Teaching the Baker’s Dozen: Reaching the “Clueless” Learner

1. Jenny Broad Julia Duke Teaching the Baker’s Dozen: Reaching the “Clueless” Learner

2. Overview • Classrooms with varied populations are a collective challenge all educators share. • In this presentation we will focus on simple changes that can be made to existing curriculums to enhance the accessibility of content to all types of learners. • We will present three examples of stereotypical students and appropriate modifications that are quick and simple to use.

3. The Chronically Disorganized Student • Locker, backpack, and desk are disaster zones. • Forgets materials for class. • Loses materials for class. • Chronically late. • Always in a state of searching for what they need • Also known as “Tommy Boy”

4. Organizing Spaces • Use a visual mediator • Students “match” the picture. • Chunk materials together according to schedule and locker breaks. Backpack is open at the bottom of locker Schedule is posted in “chunks”

5. Visual Mediator for a Science Lab Students “match the picture”

6. Material Management • Color Coding by subject • Use of binder system For certain students post visual mediator on subject divider

7. Time Management • Post classroom routines

8. Time Management • Use Smartboard clock • Assign amount of time for each task • Provide prompts

9. Time Management • Create time markers

10. The Chronically Unprepared Student • Never turns in homework • Forgets to study for quizzes and tests. • Projects are late or incomplete • They are the students that always look surprised and confused when everyone else is on task. • Also known as “Lane Meyer”

11. Turning in Homework Homework posted on its own board • Zones of a Classroom • Students need to know that there is a place for everything . • The places need to be labeled. • Stay consistent with routines. Color-Code and Label

12. Studying for tests and quizzes • Tell students what specifically to study and an agenda of what to study: • Study checklists • Gradually shift responsibility to student: • Study tables

13. Study Checklist

14. Study Table • Student created tables

15. Long Term Projects • Break down into manageable parts • Project Pie • Long Term Project Chart

17. Long Term Project Chart

18. The “I don’t Know…” Student • Doesn’t know how to get started/procrastinates • Perseverates on a portion of an assignment • The student who needs a helicopter teacher • Also known as Brick Heck

19. Initiation • Encourage Self Talk • In this amount of time what can you reasonably expect to get done? • Agenda with clear expectations- they need to know where to be at a certain point • Halftime Checks-What should be completed at this point? What does a good stop point look like? • Use clock to prioritize time

20. Prioritize Time Shade time in for setting up Time for Task Time for Clean-up and Pack-up

21. How to “unstick” them when they’re stuck. • Use “If…Then…” statements • Ask “If it was working the way you wanted, what would it look like?” • Encourage Future Picture thinking

22. Pacing • Discuss how pacing should change according to the task. • Discuss APM (Actions Per Minute)

23. Time chart • Pencil sharpening-Cheetah Time • Reading silently-Turtle Time

24. The Secret… • “Same, but different!”

25. Resources • Better Off Dead. Dir. Steve Holland. Warner Brothers, 1985. Film. • “The Interview.” The Middle. ABC. WSB-TV, Atlanta, 21 July 2010. Television. • Newhall, Patricia W. Study Skills: Research-Based Teaching Strategies. Prides Crossing: Landmark School Incorporated, 2008. Print. • Tommy Boy. Dir. Peter Segal. Paramount, 1995. Film. • Ward, Sarah. “Executive Function Skills: Principles in Education.” Landmark School Summer Outreach. Prides Crossing, MA. 6 July 2010. Lecture.