January Instructional Vision Challenge! by Kristen Smidy

Duo Stories

amason136 — 2025-01-05 15:42:04 UTC

During middle school academic support/directed study block, two of my students have enjoyed working together on what we've started to call "Duo Stories." One student works on her brailler, and the other writes in bold print on paper to do the rough draft, then they do a final copy using voice typing into a Google Doc. The students build the story by taking turns adding a sentence, and they support one another by coaching one another on spelling and grammar and sharing tricks and tips for accessible computer navigation.

Learning Communities in Science

2025-01-13 20:16:58 UTC

Students are grouped in a variety of learning communities throughout the year, and are encouraged to work together on an assortment of different tasks including labs, reading and writing assignments, and scientific discussion.

Working together

2025-01-21 20:44:53 UTC

After returning from Winter Break, the 2nd graders at Littleville worked in pairs or groups of 3 to create igloos. After learning about how igloos are constructed, who lived in or used igloos, and how igloos keep people warm, each group planned out and then built their igloos cooperatively.

Collaborative Mural

2025-01-23 17:49:43 UTC

7th grade art classes are currently working on group mural projects. Each student is responsible for creating several components of the mural which will then be displayed as one cohesive piece. Students are encouraged to create artwork they are proud of as it will represent the whole class. The completed artwork is not only beautiful, but also creates a sense of community.

Gator Advertisements!

2025-01-28 15:09:08 UTC

Ninth graders created original advertisements, advertising the great things about Gateway. This is part of our Persuasive Writing Unit. Some created ads for the Welding Program, using slogans like "weld your future at Gateway" and "When sparks fly, imagination runs high." Others created ads for our wellness program ("Train hard, live strong!"), Spanish class ("Come to clase de espanol!"), our performance arts ("Theatre is a session of expression! Use it!"), and prom. Students worked together to provide feedback and creative suggestions, and had opportunities to create ads together.

8th Grade ELA Reading Groups

ecavanaugh9 — 2025-01-28 16:05:10 UTC

As part of the "release of responsibility" with our whole class novel All Quiet on the Western Front, students are working together in small groups to support each other's reading comprehension. Students read assigned sections together, alternating who is reading to support each other with fluency, and then they complete a comprehension task together (timeline of key events posters, analysis questions, composing poems to describe the setting, etc). Then students get to meet with other groups in either a gallery walk or "jigsaw" to share ideas. I rearrange the groups often so students can work and learn with a variety of partners.