Blended Learning in Grades 4–12: Leveraging the Power of Technology to Create Student-Centered Classrooms

Catlin R. Tucker

Corwin Press, Jun 13, 2012 - Education - 272 pages

Use technology to focus on your students!

You′ve heard about blended learning, which mixes online learning with traditional classroom instruction. You have the support of your principal, the backing of your district, and you are ready to take the leap. Now what?

In this step-by-step guide, teacher and education blogger Catlin Tucker outlines the process for integrating online discussion with face-to-face instruction in a way that is aligned to the Common Core State Standards, works for your students, and allows you to focus your energy where it is most needed. Catlin Tucker will teach you how to:

• Use the online environment to increase engagement and drive higher-order thinking
• Design dynamic online discussion questions
• Create a safe space online
• Prepare students for high-stakes exams without sacrificing class time
• Assess online work
• Personalize learning and differentiate lessons
• Move toward flipped instruction, which shifts the focus of class time from teacher to student

With concrete strategies, ready-to-use resources, and sample rubrics grounded in the Common Core State Standards, Blended Learning in Grades 4–12 is the ideal tool for the busy 21st-century teacher looking to create a student-centered classroom.

Contents

• THE 21ST CENTURY CLASSROOM: 1
• Crossing the Digital Divide: 2
• Developing 21st Century Skills Is Critical to Future Success: 3
• What Does the 21st Century Classroom Look Like?: 5
• StudentCentered Classroom: 6
• Chapter Summary: 7
• Book Study Questions: 8
• References: 9
• BLENDED LEARNING: 11
• Six Common Blended Learning Models Currently in Use: 13
• TeacherDesigned Blend: 14
• 10 Benefits of a Blended Learning Model: 16
• 4 Spend More Time in Class Doing What You Love: 17
• 7 Facilitate Group Work That Works: 18
• CommunityofInquiry Framework: 22
• Cognitive Presence: 24
• Book Study Questions: 25
• References: 26
• THE ROLE OF THE TEACHER IN A BLENDED LEARNING MODEL: 29
• Choosing a Learning Platform or Learning Management System: 30
• Blackboard: 31
• Moodle: 32
• Defining Your Role as Facilitator: 33
• Silent Facilitator vs Involved Facilitator: 35
• Involved Facilitator: 36
• Effectively Differentiate Instruction With Online Discussions: 38
• Weaving Online Work Back Into the Classroom: 41
• 3 Collaborative Group Work: 42
• Book Study Questions: 43
• References: 44
• THE ART OF ASKING QUESTIONS ONLINE: 45
• Encourage Conversations With WellChosen Questions: 46
• ProblemSolving Questions: 47
• English Question Grid: 48
• HistorySocial Studies Question Grid: 50
• Science Question Grid: 52
• Math Question Grid: 53
• Question Types That Kill Conversations: 56
• Embed Media: 57
• Ask Controversial or Polarizing Questions: 58
• What Does a Good Online Question Look Like?: 59
• Book Study Questions: 60
• DEVELOP A DYNAMIC LEARNING COMMUNITY ONLINE: 61
• The Dos and Donts of Student Communication Online: 62
• Creating a Class Code of Conduct: 66
• Visually Display Your Expectations for Participation on Your Site: 69
• Building an Online Community: 70
• Break the Ice Online: 71
• Five ParentStudent Icebreakers Adapted for an Online Community: 73
• Start Simply to Cement Routines and Correct First Missteps: 75
• Teach Students to Say Something Substantial: 78
• Chapter Summary: 82
• References: 84
• INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTERS 6 THROUGH 9: 85
• Chapters 6 Through 9 Are Based on the Following Assumptions: 86
• Teaching the Common Core State Standards Using Blended Learning: 87
• Reference: 88
• ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS: 89
• Upper Elementary English: 90
• Grades 45 Writing Standards Addressed: 91
• Example Online Activity 61 What Does Minli Learn About Greed in the Book Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin?: 92
• Example Online Activity 62 Do You Prefer Reading Casey at the Bat or Listening to a Dramatic Reading of the Poem?: 95
• Middle School English: 98
• Grades 68 Writing Standards Addressed: 99
