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Extension vs. Enrichment

What is Extension?

Extensions:

"build on current material of the curriculum," Forefront

"help students make dense connections," Forefront

"further the learning aims for a lesson," Oxford University Press

"leveled to fit the student," Ramblings of a Gifted Teacher

Enrichment:

"lies outside of the standards," Forefront

"make choices to self-direct learning" outside the scope of the standards, Forefront

"lead to new in-depth learning," Ramblings of a Gifted Teacher

"allow for compacted learning based on in-class topics," Ramblings of a Gifted Teacher

"dig deeper into the content," Ramblings of a Gifted Teacher

"enhance a student's education by bringing new concepts to light or by using old concepts in a new way," Ramblings of a Gifted Teacher

Pre-assessments and Differentiation provide data and opportunities to extend learning and enrich the learning process.

"Pre-assessment is the first step; differentiation is the second."

First Step: Pre-Assessment

If a gifted or advanced student shows mastery of a skill, don't stop there...ask, "What else about this skill/concept does he/she know?" (Helping Gifted Learners Soar, 2022)

Second Step: Differentiation

Differentiation should not be an accommodation or a substitute for the same skill. "The teacher must be familiar with above-grade-level standards, in-depth content beyond the grade-level text, advanced and extended resources, and alternative instructional strategies." (Helping Gifted Learners Soar, 2022)

What teachers can do:

"Tiered assignments offer students at different starting points appropriate ways to engage with the same content."
Curriculum compacting: the teacher pre-assesses students to see what parts of the curriculum they already know.
1. If students have mastered the concepts, then students can work on grade-level work on the next level or the students can use that time to work on another subject area or project of interest.
"Independent study and inquiry projects are a natural match because gifted and advanced students often have clear areas of interest." (Helping Gifted Learners Soar, 2022)

Reference:

Helping Gifted Learners Soar. (2022, May 11). ASCD. https://www.ascd.org/el/articles/helping-gifted-learners-soar

"Educators must understand the purpose, form, and content of pre-assessments to reap their potential benefits." (Does Pre-Assessment Work?, 2021)

High Impact Teaching Strategies
1. Collaborative Learning
2. Multiple Exposures
3. Metacognitive strategies
10 Easy Ways to Pre-assess
1. Knowledge Splash
2. One-pagers
3. Four Corners
Six Strategies for Challenging Gifted Learners
1. Offer the most difficult first
2. Speak to their Interests
3. Allow gifted students to work together

References:

A. (2021, June 28). 10 Easy Ways to Pre-Test Your Students. Alyssa Teaches. https://alyssateaches.com/10-pre-test-strategies/

For Extensions:

References:

Author, F. E. (2021, August 19). Beyond Standards: 5 Strategies for Enrichment and Extensions. Forefront Education. https://forefront.education/beyond-standards-5-strategies-for-enrichment-and-extensions/

Oxford University Press ELT. (2021, July 30). Creating Extension Activities. Oxford University Press. https://oupeltglobalblog.com/2017/12/29/creating-extension-activities/

For Enrichment:

From Ramblings of a Gifted Teacher
Gifted students love to be challenged. They also love to have the opportunity to explore some of their own interests.
1. Enrichment projects and extension activities challenge gifted students without giving extra work when they are finished with classroom work
2. Enrichment projects and extension activities allow students to apply new knowledge to the next level
3. Enrichment projects and extension activities allow gifted students to not do work that is repetitive. (Gifted students resist work that is repetitive.)
4. Enrichment projects and extension activities allow students to have their own educational experiences.

Reference:

Shoemaker, J. M. (2018, June 20). Enrichment vs. Extension In the Regular Classroom. Ramblings of a Gifted Teacher. https://ramblingsofagiftedteacher.wordpress.com/2014/04/04/enrichment-vs-extension-in-the-regular-classroom/

Resources:

Reference:

Supporting Gifted Students in NC. (2022). NCAGT. Retrieved May 2022, from https://www.ncagt.org/

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