Differentiating Instruction With Menus: Language Arts (Grades 3-5)

The best-selling Differentiating Instruction With Menus series has helped teachers nationwide differentiate instruction for their high-ability learners with easy-to-use menus and exciting tools to challenge and reach gifted and advanced students in the classroom. Each book includes an updated, student-friendly rubric that can assess different types of products, free choice proposal forms to encourage independent study, and new and favorite challenging menus to meet the needs of these diverse higher level learners. Readers will also be able to save time by using updated guidelines that reflect changes in technology for each of the products included in the menus and find direct alignment with standards approved in recent years. Topics addressed in Differentiating Instruction With Menus: Language Arts (Grades 3-5, 2nd ed.) include genres, writing skills, and mechanics. Grades 3-5

Table of Contents:
Author’s Note Part I: All About Menus and Choice Chapter 1: Choice Chapter 2: How to Use Menus in the Classroom Chapter 3: Guidelines for Products Chapter 4: Rubrics Part II: The Menus Chapter 5: Literary Elements Characterization Setting Plot Chapter 6: Fictional Genres Independent Reading Fiction Fables Folk Tales Tall Tales Alphabet Books Science Fiction Mysteries Plays Poetry Genres 7: Nonfiction Genres Nonfiction Informational Texts Biographies Chapter 8: Mechanics Spelling/Vocabulary I Spelling/Vocabulary II: Word Building Word Play Parts of Speech Reference Materials Chapter 9: Writing The Writing Process Narrative Writing Expository Writing Persuasive Writing Three Types of Writing Revising and Editing References Appendix: Book Lists About the Author Common Core State Standards

About the Author :
After teaching science for more than 15 years, both overseas and in the U.S., Laurie E. Westphal now works as an independent gifted education and science consultant. She enjoys developing and presenting staff development on differentiation for various districts and conferences, working with teachers to assist them in planning and developing lessons to meet the needs of their advanced students.

Review :
The choices are hands-on activities that will enable learners to apply their knowledge in creative, motivating ways, such as making a movie, recording a rap song out of a favorite poem, or building a museum exhibit. All the activities are structured to demonstrate understanding and application, and they rely not only on mastery of the skill but also on the student's ability to organize and execute the project . . . This helpful teacher's workbook provides in-depth guidance on managing each activity, including objectives, time frame, grading rubrics, and special notes and should be a useful supplement for teachers prepared to implement project-based learning in their classrooms. Mindprint Learning, 4/6/16 What I love about this book, is the fact that it has menus for different types of literature including fiction and nonfiction. Each section has a treasure trove of ideas teachers can use to enhance their language arts classes for their gifted students, and their regular education students. Each section has discusses ways to use menus for genres of literature, and different types of books.,Jeffrey Shoemaker,Gifted Intervention Specialist, 10/7/16