Motivating and Challenging your Students with Extension Menus Strategies for Differentiating RtI...

Motivating and Challenging your Students

with Extension Menus

Strategies for

Differentiating RtI

Presented by:Sharon Maeda

Tustin Unified School District, GATE and AVID PROGRAM TOSA smaeda@tustin.k12.ca.us

Gifted Learner “Typical” TraitsDo any of your students exhibit one or more?

Are sensitive (to other people as well as to various issues)

Have a strong vocabulary or demonstrate fast acquisition of English

May be keenly observant Enjoy learning new things Only require 1-2 repetitions for mastery Think or act above and beyond Display ease in ability to absorb, retain, & recall

information Have an intense interest in something being studied or

something not being studied in school

Watch for the “Flipside”

Gifted Traits CAN look different than what we expect to see. A few examples include...Typical Traits/Demands Flipside-What it may look

like- Is friendly and outgoing - May talk a lot or during inappropriate

times

-Has lots of thoughts and ideas -May be disorganized in thought; sloppy; messy writing or messy desk

-Enjoys and requires unique and -May have a difficult time learning new ways of learning basic facts; may have problems returning homework; may become bored-To be creative or inventive; to -May have difficulty following

directionsseek an unusual or unique or doing what he/she is told to doapproach to an assignment

Many of the flipside traits can lead to or look like lack of motivation, underachievement, or behavioral problems…

Diamond Approach to Behavior

(Diana Browning Wright’s Classroom Needs, 1998)

Belonging – Collaborative groups; peer support buddies; teacher-student-peer dyad opportunities; reinforcers from others; opportunities that recognize differences

Empowerment – Shared controls; jobs/responsibilities; negotiation opportunities; privileges; special recognition;opportunties that recognize differences

Freedom – Choices (structured freedom); movement opportunities; opportunities to select group or partners

Fun – Humor; application activities; dramatic opportunities; art/music/PE; access to desired activities

Extension Menus

What is an Extension Menu?

An array of independent learning opportunities

Activities presented in a choice format

A menu of options to enrich and extend the curriculum

“The Menu”

Use Extension Menus to…

Enrich or extend the essential curriculum Challenge the abilities of students Provide alternative activities that address the

differing abilities, interests, or learning styles of students

Allow student choice Promote critical and independent thinking Enhance student motivation

WHEN to Use Menus…

Follow-up activityCulminating activityLearning centerGroup tasksIndependent learningAnchoring activity Flexible group activities…endless possibilities!

Squiggle Art…

+

Extension Menus…

…Are embedded and interwoven into the instruction

…Are not “busy work”

…Have distinct objectives and are meaningful, engaging, and thought-provoking opportunities

…Always include teacher instruction and higher level thinking

Use the Publisher Wizard to create a birthday card

Create a business card

Make 5 study cards for the basic toolbars and tasks on Publisher

Create a board game with questions about Publisher

Create an Earth day flyer promoting a clean-up event

Make a magazine cover with your picture on the front cover

Import a template from the Microsoft on-line site to create a project

Computer Applications Menu

History/ELA Extension Menu

Create a Timeline with 15 important events

Draw or paint a portrait; add famous quotes

Write or select songs to illustrate 6 major events

Answer 3 Unanswered ???’s; use the Internet to research

FAMOUS PERSON

RESEARCH

Write a poem about your person’s life

Read a biography, article and story. Compare each and show in an interesting way

Create a Frame using 4 icons + an illustration

Compare and Contrast a person to 2 others living at different time

Advantages of Extension Menus

Strategy spans all curricular areas Can target specific learning activities for an

individual student or small group Allows student choice as well as challenge Students’ choices reveal their interests, abilities

and learning styles Promotes higher level thinking skills Encourages the development of independent

thinking

Bloom’s Taxonomy

Bloom’s Taxonomy

Multiple Intelligences

Multiple Intelligences

Varied Use

Multiple Intelligences

Extension Menu

Point Value Option

Using Menus in RtI

Menu for On Level Students

Menu for

Below Level Students

Menu for Advanced Reading Group w/ GATE Students

Vocabulary Menu

Today’s Super Helpful Tip…

Be sure to check your TE and curriculum support/supplemental materials for menu items! You can build menus using them very easily!

Language Arts

TETE – R pages in backClassroom Management HandbookChallenge HandbookTeacher Resource Blackline MastersNew Medallion materials

Primary Grades Menu

“Build a Menu”

Helpful Websites

http://rubistar.4teachers.orgwww.teachnology.com (annual fee)

Menus within Classroom Structure

GATE Intranet Site

Go the district homepageType in tusdgate in the address barGo to Teacher ResourcesExtension Menus

Some Final Thoughts…

Recognize the needs and challenges of all learners

Begin the differentiated approach in small steps, but begin

Network with others

Understand that you may finish the first leg of your journey with more questions than answers

Continue to fill your toolbox with many strategies and ideas to meet the needs of these unique learners

Don’t be afraid to take risks! Learn and grow from how your students respond…

Thank you!

smaeda@tustin.k12.ca.usx387