The Time Traveler

Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember. Involve me and I learn.

– Ancient Chinese Proverb

Asking probing questions and forcing students to defend their thoughts and ideas is vital to extensions by actually extending learning and not just filing time. Only then can students find their greatest success in learning.

Here are THREE ways to frame questions to push students to seek and find their own conclusions:

1. How? How could things be different? This Question is the basis for problem solving, synthesis, and evaluation.
2. Why? Why do or did things happen? This type of question requires analysis of cause and effect and the relationship between variables. It encourages students to compare and contrast.
3. Which is best? Which would we choose? Such questions require deep learning through research, the weighing of evidence, and thoughtful decision making?

Excerpt from Enriching the Learning:

Meaningful Extensions for Proficient Students in a PLC at Work

by Michael Roberts

Inquiry and Questioning is one of the five instructional observational points. Review our Social Studies Look fors below.

We have added 5 NEW strategies to our instructional playbook to support inquiry, discourse, and collaboration in the classrooms.

The strategies get students engaged in the content, by tasking students to defend, evaluate, and justify.

• Affirmation and Challenge Quotes: Students evaluate a text by selecting quotes with and ones they do not and then use other sources to evaluate credibility of the statements they selected.
• Bracketology: Students complete a bracket based on an essential question and defend/justify their choices.
• Extent Barometer: The strategy challenges students to identify the pros and cons of an issue and then rate their level with the perspective or idea.
• Report Card: Have students complete a report card evaluating the effectiveness or impact of technological advancements, major events, and key figures.
• SWOT Analysis: Students analyze a situation or problem from multiple angles by reviewing objectives and evaluate if they were successful.

They have also been added to our the Social Studies Instructional Playbook Table of Contents linked below in a button below..

We are looking for educators from across Prosper ISD to share their passion and strengths in engaging, participatory, and high-energy learning sessions.

All sessions will be limited to 50 minutes. Proposals are due April 28 , 2023 and you should receive a response by May 12, 2023. If your session is approved, you will be asked to provide more details.

Proposal Submission Form

Due 4/28/2023

Reach out to Mandy and Andrea if you want to brainstorm some ideas!

Please watch this amazing video below to hear from Richard's students, colleagues, and administration.

DBQ 1.0: This introductory workshop is designed for teachers new to the DBQ pedagogy. The course includes an overview of The DBQ Project 6-Step Method and the major features of DBQ Online. Teachers experience all the steps in a lively, interactive session. Special emphasis will be placed on differentiating the process to meet the needs of all learners and utilizing the gradual-release model for document analysis. The goal of the workshop is for all participants to leave enthusiastically ready to implement a DBQ in their classrooms.

DBQ 2.0: These sessions are open to participants who have attended an introductory DBQ session and have implemented DBQs in their classroom. Similar to a conference style menu, participants can attend 90-min sessions on a variety of strategies to advance the work. Sessions topics are repeated to accommodate time zones.

DBQ Lead Boot Camp: Become a certified lead for your school or district. This four day session is for lead teachers, instructional coaches, as well as enthusiastic educators looking to become a Certified DBQ Lead at their site. As a DBQ Lead, you will be able to support teachers in using The DBQ Project resources.

Please make sure to get all resources vetted by Andrea if they are not already linked in the UFD.

Check Them Out Below:

• March 2023, February 2023, January 2023; December 2022; November 2022; October 2022; September 2022; August 2022

Mandy and Andrea