NM UDL

Rally Reader has a wonderful digital library that can help students of all ages enjoy reading without leaving home this summer! Be sure to share with your families.

Day five of our favorite Eduprotocols! Iron Chef!

One of our favorite ways to increase collaboration, engagement, and deeper thinking in the classroom is through the Iron Chef EduProtocol.

Students work in teams to:
• Research a topic
• Synthesize information
• Create collaborative slides
• Present their learning in a short amount of time

The “Secret Ingredient” is what makes it even more engaging. Students might:
• Create a meme
• Write a headline
• Make a real-world connection
• Create an analogy

Simple directions to get started:

1. Pick a topic
2. Create student teams
3. Provide resources
4. Set a timer (usually 10 minutes max)
5. Have students present their learning

Why teachers love it:
• Replaces long lectures with active learning
• Encourages student ownership
• Builds communication and collaboration skills
• Keeps students engaged 

What happens when students generate the questions instead of only answering them?

You get curiosity, collaboration, and deeper thinking.

This 6th grade Wicked Hydra activity on the Water Cycle turned a science topic into an inquiry-based learning experience where students built questions together in a collaborative mind-map format.

Students explored questions like:
• Why does water v***r rise?
• How do clouds form?
• Why is the water cycle important?
• What would happen if the water cycle stopped?
• How does the water cycle affect living things?

Using the Wicked Hydra strategy from EduProtocols, students:
✔ Collaborated with peers
✔ Added onto each other’s thinking
✔ Practiced inquiry and discussion
✔ Built background knowledge
✔ Made their learning visible

I love how this strategy encourages students to think beyond memorizing vocabulary words like ev***ration, condensation, and precipitation. Instead, they begin asking meaningful questions and making connections.

This works great for:
• Science
• Social Studies
• ELA
• Test prep
• Front-loading a new unit

Learn more about EduProtocols:
https://www.eduprotocols.com

Day 3 of NM UDL‘s favorite Eduprotocols!

 ✨ Thin Slides: Big Thinking, One Image ✨

Looking for a quick, engaging way to check for understanding while giving students voice and choice?

Try Thin Slides!

Students create:
• 1 slide
• 1 word
• 1 image

That’s it — but the thinking behind it is powerful.

This strategy encourages:
✔ Visual communication
✔ Student voice
✔ Retrieval practice
✔ Quick engagement
✔ Meaning-making across content areas

Examples:
• Science → “Translucent” with a real-world image
• Social Studies → “Monarchy” with a historical example
• Math → “Parallel” shown through photography
• Test Prep → “Most important concept from this unit”

How it works:
• Give students a prompt
• One slide per student
• Add one image + one word
• Set a quick timer
• Share and discuss

It’s simple, low prep, and works for elementary through high school.

Learn more:
🔗 https://www.eduprotocols.com/thin-slides

Day 2 of Our Favorite EduProtocols: Number Mania

Resources here: bit.ly/4eshVMG

If you’re looking for something simple that actually gets ALL students involved, this is a good one to try.

Number Mania is a quick, collaborative way for students to explore a topic using numbers and facts.

Here’s how it works:
• Each student adds one fact + one number
• The class builds in a shared space
• Every student creates their own slide
• It all comes together into an infographic

What I love about this strategy is that it:
• Gets every student contributing
• Builds real content knowledge (not just busy work)
• Works in ANY subject
• Is easy to implement this time of year

Great for:
End-of-year review
Research projects
Quick engagement lessons

Want to check it out?
Moler’s Musings:
https://mrmoler.com/2018/02/04/number-mania/

How-to video:
https://youtu.be/6XlQqF0G4hA

We made you a ribbon. It's digital. You can't wear it, frame it, or trade it for thirty uninterrupted minutes of planning time.

But here's what we know. You brought us into your classrooms and your thinking. You designed learning that opened doors for more students. No matter the size of your community, you do work that is not simple but reaches further than you'll ever see.

Getting to be alongside you in that is the best part of what we do.

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week from the NM UDL Team.

NM UDL’s Favorite EduProtocols
Day 1: Sketch and Tell

If you’re looking for a simple strategy that gets ALL students involved, this is one to try.

Sketch and Tell is exactly what it sounds like
Students sketch their thinking, talk it out with a partner, and then write to explain their understanding

In this example, students used a balloon rocket to show Newton’s 3rd Law
They labeled the action and reaction, explained it out loud, and then put it into writing

Why I love it
• It makes thinking visible
• It supports different learners without extra planning
• It works in any content area
• It is quick and easy to implement

You can use this in
• Science to explain concepts
• ELA to summarize or analyze
• Math to show problem solving
• Social Studies to explain cause and effect

Small shift, big impact in student learning

Learn more: bit.ly/4eshVMG

Let me know if you try it in your classroom

Another great opportunity to join Structure Literacy

https://www.swrecnm.org/human-resources-employment

There is another great opportunity to work at the CREC! Structure literacy is looking to hire coaches around the state! Please visit CREC.org/employment for more information