. It's one of the biggest jobs we have to make them see that learning is for ALL- it's literally programmed into our brains! #LearnLAP
When learning and reviewing, I group students of different speeds and proficiencies together. Each has a different, valuable role to play. If I do a paired assessment, however, I pair them homogenously. No passengers. #learnlap
A3: We have 1:1 iPads, so I use the features on @Showbie pro to give feedback to Ss. Voice notes are the best: I can explain one grammatical rule to one S and discuss more complex rules for an advanced S. I can give them personalized feedback based on where they're at! #learnlap
A3: I like the term “leverage” in this statement! Technology should be used as an aid or accelerator to learning and not a replacement for sound instructional strategies! #LearnLAP
A2: in literacy, I look at writing abilities and assessment scores to group students while being aware so that I wasn't grouping only students with needs or ELLs #LearnLAP
A3 As the Tech coach I watched a teacher put together amazing stations using Tech tools where appropriate and paper activities we're also appropriate This kept students engaged and met students on different interest and ability levels Fabulous differentiation! #learnlap
A3 Tech makes differentiation so much more effective Tools like @Flipgrid allow students to share their learning/thinking @Buncee for enabling students to illustrate their learning visually #LearnLAP
Days later and still reflecting on my #masscue18 experience-This conference never lets me down and the people I get to surround myself with make it worth every second. #leadlap#leadlapmass#tlap#learnlap
A4: I have used many different choice boards for students over the years. I really like the idea of promoting a portfolio of products over a period of time for Ss to show their versatility with a focus on their strengths. #LearnLAP
A1 Differentiation means respect for everyone, a chance for teachers and students to work together for the highest levels of engagement, creativity, and learning. It’s freedom to do what’s right for every student. #learnlap
A4: honestly almost every assignment I do involves choice. If for nothing other than building interest and engagement. Also allows choice of initial texts according to lexile levels etc. Novel choice, essay topic, research topics-no reason NOT to give choice #LearnLAP
A3: Tech has made differentiation easier. When assigning work, I can easily change the wording or amount of questions while still on the same topic and students don't know. #LearnLAP
A4 I use choice most in process, because I want their input of information to match with what their brain needs. Write or draw; Read or watch a video; Sit or stand #learnlap
A2 I help students explore a topic and require specific skills are introduced, practiced, mastered, and assessed. The differentiation comes in the assessment itself. Students incorporate the skills I need to assess in whatever way shows their ability. #learnlap
A4. Activities or projects that Ss have a choice of working on. Different areas or pathways of learning. It can also lead to passion projects, kindness projects, too! #learnlap
A4: Ss in my @pltw Automation and Robotics are working through a series of mechanisms builds. Ss chose to work in grps of 1-4 -- and have a goal to accumulate 30 pts with a series of 7, 10, and 12 pt builds. They choose which builds and which supports they need. #learnlap
Ss in my class can choose to either hold the pen (author) or look over the shoulder and scrutinize (editor) when learning new material. But nobody can be a passenger! Get to work....the power of your dreams ain't gonna solve the problem! #learnlap
A4: I’m trying to get teachers at our school to experiment with choice in unit assessments. Give students a choice between a traditional, MC test OR a performance based option (presentation, project, etc..). #LearnLAP
Yes, me too!! I honestly see differentiation as a classroom management strategy. If we give every student what they need to learn (and choice in how they do it), behaviors manage themselves. #learnlap
A3 I love working in stations and providing feedback so students can actually use it. This is differentiation because each student decides what needs more work, when more practice is needed and more support. #learnlap
A4: I recently conducted a fishbowl discussion where I allowed a layer of Ss to be on laptops using Padlet to take notes during the discussion. I integrated some of @PaulSolarz suggestions, esp when it came time to troubleshoot what didn’t work so well. #learnlap
Now that you've said that I'm re-thinking my colonies project coming up-
I teach 4/5--- menus sometimes restrict my creative GT kids....but I love variety of projects.... the struggle of decisions #LearnLAP
We're off to see the wizard tonight in #tlap at 8pm CST!!! Nothing too serious...just come with some big dreams you want the wizard to grant for you. #LearnLAP#LeadLAP
A3 I love working in stations and providing feedback so students can actually use it. This is differentiation because each student decides what needs more work, when more practice is needed and more support. Technology makes this possible with 40!: ProKeys, @Google, etc #learnlap
A4: student choice in how they learn something (video, lecture, reading, etc.) and in student product by allowing them to choose what they want to use to create #LearnLAP
A4: I, too, try to use choice as part of the whole process. I teach my students for all three years of their middle school careers (private school), so because of this, differentiation becomes more natural because I know exactly how each S learns. #learnlap
