Forms

Teachers’ Guide (interactive version)

Teachers’ Guide (PDF) in English or French

Background information about the Guide and detailed directions

This version of the Guide enables a teacher to identify a small number of curriculum differentiation strategies that are top priorities for a highly able learner.  These strategies can be used in the development of differentiated learning experiences for this student.

Here are a few different ways teachers, resource teachers or members of a school-based team might use the Guide:

• A student’s teacher can begin with one of the Brilliant Behaviours forms and transfer √s to the Guide. Then she or he completes the Guide according to the directions on the previous pages.  The most recommended differentiation strategies can be included in learning activities for an individual student, a group of high potential learners or the entire class.
• A student’s teacher can work directly on this Guide rather than beginning with the Brilliant Behaviours form. The teacher’s efforts to differentiate curriculum can be based on the most recommended strategies indicated by the Guide.
• A student’s teacher can begin with one of the Brilliant Behaviours forms and pass that form along to the resource teacher (RT). The RT completes the Guide and shares the results with the teacher.  They can meet and develop differentiated activities to be offered in the student in the regular classroom.
• A student’s teacher begins with one of the Brilliant Behaviours forms and passes the results to the School-Based Team (SBT). A member of the SBT completes the Guide.  The results are integrated into the student’s individual educational plan (IEP) and their teacher(s) use them to develop differentiated learning experiences for them.

Choose the best process and format (print or online) for your setting or create your own.

Directions

1. Print a copy of the Brilliant Behaviors to record the behaviors that appear.  Use either an individual checklist, group checklist, or a copy of the Guide.
2. Record the information required information about the student and activity or activities at the top of the form.
3. Observe a student while she or he is engaged in a challenging activity in an area of strength or interest. Click here to see a description of suitable activities.
4. Put a check to the left of each Behavior the student demonstrates frequently, intensely and consistently.
5. If the Guide is completed online, it will complete steps 6 to 9 automatically.   Complete steps 6 to 9 only if the print version is being used.
6. Highlight the row of “X’s” beside any behavior you checked.
7. Count the number of highlighted X’s in each column.  Write the “Total X’s highlighted in each column” in the empty box at the bottom in the row with that name.
8. Compare the “Number of X’s highlighted” to the “Number of X’s in the column” in the box beneath it.
9. Put an “X” beneath the 3, 4 or 5 columns with the greatest proportion of the X’s highlighted.  These are the differentiation strategies (types of differentiation to emphasize for this student when she or he is working in this area of strength or interest.
10. Read the definitions for each of the strategies recommended by the Guide.  Do they seem appropriate?
    •  If a print version of the Guide is used, the definitions are provided on the back of the form.
    • If the Guide is completed online, the definition of each strategy will appear when the cursor rests on it.

Printing, Saving and Loading An Online Version of the Guide:

The online Guide can be printed, saved or loaded by clicking on the buttons near the top of the page, on the right side. Directions for saving and loading appear below and will also appear online when those buttons are selected.

To Print:

Press the “Print” button at the top of the page and complete the normal procedure to print a document.

To Save:

On a PC:

1. Right click on the word “Download” below.
2. Select “Save link as”.
3. Save the file in a safe place you’ll remember on your computer.
4. As mentioned above, the information you will not be able to retrieve the information you’ve entered after you leave this window. Even if you leave this window open, the information will be deleted by [a date & time].

On a Mac:

1. Press the control button and click on the word “Download” on the screen.
2. From the options that appear, select:
   • “Download linked file as” if you are using Firefox or Safari as your browser.
   • “Save link as” if you are using Chrome as your browser.
3. Save the file in a safe place you’ll remember on your computer.
4. You will not be able to retrieve the information you’ve entered after you leave this window. Even if you leave this window open, the information will be deleted by [a date & time].

To Load your Guide on either a PC or a Mac:

1. Click on the “Choose File” button to search for the file you want to open.
2. Find the file on your computer. The name of the file should end in .pfl
3. Select the file you want to open by clicking on it. After it appears highlighted, click on the “Open” button in the lower right corner of the window.
4. Now click the “Upload File” button
5. The Guide should open with the information you had saved in it.
6. Remember to save the changed file if you want to use it in the future.