Differentiated Instruction Strategies

R.A.F.T.

Come aboard!!

A R.A.F.T.is…

….an engaging strategy that encourages writing across the curriculum.

….a way to encourage students to .. assume a ROLE consider their AUDIENCE, while examining a TOPIC from their chosen perspective, and writing in a particular FORMAT

All of the above can serve as motivators by giving students choice, appealing to their interests and learning profiles, and adapting to students readiness levels.

The ROLE of writer, speaker,artist, historian, reporter, eyewitness, etc.

An AUDIENCE of fellow writers,students, citizens, characters, etc.

Through a FORMAT that is written, spoken, drawn, acted, etc.

A TOPIC related to curriculumcontent in greater depth.

electron

neutron

proton

R A F T

RAFTs can… Be differentiated in a variety of ways: readiness

level, learning profile, and/or student interest. Be created by students (you can incorporate a blank

row for that option) Be used as introductory “hooks” into a unit of study. Have one consistent column while varying the other

columns in the raft grid.

The possibilities are endless. See your handout for specific examples. An internet search will also produce a plethora of examples.

Possible Formats to use with RAFTs that address a variety of learning styles.

Written Visual Oral Kinesthetic

•diary entry•bulleted list•obituary•invitation•product guide•game rules•recipe•movie critic•FreqAskQues•editorial•character monologue•job application•gossip column•mag. article

•cartoon/comic•crossword puzzle•map•scale plan or drawing•graphic org.•concept web•illustration•print ad•photograph•powerpoint•‘how to’ diagram•fashion design

•song•set of discussion ?s•conversation•monologue•sermon•radiocast•museum guide•commercial•reader’s theater•interview•tasting•political speech•puppet show•storytell

•model•cheer•mime•reenactment•wax museum•demonstration•sales pitch with demo elements•physical analogies•taste tests•‘how to’ video•game•sew, cook, build•design a ....

How can I introduce this strategy to my students

To get students more actively involved in understanding a RAFT, you may present them with a sample RAFT.

Getting Your Ideas Across on a RAFT (From a Lesson titled: Don't Let Your Car Make a Fuel Out of You! Energy Education Curriculum Project)

Role of a writer: You must decide who (or what) you will be. Will you be writing as an old car?

Will you be a piece of pavement? a bicycle? How about a person or even a bird continually exposed to air pollution from cars?

Audience: To whom are you writing? Are you writing to a specific person? to Congress? to

a child? to a machine? to a car? to an auto manufacturer?

Format: What form will your writing take? Will you write a letter or a speech? Will it be an

obituary, a conversation, a memo, a journal, or a diary?

Topic + strong verb: What is your topic? What strong verb will help you present your topic? For

example, persuade a congressman to vote for more ethanol in gasoline, demand that more fuel efficient cars are built, plead for a car to be driven more efficiently.

http://www.uni.edu/earth/EECP/mid/mod3.html

Practically all RAFT assignments are written from a viewpoint other than that of a student. They are usually written to an audience other than the teacher. They take a form other than students would write as a standard essay. Seldom is the word "write" used as a RAFT verb. Stronger verbs are used like "plead", "convince", "clarify", all of which focus the assignment by setting the tone of the response.

Possible RAFT Roles and/or Audiences

Car (New, used, Junker)Parent

Teen Car Dealer

MechanicRace Car DriverGasoline PumpSteering WheelAccelerator PedalPolice Officer

Car DesignerTireRoad KillLawyer

Possible Raft Topics complaint

confessioncontest entryeulogyfarewelljournaldiarylegal brief memonews storyobituarypamphletphoto essayrecommendationsermonreview

resumelecturetelephone dialoguetravelogueTV scriptundercover reportwanted posterwarninglast will & testamentwritten debateyearbookpoetrywedding vowsbirth announcement

scolding

Sample RAFT Sketch #2:R = Gas PumpA = TeenagerF = LectureT = Fuel Efficiency - (Reprimand)

Know: (facts, vocab) {think about the KNOW when planning the Role or Audience?}Understand: (statement) {think about the Understand when writing the topics}Do: (verb) {This might be the guide for the format?}

RAFT Planning Sheet

Role Audience Format Topic

Semicolon Middle

Schoolers

Diary Entry I wish you really understood where I belong.

N. Y. Times Public Op Ed How our language defines who we are.

Huck Finn Tom Sawyer

Note hidden in tree knot

A few things you should know.

Business Education RAFTStudents are reviewing elements from “Insert” Drop Down MenuThis RAFT uses the columns of Role and Audience to review basic elements and vocabulary of this unit.

Role Audience Format Topic

Page number

Writer of a document

List of questions What to consider about how to format me and where I belong

Text Box TV audience Late Night’s Top 10 List

What you need to know to use me right.

