Instruction & Assessment

Instruction and Assessment are at the heart of what is done in the classroom. Research-based best practices in instruction and assessment can transform how teachers teach and how students learn. Professional Development topics offered under this content area include Differentiated Instruction, EAGLE, 6-Trait Instruction & Assessment, and Visual Thinking.


Differentiated Instruction

Differentiated Instruction (DI) is a strategy designed to address teaching and learning for students with different abilities, background knowledge, readiness levels, learning preferences and interests. Differentiated Instruction maximizes opportunities for academic growth and individual success by engaging students in activities that support their particular learning needs, strengths, and preferences.


Technology to Support Differentiated Instruction - Face-2-Face

This workshop will demonstrate the power of technology to support the implementation of DI strategies. Participants will explore three technology applications which support DI to meet the learning needs of all students.

Audience: Regular and Special Education Teachers, Curriculum Specialists, Technology Specialists, Administrators
Length: 4 hours
CLUs: 4.0
Date/Time: April 22, 2008 - 9:00 am to 12:30 pm and as requested by High Priority Schools

Differentiated Instruction at a Glance - Online Course

During this 2-week course participants will learn how to identify principles of DI, apply DI strategies to classroom practices, use technologies that support DI in the classroom, apply DI to curriculum planning, and develop concrete action plans for the continuous integration of DI principles.

Audience: Regular and Special Education Teachers, Curriculum Specialists, Technology Specialists, Administrators
Length: 2 weeks (approximately 1-2 hours of coursework per
CLUs: 16.0
Date/Time: February 11-24, 2008 and as requested by High Priority Schools

Differentiated Instruction – Let’s Talk! - Videocast

This videocast provides an overview of differentiated instruction (DI) through examples. Characteristics of a DI classroom are identified and discussed.

Audience: Regular and Special Education Teachers, Curriculum Specialists, Technology Specialists, Administrators


EAGLE: Enhanced Assessment of Grade-Level Expectations System

EAGLE is a web-based assessment tool that enables teachers to identify student learning styles and adjust instruction to positively impact student performance. EAGLE allows teachers to customize online tests using items written specifically for Louisiana’s GLEs. Electronically generated test results and reports can be accessed quickly and used to track student progress via the EAGLE system.


Beginners Flying Lessons for the EAGLE System - Webinar

This webinar explores how teachers can use EAGLE to create class rosters, develop and schedule tests, and view score reports. It also examines how students can use EAGLE to take tests, view score reports, and assess the GLEs in student-friendly language.

Audience: Grade 4 ELA and Math Teachers, Grade 9 Algebra Teachers, Curriculum Specialists, Technology Specialists, Administrators
Length: 1 hour
CLUs: 1.0
Date/Time: March 3, 2008

How Can EAGLE Help Teachers and Students? - Videocast

View this videocast to gain insight on how EAGLE can be used to promote the learning of GLEs through a technology-based online system. This videocast explains how teachers use EAGLE to adjust their instructional strategies to effectively meet their students’ needs and looks at how students can improve performance by assessing their own learning skills.

Audience: Grade 4 ELA and Math Teachers, Grade 9 Algebra Teachers, Curriculum Specialists, Technology Specialists, Administrators


Six-Trait Instruction and Assessment

Six-Trait is a process-based writing program focusing on idea development, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, and conventions. The goal of Six- Trait is to provide teachers with strategies and tools that equip students with a deep understanding of the traits, genre specific strategies, and keys to effective writing.


The Write Traits Workshop - Face-2-Face

The Write Traits Workshop is designed for teachers who want to begin using the six traits of writing in their classroom instruction. Through a variety of hands-on activities, participants will learn about the traits, become familiar with trait language, and understand how the traits support process-based instruction. In addition, participants will learn to assess student writing across all six traits, use literature to provide models of the traits for student writers, and support students as they assess and revise their own work.

Audience: K-12 Teachers, Administrators, Curriculum Directors, and Reading Specialists
Length: 2 days
CLUs: 16.0
Date/Time: April 24-25, 2008 - 8:00 am to 3:00 pm

Process-Based Writing: The Six-Trait Model - Audiocast

This audiocast serves as an introduction to the Six-Trait model by defining the model and its role in increasing student achievement. The Audiocast provides potential participants with an overview of the face-to-face training content and application for instruction.

Audience: K-12 Teachers, Administrators, Curriculum Directors, and Reading Specialists


Visual Thinking

Visual thinking incorporates graphics to help students solve problems, think about complex issues and communicate more effectively. It also assists teachers with integrating higher order thinking skills into the everyday classroom curriculum.


Extreme Makeover: Visual Thinking Edition - Face-2-Face

Take part in this three hour workshop to experience how visual thinking can transform your classroom. We will spotlight and discuss different tools that can be used to increase higher order thinking levels of your students. Educators will demonstrate these tools while presenting activities from the Comprehensive Curriculum. Resources and professional development opportunities will be provided.

Audience: K-12 educators
Length: 3 hours
CLUs: 3.0
Date/Time: February 20, 2008 - 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Extreme Makeover: Visual Thinking Edition - Webinar

Join us to experience how visual thinking can transform your classroom. We will spotlight and discuss different tools that can be used to increase higher order thinking levels of your students. Educators will demonstrate these tools while presenting activities from the Comprehensive Curriculum. Resources and professional development opportunities will be provided.

Audience: K-12 educators
Length: 1 hour
CLUs: 1
Date/Time: April 28, 2008 - 3:00-4:00 p.m