Susan Fitzell-Educational Consultant & Speaker » Differentiated Instruction

Seven Surefire Ways to Relate Classroom Material to the Student’s World

sfitzell — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:09:52 +0000

Seven Surefire Ways to Relate Classroom Material to the Student’s World — Learning Disabitlities Association of Wash… http://shar.es/aIrcR

Posted in Differentiated Instruction, Uncategorized Tagged: Differentiated Instruction, learning, mnemonic devices, strategy, teaching, technology education

Memorization & Test Taking Strategies @ Odessa High School

sfitzell — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 02:01:52 +0000

Worked with some WONDERFUL teachers today at Odessa High; http://ping.fm/e5RF2 Time just flew by!

Posted in Differentiated Instruction, Response To Intervention, Uncategorized Tagged: Differentiated Instruction, differentiated instruction strategy blast, memory strategies, Odessa High

Vocabulary and Spelling Made Fun

sfitzell — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 19:44:20 +0000

Wordle.net

I’m always looking for ways to make learning motivating and fun. Vocabulary development and even spelling are a passion of mine that has been building for the past year. I constantly hear teachers lament that students don’t remember vocabulary. Reading deficiencies, many times exacerbated by poor vocabulary development are impacting test scores – both state and SAT and ACT. In addition to that, students are developing their own vocabulary and re-spellings because of text messaging. Those new spellings are making their way into student class work.

So, how about a homework assignment (students may need access to a school computer) that requires students to create a word collage of sorts with a website like http://www.wordle.net/? Would that encourage practice? It doesn’t necessarily assist with the definitions; however, it is possible to include both the word and the definition in the Wordple design. Not only would this be fun, it would be interactive, verbal linguistic AND non-linguistic representation. We have the best of a few worlds of practice with this activity. I’d love to hear others thoughts on this idea.

Posted in Differentiated Instruction, Study Skills and Test Taking Strategies, technology education Tagged: Differentiated Instruction, learning, practice, teaching, vocabulary builders, Wordple.net

The Body of the Essay: A Visual Demonstration

sfitzell — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 15:11:13 +0000

The Body of An Essay

Visual Demonstration

The Body of an essay…I use the human body as an analogy to explain the parts of an essay.

1. The Brain – the intro: like the brain, the intro “controls” the body of the essay (especially point out ‘thesis’)

2. The Heart – body paragraph: at the “heart” of the essay are the body paragraphs.

3. The Feet – conclusion: like your feet,the conclusion leads you to somewhere new (i.e. new idea, insight). Also students should be able to answer the question “so what?” (Why is this information important?) by the time the essay has reached the feet. –

Tip contributed by Melanie Speight, Ste. Genevieve RII Check out her website.

Posted in Differentiated Instruction, Parent Tips, Response To Intervention Tagged: Differentiated Instruction, essay, learning, Melanie Speight, Ste. Genevieve RII, teaching, writing skills

Your Own Wiki Pages

sfitzell — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 03:42:36 +0000

Your Own Wiki Pages

Isn’t the collective knowledge of the Internet demonstrated on sites like Wikipedia amazing? Imagine being able to create your own private pages, totally specific to your course material. Imagine your students being able to log on and participate in the creation and editing of these pages. Heather Baker of Plymouth H.S. turned me on to Wikispaces.com, where all this imagination bares fruit.

If you’re at all intimidated by the idea of web design, do not fret, the page editor was constructed to work much like a word processor. There is also a guided tour on the main page where you can view a pages birth, and customization.

Creating Wiki pages is a motivating way to engage students in improving their writing skills. Rather than see a teacher’s writing assignment as “one more paper to write”, students find themselves immersed in creating a web page that meets the same goal, yet, in their perspective is much more “fun”. I think Heather’s on to something wonderful!

Posted in Differentiated Instruction Tagged: Differentiated Instruction, H.S., Heather Baker, Plymouth, web design for students, wiki, WIKISPACES.COM

Improving Student Learning One Teacher At A Time

sfitzell — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 03:59:08 +0000

Apologies for my absence, I like to update weekly but I’ve been so busy. The fortunate side of this is I now have loads to share! Specifically, I have this book that was recommended to me by a teacher at a recent seminar.

“THE BIG FOUR”

Jane E. Pollock’s “Improving Student Learning: One Teacher at a Time” builds off of the old saying, “When reading, think like a writer. And when writing, think like a reader.” by applying it to the Teacher/Student relationship.

Pollock offers a structure she calls “The Big Four” to build a learning program that is centered around student achievements.

1. Clearly articulated curriculum, benchmarks, and learning targets

2. Purposeful instructional planning and delivery

3. Purposeful and varied assessment, tied to learning targets

4. Record-keeping and reporting that allow for timely and meaningful feedback that is based on specific criteria

This user friendly book has lots to offer teachers working to differentiate curriculum based on research based best practice. I hope you enjoy the book and feel free to let me know what you think!

Posted in Differentiated Instruction Tagged: assessment, Differentiated Instruction, learning, One teacher at a time, Pollack, research based practice, teaching

Calming your Class

sfitzell — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 00:29:55 +0000

Linda Schlyer, the Title 1 Math Specialist at Castle Rock Middle School says she uses wind chimes in her classroom to calm students.