Clip art Student preparing a PowerPoint presentation

Song lyrics ”Find me, Place me, Change Me”

Column break

Page break Opinion statement Why I’m more important than you

A Caption Editor Set of directions How to clarify what is in a pie chart or diagram

Auto Text feature

Writers of business letters

Energizer Bunny commercial

The advantages of using Auto Text

Know: (facts, vocab) {think about the KNOW when planning the Role or Audience?}Understand: (statement) {think about the Understand when writing the topics}Do: (verb) {This might be the guide for the format?}

RAFT Planning Sheet

Role Audience Format Topic

Afghan youth

American youth

Letter What I wish you knew about me.

Thomas Jefferson

Current residents of Tennessee

Newspaper

Article

Influence of Meriwether Lewis on westward expansion.

Compass Rose

Middle Schoolers

Poem I point the way.

Know: (facts, vocab) {think about the KNOW when planning the Role or Audience?}

Understand: (statement) {think about the Understand when writing the topics}

Do: (verb) {This might be the guide for the format?}

RAFT Planning Sheet

Role Audience Format Topic

Quadriceps Athlete Letter How to protect me.

Raphael Andy Warhol

Poem Lessons from the School of Athens

Quarter note

Rest Poem How much time you got?

Know: (facts, vocab) {think about the KNOW when planning the Role or Audience?}Understand: (statement) {think about the Understand when writing the topics}Do: (verb) {This might be the guide for the format?}

RAFT Planning Sheet

Role Audience Format Topic

William Harvey

Lungs Drawing Let’s circulate!

Mesosphere Thermo-sphere

Poem We’re reflective

Rocket Fuel

Rocket Engine

Letter Let’s get going!

Moon Ocean Tide Poem I’ve got pull

Angles Relationship RAFT

Role Audience Format Topic

One vertical angle Opposite vertical angle Poem It’s like looking in a mirror

Interior (exterior) angle Alternate interior (exterior) angle

Invitation to a family reunion

My separated twin

Acute angle Missing angle Wanted poster Wanted: My complement

An angle less than 180 Supplementaryangle

Persuasive speech Together, we’re a straight angle

**Angles Humans Video See, we’re everywhere!

** This last entry would take more time than the previous 4 lines, and assesses a little differently. You could offer it as an option with a later due date, but you would need to specify that they need to explain what the angles are, and anything specific that you want to know such as what is the angle’s complement or is there a vertical angle that corresponds, etc.

Algebra RAFT

Role Audience Format Topic

Coefficient Variable Email We belong together

Scale / Balance Students Advice column Keep me in mind when solving an

equation

Variable Humans Monologue All that I can be

Variable Algebra students Instruction manual How and why to isolate me

Algebra Public Passionate plea Why you really do need me!

RAFT assignment: Foods UnitRole

Cookbook Writer

Audience

Cooks

Format

Recipe

Topic

Instructions on food preparation

Chef Customer Menu Detailed description of food preparation

Customer Restaurant Owner Complaint Problem with food or poor service

Student Overseas

Travel Writer

Parents

Reader wanting to travel

Letter

Recommendation

Describing a typical meal you eat with your guest family

Good things to eat while in Germany, what to avoid

Consumer Education Class RAFTIn this RAFT, all students will have a Topic that focus on food safety practices. The Formats are meant to appeal to different learning styles.

Role Audience Format Topic

Raw chicken pieces

Chefs in training Dramatic speech Why foods like me (poultry) require special handling and care of utensils

Cartoon characters

Saturday morning viewers

Jingle, rap, or chant

The importance of cleanliness and washing hands

National Restaurant Organization

Restaurant workers Illustrated Poster or Flow Diagram

Proper care of knives and cutting boards

Bacteria Ground beef Role play or simulation

Dangers of thawing meat out on a counter

Power Company Consumer Relations Dept.

Homeowners who have lost power for 3+ days due to hurricane or ice storm

Consumer Alert messages for broadcast on TV

What to do with items from the refrigerator and freezer that have come to room temperature

Mayonnaise in egg salad

Picnickers Urgent Email Watch out! I’m going to get you!

Possible Role or Audience Ideas for a RAFTChoose ideas that advance the learning goals.

•Characters from a story

•Public service job

•Key terms •Scientists or politicians

•Historical figures

•Musical instruments

•Diseases •Geographic formations

•Vocabulary words

•Cartoon characters

•Types of fabric

•Composers or artists

•Instruments or tools

•Shapes or colors

•Authors or inventors

•Business or industry person

•Minerals or chemical elements

•Cities, countries, continents

•Brand name object

•Technical terms

•Tradesman or other job

•Animals, birds, pets

•Body systems •Celebrity or talk show host

Know: (facts, vocab) {think about the KNOW when planning the Role or Audience?}

Understand: (statement) {think about the Understand when writing the topics}

Do: (verb) {This might be the guide for the format?}

RAFT Planning Sheet

Role Audience Format Topic