Student Choice: Choice Boards

DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION

Choice boards offers opportunities for students to take control of their learning. Students make decisions about

how they will meet class requirements.  A choice board could be for a single lesson, a week-long lesson, or even a month-long period of study.  You may offer as many

or as few options that will work for your classroom.Steps: 

1. Identify the target of the lesson. 2. Brainstorm the multiple ways students could show that knowledge. 3. Create a final optional section that requires students the opportunity for enrichment, research, and practice.    

WHAT IS A CHOICE BOARD?

www.thecuriousapple.com www.scienceinthecity2.blogspot.com

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

Modes, Tiers, and Grouping: Learning Style

DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION

What learning style are you?We typically teach our style of learning.

Over 30% of your learners are probably visual.

DIFFERENTIATING BY LEARNING STYLES

Engaging Visual Learners

Use highlighting tape in textDraw attention to posters and peripherals in roomShow filmstrips or videotapesUse graphic organizersUse pointers during whole-group instructionPoint out details in illustrationsUse expressive gestures and body languageDisplay word walls

Visual learners do very well with, and all learners benefit from: Puzzles Drawing • Tracing over sheet protectors • Writing Estimating amounts,

weights • Viewing a video or a filmstrip • Presentations using PowerPoint™ or other graphics-based digital media • Visual sequencing • Memory matching games • Marking

answers in text with highlighting tapeScholastic.com

VISUAL LEARNERS

Engaging Auditory Learners

Read aloud oftenMake a listening center available

Record directions, passages or chapters so students can listen and read alongUse music to teach skills

Vary the pitch and tone of your voiceEncourage peer discussions

Ask for retellingsUse Readers Theater

Auditory learners do very well with, and all learners benefit from: Books on tape • Story retelling with puppets • Using whisper phones • Teacher-

led small-group instruction • Recording an oral retelling • Headphones (with wires cut off) to eliminate distractions • Acting out character roles

Scholastic.com

AUDITORY LEARNERS

Engaging Kinesthetic and Tactile Learners

Use role-playingProvide props for retelling

Supply clay and other simple building materials for making modelsSlide skill sheets into page protectors and let students complete the exercises with

a water-based pen that can be erased when they’re finishedAllow a “walk-and-talk” format for peer discussion

Incorporate energizing movement regularlyKinesthetic and tactile learners do very well with, and all learners benefit from: 

Working with clay and other malleable materials • Using pointers during independent reading • Acting out a story Using number and letter stamps • Learning sign language • Dice or card games • Experiments • Floor puzzles,

envelope activities

scholastic.com

KINESTHETIC LEARNER

Incredibox.comUjam.com

MUSICAL LEARNERS

Groups and Assessments: Anchors, Sidebars, and Tiered Lesson

Planning

DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION

Anchors:An anchor chart outlines or describes procedures,

processes, and strategies on a particular theme and is posted in the classroom

for reference by students.

Examples:• How to check your heart rate• Comma usage• How to pick good fit books

These are created WITH students

WHAT IS IT?

WHAT DO THEY LOOK LIKE?

Side bars, Genius Hour and Passion Projects:

What do you want to learn about?How can you show what you have learned?

Who else does this??? Google

WHAT IS IT?

www.rundesroom.com/2013/11/passion-projects-week-2.html

Tiered Lesson Planning:Tasks and activities varied by readiness, learner profile,

interest, or choice.

WHAT IS IT?