CURRICULUM COMPACTING

1. CURRICULUM COMPACTING Portland Public Schools February/March 2009

2. The Big Picture-Differentiating in Mixed-Ability Classrooms

3. The Challenge • Students come at different readiness levels • Students learn at different rates • Students have different styles of learning • Students have varying interests • Students have a variety of needs

4. Meeting Needs of All Learners • How do you know the rate and level of your students? • How are you adjusting your instruction based on the information you receive about student rate and level of learning?

5. Word Association: Compact Visualize and Illustrate Think of associations for Compact

6. Today’s Objectives What is Curriculum Compacting? How? When? Who? Why use Curriculum Compacting? Resources

7. What is Curriculum Compacting?(Reis and Renzulli) Instructional strategy … streamlines the grade-level curriculum allows more time for challenging work Designed to make appropriate adjustments in rate or level for students in any area or grade-level. Not just for gifted learners. eliminates redundancy or work that may be too easy for any student

8. HOW? CURRICULUM • Identify Curricular Need • Assess content and skills prior to and throughout instruction • Discover that students already meet or exceed standard • Compact the Regular Curriculum: provide opportunity for sufficient evidence at the student’s level of proficiency • Keep Records (get the student involved).

9. Two Kinds of Curriculum Compacting Basic Skills Compacting Spelling, Math Facts, Language Arts Basic Skills Pre-testing or other quick pre-assessments are used to document proficiency. Content Compacting Social Studies, Science, Literature, Math Applications, and Problem-Solving Students may already know some material or may be able to read advanced material or master objectives more quickly. Pre and Formative assessment data may come from teacher observation, journal entries, writing assignments, Socratic Seminars…

10. MOST DIFFICULT FIRST can be used with compacting basic skills or content Before giving an assignment, start by determining which items are the most difficult examples of the entire task. Offer the whole class the explanation and opportunity to try the most difficult first. Students who are successful in the completion of the most difficult and demonstrate proficiency with this work are given time to explore the content in more depth.

11. The Score is the Score: Demonstration of Proficiency Once a student demonstrates proficiency, the “score” or “value” at that point can serve as a final score for that standard or unit.

12. Tiering Compacting • Teachers modify content/activities into 2-3 progressive levels of depth and complexity • Information, routine practice, and/or skills are eliminated from the curriculum that a student has already mastered • A student works at a more rapid pace • Alternative activities are provided

13. THE COMPACTOR (Renzulli) • Assess the area(s) of strength • Document mastery • Provide alternate activities for enrichment and/or acceleration • Set working conditions for alternate activities • Provide a personal study project agreement • Student keeps log of extension work-management

14. Student’s Name: ________________________________ Areas of Strength Documenting Mastery Alternate Activities -pre-assessment -the results w/ specificity “More & harder work!” “No, thanks!” Choice!

15. Skills Student’s Name: _______________________________ Areas of Strength Documenting Mastery Alternate Activities Math- facts -Quiz -90-100% Will work with class on days they learn concepts not mastered Will work on alternate math enrichment activities on other days

16. Skills Student’s Name: ________________________________ Areas of Strength Documenting Mastery Alternate Activities -Teacher observation on previous assignments -Answer comprehension questions/problems -Show teacher -Read assignment -Do questions -Choose from a menu Rapid reader with very good comprehension

17. Skills Student’s Name: ________________________________ Areas of Strength Documenting Mastery Alternate Activities Students uses a model to show how the tilt of the earth causes differential heating of the earth’s surface which in turn causes the seasons as the earth revolves around the sun Student will explore an astronomy area of choice from the choice board Science: Relationship of the sun, moon and earth (standard): seasons

18. Sample Menu Winebrenner-Differentiating Content for Gifted Learners in Grades 6-12: CD of extension menus and guides by content areas

19. WHEN should a teacher compact the curriculum? When pre and ongoing formative assessments indicate that a student (or several students) demonstrates proficiency in the skill or content which is the instructional focus.

20. WHO are candidates for Compacting? • Already meets or exceeds standard • Consistently finishes tasks quickly • Mistakes are careless in nature • Brings outside materials to class • Tests well (despite average or below class work) • Consistently performs high in an academic area • Questions show advanced familiarity with the material • Interest in pursuing alternate or advanced topics • -Starko

21. Tools for Compacting Curriculum Assessments (Pre, Ongoing, Formative, Summative) Tiered Lesson Templates “The Compactor” Menus of Challenging Activities Working Agreements or Learning Contracts Student Planning Guide

22. WHY? • Dramatically reduces redundancy and challenges students to new heights of excellence • Makes work particularly relevant for underachieving students • Unless students are consistently challenged, they will loose motivation to learn

23. If you want to know more … • Kingore, Bertie (2007) Reaching All Learners: Making Differentiation Work. Professional Associate Publishing. • •Reis, S.M. & Renzulli, J.S. (2005). Curriculum Compacting: An Easy Start to Differentiating for High-Potential Students. • Prufrock Press. • •Starko, A. J. (1986). It’s About Time. Creative Learning Press. • •Winebrenner, S. (2001) Teaching Gifted Kids in the Regular Classroom. Updated edition. Free Spirit Press. • • Winebrenner Differentiating Content for Gifted Learners in Grades 6-12: CD of extension menus and guides by content areas