Resources
Resources
Embedded Files
The resources shared are intended for you to use as you think through your instructional planning and are not necessarily intended to be used directly with students. Always check your district policies prior to sharing resources with your students.
January is the first month of the year, the second month of winter, and considered to be the best time to reflect on one's current reality and to create new beginnings. It's the perfect time to make peace with the past and set goals for the future!
Winter Sensory Ideas & Activities
Winter Sensory Ideas & Activities
Winter has arrived and it's the most wonderful time of year to try these fun sensory activities with your students.
Engage students of all ages with these sensory ideas and activities which are sure to bring joy and warmth on even the coldest of winter days.
These winter sensory STEM experiments are perfect for celebrating the winter solstice. Check out these super cool winter activities.
Winter Authentic Learning Units
Winter Authentic Learning Units
Ski Indoors! is an ALU that provides students with an opportunity to learn and apply skills related to linear functions to the real-world context of ski slopes.
Dressing for the Temperature is a fun ALU that lets students create a temperature guide to instruct their family on how to dress for all kinds of weather.
Extreme Weather: Are You Prepared? encourages students to research past atypical or extreme weather, learn about the hazards of such weather, and collaborate to create resources to support families in planning for possible extreme weather.
Martin Luther King Jr. Resources
Martin Luther King Jr. Resources
Visit The King Center to read about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., his principles of nonviolence, and some of his most important accomplishments.
Listen to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s iconic I Have a Dream speech.
Take a virtual tour of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park. This video features a tour of Ebenezer Baptist Church, The King Center, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's birth home.
Justice For All is an ALU for high school students to conduct research on current issues regarding segregation in American schools and deepen their understanding of their civil rights as they explore the difference between equality and equity.
Grouping
Grouping
Read this brief article to learn more about flexible grouping. Then, explore the example below for different ways you can group students in middle school.
What Flexible Grouping Looks Like in Middle School.pdfSmall Group Mini Lesson
When teachers meet students where they are, big learning happens. Small-group mini-lessons create space for personalized, just-in-time learning — ensuring every student gets what they need, when they need it. Use our Small-Group Mini-Lesson Tool to reflect on how you currently use small-group mini-lessons.
Tools for Differentiation
Tools for Differentiation
Totally 10
Click on the resource below for information and a template you can use.
Totally 10 Template .pdfDifferentiated Activity List
You can review examples of the activity list by clicking the links below. You will need your building's MyQPortal credentials to access it:
Scaffold for Learning
Scaffold for Learning
The Scaffold for Learning is a useful structure for brainstorming various ways students learn the skills and content associated with the unit. Click on the image to access the tool. You will need your log in information for MyQ Portal.
Supporting English Language Learners
Supporting English Language Learners
Read this blog post to learn about IDE's 7 essential elements to support English Language Learners.
Social Engagement and ELLS
Review this resource to learn more about different strategies to support English Language Learners to engage with peers.
In addition, explore the following resources for social engagement. Click on the images to see the full resource. You will need your building's MyQPortal credentials to access it. ➡️
Sentence Stems for Communication and Interaction.pdfSentence Stems and Frames- ELLs.pdfExplicit Language Instruction and ELLs
ELLs need direct, explicit instruction to understand the English format. Though English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers often provide this instruction, all teachers can support students in developing their language skills. Review this resource to learn more.
In addition, explore the following resources for facilitation. Click on the images to see the full resource. You will need your building's MyQPortal credentials to access it. ➡️
Facilitation and ELLs
As students engage in the learning process, the teacher shifts to a masterful facilitator of learning. Review this resource to learn more.
In addition, explore the following resources for facilitation. Click on the images to see the full resource. You will need your building's MyQPortal credentials to access it. ➡️
Executive Function
Executive Function
Project vs. Problem-Based Learning
Project vs. Problem-Based Learning
Most teachers are used to project-based learning, and what if you could "level up" that unit and make it problem-based? What is the difference? See the chart below that explains the difference between the two, then read the examples that show the difference between what a project would sound like vs. what a problem-based unit would sound like.
Most teachers are used to project-based learning, and what if you could "level up" that unit and make it problem-based? What is the difference? See the chart below that explains the difference between the two, then read the examples that show the difference between what a project would sound like vs. what a problem-based unit would sound like.
Notice that, in the problem-based examples, the unit begins with an actual problem for students to solve. That opens the door for rigor and critical thinking, and forces students to go beyond memorization and instead move to application of content knowledge and skills. That definitely is a "level up"! Use one or more of the tools below to help you think of problem-based learning units for your class.
Notice that, in the problem-based examples, the unit begins with an actual problem for students to solve. That opens the door for rigor and critical thinking, and forces students to go beyond memorization and instead move to application of content knowledge and skills. That definitely is a "level up"! Use one or more of the tools below to help you think of problem-based learning units for your class.
Try this tool if you’re thinking of a problem by beginning with your unit standards/skills. Click on the image to see the full resource. You will need your building's MyQPortal credentials to access it. ⬇️
Try this tool if you’re trying to “level up” a
project idea you currently have to a problem-based one. You will need to sign in to your WPCSD account. ⬇️
Starting the School Year Off Strong!
Starting the School Year Off Strong!
Creating a Partnership with Parents
Creating a Partnership with Parents
It is equally important to consider parents/caregivers as partners in the educational experience; after all, schools are providing a service to their most precious accomplishment! From the start of the year, you want to leverage this important resource by building relationships not only with students, but also with their parents/caregivers.
*You will need to log in with your building's MyQPortal credentials to access the materials; if you do not know your login, you can reach out to your consultant.*
*You will need to log in with your building's MyQPortal credentials to access the materials; if you do not know your login, you can reach out to your consultant.*
Use Creating a Partnership with Parents/Caregivers to help guide your thinking on creating a partnership with them.
See some sample surveys below that you can send to parents/caregivers to learn more about their child:
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