Goldilocks & BrainPOP; How Providing the “Just Right” Instruction Leads to Deeper Learning & Greater Confidence!

“The mind, once stretched by a new idea, never returns to its original dimensions.” Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Remember when you were young, and reading the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears? Just to jog your memory, remember how a hungry Goldilocks let herself into the home of three bears (a great big father bear, a middle-sized mother bear, and a tiny baby bear) and began to try the three bowls of porridge that were left on the table while the bears went for a walk in the forest.?One of the bowls was too hot, one of the bowls was too cold, and one of the bowls was just right, and she ate that bowl all up.

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Well, it turns out that this children’s story is analogous to students and the pedagogy of student learning.?If we want students to be engaged, learn at deeper levels and devour learning, then we need to ensure that we present our instruction in a way that appeals to their areas of strength and interest and is at the just the right instructional level.?For those of you who studied education in college; you probably remember learning about Lev Vygotsky’s theory of learning and development called, “The Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD). The “ZPD” is essentially providing students just the right porridge, not too easy, and not too hard.?

As educators, when we are able to provide just the right amount of challenge, we are able to lead students down a path of better learning, deeper thinking, greater confidence and motivation, and ultimately, empowering our students to thrive in school and life.

??Helping Students Reach their Potential??

In every classroom, there are all types of students within one's class.?We have emerging bilingual students, we have neurodivergent students, students who are twice exceptional, students who are at grade level academically, students are beyond grade level (gifted & talented), students who have experienced trauma, and; well, let’s just say that every child is unique in what they bring to the classroom, and in order to help these students reach their potential, we must design and provide learning experiences that are differentiated, personalized, and challenge all students at just the right level!?

??Providing the “Just Right” Instruction??

We want to challenge students, but if it’s too challenging, students will get frustrated and give up.?It learning in our classrooms is too easy, students will get bored and not put forth their best effort. ?And, if the topics that students are learning about, are not relatable, they do not see the real-life application, and if students are not given ways to meaningfully contribute to their class or their groups by utilizing their personal strengths; then students will likely become apathetic, tune out, and not apply themselves in a way that stretches their minds to new dimensions.?When a teacher has 20-30+ students (and in middle school/high school when they teacher multiple periods) some may wonder if differentiating/personalizing instruction is even possible?

??Is Differentiation Even Possible???

?Over the years, I have heard it said, that differentiation and personalization is nice in theory, but it’s not really possible.?I recently read a blog where the author said, “Getting it just right for everyone is just a pipe dream. Essentially what we are talking about here is the myth of differentiation within a whole class context.” Ouch! I have to say, that to read comments like this is disheartening.?Fortunately, I have had the joy to have observed countless educators who have successfully differentiated, and I have had countless opportunities to be fulfilled to see students blossom in classrooms with teachers who know how to provide the “just right” learning environment for students.?

???BrainPOP is that “Just Right” Porridge for Students??

?One of the many amazing qualities of BrainPOP, is that it does all of the aforementioned traits, that are so important in providing just right learning opportunities.?BrainPOP:

• Provides topics of interest that inspire kids to connect deeply to any topic by making it relatable, entertaining, and easy to understand – 1200 videos and new ones all the time.
• Students can showcase what they know through a range of learner centered creative tools and activities; including Creative Coding, Make-a-Movie, Make-a-Map, Challenge, GameUP and more.?All of these creative tools allow for students to have a low entry and a high ceiling so that all students can be successful!

(*Listen to Michelle Manning, Technology Integration Specialist at Smithtown Central School District, on how she uses Make-A-Movie to differentiate learning for students)

• BrainPOP’s?Assignment Builder enables teachers to easily group students to differentiate by content, learning process, and product. Or, teachers can let students follow their own curiosity, by giving students autonomy and agency to choose their learning path and activities which we know boosts student motivation when choice is a part of instruction.

• Immersive Reader – Microsoft’s Immersive Reader’s integration with BrainPOP supports the development of critical reading and comprehension skills while making learning accessible for all students. Karina Linch, Chief Product Officer at BrainPOP has shared, “We’re excited to level the playing field with Microsoft Immersive Reader’s proven techniques to improve reading and accessibility for all learners. This inclusive learning tool addresses the challenges teachers face to support a wide range of student reading abilities across content areas.?

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By ensuring that?all?students get the "just right" learning in the classroom, BrainPOP is the perfect learning platform for?all?students. So let’s help students flex their minds, so that we can empower kids to shape the world around them and within them.