"Literacy Lifeline: Tools for Unique Learners"

High School Grade

Lesson
180 minutes

"Literacy Lifeline: Tools for Unique Learners"

Michelle Jaconette

Identify an issue or design challenge

Build models, prototypes, or action plans

Critical Thinker

Productive Collaborator

Innovative thinking

+ 1 more

Purpose

Student teachers will collaboratively design and develop a practical literacy resource tailored for unique learners in secondary classrooms within a 90-minute timeframe. This project-based lesson emphasizes creating innovative solutions that address the diverse needs of students with reading challenges, including those with dyslexia, ELL students, and others struggling with fluency and comprehension. By engaging in critical thinking and collaboration, participants will produce original works that are both functional and inclusive, ultimately enhancing literacy outcomes in their future classrooms.

Learning goals

Student teachers will collaboratively design and prototype a practical literacy resource that can be created within an hour and a half, tailored to support the diverse needs of unique learners in secondary classrooms. They will engage in critical thinking to identify specific literacy challenges and develop innovative solutions backed by evidence. Participants will work in teams, fostering productive collaboration through active listening and empathy, to create an original, practical tool that enhances reading fluency and comprehension for students with varying literacy needs.

Standards

Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.10: Read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts independently and proficiently.
Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.W.6: Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and to interact and collaborate with others.
Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.SL.1: Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.

Competencies

Design Solutions - Identify an issue or design challenge (DS.1)
Design Solutions - Build models, prototypes, or action plans (DS.2)
Critical Thinker
Productive Collaborator
Original Thinkers for an Uncertain World - Creative Process - Innovative thinking (OT.Creat.1.c)
Original Thinkers for an Uncertain World - Creative Process - Creating original works (OT.Creat.1.d)

Week 1	Day 1
Activities	Kick off the lesson by posing the essential question: 'How can we design a literacy resource that effectively meets the diverse needs of unique learners in secondary classrooms?' Discuss the lesson's purpose and its focus on collaboration, critical thinking, and innovation. Set clear expectations for the session, emphasizing the creation of practical, usable resources. (15 minutes) Divide the class into small groups to identify specific literacy challenges faced by unique learners, such as dyslexia or ELL issues. Groups will share their personal experiences and use digital resources to research common problems and existing strategies. This activity aims to develop a well-rounded understanding of the challenges to guide resource design. (30 minutes) In their groups, student teachers will brainstorm diverse solutions to the literacy challenges identified earlier. Encourage them to think innovatively, considering technology integration and creative instructional strategies. Each group will select one promising idea to develop further, ensuring it is both practical and inclusive. (30 minutes) Using design thinking principles, groups will create a prototype of their chosen literacy resource. This could take the form of a digital tool, visual aids, or differentiated reading materials. The focus will be on how the resource addresses the needs of unique learners, using collaborative tools for design and documentation. (60 minutes) Groups will present their prototypes to another group for peer review. Engage in constructive feedback by highlighting the strengths and suggesting areas for improvement. This session enhances collaboration and critical evaluation, refining the resource to better meet the diverse needs of learners. (30 minutes) End the lesson with a reflective discussion, allowing students to share insights gained about designing resources for diverse learners. Discuss how to apply these insights in future classrooms. Outline next steps for further developing their prototypes and encourage ongoing collaboration beyond this session. (15 minutes)
Deliverables
Preparation