Puzzle kids. Students on the bubble. Children in danger of falling through the cracks. Every teacher can instantly think of students who fit these terms, and can just as quickly identify one or two or three in his or her classroom. They are the students we worry and wonder about, and never seem to have enough time to ponder.

This e-Guide is designed to help teachers collaborate around the issue of puzzle kids by taking one child and doing a series of focused observations, discussions and writing about the needs of that student. Teachers who have completed this series of exercises all say the knowledge is useful far beyond helping the one student they've selected for focused analysis. By taking the time to look, listen, and talk with one child in-depth, new understanding about all students in the class emerges. The exercises also build rapport among colleagues and teaching staffs.

Each of these activities is designed to be completed with a partner, and can easily be adapted for use in workshop settings. There isn't a set order for the workshops, though some are best completed early or late in the process and are identified accordingly.

To download this 11 page guide (pdf format), click here.

Related Articles

·  Triangulating: The Importance of Multiple Data Points When Assessing Students ·  Implementing RTI: Keeping Students at the Heart of Our Conversations ·  Assessment in Writing Workshop: Considering Students ·  Challenging Advanced Young Readers: Harder Texts Aren't Always the Answer ·  Under, Over and Beyond Words: Strategies for Observing Talk in Classrooms