New Resources Posted on the Learning Classroom Website

We have recently updated our teacher resources webpage with some new resources and materials. Information on tiering, energizers and teambuilding activities. As well as the posting of our DIAmond in the Rough Newsletter.

Check it out!
http://www.tvdsb.ca/programs.cfm?subpage=91461



Visit the Learning Classroom Webpage
http://www.tvdsb.ca/programs.cfm?subpage=82973

Differentiated Instruction: Effective Classroom Practices Report (NCAC)

The Effective Classroom Practices Report from the National Center on Accessing the General Curriculum provides a detailed description of differentiated instruction.  The report outlines the components and features (content, process and product) within the framework of differentiated instruction.

Differentiated Instruction: Effective Classroom Practices Report

The Learning Classroom Program - Strategy on a Page: Graphic Organizers

Here is a resource designed and used by the Learning Classroom Program on Differentiated Instruction and Assessment.  This one-page reference talks about Graphic Organizers and how they can be used to help differentiate instruction in the classroom.  We briefly outline and describe 5 common graphic organizers.

Find this one-page reference sheet plus many others on our Learning Classroom Resource Page.

Strategy-on-a-Page: Graphic Organizers

Tiering - A Quick Explanation on Tiering Assignments (from Suite 101)

Tammy Andrews writes a quick article explaining the idea behind tiering assignments and how it can help students engage materials at a level that best suits their level of understanding and readiness.

Be sure to check out the other related links which explore areas of assessment, learning technology, classroom management and classroom activities.

How Tiering Helps Differentiate Instruction

Using pictures and media in VUVOX

Vuvox is another free Web 2.0 app that gives you yet another cool way to display pics and videos in an interactive and animated montage. Navigating your way through the application is fairly straightforward and there is the option of using wizards which automatically arrange photos and media for you.

For students, this would be a spin on creating an informational poster on a particular subject or concept but instead of creating, arranging and displaying their information on a piece of Bristol board, they are now creating it on a scrolling and interactive medium.

Check it out - very slick.


Visit the Learning Classroom Webpage
http://www.tvdsb.ca/programs.cfm?subpage=82973

A Learner Profile Template from Dare to Differentiate

daretodifferentiate.wikispaces.com contains a variety of different resources, templates and materials for the differentiated classroom.  This site provides a long list of strategies where you can find Word, PowerPoint and PDF documents and resources.

Take a look at this student learning profile that was posted on this site.  It is interesting to see the variety of information that goes into developing a comprehensive learning profile.

Spend some time browsing through the variety of resources at this site.e

Web 2.0 Tools from Recipes 4 Success

Two interesting tools from the website Recipes 4 Success. (Thanks to Digygogy for their post on webstuff.)

Recipes 4 Success gives some online tools which could be helpful for the classroom. Another 'plus' is that you do not require a login account to use these tools.

Rubric maker - a fairly simple rubric maker but it may be useful in making a quick rubric or to allow students an opportunity to make their own.

Graphic Organizer tool - this quick and easy tool allows you to add a title and instructions to some common graphic organizers. This can be helpful if you to quickly print off a customized organizer.

Check it out

Visit the Learning Classroom Webpage
http://www.tvdsb.ca/programs.cfm?subpage=82973

Tools for the Differentiated Classroom

This site provides instruction on Podcasting, Blogging and RSS feeds; and how they can be used to help differentiate instruction.  There are instructions in using Google's blogger (free) and how to first navigate your way through opening a blog of your own.  For Podcasting, the instructions provided are really for Mac users.  Those of us who operate on PC computers will not have access to the software described in this website.  There are some detailed instructions about RSS feeds and how to set up a feed for your blog.

Tools for the Differentiated Classroom

Children's Storybooks read by Celebrities

Here is an interesting website from the Screen Actors Guild Foundation that may be of interest to those who make use of children's books in the classroom. Storylineonline.net lists a number of popular children's books read by celebrities. Each book that is read is accompanied by illustrations as well as links to related activities as well as an activity guide which you can download.

Learn more about tech with Good-Tutorials.com

A great resource on photoshop, photography, HTML, flash, java script, etc.  If you have access to photo editing software or web-design software through your school but have no idea how to use it - start looking here for some help.

http://www.good-tutorials.com/

Make Interactive Timelines on Dipity

Here is a webapp which allows you to make nice looking timelines and enables you to make links to other websites and media.  Using these timelines presents a very interactive and informative experience.  For students it can serve as another great way to organize and connect events as they create their own timelines.

Check it out...  Dipity.com

Here is a timeline (from Dipity) outlining the events and efforts around Haiti...

Haiti Earthquake on Dipity.

Teacher Tools from Scholastic Canada

Check out this site for a variety of tools and templates of organizers (Venn Diagrams, KWL chart) as well as resources on reading comprehension, story elements and assessment.

Teacher Tools from Scholastic Canada

Thanks to Sandra B for the link (follow Sandra on Twitter).

Graphic Organizers - from Classroom Toolkit

A wide array of organizers and templates organized by subject area in this visual organizer 'starter kit'.  This 'starter kit' is a section from this online e-book.  Check out the rest of the sections on this website for more information on Higher-Order Thinking, Multiple Intelligences as well as a variety of links to free and trial software.

Graphic Organizer Starter Toolkit

Strategy-on-a-Page Series

We are posting some resources that help explain some of the strategies used in helping to provide differentiated instruction.  Here is a 1-page hand out on Foldables.

Foldables are a great way for students to organize, plan and/or document new material and concepts.  It is a visually engaging resource that allows students to physically manipulate materials as they make connections between concepts and ideas.

1-page on Foldables

For this and more from our Strategy-on-a-page Series, come visit us at

The Learning Classroom - Classroom Resources

Differentiated Instruction and Assessment Newsletter (1st Issue)

A quick link to a newsletter on DI.  This was created by members from our Differentiated Instruction and Assessment Task Force.  This issue offers a description of DI, a overview of the Learning Classroom Program and a look at Choice Boards.

Differentiated Instruction Newsletter from the DIA Task Force

Lexipedia - defining words and terms through mindmaps

A great way to visually show the meaning of words and terms through their connection to other words.  Great for the visual learner...

http://www.lexipedia.com/
 
Showing a few examples from this site also serves as a great way to start discussion and to have students generate their own definition from the mindmap.  Constructing mind maps can be challenging for many students - particularly when they are just starting out with this type of visual organizer. Lexipedia offers students the opportunity to see mind maps in action and also highlights the benefit of using visual organizers to help deepen understanding and retention.