Instructional Minute
October 11, 2022
Use Amplify resources to help with differentiation!
As we approach the middle of the year and you’ve come to know your students better, you’re probably thinking about how to differentiate instruction to meet all of their unique learning needs. We’re here to help.
- Use the embedded supports (such as Challenge and ML/EL supports) built into the Teacher Guide and lesson slides for in-the-moment differentiation as you teach.
- Pausing Point days at the end of the units provide opportunities for remediation and enrichment, based on the results of the unit assessment as well as on students’ performance across the unit. You may wish to provide support to individual students, small groups, or the whole class, based on students’ needs.
- The Intervention Toolkit offers tiered supports aligned with Amplify Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) core instruction. It includes resources for planning, teaching, and monitoring progress, along with activities to support phonics, fluency, comprehension, handwriting, and other key skills.
Scaffolding Student Questioning
Inquiry thrives when all students can ask and pursue meaningful questions. Scaffolding helps them move from surface-level curiosity to deeper investigation.
Examples:
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K–2: Use question stems (“Who? What? Why?”) with visuals or read-alouds.
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3–5: Teach students to sort questions into “researchable” and “discussion” categories.
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6–8: Use structured inquiry tools like QFT (Question Formulation Technique) to refine questions for investigation.
💡 Reflection Prompt:
What supports do your students need to ask stronger, more focused questions?
Ensuring Consistency with Daily Instructional Minutes
These guidelines are in place to ensure that all students have access to a guaranteed and viable curriculum—one where every learner receives the essential content and skills needed for success.
Intention to daily instructional minutes supports learning retention, builds routines, and ensures equity across classrooms and schools.
By adhering to the daily instructional minutes, we create:
Consistency – Students know what to expect and can build stronger learning habits.
Equity – Every child has access to the same high-quality learning opportunities.
Progression – Skills and content build in a logical, intentional sequence.
Your commitment to this practice ensures that our students benefit fully from the curriculum we’ve adopted and are better prepared for future success. Thank you for your dedication to maintaining this consistency for all learners.
