Teacher Tools for the Critical Skills Classroom

Teacher Tools for the Critical Skills Classroom is a supplemental resource for teachers, designed to be used in association with the Level I and II Critical Skills Coaching Kit. ACSR is pleased to offer this set of resources for the classroom to support student work and teacher facilitation free of charge. The tools are designed to be copied and used. You will find few specific directions for how to use individual tools because they are designed to allow you to interpret and apply them in ways that fit your unique environment. There are three types of tools included here:

Student tools guide students through processes such as problem solving, decision making, and collaboration. It provides a vehicle for creating evidence of their thoughts and actions.Assessment tools illustrate a variety of ways to effectively use quality criteria as a foundation for giving rich feedback to students and for engaging them in an assessment dialog.

Coaching, planning and design tools aid teachers in planning for facilitation and mediation of student experiences. There are also tools that demonstrate several different approaches to the crafting of problem-based challenges.

For your convenience, we have designated tools as appropriate for use at the Elementary, Middle or Secondary level. The differences are largely in format and phrasing, but feel free to use any tool as you deem appropriate.

Download our:

• Nine Characteristics of the Critical Skills Classroom Poster (PDF – 8 1/2″ by 14″)
• Tools stickers (Word Doc – Avery 5160 labels)