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A Dozen Teaching Assistantsin Your Classroom
An Introduction to Renzulli Learning
Renzulli Learning
Enables students to betterunderstand their interests,learning styles, productpreferences through an on-lineanalysis and an opportunity topursue joyful interests inthousands of follow-upenrichment activities.
SampleMission Statement
The mission of the Smallville schooldistrict is to provide students with acomprehensive education thataddresses students' unique needs andstrengths to help them reach theirpotential.
Three Broad Themes
The academic needs and interest of many studentsare not being met in many classrooms.
When students’ academic needs and interests arenot met in school, they can and do becomeunderachievers.
Enrichment and interest-based activities can make aprofound difference in the lives of students.
Our new idea is based on this dream!
Theme One:
Why Aren’t More HighPotential StudentsChallenged in their
Classrooms?
What is Differentiation?
Matching appropriatelychallenging curriculum andinstruction with a student’sabilities, interests, and learningstyles through a variety ofinstructional strategies andchallenging curriculum.
But……………
Is it happening?
Even with good teachers?
Or is it just too hard to do welland consistently?
Classroom Practices Study:
Teachers reported that they never had anytraining in meeting the needs of gifted students.
61% public school teachers54% private school teachers
Archambault, F. X., Jr., Westberg, K. L., Brown, S. W., Hallmark, B. W.,Emmons, C. L., & Zhang, W. (1993). Regular classroom practices with giftedstudents: Results of a national survey of classroom teachers (ResearchMonograph 93102). Storrs, CT: The National Research Center on the Giftedand Talented, University of Connecticut.
Classroom Practices Study
Teachers made, occasionally,only minor modifications to meetthe needs of talented students intheir classrooms.
Archambault, F. X., Jr., Westberg, K. L., Brown, S. W., Hallmark, B. W.,Emmons, C. L., & Zhang, W. (1993). Regular classroom practices with giftedstudents: Results of a national survey of classroom teachers (ResearchMonograph 93102). Storrs, CT: The National Research Center on the Giftedand Talented, University of Connecticut.
Classroom PracticesObservational Study
Students experienced no instructional orcurricular differentiation in 84% of the activitiesin which they participated:
Reading Language ArtsMathematics Social StudiesScience
Westberg, K. L., Archambault, F. X., Jr., Dobyns, S. M., & Salvin, T. J. (1993). Anobservational study of instructional and curricular practices used with gifted andtalented students in regular classroom. Storrs, CT: The National Research Centeron the Gifted and Talented, University of Connecticut.
Types of Differentiation in Which TargetGifted Students Were Involved
No Differentiation Advanced Content Advanced Process Advanced Product Indep. Study w/Assigned Indep. Study w/Self-selected Other Differentiation
0
20
40
60
80
100
Reading
Language Arts
Mathematics
Science
Social Studies
All Subject Areas
Per
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eren
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n
Adv
ance
d Co
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t
Adv
ance
d Pr
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s
Adv
ance
d Pr
oduc
t
Inde
p. S
tudy
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Ass
igne
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pic
Inde
p. S
tudy
w/
Self-
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cted
Top
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erD
iffer
entia
tion
The CurriculumCompacting Study
Why Not Let High Ability Students Start School in January?
Approximately 40-50% oftraditional classroomcontent could beeliminated for studentswho had their curriculumcompacted.
Compacting Study
When teachers eliminated asmuch as 50% of the curriculum,no differences in achievementscores were found betweenstudents whose curriculum wascompacted and those who didevery page of work.
!ase Studies o"#alen$%&eaders i'(ird an%
)even* Grad+!lassroom,
Similar findings toprevious NRC/GT
research on ClassroomPractices, ClassroomObservations and
Curriculum Compacting:Teachers knew what todo….they just could not
find the time, thesupport, or the materials
to do it well and often.
The idea came to me when….
There were talented readers in everythird grade classroom. In one urbanschool, after 10 days of observations,talented readers had received noinstruction of any kind. One of the mostacademically talented girls was surfingweb sites about rock stars and readingabout celebrities on several occasions!
I try to get to them at least once a week, butI am not always able to do that. You see, somany of my other students read below gradelevel that it is hard to justify not working withthem. Many of these lower readers will beretained in this grade if they do not improve.The top group already reads at grade levelso I rarely get to them.
