| Menus for Day 26! Some teachers may have | | | | newspaper to recreate the words or using all |
| heard of using menus in the classroom. While using | | | | words to write a letter to a friend. |
| restaurant menus also works great for many | | | | Students (and parents) have raved about the |
| activities, that is not the type of menu to which I | | | | spelling menus for homework. It offers student |
| am referring. These menus are basically a list of | | | | choice and flexibility. Some students will choose to |
| differentiated activities that can be chosen by | | | | do many smaller activities, while others will enjoy |
| students to complete. | | | | doing fewer higher-level activities. It has also freed |
| I am currently using a spelling menu, as well as a | | | | up time for parents to assist with homework. By |
| vocabulary menu in my classroom for instruction | | | | having an entire week to complete spelling |
| and/or homework. My menus are split into | | | | homework, if there is a family event, birthday, or |
| different point level subcategories. There are | | | | a child's sport commitment, parents can have a |
| categories for 5, 10, and 20 points. Under each | | | | child double up homework on another night in |
| subcategory, I have several assignment options | | | | order to finish on time. As a parent myself, I am |
| listed. The directions state how many points must | | | | disgruntled when I have an after school activity |
| be completed within the time frame allotted. | | | | with my child, yet she still needs to complete |
| Basically when I give the spelling menu as a | | | | hours of middle school homework that same |
| homework option on Monday, students are | | | | night. |
| expected to turn in 25 completed points by | | | | Vocabulary menus work the same way, except I |
| Friday. | | | | tend to use them more for classwork. How many |
| Of course, I start expectations small at the | | | | times a week is the reading story's vocabulary or |
| beginning of the year, then work my way up so | | | | the current math chapter vocabulary reviewed? |
| that by the mid-year point, students are working | | | | Probably almost every day. Vocabulary is |
| to what I feel is their maximum potential. Each | | | | important in every subject and will aide in |
| class is different, so use your judgment | | | | improving comprehension and reading level. A |
| accordingly. Obviously the smaller the point level, | | | | vocabulary menu can be used in place of rote |
| the easier the assignment. Five point choices | | | | daily review. Make the activities something that |
| might include putting spelling words in alphabetical | | | | could be completed in 5-10 minutes, with fewer |
| order or using a marker to trace the vowels in | | | | words if necessary. By students applying the |
| each word. Ten-point choices would be typing all | | | | knowledge daily, they will be more likely to retain |
| the words on a computer three times in different | | | | the meanings. By choices being offered, students |
| fonts or spelling the words into a cassette | | | | are more likely to want to apply that knowledge |
| recorder and turning in the tape. Twenty pointers | | | | in a way he or she feels is a best example of |
| might include cutting out letters from a | | | | individual work. |