Here are some other options for calming a classroom from the the Thinking Classroom out of the U.K.

What do you use? If you have some calming tips, please add them!

Posted in Differentiated Instruction Tagged: calming students, Castle Rock Middle School, Differentiated Instruction

Gilmanton, NH Teachers Embrace Differentiated Instruction

sfitzell — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 21:20:29 +0000

Gilmanton School Works to Reach All Learners

Last Friday, I did my “Differentiated Instruction Strategy Blast” seminar at Gilmanton School. Not only was a treated to breathtaking foliage on the way to this New Hampshire town, I spent the day with a motivated, positive staff who truly care about helping their students succeed.

Here’s the first indicator: The front tables filled up first! When I saw that happen I knew that I was in for a great day! Ok, it’s true, we presenters are partial to people who are willing to brave the front row.

Teachers were also willing to share their best practices and resources with me.

Following are strategies and tips that are working for Gilmanton teachers.

For students to build vocabulary skills at home, suggest to parents that they turn on the closed captioning on tv.

Use the sign language alphabet to have students practice spelling words. We used it very successfully with special education students in grades 4-8. One first grade teacher plans to use it as a center. Idea contributed by Amy Small

A great website for building vocabulary and doing a good deed is http://www.freerice.com – grammar, foreign languages, multiplication, vocab, science elements. Idea contributed by Erika Langlais

For pictures to connect to vocabulary for visual vocabulary review cards, try http://www.makebeliefscomix.com – This site is a wonderful tool for teachers and students alike!

Lastly, here is a a free online tool that has the potential to meet the needs of more than just the students with learning disabilities for whom it was intended. Read the Words — http://readthewords.com “Originally designed for students with disabilities, ReadTheWords accepts multiple input formats such as MS Word, PDF, or html for users to create readings. Output is a synthesized speech file in one of fifteen voices that can be heard online, downloaded, saved, and shared. If you download the toolbar, you can convert text in a web page to speech without having to go to ReadTheWord.com”

Posted in Differentiated Instruction, Response To Intervention Tagged: closed captioning, coach & Trainer, creating comics as a learning strategy, Differentiated Instruction, differentiated instruction strategy blast, freerice, Gilmanton school, make belief, make believe comix, Manchester, NH, Professional Speaker, read the words, sign language as a memory strategy, strategies, susan fitzell, text to speech readers, vocabulary builders

Using Differentiated Instruction Strategies at Rochelle M.S.

sfitzell — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:53:22 +0000

Rochelle Middle School Teachers Working Hard to Engage Students

Today, I worked with two groups of teachers at Rochelle Middle School who are interested in learning more strategies to differentiate instruction and meet their students needs. We discussed behavior management strategies for working with groups and Four Corners activites, and quietly cueing kids to get on task or to receive Kudos for doing the right thing! We also discussed four powerful teaching tips, adaptation strategies for students reading below grade level, and …mnemonic devices as well as several other best practice ideas. Thanks Rochelle M.S. teachers, Mr. Nick Harvey, principal, and Pat Tunstall for a great day and the honor of working in Lenoir County!

Tomorrow, we’ll tackle co-teaching strategies. That workshop is lots of fun because we get to work with personality styles which is a guaranteed laughter generator!

Posted in Differentiated Instruction Tagged: Differentiated Instruction, inclusion, mnemonic devices, New Hampshire, Professional Speaker and Consultant, Rochelle M.S., susan fitzell, teaching strategies

Teaching Tips from my Audience!

sfitzell — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 02:57:19 +0000

Fearless Fractions

Fearless fractions: grades 4-9. Teaches teachers how to use color to introduce the addition and subtraction of fractions and mixed numbers. Each fraction has its own color as in Rainbow Fraction® Teaching System. Fractions cannot be added or subtracted until they become the same color (common denominators). Ratios, probability, percents, proportions, and making predictions are concepts that are taught right along with fractions in order for student to understand their relationship to fractions.Shared by:
Carol McKeever
Catherine Hillston
Middle School Methods Co

Rapping Longitude and Latitude

My students made a video where they rapped and acted out a rap I wrote on latitude and longitude. The video productions class filmed each period’s presentation and compiled them on a DVD. The best presentation was featured on the school news presentation.Shared by:
Dave Arena
Central MS, Nederland, TXYouTube has an very cute video on Latitude: I’ve Got An Attitude (About my Latitude)

Building Community Through Sharing Interesting Facts

Interesting Fact. For the first week of school, I have each student write an interesting fact about themselves, someone in their family, etc. I take 3 out each day, read them one at a time, then guess which student matches the fact. If it is not the student I pick, then that person guesses. Three guesses total are made. If no one guesses, the person, he/she stands up and then tells a little story about the fact. Sure helps when trying to learn names!

by:

Pam Stines
Nederland HS, TX

Posted in Differentiated Instruction Tagged: co-teaching and RTI, Differentiated Instruction, Fractions, inclusion, latitude, Longitude, Nederland, New Hampshire, Professional Speaker and Educational Consultant, rapping, susan fitzell, TX