Their teacher explained:
In most classes, according to theresearch conducted byresearchers at the NationalResearch Center, differentiationis not being accomplishedregularly for high potentialstudents.
It is challenging!
Some outstanding teachers candifferentiate, but all teachers needsupport, training and coaching. Theyalso need access to advancedmaterials, help with teachingstrategies, and support andencouragement from districtleadership.
The idea!!!!!Instead of surfing the web for rock
stars, couldn’t we have find andbookmark hundreds of high qualitysites for these students to explore?
During the time that the teacher wasworking with others, couldn’t wehelp that teacher (and others) have
access to outstanding enrichment anddifferentiation?
Theme Two:
Our research at the NRC G/T showsthat when gifted and high potential
students’ needs are not met inschool, they can and do become
underachievers.
NRC G/T Research Conductedon Underachievement
Study of academically talentedstudents in a urban highschool
Half were underachieving!
Sally M. Reis Thomas P. Hébert
Lack of Work Habits and Self-Regulation
All of the underachieving studentsechoed the same phrase:
“I never learned how to work!”
“Elementary school and middle school were so easyfor me!”
“I coasted through elementary and middle school andthen fell apart in the advanced classes in my highschool.”
The idea!!!!!Could we spend the time
to identify the bestresources to help
teachers differentiate tomeet the needs of all
students?
Theme Three:
The Dream..To bring enriched anddifferentiated learning
experiences to every child…inclassrooms, in school, and athome, using the philosophy of
SEM and Triad!
A research-based enrichment learningsystem that uses a computer generatedassessment of student strengths(Renzulli Profiler)and a search engine(Magellan) that selects high interestmaterials from a carefully screened“storehouse” of activities and resources.
Our team created. . .http://renzullilearning.com
Our team!!!!!Joe Renzulli
Mike DaversaWendy Bernardo and David Hodges
Gara Field, Liz Fogarty, ErinSullivan, our Honors Students, and
our MA and Three Summers StudentsUconn Research and Development
Renzulli Learning matches students’ interestsand learning styles to hundreds of enriched,challenging opportunities on-line. All of the
activities and options in the Renzulli LearningSystem are based on The Enrichment Triad
Model, which has been cited as the most widelyused plan for enrichment and talent
development in the world.
What is Renzulli Learning?http://renzullilearning.com/
RegularClassroom
Enrichment Learning and TeachingTYPE I
GENERALEXPLORATORY
ACTIVITIES
TYPE IIGROUP
TRAINNINGACTIVITIES
TYPE IIIINDIVIDUAL & SMALL GROUP
INVESTIGATIONS OF REAL PROBLEMS
Environment
T he Schoolwide Enrichment ModelJoseph S. Renzulli & Sally M. Reis
www.gifted.uconn.eduService Delivery Components
The Total Talent Portfolio
Curriculum Modification Techniques
School Structures
The Regular
Curriculum The
Enrichment
ClustersThe Continuum
of Special
Services
Organizational Components
Resources
• Identification
Instruments
• Curriculum
Materials
• Staff Development
Training Materials
• Evaluation
Instruments
Environment in GeneralRegular
Classroom
TYPE IGENERAL
EXPLORATORYACTIVITIES
TYPE IIGROUP
TRAININGACTIVITIES
TYPE IIIINDIVIDUAL & SMALL
GROUP INVESTIGATIONSOF REAL PROBLEMS
Benefits
Research based, butpractical and easy touse
Focuses on strengthsrather than deficiencies
Computer generatedRenzulli Profiler
Benefits
Automatic selection fromthousands of interest-based activities andresources (Magellan)
Saves hundreds/thousandsof hours of valuableteacher time
Down-loadable researchprojects, independentstudies, creative andcritical thinking skillsactivities
What does Renzulli LearningProvide?
Student Site with a Renzulli Profiler, EnrichmentData-Base, and Portfolio
Teacher Site with Student Information, Articles,Learning Maps, Directions, and Helpful Links
Parent Site with Pertinent Information about theirChildren and Helpful Links
Renzulli Learning:Student Benefits
Enables students to betterunderstand their interests,learning styles, and productpreferences with an on-lineanalysis, followed by theopportunity to pursue joyfulinterests in thousands of follow-up enrichment activities.
The Total Talent Portfolio
After 20-30 minutes of responding toquestions, each student receives anindividualized profile.
