Frequently Asked Questions

Instruction

1. How can Classworks be used to meet the needs of our Special Education students?
2. How can Classworks be used to meet the needs of our Gifted and Talented students?
3. How can Classworks be used in the regular education classroom?
4. How can Classworks be used with my ESL students?
5. How do I use Classworks to help teach the state-mandated curriculum?
6. How can Classworks be used in our RTI process?
7. How can Classworks be used to ensure we meet AYP each year?
8. Can Classworks address higher order thinking skills?
9. How can Classworks be used in our after school program?
10. How can Classworks be used to help improve our graduation rate and decrease drop outs?
11. How much time has to be dedicated to Classworks instruction?
12. What are some other innovative uses of Classworks you've seen over the years?

1. How can Classworks be used to meet the needs of our Special Education students?
   1. Multi-grade level instruction by skill. Your special needs students can work on the same objectives as their classmates but, at a level that that meets their individual needs. (This, of course, requires that the appropriate grade levels are installed.)
   2. Lesson plans developed by learning style. Some of our Special Needs students excel only when a skill is taught employing their dominant learning style. Classworks activities are tagged by learning style, can be searched and assigned by learning style allowing students to learn new skills at ease.
   3. Employing Classworks Language Learner Series:
      1. For Speech Therapy
      2. For Whole class, small group or individual instruction in Grapho-phonemic concepts.
      3. For Whole class, small group or individual literacy instruction
      4. For Whole class, small group or individual reading fluency instruction.
2. How can Classworks be used to meet the needs of our Gifted and Talented students?
   1. With Classworks every child can make adequate yearly progress. Gifted and Talented students can move at their own pace and are not held back by their classmates. Student’s can be assigned the same skills as their classmates at higher levels of complexity, can move 1+ grade levels above or even move on to the next subject area, as needed. (This, of course, requires that additional CW grade levels are installed.)
3. How can Classworks be used in the regular education classroom?
   1. This list is numerous – a few of the highlights:
      1. Whole Class instruction via Interactive WhiteBoard, LCD, Etc. using CW mini-lessons; EPC or text based activities to introduce new skills.
      2. As a station or center activity where students rotate through the computers at the back of the room to work on their unique lesson plans; skills-based assignment focusing on skills being taught in the classroom that day; group projects; additional practice or re-teach opportunities.
      3. Interactive classroom activity employing CW’s kinesthetic activities – Students can be stationed at each side of the Interactive White Board and compete to get to see who can get the correct answer the fastest. Can be an individual (with students taking turns) or team event.
      4. Whole Class assessment – teachers can use Classworks quick quizzes to administer formative assessments. Students can use clickers or pencil/paper to record their answers.
      5. Small, Large Group or Whole Class project – employing Classworks projects teachers can quickly pull together Real-World culminating activities that allow students to apply a new skill.
         1. Students can be placed in small groups to complete the project – then each group is responsible for reporting their findings. (This assists in meeting the oral presentation requirement included in many state objectives.)
         2. The class can be divided into two groups, each working on a portion of the assignment or taking opposite sides of an argument. The whole group then comes together to merge the two parts or to defend their positions.
      6. One on one tutoring (this assists with meeting RtI requirements for additional instructional time for tier 3 students) using Classworks as an efficient means to locate specific skills quickly.
         1. Employing Classworks Language Learner Series for struggling readers.
         2. Employing Classworks RtI bundles for Reading and Math instruction.
      7. Teacher led small group tutoring. Teachers can group students who need additional practice on specific skills. Classworks provides the instructional path. This can be planned in advance using Classworks reports to identify students who have not mastered specific state specific objectives or on the fly – when a teacher recognizes that a group of students need additional time with a new skill.
4. How can Classworks be used with my ESL students?
   1. Employing Classworks Language Learner Series:
      1. For students in their silent period for initial grapho-phoneme instruction.
      2. For students needing English fluency instruction.
      3. For struggling readers
   2. Employing Classworks activities to provide appropriate grade level support when new skills are introduced. Providing instruction for students that matches the skills being introduced to their classmates by using visually rich activities that foster increased comprehension.
5. How do I use Classworks to help teach the state-mandated curriculum?
   1. Classworks is aligned to your state’s objectives. Units of instruction have been hand-selected, down to the element level. Units include a mini-lesson (an anticipatory set of instruction at the lowest level of Blooms introducing discrete concepts.); a series of activities (employing various learning styles and from a variety of publishers); a quick quiz (for formative assessment); and a Real-World project (culminating activity allowing students to synthesize and apply new skills).
