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In my ELA class we use Lit Circles to read a book. When the students are divided into groups, it allows each student to have a responsibility for the group. In this manner more is read, and a deeper understanding occurs among the teams. Team ownership is a great motivator.

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Guided Research Study-I used flex grouping for researching animals and writing books

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For science, we did problem based learning during our chicken unit. We had the students make different projects to convince our principal to keep some of the chickens we hatched.

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I gradually implemented literature circles this year. I started it with my high kids at the beginning of the year, but all students were in a book club by the end of the year.

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Biography Research Project-
Students used Epic (website with e-books). They browsed through the biographies, then they researched their person using a list of broad categories.

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After having an overview of the different land forms in science, I could implement an independent research study to pursue their passion on a land form that they would want to do further research on. I can also implement this study with learning about the planets.

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Skill groups would be effective to enrich the learning of the gifted learners that only need 3-4 repetitions to master a concept. As they work with each other, the teacher would be able to work with lower skilled students and provide more repetition.

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Independent Research Study:

I could see using this type of grouping especially in Science for Kinder. This would be also a great way to familiarize my students with various research resources.

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I use learning stations for reading and peer tutors for math and other subjects as needed.

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Literature Circle to enhance conversations about text.

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I mostly do guided math groups but occasionally use peer tutoring for additional support. This enhances a GT/High Achiever's understanding as they reteach the concept in a different way and allows the student struggling to comprehend a chance to hear from a student's perspective. I would like to use this more intentionally and frequently next year, not just as an intervention when needed.

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Inquiry based Science project: Students research and perform experiments on a Science topic they choose.

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Interest Groups: 4th Grade

I think interest groups are a great way to allow students research information while working on something they enjoy as well as with like minded people. Interest Groups are a great option because students are more likely to research more extensively because they enjoy what they are researching. This is also a great way to leave research open ended for those gifted students.

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My GT and high-achieving students do Guided Research Studies (we call them Investigative Studies).  They do these while I work with my lower readers who need phonics skills practice.

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Literature Circles in the form of book clubs.

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Alex Guerrero - Independent Research Study

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Alex Guerrero - Independent Research Study

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I can use an independent research study to allow student to explore their passions further. I think a great place to use this would be in science towards the end of the year. There they will be able to work individually or in small interest groups to build upon previously taught studies.

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I use a variety of learning stations to enrich students' learning. They can choose to work independently to complete tasks/projects or collaborate together (cooperative learning) to accomplish tasks/projects. They are randomly and flexibly grouped.

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Peer-tutor Pairs has worked well for PALing in math. Using mixed-readiness small groups can be beneficial when grouping students somewhat close in readiness to help them learn from each other. Similar-readiness small groups are great for peers checking for understanding and extended each other. This also allows small groups to be pulled based on levels of learners.

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I began to use this a lot with students that were on or above level because they did not need guided reading. At times I would find books that revolved around TEKS or a relevant topic.

An example of this is when we were doing the Harriet Tubman DBQ.

-Alex Novak

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My gifted anb

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I will use interest groups in my science instruction to group students with differing abilities. By doing this I will promote achievement for my higher ability students and modeling and remediation for my lower ability students.

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I have use cooperative learning groups in the science setting. Students were able to share their creativity and learn social skills by working together to create presentations.

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Use skill groups in guided math.

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Interest Groups: I would love to have students form interest groups to learn more about a specific topic during our nonfiction research.

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"Problem-Based Learning is an inductive teaching method in which the teacher presents students with an authentic problem that is less structured, undefined and complex." This reminds me of our problem solving block where we give students a math problem to solve, explain their thinking and justify their answers.

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Skill Group- I used skill grouping in math to better differentiate for my students. I was able to group my students according to their needs.

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Interest Group

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I have used "Interest Groups" when I taught 2nd grade I had a Choice Friday. During guided reading time the other students got to choose what they wanted to work on. Students chose based on what they were interested in. They ranged from solving complex 2nd grade math problems, STEM challenges, Retelling in a creative way, etc. This also helped with behavior issues as well.

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In first grade, we are just beginning to write research essays about non-fiction topics. Guided research study is a great way to keep all learners engaged in the topic as we learn and investigate together.

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I use centers every day in my kindergarten classroom, both as literacy stations and math games. My stations are differentiated to meet the needs of all learners (both high and low), and that helps to keep students engaged and actively learning.

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Pre-K uses centers on a daily basis with differentiated options within each center.  (number work, fine motor, letter/letter sounds, science, etc) I also use Project Centered Groups when presenting the Ss with a learning challenge 

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Pre-K uses centers on a daily basis with differentiated options within each center.  (number work, fine motor, letter/letter sounds, science, etc) I also use Project Centered Groups when presenting the Ss with a learning challenge 

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Learning Stations/Skill Group.  I do Guided Math Groups each day based on skill.