Renzulli Learning--currentlyover 6000 enrichment activities.
A dozen (or more) teaching assistants can enable youto challenge each student both in school and athome…
NoCLB
hildeftored!
…
Virtual Field TripsVirtual Field Trips
Hundreds of specialized suggestions! Take a tour through the National Museum of NaturalHistory and explore every exhibit in the museum! Justclick on the floor and then the exhibit you wish to visit! Virtual Tour of the National Museum of Natural History http://www.mnh.si.edu/museum/virtualtour/index.html
Virtual Field Trips Raise Test Scores
A scientifically designed research study returnedevidence that web use, carefully designed andintegrated into the curriculum, can raise studentachievement. Students at two Maryland middle schoolswho participated in three online field trips scored higheron a national standardized reading comprehension testthan those who used traditional learningmethods alone.
Source: U.S. Newswire
http://news.techlearning.com/cgi-bin4/DM/y/envL0FKoBI0E2V0DPJk0E3
• Kids’ Castlehttp://kotn.ntu.ac.uk/castle/castl_fm.htmlExplore the nooks and crannies of a castle, learn about each part of a castle.was used for, write a diary entry of what it might have been like to live in acastle, cook a medieval meal, design a coat of arms, listen to medieval music,and more.
• Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art:http://www.picturebookart.org/visit/tour.asp Journey to the Eric CarleMuseum of Picture Book Art to see galleries of picture book art by Eric Carleand others.
• Famous Bridges Of The World http://www.civl.port.ac.uk/comp_prog/bridges1/
Looking for a compiled list of some of the biggest and best bridges in the world.Click here to see a picture and learn important facts.
• National Geographic: The Lewis and Clark Journey http://www.nationalgeographic.com/lewisandclark/journey_intro.html Join Lewis and Clark on their journey that Thomas Jefferson sent them on! Follow their path and learn about what happened along the way!
Creativity Training ActivitiesCreativity Training ActivitiesHundreds of specialized suggestions!Down-load-able activities for teachers touse in their classrooms!http://www.exploratorium.edu/music/index.htmlScience of MusicWhy do some songs get stuck in your head? Do you sing better in theshower? Enjoy many interesting activities and games about music. Be sureto check out the dot mixer!!http://www.myweb3000.com/tangramgame.htmlTangramsPrint out these tangram shapes and then try to make the different picturesshown below, using the hints provided if you need help.
On-Line ActivitiesHundreds of specialized suggestions!Guiding the Time TravelerYou're walking home after a long day and run into Leonardoda Vinci emerging from a time machine. He wants to bringback information so he can build an invention! How can youhelp him?
www.secretsoftheice.org/index.htmlStudents who are interested in art can have outstandingartistic enrichment by visiting the following site where theycan explore the history of art, art careers, and learn about arttechniques by watching short video clips. They can evenupload some of their own art and create a movie featuringtheir art.
Affective Considerations:Encouraging Children to Use
their Talents to Make a Difference
Peace Corps Kids WorldCheck out Kids World, brought to you by the Peace Corps. Join theirpal, Traveler, as she explores the globe and learns about making adifference. Come on in to the home of adventure and service - PeaceCorps Kids World!
http://whale.wheelock.edu/whalenet-stuff/stop_cover.html#tagsAt this site , if you are interested in animals, you can follow themovements of animals like the white-sided dolphin who was tagged incollaboration with the New England Aquarium and the Cape CodStranding Network that was on April 17, 2005.
Plimoth Plantation - Online Learning CenterFind out firsthand about the first
Thanksgiving. Learn about how historiansdecide what is fact and fiction using primarysources. Share what you have learned online
for everyone to see.
Within These WallsHistorians use clues to understand the past.Use the clues in this house to learn about its
history just like the professionals do!
Enrichment Activities: Type IIIProjects
Hundreds to choose from: 75 of our favorites:bridges, comics, castles, biographies,animals, culture, journalism, science…
IORE pportunities
esources
ncouragement
How-To BooksHow-To BooksFiction booksFiction books
Non-Fiction BooksNon-Fiction Books
Hundreds of specialized suggestions!
