Challenging a Student in a Multi-level Class

Here is a list of ideas for challenging a higher-level student in a multi-level class. These ideas work well when a student finishes a task early and is waiting for the next step.

• Ask the student to explain his/her/their answer choices.
• Ask the student to tell you more or add descriptive details.
• Ask the student to use the skill she/he/they is/are practicing in a new context.
• The student can do spelling practice alone or with a partner with the words in the text or workbook that the class is using.
• The student can add items to what they wrote or read, such as adjectives, adverbs, changing the verb tense, or making sentences negative.
• Ask the student make judgments related to the task he/she/they just completed: Do you think it is better to _____ or _____? Why?
• Purposely make a mistake with the skill the student is practicing and see if the student can find the mistake.