Artifact 1: Cooperative Learning in the Student-Centered Classroom
Cooperative learning is a way to promote academic achievement, discussion among students, and active learning. Moreover, it provides scaffolding for students who need it when proficient students are grouped or paired with students who are still developing proficiency.
Left to right: A group of five students (three proficient and two developing proficiency) play a game of homophone memory in which they must find homophone pairs and create sentences; a student examines the words he has drawn and decides how to use them in a sentence; two students (one proficient and one developing proficiency) find homophone pairs in a flip book and compare answers.
Artifact 2: Differentiation Through Student Choice
Giving students choices helps them to have meaningful and enjoyable learning experiences and can meet the needs of a variety of learning styles.
This third grade choice board covers several Standards of Learning (SOLs), including English SOLs 3.4, 3.9, 3.10, & 3.11; Mathematics SOL 3.1, and History and Social Science SOLs 3.10 & 3.11. It also allows students to showcase their creativity.