More specialized suggestions!Ancient Egypt Discovery CaseExplore Ancient Egypt through an interactive discovery case full ofmaterials that will spark your interest. Take a look at the interactivetimeline, write your name in Egyptian Hieroglyphs, look at a map ofAncient Egypt, learn about the pyramids, burial customs, Gods andGoddesses, and much more. There are exciting explorations in this site.Don't miss it!
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/nature/track.htm
For students who are interested in nature, another site providesopportunities for studying animal tracks and learning more about how totrack certain types of species. An on-line activity at this site presents amystery that students are asked to solve about where someone wasgoing and what they were doing when they were going there. Studentsare taught to carefully examine animal tracks to learn more about them.
Critical Thinking Activities
•Based on students’ interests•Using authentic methods of research and inquiry•WRITING, MATH, SCIENCE, HISTORY, TECHNOLOGY,• DEBATE, AND THE LIST GOES ON……
NSTA Young InventorsThe 2005 Young Inventors Awards Program is open to allstudents in grades 2-8 in the United States. Students must work to conceive and design their tool inventions.
Hundreds of ContestsHundreds of Contestsand Competitionsand Competitions
More specialized suggestions!Ancient Egypt Discovery CaseExplore Ancient Egypt through an interactive discoverycase full of materials that will spark your interestTake a look at the interactive timeline, write your namein Egyptian Hieroglyphs, look at a map of Ancient Egypt,learn about the pyramids, burial customs, Gods and Goddessesand much more. Don't miss it!http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/nature/track.htm
For students who are interested in nature, another site provides opportunities for studying animal tracks and learning more about how to track certain types of species. An on-line activity at thissite presents a mystery that students are asked to solveabout where someone was going and whatt they were doing when they were going there. Students are taught to examine animal tracks to learn more about them.
Field Tests in Several Settings!Field Tests in Several Settings!• When asked how much they
enjoyed using Renzulli Learning,students in our field test sitereplied:
Completely: 71%Very Much: 29%Somewhat: 0%Not At All: 0%
Did you think that your profile described you well?Yes: 93%Maybe: 7%No: 0%
Did you try to view at least some of the choices in each of the 14different categories of enrichment?Yes: 89%No: 11%
Did you have a favorite category of enrichment activity?Yes: 100%No: 0%
Field Tests in Several Settings!Field Tests in Several Settings!Favorite Enrichment Activities!Online Classes and Activities: 32%Virtual Field Trips: 21%Creativity Training: 17%Critical Thinking: 7%Projects & Independent Study: 7%Real Field Trips: 4%Contests & Competitions: 4%Websites: 4%Creativity Training 4%
• C:\Documents and Settings\KBates\MyDocuments\My Pictures\teachersitelink.jpg
Did you think that your profile describedDid you think that your profile describedyou well?you well?Yes: 93%Yes: 93%Maybe: 7%Maybe: 7%No: 0%No: 0%`̀ Did you try to view at leastDid you try to view at least
some of the choices in each ofsome of the choices in each ofthe 14 different categories ofthe 14 different categories ofenrichment?enrichment?Yes: 89%Yes: 89%No: 11%No: 11%
Did you have a favorite category ofDid you have a favorite category ofenrichment activity?enrichment activity?Yes: 100%Yes: 100%No: 0%No: 0%
Favorite Enrichment Categories:Favorite Enrichment Categories:
Online Classes and Activities: 32%Online Classes and Activities: 32%Virtual Field Trips: 21%Virtual Field Trips: 21%Creativity Training: 17%Creativity Training: 17%Critical Thinking: 7%Critical Thinking: 7%Projects & Independent Study: 7%Projects & Independent Study: 7%Real Field Trips: 4%Real Field Trips: 4%Contests & Competitions: 4%Contests & Competitions: 4%Websites: 4%Websites: 4%Creativity Training 4%Creativity Training 4%
WhyWhy did you like it? did you like it?It was very exciting because they know what you like andIt was very exciting because they know what you like andthey have websites for you.they have websites for you.
Because it had everything that was for me and things that IBecause it had everything that was for me and things that Ilike.like.
You can look at fish live on virtual You can look at fish live on virtual webcamswebcams..
Because it takes you to some Because it takes you to some awesomeawesome websites websites
I liked how it had questions and when it was done, it knewI liked how it had questions and when it was done, it knewall about me.all about me.
It was very cool and found all of my interests.It was very cool and found all of my interests.