A4 I always believe in asking ss how they want to learn how they want to present their findings and how they want others to learn from them. Some prefer groups some prefer to work individually some like writing some like projects Conference with ss but also guide them #learnlap
A4 Students are given the skills assessed and freedom! They do what they need to do, when they need to do it, where they need to do it, how they need to do it. Sit on the floor, take a break, listen to music, brainstorm with a peer, search the internet for tutorials. #learnlap
A5: I have a Choose Your Own Adventure interactive bulletin board with options and materials related to what we're working on. Always allow kids to propose their own extension project, or serve as a coach to their peers. #LearnLAP
A5: part of my strategy is to have prompts have an element of open-endedness-allowing the more creative plenty of room to grow his/her work and dig deep. As I slowly get away from the idea of doing the work to please the rubric, the kids are freed to grow the work #LearnLAP
A5 I believe all students should get to be creative, to go beyond the minimum. Everyone is entitled to enrichment and that’s when we see the most buy-in, the most learning. Switching to student-generated topics, assessments, requirements, questions changed everything. #learnlap
Love this! I started this on @classcraftgame but my kids work so fast & furious that I can hardly keep up with their adventures! #LearnLAP I love that it opens a door for them to propose the projects!
A5: Challenge work! If they finish reading a novel early, challenge them to read and do a small project on another. Interested in Old English? Translate a passage for the class. Participate in @NaNoWriMo and set a word goal based on ability/motivation. #learnlap
A5: I think that by giving Ss choice in their projects/ learning, enrichment for gifted Ss comes naturally. They want to dig deeper in projects that interest them. I've also seen Ss who might be considered slower to excel when immersed in a topic they love! #LearnLAP
Every week all of my Ss do what's called an "Application" which is a higher-level problem on which they apply the basic knoweldge. This isn't just "enrichment" for my "best" students. It's an opportunity for everyone to shine at the highest levels of learning. #learnlap
A5: help them find their passions and interests. Enrich them by pushing them to synthesis regularly and allow them to make as many connections between content and themes as you can. Don’t forget their #SEL which is essential. #LearnLAP@JudiGr8haus
A5 Choice is important but guiding Ss to make good choices is also important Create a tic-tac-toe Choice board that has options appropriate for the task but also options that push Ss to create to build to design the choice boards work for all students not just gifted Ss #learnlap
Wonderful! I do this with my vocab. quizzes - I get the students involved by putting student-written sentences on the back! (Replacing vocab word with blank and Ss figure out which word goes there.) #learnlap
A6: differentiation requires commitment to a zoomed out skills-based and thematic approach to instruction. You gotta let go of the idea that the T is the only access point for content, and embrace skills and learning transfer #learnLAP
A1) Make your instruction and assessments flexible for different learning styles, adjust difficulty for each student or student group, pinpoint students who need more help and give them opportunities to improve, create time to meet with students individually. #learnlap
A6 This isn’t the most testing friendly answer but we have to look at the big picture. What is our priority? that all kids learn or that I try to make all kids fit into the same mold to be judged to provide a score for me that may not depict what each kid really knows #learnlap
A6 Work smarter, not harder where you can. Let the Ss help you when possible, and don't feel like every minute has to be planned for. I like giving Ss exploration days & catch-up & expand days. Sometimes Ss need a slower pace and time to breath and think, like us. #learnlap
A6: I work in a private school, and there is much less pressure to teach to a test. More room for creativity in the curriculum. Use some test data to guide instruction, but mostly, I make differentiation a natural part of my lesson planning process. #learnlap
A6 I think we need to worry about the fact that “testing is the main focus of education.” If we changed that, differentiation, enrichment, PBL, reflection and application would be some foci. The student must be the main focus. #learnlap
A6b making time for what kids are good at builds confidence and creates a much higher probability of success than if I just focus on the test. Focus more on individual learning and worry less about the test #learnlap
A3 - Differentiation and Tech are bffs. Tech does allow more choice in student learning and showing what they know. Also, tech provides the opportunity for Ss to learn where they’re at, how they need, etc. #learnLAP
And simply preparing Ss to take any test doesn’t necessarily translate to better performance on the test. I agree, we must really examine that big picture! #learnLAP
A7 Do what you can do, and it will be ok. If you try to do it all, and aren't successful you will feel defeated. Make one change and feel success ,then so sometime else. Baby steps #learnlap
A6: If we are giving students choices about what they are learning, the differentiation comes naturally.