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Problem-Based Learning
In first grade we use problem-based learning. Students are given a driving question and need to wonder, think and collaborate to create solutions. Some topics include creating putt putt courses for the high school golf team and learning how to care for Farmer Homer's chicken eggs.

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I have used peer-tutor pairs in kindergarten for math.

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Project-centered group: I could use these groups to allow students to collaborate and work together on a project.

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I have used cooperative learning to intentional partner groups. I grouped them with high -lows and middle students. This gave them a chance to express their thinking with each other and for student to help each other.

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Strategy: Guided Research Study
Application: My class completed research projects after selecting a specific topic. I facilitated the research and topic selection, split kiddos into groups, and allowed them to research and create products that showed their understanding and knowledge.

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I frequently use centers during reading. Students are grouped in similar- readiness groups.

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I have seen centers work really well in both K-1 classrooms that I have observed. My mentor teacher would have a cart for math centers and a separate cart for writing/reading. The students seemed to be engaged in learning and even participated in collaborating with their peers.

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Literature Circles (Book Clubs)-I used book clubs in my class for all different levels of students. My higher achieving students met every other day and filled out a google sheet to record their notes from that day. I had questions that they had to respond to in the sheet. They were held to high expectations about being prepared and ready for discussion.

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I like to use Guided Research Study with my second graders. This often will happen in small groups with each group becoming experts on a small part of a larger topic. They will then present what they are experts on to the rest of the class.

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My flex mate, Rachel, and I used skill grouping during our math block. We grouped students according to their needs, and did 18 minute rotations that focused on their specific needs. The lower group started with a pre-teach/review, moved to lesson of the day, then independent work. Our high group started with a quick lesson, independent work, then an acceleration project. The middle group was able to start with the lesson, move to independent work, then from there could either go into a guided practice or extension based on their needs. All groups were teacher lead. 

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My flex mate, Rachel, and I used skill grouping during our math block. We grouped students according to their needs, and did 18 minute rotations that focused on their specific needs. The lower group started with a pre-teach/review, moved to lesson of the day, then independent work. Our high group started with a quick lesson, independent work, then an acceleration project. The middle group was able to start with the lesson, move to independent work, then from there could either go into a guided practice or extension based on their needs. All groups were teacher lead. 

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I use Problem-Based Learning occasionally in class. I give students a problem that we haven't encountered before and ask them to use previous knowledge to solve it. I usually do this at the beginning of a new math topic or concept. It allows me to see their knowledge and allows them opportunities to come up with their own ways to solve it.

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I use centers daily for both math and literacy. This gives me a chance to work in small groups with my students while the others are working on activities at their level.

I also use guided research during our nonfiction animal writing piece.

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I currently use cooperative learning in my classroom to do group PBL projects. When I am choosing the groups, I don't make them based on the levels that they are on but based on how they will complete the complex task. This allows them to work together as a group to get the work done and can learn more about each other. These kids might not normally hang out so this gives them the opportunity to expand their horizon on friends.

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I use cooperative learning on a daily basis with the use of a deck of cards. I have groups of 3 to 4 and they sit with their face values (i.e. K, Q, J, etc.). Each suit (i.e. hearts, spades, diamonds, clubs) represents abilities (i.e. spades may be my lower ability, and diamonds may be my higher ability, with the other 2 suits being mid-range abilities.

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Interest Groups: Students chose their topics and groups were made based on their interest. The group researched their topic and created a presentation for the class. In addition, students were given the task of having a sub-topic to become an expert on based off their main topic.

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Guided Research Study: The students research the given topic.  The students will then teach us to be an expert on their topic.

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Problem Base Learning - In first grade we use problem base learning throughout the year to allow Ss to explore, collaborate and develop a solution to a problem that is given. We have a Good Reading Habits PBL, Force and Motion PBL, and a Chick PBL.

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I use literacy centers daily. I pair students with similar ability groups and high/low ability to help guide and learn from each other.

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Problem-Based Learning
I can give students a real-world application problem (involving multiple possible answers) that involves current topics and related concepts.

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We use ind. research studies in science. (first grade) The students are responsible for researching an animal trait, illustrating themselves with the trait, and writing why they would like to have that animal trait (including a fact). This project is then made into a class book.

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I use literacy centers on a daily basis in my kindergarten class. I use Mixed-Readiness Small Groups for those. I also do guided reading daily, and I use Similar-Readiness Small Groups when doing that.

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I use centers on a daily basis for guided math groups. I have 3 stations ( teacher station, independent station, and fluency station.)  My students are grouped homogeneously based on their math module pretest scores. After a whole group math opening, the low group starts with me, medium group starts at fluency, and the high group starts at independent. During teacher station I differentiate for my different groups through the use of manipulative, games, informal assessments and extensions.

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This year I am going to focus on using the Guided Research strategy. I am going to apply it by letting my students research topics that interest them and that are aligned with the TEKS. This will also tie in more technology in my Kinder Classroom.

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Guided Research Study-I used flex grouping to research animals and write books.