For Teachers:For Teachers:• Information about students’ profiles, questionnaires,
activities, sites visited, and assessments completed• Opportunities to discuss the system with other
teachers and share resources, ideas for classactivities
• Down-loadable activities,independent studies,learning maps, and classroom work
A dozen teaching assistants inyour class--
To help you to identifychallenging activities, books, on-line summer programs,independent projects, researchopportunities and resources,contests and competitions….
What have we learned about talentdevelopment during the last 30 years?
When the regular curriculumis adjusted fordifferences andenrichmentopportunities, resources,and encouragement areprovided,
Student achievement,creativity, engagement inlearning, and attitudestoward school allimprove.
How can Renzulli Learning help to enrichand challenge all of your students?
Try Renzulli Learning
An Enrichment Differentiation Database (EDD)collection of on-line and downloadable resources areprovided in personalized activities related to studentinterests, learning styles, and product styles.
See the information on the brochure.Try Renzulli Learning with 2-3 of your students for 2weeks..follow the directions on the web site listed on thecover of your brochure--Try it for Confratute!
INTRODUCING
SHEELAH SWEENYCurriculum Specialist
Charter Oak School, West Hartford
Using Renzulli Learning in theClassroom
One Teacher’sExperience
Introduction of Renzulli Learning
Acquaint students with the purpose Register Students answer questions
The Total Talent Portfolio
Student and teacherread Student Profile
Determine accuracy Choose an area of
interest
Sample Profile
Amber is a fourth grade student who has specialinterests and abilities in school. She described hergrades as average in math, above average inscience, above average in reading, and aboveaverage in social studies. She seems to have severalareas of interest. Her primary interests appear to bein writing. She seems to really enjoy writing, andshould be exposed to writing in a variety of genressuch as fiction and non-fiction, poetry, andjournalism.
Open Ended Questions
– Imagine that you have written your first book andyou are ready to submit it for publication. What isthe title of your book and what is your book about?
The title of my book would be “Runaway”. It will beabout an Egyptian girl from ancient Egypt who runsaway from home because she has a dream that shemust find an ancient amulet from Alexandria. Theamulet is the key to discovering an important factabout her great-great grandfather.
The Teacher’s Role
The “Guide on the Side”– Consulting– Guiding– Assisting
Enrichment Activities
Search and Surf Identify favorites
Choosing Activities
Skills-based activities
Gathering information
Taking notes
Products
I Can’t Write a PoemBy Amber
Forget itYou must be kiddingI have no ideasDuh!I can’t pick just one topicToo many choicesMy mind goes blankI think too hardIt’s time for lunchMy favorite TV show is onTime’s up? Uh oh!All I have is a dumb list of excuses.You like it? Really? No kidding.Thanks a lot. Would you like to see
another one?
My Instant PoemBy Amber
This is the poem that melts and freezesin the ice cream parlor when it drips onto
your paperthat soaks it all in
because the paper is flat andbecause it wants to become 2-dimensional
And when a brain freezetakes over your mind
this is the poem that helpsit unfreeze
and makes you think better
Student Reactions
Social activity Interested and
encouraging Productive talk Sharing profiles
Student Reactions
Michael
– “I have a lot of thingsI’m interested in, but Inever follow throughwith my ideas. Maybethis will help me pick anidea and follow throughwith it!”
Student Reactions
Amber
– “I was thinkingabout the openended questionslast night andknow exactly whatI’m going to say.”
Student Reactions
Keye
– “This is so awesome!Look, I can see sharkson the web cam!”
Overheard later in theday by a teacher– “I can get you that web
site I was on.”
Parent Reactions
Lois– “What was that new
program my daughter wasusing? She came hometonight and was so excitedabout it. I know she likedit because she told us allabout it. Usually shedoesn’t tell us anythingabout what she does inschool.”
Teacher Reactions
Students were excited and self motivated Good information for beginning of school year Great way to direct student learning Want to use it with all students, not just
Gifted and Talented students Will support differentiated instruction
Teacher Comments
Valuable insight into interests, especiallyfrom quiet students
Students excited about the activities andideas available
Students want to use Renzulli Learning assoon as they finish other activities with theGifted & Talented teacher
Benefits
Quality resources Web sites pre-approved Provides focus Expands skills Directs work product
choices Motivational
Benefits
Quality resources Web sites pre-approved Provides focus Expands skills Directs work product
choices Motivational
