Compacting the Curriculum

What is Compacting? A Classroom management technique which enables teachers to provide differentiated curriculum for able learners. Compacting = modifying the regular curriculum for students who have mastered certain skills OR who can learn the content more rapidly.

The Compactor Form 3 columns Identify/document the strengths State how the student will prove mastery Suggest acceleration and enrichment

Student Behaviors that Suggest Compacting May Be Necessary Finishes task quickly Appears bored during instruction Consistently daydreams Creates puzzles, games or diversions in class Brings in outside material to learn Interest in advanced or alternate topics Consistent high performance Test scores are excellent – average/below average class work Ask higher level questions Advanced vocabulary in learning area

Identify the Need (steps 1-4) 7 Steps for Compacting Identify the Need (steps 1-4) Identify the learning objectives in subject. How will you pretest? Identify students who should be pre tested or pretest entire class. Pretest prior to instruction

Steps to Compacting cont. Compact the Curriculum (steps 5-6) Eliminate instructional/drill time for students who have demonstrated mastery in a particular area. Streamline instruction of objectives students have not mastered but are capable of mastering quickly.

Steps to Compacting cont. Provide Alternatives (step 7) Enrichment or Acceleration options for compacted students. Extension Menus, Independent Contracts, Choice Boards, etc.

Questions?