1. RAFTs for Differentiating

2. A RAFT is…
An engaging, high level strategy that encourages writing across the curriculum
A way to encourage students to…
--assume a Role
--consider their Audience
--write in a particular Format
--examine a Topic

3. RAFTS Motivate By giving students choice
By appealing to their interests and learning profiles
By adapting to student readiness levels

4. Possible RAFT Formats to Differentiate by Learning Modality
Written
Visual
Oral
Kinesthetic
Diary entry
Bulleted list
Obituary
Invitation
Game rules
Recipe
Movie critic
FAQs
Editorial
Gossip column
Cartoon/Comic
Crossword puzzle
Map
Graphic organizer
Print ad
Photograph
Fashion design
Song
Monologue
Radiocast
Museum
guide
Commercial
Interview
Puppet show
Political
speech
Story teller
Model
Cheer
Mime
Demonstration
Sales pitch
with demos
Sew, cook,
build
Wax museum
Game
September 2013
Krystal Coker

5. Differentiating a RAFT by Readiness (Teacher assigns RAFT or choices of RAFTs based on students’ reading, writing or performance levels)
Roles/Audience
Well-known people or charters to lesser known
Basic essential items (vocabulary, inventions, elements, etc.) to more esoteric items
Easier to understand point-of-view to more intangible perspective
Formats (while offering choices to students)
Shorter to longer (in prep, process or presentation)
More familiar to more unfamiliar formats
Single step to multiple steps
September 2013
Krystal Coker

6. Differentiating a RAFT by Readiness (continued)
Topics
Easier to interpret to more sophisticated
Concrete & literal to more abstract response
More structured to more open-ended
Small leap in insight & application to larger leap
September 2013
Krystal Coker

7. Analyzing a RAFT Lesson
What are the learning goals for this lesson and are they built into every choice?
How is this RAFT being differentiated?
Does it appeal to different learning styles?
Is there a range of difficulty in the:
Roles?
Formats?
Readiness levels?
Do the roles, formats or topics appeal to a variety of interests?
September 2013
Krystal Coker

8. Ways to use RAFTs Assess prior knowledge before a unit
Centers/Stations
Exit Ticket
Warm Up/Bell Ringer
Formative assessment
Alternative to a traditional assignment
And the list goes on…
September 2013
Krystal Coker

9. RAFTs and Word Walls
You have these lovely word walls…now what? Integrate word walls into your RAFTs! This will provide scaffolding within the differentiation by giving the students a word bank to use when they are writing. …or require students to use a certain number of words from the word wall into their RAFT assignment.
September 2013
Krystal Coker

10. Examples
You are Ulysses on your journey home from Troy after being gone for over ten years. Write a letter to your wife, Penelope, explaining why you won’t make it home for dinner, again.
Role, Audience, Format, Topic, Strong verb

11. Math Examples
You are a multiplication fact sending an invitation about a family reunion to a division fact describing how you are related. You are a fraction preparing directions for the baker on how to double the recipe. Fractions and mixed numbers write a persuasive letter to 6th graders reminding them why they can’t live without them.

12. Science Examples
Plant sends thank you note to sun for the sun’s role in the plant’s growth.
Lungs send complaint letter to cigarettes emphasizing the effects of smoking.
Trout writes a newspaper article about the effects of acid rain.
Moon prepares an advice column for astronauts on what to expect when they visit.

13. RAFTS can… Be differentiated by readiness level and student interest.
Be created by students (blank row).
Be used as an alternative to a traditional assignment.
Be used as a warm up/bell ringer or exit ticket.
Be used as a formative assessment.

14. Let’s try it! Grade level groups Select a topic you teach
Think role, audience, format, verb
Planning together is better!

15. Q&A
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