Lesson Makeovers

• Context Clues and Classics

  How I’d use a classic to revamp a study of context clues.

  Show 1 Steps

  1. First, students analyze nonsense words in “Jabberwocky” to figure out their meanings through context.

• Lesson Makeovers: 3 Big Ideas

  After looking at dozens of lessons that folks sent in, I came up with three big ideas.

• Engagement Isn’t The Goal

  While “engagement” is fun, it shouldn’t be our main goal.

  Show 1 Steps

  1. First, students roll dice to choose vocabulary tasks, promoting deeper thinking rather than simple engagement.

• Beyond Identifying a Story’s Problem and Solution

  So your students can identify a story’s problem and solution. Then what?

• Comparing Strengths and Weaknesses

  Go beyond merely explaining strengths and weaknesses and get students thinking in interesting ways.

• Fancy Product? Simple Thinking – Wax Museum

  A big, impressive product doesn’t mean that there was big, impressive thinking.

• Comparing Fraction Strategies

  Comparing fraction strategies? Let’s take it even further!

• Aim High, Scaffold Down in Math

  A high level of thinking also requires the support of thoughtful scaffolding.

• Depth and Complexity: Patterns and Quadrilaterals

  How to go beyond merely “identifying patterns” and get students thinking deeply about quadrilaterals.

• From “Identify” to “Analyze” – Famous Structures

  How to go beyond merely memorizing facts about famous structures.

• Why I Don’t Use “Create” in Bloom’s Taxonomy

  See how the word “Create” can mask low-level lessons.