Spotlight on Sources:
This month’s Best Practice comes from Mrs. Jeanne Pascon, grade 5 classroom teacher in Bloomfield, CT and Renzulli Learning consultant.
A few years ago I was working with a teacher who introduced me to the book, Happy Dreamer, by Peter Reynolds. Since then, I have been advocating to use Happy Dreamer as you prepare your students to begin their explorations in Renzulli Learning.
Ms. Erin Roads, a fifth grade teacher from Nathan Hale Arts Magnet School, in New London, CT, began her introduction to Renzulli Learning with a read aloud of Happy Dreamer, along with the Scholastic instructional materials provided to go along with the book. She wanted to tie in Reading Comprehension Skills, such as Author's Purpose, Making Inferences, Theme, and Text to Self.
Last week I launched Renzulli Learning with my class using Happy Dreamer. First I read the book aloud along with a discussion about what my students “dream of” becoming some day; what are they really good at; what do they enjoy? From there, each student created a “Happy Dreamer” slide as part of a collaborative slideshow that I have turned into a bulletin board in my classroom.
Happy Dreamer Collaborative Google Slides Template
Next, I used the Renzulli Learning Introduction Lesson to “carousel brainstorm” about the words support, personalized, challenge, and enrichment, to get students around to the idea that all students need different things at different times in the learning process.
Then I shared the Renzulli Learning Student Introduction animated video with them to get them really excited! Following that, we logged into Renzulli Learning and used the Student Tutorial video right on the Profiler page under the purple arrow to demonstrate the Profiler process. And they were off and running with their Profiler! When they completed their Profiler, students were instructed to read their results carefully, and then open My Journal to respond to this question:
- Create a Journal entry on how you feel about your Profile Results. Do you agree or disagree with what it says about you? Do you believe your Profile results reflect who you are as an individual and a learner? Was there anything you were surprised to learn? Explain with lots of amazing details! This writing assignment should be adjusted based on your students’ ages and abilities. Click here for the Student Introduction Lesson and animated video, along with other lesson suggestions for the coming weeks.
- As they have begun exploring their My Enrichment Activities, students were asked to write another My Journal entry, about one resource they have found so far that they really liked. They were also introduced to “Groups” and asked to share some of the fun sites they are finding with their classmates.
- In My Journal: Which activity did you come across today that you would like to return to? Explain why you liked it with details.
Group Instructions: Search the Enrichment Activities for fun sites to share on the Message Board!
When you are ready to post one:
- Write the NAME of the site.
- Copy/Paste the FULL "URL" (Internet Address) then hit the spacebar once to "link" it.
- Tell us what you like about it!
- Try searching by Subject - check out Science and Social Studies!
As we study different topics, try a Search with current unit keywords/phrases, names, places - such as geothermal, geology, geology, Iceland, and volcanoes! How about Character Traits, or Point of View?
This week, my students will be creating a new collaborative slideshow, “Who We Are as Learners” to display their Profile results to one another, and then to share with the parents. I will encourage them to be creative, colorful, and to learn and share new tips and tricks with Google Slides as we go along!
Who Are We As Learners Google Slides Template
Finally, don’t forget to share the Renzulli Learning Parent Letter and the printed Profile results with your parents - either at Curriculum Night, Parent-Teacher Conferences, or just send them home. Parents will be amazed at how much you know about their child in so little time, and you will be off and running for an amazing school year with Renzulli Learning!