• Do You Think the Boycott of the Wallaces Store Was the Best Way for the African American Community to Fight Racism?: 100
• How Does Guilt Motivate Action in the Novel?: 103
• High School English: 105
• Grades 912 Reading Literature Standards Addressed: 106
• What a Difference a Film Can Make: 107
• Transition From Reading to Burning: 110
• Chapter Summary: 112
• Book Study Questions: 113
• Reference: 114
• HISTORYSOCIAL STUDIES: 115
• Upper Elementary HistorySocial Studies: 116
• Grades 45 Writing Standards Addressed: 117
• Research PreColumbian Settlements: 118
• Should This Event Be Called a Massacre?: 120
• Middle School HistorySocial Studies: 122
• Grades 68 Writing Standards Addressed: 123
• Has Kings Dream Come True?: 124
• Address to Parliament on May 13 1940 by Winston Churchill: 127
• High School HistorySocial Studies: 129
• Grades 912 Writing Standards Addressed: 130
• Analyzing the Forces That Threaten the Nations Stability: 131
• Should the United States Have Entered World War II?: 133
• Chapter Summary: 136
• Book Study Questions: 137
• SCIENCE: 139
• Grades 45 Reading Information Standards Addressed: 140
• The Amazing Story of the Red Planet Do You Think the Government Should Spend Money to Explore Mars?: 141
• Example Online Activity 82 What Causes Hurricanes?: 144
• Middle School Science: 147
• Grades 68 Literacy in Science Standards Addressed: 148
• Producers Consumers and Decomposers: 149
• Sink or Float?: 151
• High School Science: 153
• Grades 912 Science Literacy Standards Addressed: 154
• Prokaryotic Cell or Eukaryotic Cell?: 155
• Do You Think Cloning Should Be Banned?: 157
• Chapter Summary: 159
• Book Study Questions: 160
• MATH: 163
• Upper Elementary Math: 164
• Grades 45 Writing Standards Addressed: 165
• Multiplying Fractions to Solve RealWorld Problems: 168
• Middle School Math: 171
• Example Online Activity 93 Design a Survey Take a Random Sampling and Make a Generalization: 172
• Example Online Activity 94 RealLife Ratios: 174
• High School Math: 176
• Grades 912 Writing Standards Addressed: 177
• How Much Is College Going to Cost You?: 180
• Chapter Summary: 182
• Book Study Questions: 183
• Reference: 184
• FLIP YOUR INSTRUCTION WITH ONLINE DISCUSSIONS: 185
• Homework in the Flipped Classroom Model: 187
• Strategies for Flipping Instruction: 189
• What Happens in the Flipped Classroom?: 191
• How Can I Lesson Plan for the Flipped Classroom Model?: 192
• Tips for Successfully Flipping Your Classroom: 194
• Break Up Online Lecture: 195
• Chapter Summary: 198
• Book Study Questions: 199
• Reference: 200
• ASSESSING WORK ONLINE: 201
• Managing Online Participation: 203
• Rubrics: 206
• Group Work Rubric: 207
• Upper Elementary Rubrics: 208
• Middle School Rubrics: 211
• High School Rubrics: 215
• Preparing Students for HighStakes Exams: 219
• Standardized Exam Preparation: 220
• Released Test Questions Online: 221
• Chapter Summary: 224
• Book Study Questions: 225
• INDEX: 227

About the author

Catlin Tucker is a Google Certified Innovator, bestselling author, international trainer, and frequent Edtech speaker, who teaches in Sonoma County where she was named Teacher of the Year in 2010. Catlin’s books Blended Learning in Grades 4-12 and Blended Learning in Action are both bestsellers. She has also written a book titled Creatively Teach the Common Core Literacy Standards with Technology to support teachers in thinking outside of the box as they shift to the Common Core. Catlin is working on her doctorate at Pepperdine University. She writes the “Techy Teacher” column for ASCD’s Educational Leadership. She is active on Twitter @Catlin_Tucker and writes an internationally ranked education blog at CatlinTucker.com.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Blended Learning in Grades 4–12: Leveraging the Power of Technology to Create Student-Centered Classrooms; Corwin Teaching Essentials
• Author: Catlin R. Tucker
• Publisher: Corwin Press, 2012
• ISBN: 1452284326, 9781452284323
• Length: 272 pages
• Subjects: Education / Computers & Technology; Education / Schools / Levels / Secondary; Education / Teaching / General