Ideas and Innovations
DISD Curriculum & Instruction Dept Nov 2017

Engaging Learners
Because of your willingness to rethink instruction, our students are more active and more enthusiastic learners in your classrooms!
This month's newsletter will show you where to go when browsing for new, engaging opportunities for your students. Some of these resources you may already use and love, some might be unexplored territory with unknown treasures....but hopefully all will help as you plan and work for even greater student learning, achievement and engagement!
Glimpses of Engagement Across DISD
7th Grade Science at WWJH Mrs. Brown's students engage with each other to learn about watersheds. | 5th Grade PE at Richter Coach Haberle, Coach Davis and Coach Jordan engage students by using Kahoot! to practice balancing and teamwork in the gym. | 3rd Grade Math at SFA These SFA students are engaged in Guided Math with manipulatives, writing word problems and collaborative problem solving. |
5th Grade PE at Richter
PreAP English II at DHS Mrs. Olmsted's students debate diction as part of a "shades of tone" activity. | 3rd Grade Reading at KMB Mrs. Spahn's students are engaged in using Quizziz to review Fiction Story Elements. | PreK at Colbert Ms. Carranco's students are engaged with interactive circle time to show what they know about colors. |
PreAP English II at DHS
3rd Grade Reading at KMB

T Tess Connections
Planning Dimension 1.1 Standards and Alignment
- Proficient - All activities, materials and assessments are relevant to students.
- Accomplished - All activities, materials and assessments are relevant to students' prior understanding.
- Distinguished - All activities, materials and assessments are relevant to students prior understanding and real-world applications
Planning Dimension 1.4 Activities
- Proficient - Activities, resources, technology and instructional materials that are aligned to instructional purposes
- Accomplished - Activities, resources, technology and instructional materials that are aligned to instructional purposes, are varied and appropriate to ability levels of students
- Distinguished - Activities, resources, technology and instructional materials that are aligned to instructional purposes, are varied and appropriate to ability levels of students and actively engage them in ownership of their learning.
Instruction Dimension 2.5 Monitor and Adjust
- Proficient -Consistently invites input from students in order to monitor and adjust instruction and activities.
- Accomplished - Utilizes input from students in order to monitor and adjust instruction, activities and pacing to respond to differences in student needs.
- Distinguished - Systematically gathers input from students in order to monitor and adjust instruction, activities or pacing to respond to differences in student needs.
Learning Environment Dimension 3.3 Classroom Culture
- Proficient - Engages all students in relevant, meaningful learning.
- Accomplished - Engages all students with relevant, meaningful learning, sometimes adjusting lessons based on student interests and abilities.
- Distinguished - Consistently engages all students with relevant, meaningful learning based on their interests and abilities to create positive rapport amongst students.
Resources for Engaging Activities and Instructional Stratgies
Click the title box to access the websites.








We'd Love to Hear From You
Do you create your own engaging activities?
Let's share ideas - the more we collaborate, the more our students benefit.
Thank you for setting high expectations for both yourself and your students. Let me know what the C&I Department and I can do to support you and engage you in professional growth.