Get Crafty? Get Visual!

As always, we get pointed in the direction of great ideas/tips/strategies from Paula Kluth's 'Differentiation Daily" Blog http://differentiationdaily.com/author/paulakluth/
like this one:

Do you have students who can show you better than they can tell you? Create these simple magnet maps to allow students to answer questions without having to write or explain an answer. Let them show you regions of the United States. Ask them to point to the states, cities, or landmarks you are studying. Have them assemble the map without cues or a visual.  

Here are directions on how to make your own!!!

Keep in mind, you don't have to use magnets only on maps, you can create magnetic puzzles, words/letters, graphs, charts, or geometric shapes.

here's how:

http://www.lacasadecrafts.com/2012/02/how-to-make-magnets-from-a-map/

Embracing Introversion (and shy/quiet learners)

This article really caught my eye (after it caught Paula Kluth's eye-see end note). 
While I was reading it and came across this line:

...while introversion is a preference for environments that are not overstimulating...

 Though the article is about Introverts and has statements like:
Introverts need space,...Introverts need time...Asynchronous learning environments..
 
my mind right away went to people on the Autism Spectrum.  

Please do check out this article as a different way to think about learning opportunities and environments for students that do need space, time, etc.

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/introverted-students-in-classroom-tony-baldasaro



and as always: a big shout-out to Paula Kluth's Differentiation Daily Blog, found at:

http://differentiationdaily.com/

Reading Comprehension and Autism

Awesome thoughts and strategies that may help some students gain new skills and improve their ability to communicate about written material, "show what they know" brought to us by the awesome Paula Kluth

http://www.homeschoolconvention.com/blog/he-doesnt-understand-comprehension-support-for-children-with-autism/

Story Map Anchor Chart

Yet another winning idea from Paula Kluth's Differentiation Daily and Funky in First blog:

Story map anchor chart: a visual strategy to help students organize and expand upon concepts from literature.

http://differentiationdaily.com/2012/02/23/story-map-anchor-chart/

"Inside voice, Outside Voice"...

Big thanks as always to Paula Kluth's awesome blog: Differentiation Daily; chock full of ideas, strategies, materials and more for inclusion of the wide variety of learners we know!

I posted the link to this idea (and thanks to Mrs. Johnson's post with the idea and image) for a visual to pair with what is oh so often heard in the halls of our schools; whether its "Use an indoor voice" or "You can use a 1 voice when writing..."

Enjoy.

http://differentiationdaily.com/2012/02/24/fun-friday-outside-voice-or-inside-voice/