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Sick of wrestling with Microsoft Word to create extension menus? I used The Differentiator to create an Extension Menu generator called Extend A Menu. Hopefully you’ll find it useful. Thanks to gifted education publisher, Prufrock Press for helping me launch it!

Extension Menus

In his overview of guidelines for gifted students, Dr. Levande lists “flexibility in assignments” as a key component in a gifted classroom. One way to build flexibility into your classroom is through extension menus.

Extension menus come in all different shapes and sizes (from tic-tac-toe boards to baseball-themed menu) but all offer students choices in how they demonstrate understanding. Menus can also give students a relevant, go-to assignment when they have independent time.

When To Offer Menus

• To students who have compacted or tested out of a unit or lesson.
• As independent activities for when students “have nothing to do.”
• During universal access.
• As a required part of a unit in any subject.
• As a structured way to delve deeper into content.

What Makes An Extension Menu?

• Students select from a set of possible assignments (3 to 9 choices is common).
• Students may be required to select more than one choice.
• Choices offer differentiated objectives.
• Choices are often grouped by complexity of thinking skill.
• Activities are independent so students have freedom as well as responsibility.
• A variety of options enable students to work in the mode that most interests them.

Administrative Details

Establishing clear guidelines is essential in managing a program with extension menus:

• Set a due date (include it on the menu).
• Require the menu to be turned in with work (so you know what options were selected).
• Set a date when students must select their options (if menu is long term).
• Consider how you will handle missing menus.
• How will you grade work from menus?

Don’t Forget!

• Always offer a variety of products – don’t rely solely on what that you personally “like.”
• Always offer assignments at all levels of thinking.
• Always make your directions clear – this is supposed to be independent work.
• Parents may be unfamiliar with menus, so introduce them at back to school or via a letter home.

Resources

There are many wonderful resources out there to help with extension menus, here are a few:

• http://www.fcpsteach.org/gt_renzulli/
• http://district.ausd.net/docs/extension_menus.ppt
• http://daretodifferentiate.wikispaces.com/file/view/Extension+Menu+directions+9.1.04.pdf
• http://www.pvusd.net/departments/GATE/choiceboards.php
• http://www.eht.k12.nj.us/~jonesj/Differentiated%20Instruction/Tic-Tac-Toe.htm
• And, of course Extend A Menu

Authors worth reading:

• Susan Winebrenner
• Laurie Westphal – you can win ALL of her books over at Extend A Menu
• Carol Ann Tomlinson

Where To Get Ideas!?

The most difficult aspect of creating extension menus is thinking of a variety of activities. Consider using:

• The Differentiator, naturally
• Utilize depth and complexity and content imperative thinking tools.
• R.A.F.T.
• Product menus
• Google Wonder Wheel (a nice brainstorming option from Google)
• Your own interests!

Extension menus require upfront work to build, but offer endless options for your gifted students. Make them a part of your classroom culture and you’ll enable students to interact with content in meaningful ways.

Please let me know of any other extension menu sites I should include in this article.