https://padlet.com/shauna_williams/1jr8jwo02fru When we long for life without difficulties, remind us that oaks grow strong in contrary winds and diamonds are made under pressure. – Peter Marshall en-us 2018-08-21 17:40:48 UTC 2025-10-08 13:31:24 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Folder.png shauna_williams https://padlet.com/shauna_williams/1jr8jwo02fru/wish/274381249 his strategy requires very little preparation. Students are seated in groups of three to five {ideally.} Each student receives a blank piece of paper and an additional sheet of blank paper is placed in the middle of the group. The sheets of paper are folded into fourths. An idea/focus/subject is presented to the students and that is written in the middle of each sheet of paper, including the one in the middle. (Cinderella, for instance.) Then, sub-topics are given and written in each of the four quadrants. (For example, the four sub-topics could be: strengths, weaknesses, problems, solutions.) Students are given a set amount of time to individually generate ideas and write them down. Each student writes one idea in only one quadrant, then immediately switches his paper for the paper in the middle. The student then reads what is already written on that paper and adds one more idea. This continues until the time is up (watch for the exchange of papers to slow.) Instead of traditional turntaking, this creates a more dynamic exchange of ideas based on students' independent timing. Students can then discuss their group's ideas and a short class sharing/discussion could wrap it up. This can be a done at the beginning, middle, or end of instruction on a topic. This is a strategy created by Bertie Kingore (you should probably look her up!)]]> 2018-08-21 17:49:17 UTC https://padlet.com/shauna_williams/1jr8jwo02fru/wish/274381249 shauna_williams https://padlet.com/shauna_williams/1jr8jwo02fru/wish/274388542 This is another Bertie Kingore strategy. Again, one with very little preparation required. A poster or wall area is prepared with a square available for each student. At the top are the words "Question That" along with a line/area to display today's answer. The ANSWER is written at the top of the poster or displayed at the top of the wall area. For example, you may start out with the answer 36. Students generate questions that would have that answer. Encourage students to be creative. This works for any content area. It also works well as a check in process doubled as a formative assessment. A variation on this is to provide each student with an individual sheet of squares and give them a few minutes to generate as many questions to the answer as possible. At the end of the time, have the students select their favorite question and add it to the display board. Lots of variations and uses, very little prep, and good information about your learners. Win-win-win! ]]> 2018-08-21 18:09:23 UTC https://padlet.com/shauna_williams/1jr8jwo02fru/wish/274388542 shauna_williams https://padlet.com/shauna_williams/1jr8jwo02fru/wish/274389450 "A choice board is a graphic organizer that allows students to choose how they will learn a concept. Choice boards are divided into squares. Inside each square is an activity. Students can choose one or several activities to complete. Choice boards can be organized so students need to finish one square before moving to the next, they can be random, or can be organized in a specific way. The level of difficulty of the activities can vary or stay consistent."  There are books focused on one subject and grade band that are available to borrow from the HAL department: Differentiating with Menus by Stephanie Westphal.]]> 2018-08-21 18:12:22 UTC https://padlet.com/shauna_williams/1jr8jwo02fru/wish/274389450 shauna_williams https://padlet.com/shauna_williams/1jr8jwo02fru/wish/274389946 "Students work on a project over an extended period of time – from a week up to a semester – that engages them in solving a real-world problem or answering a complex question. They demonstrate their knowledge and skills by developing a public product or presentation for a real audience. As a result, students develop deep content knowledge as well as critical thinking, creativity, and communication skills in the context of doing an authentic, meaningful project. Project Based Learning unleashes a contagious, creative energy among students and teachers." Teachers in our district have successfully used projects for students that are "fast finishers." Students can work independently or in small groups. An accountability contract is advised! If you or your team would like support in developing, organizing, and delivering PBL, please contact me! shauna.williams@washk12.org]]> 2018-08-21 18:13:53 UTC https://padlet.com/shauna_williams/1jr8jwo02fru/wish/274389946 shauna_williams https://padlet.com/shauna_williams/1jr8jwo02fru/wish/274390284 "I AM is a scaffold for organizing students' feelings and connecting information. The simple sentence stems prompt analytical responses about self and other topics." Model the learning experience in a "to-with-by" approach. "As students understand the process and gain confidence in their applications, progress from more concrete personal applications and wrting about about a researched historical or current figure, to more abstract analysis of a character in a story, and ultimately, to a personification of a topic, such as : I am multiplication." For more ideas and variations on the use of the I AM strategy, borrow a copy of Bertie Kingore's book, Teaching Without Nonsense.]]> 2018-08-21 18:15:00 UTC https://padlet.com/shauna_williams/1jr8jwo02fru/wish/274390284 shauna_williams https://padlet.com/shauna_williams/1jr8jwo02fru/wish/274393171 This collection of differentiation strategies should give you plenty of ideas for extending and enriching any math topic!]]> 2018-08-21 18:23:59 UTC https://padlet.com/shauna_williams/1jr8jwo02fru/wish/274393171 shauna_williams https://padlet.com/shauna_williams/1jr8jwo02fru/wish/274395832 Here are some foundational ideas for making the most out of language arts time for your high abilty students.]]> 2018-08-21 18:31:53 UTC https://padlet.com/shauna_williams/1jr8jwo02fru/wish/274395832 shauna_williams https://padlet.com/shauna_williams/1jr8jwo02fru/wish/282578609 2018-09-17 19:41:56 UTC https://padlet.com/shauna_williams/1jr8jwo02fru/wish/282578609 melody_thieme https://padlet.com/shauna_williams/1jr8jwo02fru/wish/312660604 2018-12-09 16:44:27 UTC https://padlet.com/shauna_williams/1jr8jwo02fru/wish/312660604 melody_thieme https://padlet.com/shauna_williams/1jr8jwo02fru/wish/312660805 2018-12-09 16:45:23 UTC https://padlet.com/shauna_williams/1jr8jwo02fru/wish/312660805 melody_thieme https://padlet.com/shauna_williams/1jr8jwo02fru/wish/312660982 2018-12-09 16:46:12 UTC https://padlet.com/shauna_williams/1jr8jwo02fru/wish/312660982 melody_thieme https://padlet.com/shauna_williams/1jr8jwo02fru/wish/312661164 Social & Emotional Needs for Gifted]]> 2018-12-09 16:47:08 UTC https://padlet.com/shauna_williams/1jr8jwo02fru/wish/312661164 melody_thieme https://padlet.com/shauna_williams/1jr8jwo02fru/wish/312661560 Lesson Plans, Ideas, Monthly Themes]]> 2018-12-09 16:49:11 UTC https://padlet.com/shauna_williams/1jr8jwo02fru/wish/312661560 melody_thieme https://padlet.com/shauna_williams/1jr8jwo02fru/wish/312662023 2018-12-09 16:51:27 UTC https://padlet.com/shauna_williams/1jr8jwo02fru/wish/312662023 melody_thieme https://padlet.com/shauna_williams/1jr8jwo02fru/wish/312662939 2018-12-09 16:55:32 UTC https://padlet.com/shauna_williams/1jr8jwo02fru/wish/312662939 melody_thieme https://padlet.com/shauna_williams/1jr8jwo02fru/wish/312663199 2018-12-09 16:56:53 UTC https://padlet.com/shauna_williams/1jr8jwo02fru/wish/312663199 melody_thieme https://padlet.com/shauna_williams/1jr8jwo02fru/wish/312663464 2018-12-09 16:58:15 UTC https://padlet.com/shauna_williams/1jr8jwo02fru/wish/312663464