Content

This category is about offering students variety in topics, pace and method of receiving content. It is a delicate balance of the required curriculum (foundational), adaptive tools (like Lexia), and customizable content that is driven by student interests.

Content is really formula you build for your practice...

Example Strategies

OFFER OPTIONS WHEN POSSIBLE

Use a Google Site to share a Must Do/May Do Playlist with students and give kids some options after they complete the must do part of the list. The May Do part of the list can have a wide variety types of resources. A Choice List is another version of this!

Resources:

Resource - Bank of Playlists Pictures
Resource - Menus & Student Choice Boards
Article - Providing Pacing Guidance with "Must Do" and "May Do" Tasks

Tool Suggestion: Google Site or Google Doc

LET STUDENTS CURATE TOO

Use a shared Google Doc, a Google Site or Symbaloo to have students add to a list of resources (digital or otherwise) to use on a particular topic or skill. Teachers can whittle the list down from student suggestions or prioritize the list for students.

Resources:

Article - Getting Started with Content Curation in the Classroom
Blog post - To Boost Higher-Order Thinking, Try Curation
Article - 16 Curation Tools for Teachers and Students

Tool Suggestion: Google Doc, Google Site, Symbaloo

DIGITAL DIRECT INSTRUCTION

Use a Screencastify or Screencast-o-matic to record mini-lessons, give instructions and feedback on work. Need to clone youself so that students can access content at a later time or repeatedly? You can post the resource videos on Google Classroom or a Google Site to easy access.

Resources:

Article - Four Strategies for Flipped Learning
Website - Flipped Classroom
Article - In-Class Flip - The Flipped Classroom meets Station Rotation (Catlin Tucker)

Tool Suggestion: Screencastify or Screencast-o-matic

FIND YOUR FORMULA

Use Google Draw or Google Sheets to layout the Must/Need/May list of resources you must use, things the students need to fill gaps or extend, and optional items that could be incorporated based on interest. Create your formula for the course that shows the maximum amount you can add it to meet students personally.

Resources:

Example - Make a list of content sources available
Resource - Questions to reflect on content purpose
Resource - Consider what content best serves different stations in the class rotation

Tool Suggestions: Google Draw or Google Sheets

DESIGN WITH STUDENTS

Use a shared Google Doc for students to add ideas for demonstrating knowledge and learning experiences. Have an digital ongoing parking lot where students can add ideas for learning and showing what they know. Periodically review as a class and mark off things as you do them.

Resources:

Article - How Can Students and Teacher Co-Design Learning?
Article - Invite Students to Co-Design their Learning Environment
Strategies list (scroll down) - Orchestrating Design

Tool Suggestion: Google Doc or Padlet