Grades 3 - 5
BLENDED LEARNING PRINCIPLES - GETTING STARTED
STUDENT OWNERSHIP
- Guide students through the process of reflection.
- Provide individual feedback so that students can progress monitor & build relationships with teachers.
- Experiment with allowing students some choice in selection of time, pace, path & place.
FLEXIBLE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
- Students or classes are in flexible groupings according to need.
- Create spaces or opportunities for whole, group, small group, & individual instruction.
- Experiment with flexible use of time based on students’ needs.
INNOVATIVE INSTRUCTION
- Mindset is open to changing instructional practices
- Uses data to design lessons that support students’ instructional needs
- Experiments with at least one blended learning model (flipped, station rotation, etc.)
- Collaborates with others to reflect on new instructional practice
INTEGRATED DIGITAL CONTENT
- Selects 1-2 digital tools aligned to content to meet student needs & learning objectives.
- Establishes instructional routines & expectations for students to engage with content & digital tools.
STUDENT OWNERSHIP
Blended Learning Can Help Students Take Ownership of Their Learning
Brandon Johnson, a 4th/5th grade math and science teacher talks about how blended learning has changed student relationships and classroom management in his classroom.
In this article, Ms. Diane Meloscia, fourth grade teacher at Patrick Henry Elementary in Chicago talks about how she does a gradual release of student ownership through four levels of autonomy. Be sure to watch the video and look at the strategy spotlight.
FLEXIBLE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
3 Ways to Differentiate Learning Stations
Mary Peterson, an elementary teacher and PD leader, shares 3 ways to differentiate stations: 1) open-ended activities, 2) tiered activities, or 3) student choice.
How to Use Flexible Grouping in the Classroom
In this article by the TeachThought staff, you will learn how to use a grouping planner and a grouping warmup to take some of the challenge out of creating flexible groups.
INNOVATIVE INSTRUCTION
Jana Bryd - 3rd Grade Station Rotations
Jana Byrd, a 3rd grade teacher in Cajon Valley USD, California, shows how she organizes her stations in her classroom. While she has a 1:1 device ratio, note that many of her stations are (mini-lessons, journals, book club, etc.)
Blended Learning with Station Rotation
This video shows how 2 fourth grade Peoria Unified C&I teachers using station rotation in their classroom.
Data Driven Decisions - 5th Grade
Elizabeth Reed, 5th grade teacher in Enlarged City School District of Middletown, New York, talks about the importance of checking real-time data.
INTEGRATED DIGITAL CONTENT
What Blended Learning Looks Like in the Classroom
This video show how teachers in a 4th/5th and a 9th grade classroom are using blended learning promote small groups, student collaboration, effective technology use, and student feedback.
Integrating Digital Content - 3rd Grade
Amanda Ashcraft, 3rd grade teacher in the Enlarged City School District of Middletown, New York, talks about how to use digital content to find teaching resources, differentiate, looking at data, create targeted small groups, or reteach the large group.