Enriching
the LEARNING
Meaningful Extensions for Proficient Students in a PLC at Work®
Michael Roberts
Copyright © 2019 by Solution Tree Press
Materials appearing here are copyrighted. With one exception, all rights are reserved. Readers may reproduce only those pages marked “Reproducible.” Otherwise, no part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without prior written permission of the publisher.
555 North Morton Street
Bloomington, IN 47404
800.733.6786 (toll free) / 812.336.7700
FAX: 812.336.7790
email: [email protected]
Visit go.SolutionTree.com/PLCbooks to download the free reproducibles in this book.
Printed in the United States of America
Library of Congress Control Number: 2018060839
Solution Tree
Jeffrey C. Jones, CEO
Edmund M. Ackerman, President
Solution Tree Press
President and Publisher: Douglas M. Rife
Associate Publisher: Sarah Payne-Mills
Art Director: Rian Anderson
Managing Production Editor: Kendra Slayton
Senior Production Editor: Tara Perkins
Content Development Specialist: Amy Rubenstein
Proofreader: Jessi Finn
Cover Designer: Rian Anderson
Editorial Assistant: Sarah Ludwig
Acknowledgments
On my final day of fifth grade, my writing teacher Mrs. Becky Martin gave me a note telling me I was a good writer and she looked forward to reading one of my books someday. I quietly folded the note in the collection of stories I had written that year and took it home. For many years, I kept the note, looking at it occasionally. Although the note has long since disintegrated, I never forgot these few words a teacher put to paper to express that she believed in a ten-year-old boy. Now, several decades later, I am so excited to make Mrs. Martin’s prediction come true. Mrs. Martin’s belief meant a lot, but it was not enough to get this book done. Many people have their fingerprints on this work. So, I need to say thank you to a few of those people who made this book a reality.
• My amazing wife, Candace. You are simply the best (including the best writer in our family).
• The wonderful staffs that I was privileged to work with at Desert View Elementary in Hermiston, Oregon, and Housel Middle School in Prosser, Washington. It was the experiences I had with you, helping build professional learning communities, that showed me how easy it is to forget question 4 and why we cannot allow that to happen.
• The great people at Solution Tree that made this journey possible. From my fellow associates, everyone in professional development, the account managers, the editors of this book, right up to the highest branches of the Tree, you are all amazing, and I am blessed to work with you!
Solution Tree Press would like to thank the following reviewers:
Diane Kerr
Solution Tree Associate
Palmyra, Virginia
Greg Kushnir
Principal
Esther Starkman School
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada
Mary Ann Ranells
Educational Consultant
Osburn, Idaho
Brad Rogers
Principal
Lincoln Elementary School
Merrillan, Wisconsin
Faith Short
Assistant Principal
East Pointe Elementary School
Greenwood, Arkansas
Jamie Virga
Solution Tree Associate
Germantown, Maryland
Table of Contents
Addressing the Forgotten Question
Who Are the Proficient Students?
Why Are Proficient Students Often Overlooked?
How Does Extension Align With the Three Big Ideas of a PLC?
What Must We Do to Ensure Collaborative Work That Creates Meaningful Extensions?
Identifying Question 4 Students and Intentionally Planning Extensions
Ensure the Proper Setting and Support
Review Fundamental Concepts
Establish Common Pacing and Formative Assessments
Review Assessment Data
Plan Appropriate Extensions
Summary
Collaborative Team Reflection
Skill Extensions