Differentiating the Primary Curriculum:

An Application of Depth & Complexity

Meg Kelly, Santiago Hills Elementarymkelly@iusd.org

714-292-3648 (cell)

Objectives:

• Introduce the academic language thinking tools of Depth & Complexity and Content Imperatives

• Provide examples of how to incorporate D&C tools into primary classrooms

Children will be scholars• Scholarly traits– Ponder/reflect– Practice– Ask thoughtful questions– Set learning goals– Stick to a task– Take risks– Yearn for knowing/build curiosity– Justify ideas– Are prepared to learn and take pride in their work

• Using Depth & Complexity tools can help you build scholarly traits and language

How Depth and Complexity Icons Evolved

• To provide gifted students with opportunities for higher level thinking and learning– Sandra Kaplan, USC

• Most commonly used in GATE, upper grade, middle and high school classrooms

Depth and Complexity Thinking Tools

• Words, icons or prompts that activate higher levels of knowing

• Strengthen critical thinking skills• Make something abstract more concrete• Allow students to “jump” into the content and make sense of

it• Build expertise and inquiry

• Just good teaching strategies - much of it you do already• The icons assure that you use these strategies consistently

and use them all of the time• They provide a common vocabulary and build academic

language

Depth and Complexity

Depth• Studying many single

aspects of a single subject• Going deeper into a subject• Becoming an expert in a

subject

Complexity• Making connections across

several topics or academic subjects

• Seeing relationships between seemingly unconnected ideas or concepts

Depth & Complexity Icons

Content ImperativesContribution

The affect or impact one person or event has on others.

OriginThe beginning, root, foundation, source,

or basis for something.

ParallelHow something is similar, matching,

comparable, or analogous.

ParadoxThings that are opposite, contradictory,

ironic or illogical.

ConvergenceHow ideas or events meet, intersect,

concur, merge, join or unite.

Incorporating Depth & Complexity Into Your Curriculum

• Does not require creating new material– Can integrate the icons into curriculum that

already exists

• Appropriate for all students, not just Challenge groups– Visual tools can be applied to any situation– Visual tools beneficial for English Learners

• Introduce icons in context

Frames

• Used with each story selection and novel• Incorporate understanding of strategy and

skill in student’s own words• Allows use of 3-5 icons to extend thinking• Use stamps to customize frame

Other Graphic Organizers/Activities

• Graphic Organizers– Main Idea, Details, Unanswered Questions– Character Frame– Multiple Perspectives– Story Details– Stamp a graphic organizer you already use

• Small Group/Independent Activities– The Icon Game– Icon cards– Challenge students to apply as many icons as they can

to story selection

Everyday Thinking

• Reinforce/weave D&C icons into all areas of curriculum– Magnets on board help with this

• Reward students for applying icons on their own

• Parent Letter

In My Classroom…

• Students show increased enthusiasm and motivation

• Students are inspired by added depth to curriculum

• Students rise to higher expectations• Students apply learning to other subjects• English Learners make connections to visuals

Resources

• JTaylor Education (jtayloreducation.com)– Empower Primary and Inspire Change: A Practical

Approach to Differentiating the Primary Curriculum, by Cynthia Kirk and Katherine Squires

– Magnets– Stamps– Posters– Game cards