If Ss are interested in a topic, they are going to ask questions. They will want to know more. #LearnLAP
A7 kids first that is the focus not what is easiest for you but what is most effective for a conducive learning environment, get to know your learners, their passions and their strengths and use it to their advantage #learnlap
A7: don’t panic. You know how to do this. knowing & watching your kids will show you who is ready, who needs support. Look for suggestions, ideas to support your instincts. Start with simple choice-kids will often self-differentiate if you give the tools to allow it #learnlap
A7 (with a dash of A6): We must encourage new teachers to think beyond assessments and understand the importance of differentiation to the development of life skills! Students are (and will always be) more than a number. #LearnLAP
A7: Differentiation comes with trial and error, but once you figure out how it works/how to implement it with your specific students, beautiful things will happen. #learnlap
A7: Start small -- give two options for process/product, and provide scaffolds as an option to all. Work with the SPED dept to find generic tools you can easily incorporate.
Start with yes -- if Ss propose a different idea that still meets the std, give the green light! #learnLAP
For a 1st yr T, differentiation may just mean "listen and respond to your Ss." But don't go crazy making 37 different lessons and assessments. And let's Ss suggest ways you can help. #LearnLAP
A4 - I have a Digital Choice Menu on a Ggl Drawing where Ss can select their own outlet to produce products. It’s not fair for Ss to be forced to show what they know on a tool they’re not comfortable with or can even use. Can’t give a Baseball bat to a hockey player ❌ #learnLAP
Teaching them to be good people and inspiring/maintaining a love of learning. Very few people grow up and need to be experts (or even half decent) at every subject. Instilling curiosity and tenacity ensure they'll be great in whatever field they choose. #learnlap
In reply to
@sreason329, @benmonnett, @BethBuehler
A4 - I have a Digital Choice Menu on a Ggl Drawing where Ss can select their own outlet to produce products. It’s not fair for Ss to be forced to show what they know on a tool they’re not comfortable with or can even use. Can’t give a Baseball bat to a hockey player ❌ #learnLAP
A7. Differentiation is important for Ss success in the classroom. We need to listen to Ss, how they learn, their interests, how they solve problems, and their differences. #learnlap
A7 Embrace the single point rubric. Determine your learning goals and assess those, providing feedback along the way. The medium doesn’t matter. If you want a project done a certain way, then do one. If you want students to care and learn, they need to do it their way. #learnlap
I appreciate data as a guide and a source to inspire reflection, but it’s not a main focus. I ignore it, focus on my students, the skills they need for life, college, career, and how I can help them grow and shine. With students who see our purpose, test scores follow, of course.
A8: Sometimes I wonder if the different ways that I am choosing to differentiate provide the same quality of learning to each S/set of Ss. Sometimes I also wonder if I could differentiate even further and worry about the amount of time it would take to do this. #learnlap
Thanks to everyone who participated in this evening's #LearnLAP chat! Thanks especially to @sreason329 for moderating!
Please join us next week as @MrsAsztalos moderates.
For now, please jump on over to #tlap for more great discussion & check out the https://t.co/yJFiPShdi6!
Welcome to #tlap!!! Thanks for joining us on the Yellow Brick Road tonight! Introduce yourself and if you could personally ask the wizard for something, what would it be? #LearnLAP#LeadLAP#PlayLAP#XPLAP#RunLAP
