Providing students with opportunities to think deeply about content is crucial to developing capable learners. In a changing world, our students must be able to think critically to solve problems. Often, this requires them to think differently based on the context of the problem.
To accomplish this, many of our teachers at Beck have begun to use the Depth and Complexity icons developed by Dr. Sandra Kaplan. These icons are used as visual prompts to help students think more deeply about concepts. Our teachers were introduced to these icons by our GT teacher, Mrs. Forbes. She has a passion for challenging students' thinking using a variety of lenses.
I recently observed two teachers in 3rd grade who were using the icons to get students to think critically about text. Ms. Rocha and Mrs. Bell are committed to providing a rigorous and relevant learning experience for all students. Check out how intentional they are in using these icons!
The Depth and Complexity icons have had a HUGE impact on the depth of responses that students are producing. The best part is, they are highly engaging and leave room for open-ended thinking, which students love! Thanks for shining a light on this learning tool, Mr. Conklin!
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