KWL Charts can be used throughout a unit to help track student learning and understanding. It can also be used as a resource for students to refer back to when completing assignments throughout a unit.

K: Stands for "I know". Students record information they already know about a topic or unit

W: Stands for "I want to know". Students record questions they want answered, or different areas of the topic that they would like to learn more about.

L: Stands for "I learned". Students record information as they dive deeper into the unit or topic. This can be guided through questions provided by the teacher, outlines or graphic organizers that can be completed throughout lessons and readings, etc. 

Picture walks can be very beneficial in all content areas, but particularly in reading. Students are presented with the text and are asked to look through the book from beginning to end. As they explore the text, they are to take a look at each picture in order to try and predict what the book will be about. This can be done independently or with a teacher sitting by their side.

Modeling directions and using had gestures to consistently represent different expectations are very beneficial for all students. Helping students connect a gesture with an expected action will help them to be successful in completing tasks. 

The attached video represents the gestures given every time the students are asked to complete this specific task. This helps students who struggle to understand verbal directions to know what is expected of them.

Things in Common is a fun, "getting to know you" activity that can be played with various groups of students at various parts of the school year. Attached is a video of the directions being provided to students. 

*Providing students with ideas and "look fors" when trying to identify something they have in common can be very beneficial. 

Students benefit from seeing a process occur prior to completing it on their own. Making a process visual through the use of modeling as well as posting images of each step in a process is very helpful. 

The attached visuals model the different steps students are to take when preparing for their day.