The Expanded Classroom Toolbox A brief overview

Many, perhaps most, of the students who enroll in adult basic education classes had difficulties in their initial efforts at formal education. Many now have poorly developed learning skills and many need to have instruction that is modified to better match how they learn. The expanded classroom toolbox provides a guide to materials and techniques for making those modifications and adaptations

Last revised 8/27/13

The Major Components of an effective expanded classroom toolbox Adapted instructional materials General tools to help attention, memory, planning, organization etc. Adapted instructional strategies Tools to help students to understand content an think in a more organized way. Effective classroom management techniques Instructional techniques that reflect an organized and structured classroom environment Instructor mastery of content and creativity The instructors master of the content and their ability to motivate and guide students

The use of a classroom toolbox should be integrated into an agencys planning for program improvement and professional development

Modified and Augmented Instruction Effective use of Technology

A Foundation of Good Teaching

Program Improvement and Related Professional Development

Training in Problem Solving and Higher Level Thinking

Materials and Supplies that Address Barriers to Learning

Components Of An Effective Classroom Toolbox

Component 1: An understanding of Information Processing and where the learning process can break down. Component 2: An understanding of the elements of Good teaching, the foundation upon which everything is built Component 3: The basic classroom toolbox tools to address attention, memory, planning, and organization.

Component 4: Instructional templates tools to help students analyze and solve common types of problems.
Component 5: Technology using technology to provide alternative modes of instruction and circumvent receptive and expressive coding barriers. Component 6: The math toolbox using relevant manipulatives and explanatory materials so that students experience mathematical reasoning.

Component 1: The underlying foundation effective flow of information

You receive information that contains knowledge and you send knowledge for others to receive. The system is logical, but it does break down for a variety of reasons. If you understand the system, you can identify the breakdowns, and then apply some type of adjustment to help it function more effectively.

We call the system The Information Management System

Component 2: Good Teaching the foundation that the tool box is built upon.

Component 3: The basic classroom instructional toolbox

Attention The tools in the toolbox impact these areas;

Organization

Reception and Expression

Memory

Problem Solving Practice and Application

Component 4: Problem Solving and Task Completion Templates

A template provides structure and assistance in completing tasks through the use of starter guides and models of different types of problem solving. Most templates can be modified for use across a variety of settings.

This is a completed template for developing a plan of action to achieve a goal, in this case, getting a GED.

Component 5: The Technology Supplement

While you attempt to teach a student how to read and write, you can also open the world of information to the student by having the computer read and write for them.

Section 6: The math tools

Devices and manipulatives used to teach and practice relevant job related math skills.

Put all of the components together and what do you have? A: A very diverse set of materials that can be used with and by students to help overcome learning barriers. B: A variety of materials and instructional ideas that can be used in different ways with different students. C: A lot more than a box full of supplies. D: A set of materials that can help students to achieve greater learning goals through differentiation of instruction. E: All of the above.

Answer: E