Welcome to the Independent Studio section of Chapter Three.  The Independent Studio will cover the key aspects of Phase Two as well as showcasing checklist, choice boards, timers, and tech tools for the blended learning classroom.  Note that this week you can choose from five different blog post. Pick two blog post to read.  After reading the blog post, make sure to complete the reflection guide on the group collaboration page.  Remember you can work at your own Pace, Place, and Path.  Use the color code to help differentiate the learning to meet your individual needs. Please contact Marcia Kish at ANY Time if you have questions or don't understand the different task.  
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Administrators, Coaches, and Media Specialist ​

Activity One: timers in the Classroom -  E M H C

Timers!  When moving to Phase Two and Phase Three in the Blended Learning journey, it is essential to showcase time management skills.  The students in this phase are going to be working at their own pace; therefore, they will need some time suggestion for each learning studio.  On the checklist, the teacher might indicate the amount of time each studio should last.  The students will then set their timer.  What timer?  This blog post will showcase different timers to use with the Phase Two checklist. ​

Link to Blog Post
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Reflection question: After reading the blog post, why is it important to have individual timers for the students as they move to a Phase Two checklist?   (Post reflection on the checklist)

Activity Two: Dry Erase Dice for FuTure Ready Skills - E M H C

Providing choice in Future Ready Skills Studio is a vital part of Phase Two.  Students will showcase their understanding of the learning target through choice activities.  But with everything, educators need to gradually release the students into being able choice presentation platforms that still promote creativity, collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and connectedness.  That is why I love the dry erase dice.  Read the blog post to find out how to use the dice as part of the future ready skills studio.  

Link to the Blog Post 

Reflection Question: ​ After reading the blog post, what are other ways that a teacher, coach, or administrator could use the dry erase dice as part of the Future Ready Studio? (Post reflection on the checklist)​

Activity Three: Future REady Skills - E M H C

As a blended learning coach, most of my time is spent developing Future Ready Skills ideas that align with the standards.  In Phase Two, the Future Ready activities can build upon themselves and last for more than one day. For example, in a language arts classroom, the students are learning about Poetry.  A deployment plan for the Future Ready Skills might look like this...​
  • Choice A - Read at least five different types of Poems with a partner.  Pick One poem to record on Seesaw.  Write a reflection on why you picked that poem, what type of poetry is it, what is the underlying meaning of the poem (Total time- 40 minutes) 
  • Choice B - Read at least five different kinds of Poems with a partner.  Pick One to illustrate.  Take a photo of your illustration and post it to Seesaw.  Write a reflection on why you picked that poem, what type of poetry is it, what is the underlying meaning of the poem (Total time- 50 minutes) 
  • Choice C - Read at least five different kinds of Poems with a small group. (No more than four people in a group)  Pick One poem to act out with your group.  Make a video of the group performance.  Post the reflection to Seesaw.  Each group member will write a reflection on why your group picked that poem, what type of poetry is it, what is the underlying meaning of the poem (Total time- 60 minutes) ​
Link to the Blog Post

Reflection Question: After reading the short blog post on the Future Ready Skills, add an idea for the future ready skills to the group Google Folder. (Post reflection on the checklist)​

Activity Four: Garage Sale Choice Boards

Everyone loves a good garage sale, well at least I enjoy traveling around the neighborhoods looking through other people's trash and turning them into new classroom treasures.  In this blog post, I will share out 12 different ideas for the Future Ready Skills studio from items that I found at Garage Sales.  

Link to the Blog Post

Reflection Question:  Take a look through your classroom cabinets or your game closet at home.  Are there any new Future Ready Skills games that you can use in the classroom, workshop, or staff meeting?  If so, share out how you could use the items.  (Post reflection on the checklist)​
 

Activity Five - Growth and Fixed Mindset

The struggle is real!  When students and teachers move into Phase Two, the learning, planning, and classroom management process become a genuine struggle for some people.   Before kicking off a Phase Two lesson, I like to conduct one more Phase One lesson on Growth and Fixed Mindsets.  This blog post will walk you through a four studio lesson plan with all of the resources.  After reading the blog post deploy this lesson plan with your students, at a workshop, or during a staff meeting.  


Link to the Blog Post

Reflection Question:  Did you deploy a Growth Mindset Phase One Lesson Plan?  If so, how did it go?  What did the students and teachers say about developing a growth mindset?  Do you think they are ready to move to Phase Two?