Differentiating Instruction With Menus for the Inclusive Classroom: Language Arts

by Laurie E. Westphal

Differentiating Instruction With Menus for the Inclusive Language Arts for grades K-2 offers teachers everything needed to create a student-centered learning environment based on choice. This book provides seven different types of menus that students can use to select exciting products that they will develop so teachers can assess what has been learned—instead of using a traditional worksheet format. Topics addressed include genres, books, and mechanics. Differentiating Instruction With Menus for the Inclusive Language Arts provides numerous types of leveled menus that lower and on-level primary-age students can use to select exciting products to demonstrate learning. Menus with similar formats but geared toward varying ability levels allow teachers to differentiate easily. Using the creative and challenging choices found in Meal menus, Tic-Tac-Toe menus, Target-Based List menus, 2-5-8 menus, Give Me 5 menus, Three-Shape menus, and Pick 3 menus, students will look forward to sharing their newfound knowledge throughout the year. Also included are specific guidelines for products, rubrics for assessing student products, and teacher introduction pages for each menu. This is a must-have for any teacher wanting to differentiate for a wide range of learners!Grades K-2

Genres: Teaching

183 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2012

About the author

I learned science, as well as most other subjects, in the same manner as other students—through the use of chapter reading and questions, and copying notes. I made the decision NOT to teach that way when I went into the classroom. My first job, 5/6 Grade Science in Monterrey, Mexico, I was given the freedom to develop engaging, product-based lessons and activities, which encouraged choice, the kind of teaching I missed as a student.

I continued this method of teaching science for 14 years, both overseas (after Mexico, I went to Porto Alegre Brasil), and in the U.S. I currently work as an independent gifted education and science consultant. I currently reside in Houston, TX and I have made it my goal to share my vision for real-world, product-based lessons that help all students become critical thinkers and effective problem solvers. Stop the drill and kill and plug and chugs!!

Reviews

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book in a first-reads giveaway...

I really liked the concepts presented in this book. The power of choice is an amazing motivator! As a teacher, I can see using these menus in a variety of ways across the curriculum. The thought and detail put into each section implies that this is a tested and practiced technique, not something just loosely thrown together. Since I am more of a primary teacher myself, I would be interested to see how the K-2 books present themselves...whether what I'm envisioning is similar to the author's vision of primary level menus. :)

I give this book more of a 4.5 for two reasons...it refers in the Author's Note at the beginning to the "companion book" which contains levels for more advanced students. I don't think I've ever experienced a class in my career where all my students were at a "similar" level...so I get the impression that to do my more advanced students justice, I need the other book. Hmmm...great gimmick, but slightly annoying! My other reason for a 4 and not a 5 is simple...I haven't tried it out in the classroom yet myself. I wouldn't give any instructional tool an amazing rating until I'd actually tested it. So if it works as well as it looks, later on I'll amend my rating!

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great ideas to differentiate in the classroom. It offers suggestions that I've used but put them in a nice format and offers many more suggestions. I will be sharing with the other teachers in the building.

[Teracia · Rating 4 out of 5]

i received this book free on Goodreads. I found it to be thorough and to the point. This work book explained a lot of the topics that i seem to have a problem with grammatically. I also shared this books with my 15 year old sophomore. she said there were parts she never knew so i think this book is a good support material for kids in the recommended age groups.