6. How can Classworks be used in our RTI process?
   1. At all RtI levels – students work at their own pace.
   2. Whole class or lab instruction for RtI tier 1 students employing on-grade level stated specific instruction.
   3. Remediation ILP’s for RtI tier 2 students
   4. One on one tutoring (this assists with meeting RtI requirements for additional instructional time for tier 3 students) using Classworks as an efficient means to locate specific skills quickly.
      1. Employing Classworks Language Learner Series for struggling readers.
      2. Employing Classworks RtI bundles for Reading and Math instruction.
   5. High Stakes ILP’s for RtI tier 3
   6. Progress monitoring by skill for tiers 2 and 3
      1. Progress Monitoring; Learning styles; grade level specific ILP’s for Tier 4.
7. How can Classworks be used to ensure we meet AYP each year?
   1. All of the uses described above, i.e., RtI, Gifted and Talented, Special Education, ensure that each student is receiving target, relevant instruction to meet individual needs. It is critical that analysis of reports be a part of the implementation. When AYP is the focus, Classworks makes it easy to follow the progress of each AYP category since the Reports Wizard can be set up to filter by AYP categories. Classworks can then be set up to automatically email reports to all pertinent recipients, making it an easy, regular system for ensuring students in each AYP category are making the necessary progress.
8. Can Classworks address higher order thinking skills?
   1. The Classworks Unit Structure is designed to meet all levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy and/or Depth of Knowledge. The Mini Lesson is at the lowest cognitive level and provides an instructionally sound tutorial sequence that chunks information – matching brain research for chunking for understanding and retention. The variety of Instructional Activities go from lower to higher levels within a Unit. After the Quick Quiz for checking of understanding of the targeted skill, students are presented with a Project. Each Project is cross curricular with a real-world connection to the unit’s targeted skill and requires application of that skill in the creation of an electronic document. This application of skill is at the highest cognitive level.
   2. In addition, the FIND Assessment suite gives the capability of selecting higher order items when creating an assessment.
9. How can Classworks be used in our after school program?
   1. Classworks can be used in the after school program in the same myriad of ways that it can be used within the school day, targeting different groups for relevant instruction. The beauty of Classworks is that classroom teachers can still be in control of selecting the instruction the students receive after school. Teachers can also see with the click of a button using the Teacher Notification system exactly where students need additional help with activities completed in after school.
10. How can Classworks be used to help improve our graduation rate and decrease drop outs?
    1. Curriculum Advantage has created the PASS (Preparing All Students for Success) Model specifically to address the needs of struggling middle and high school students. Detailed recommendations for implementation of Classworks with these students are provided, and training for schools can be directed specifically at the implementation of this model. The high school courses – Algebra I, Geometry, and English I – are designed to ensure students have the skills to master these “gateway courses.” Research has shown when students can master the gateway courses, they have the skills necessary to complete graduation requirements. For more information on the PASS Model, go to http://www.curriculumadvantage.com/spotlights/?type=Product&id=19
11. How much time has to be dedicated to Classworks instruction?
    1. It is recommended a student spend at least 45 minutes per week per subject area for gains to be expected. This time must be planned and focused to ensure growth. Of course, studies indicate a direct correlation between the amount of time spent on Classworks and the gains in high stakes test scores.
12. What are some other innovative uses of Classworks you've seen over the years?
    1. Classworks’ depth of alignment, variety and magnitude of instructional activities and flexibility of the management system allow for any number of specific uses. Some of these that have created over the years are:
       1. Reading in Science: a series of Classworks activities that teach reading comprehension in the science content area.
       2. Reading in Social Studies: a series of Classworks activities that teach reading comprehension in the science content area.
       3. Reading Academy I: for high school students who require additional support in reading. It focuses on comprehension and literature, with high-interest, lower-level content reading down to 6th grade.
       4. Reading Academy II: for high school students who require additional support in reading. It focuses on comprehension and literature, with high-interest, lower-level content reading down to 4th grade. Also included is cross curricular content in science.
       5. Plan, Explore and ACT: instruction designed to improve scores on these tests. Student assignments provide instruction for mastery for score ranges from 13-16 to 24-27.
       6. Other? If you can imagine it, we can help you find a way for Classworks to address it!