When They Already Know It

“Some students in almost every classroom already know or will quickly grasp what we are asking them to learn. These students deserve attention to their learning needs as much as any other students in our classes but are too often expected to fend for themselves and wait until others are ready to move forward. Weichel, McCann, and Williams offer real insights, practical solutions, and an experience-informed pathway for recognizing and meeting the needs of these learners.”

“High student engagement is the key to improved achievement and enthusiasm for learning, and the best guidance for innovative and sustainable district improvement comes from those educators 'in the trenches' who have actually done it. This book provides practical suggestions that will make your school a creative, productive, and joyous place for both students and teachers.”

“Educators in schools and districts that embrace the PLC at Work™ process recognize the need for systems of intervention and extension that guarantee extra time and support to ensure each student learns at the highest possible levels. As authors Weichel, McCann, and Williams point out, collaborative teams in high-performing PLCs become very adept at responding to the first three critical questions of learning but too often omit or skim over the equally important fourth critical question, which addresses how we respond to students who are already proficient in the content, for various reasons including lack of time, strategies, or a greater priority placed on designing interventions for students who have not yet learned an essential skill or concept. While addressing the first three critical questions is vitally important, so is addressing critical question 4. To remedy this, When They Already Know It provides very specific strategies, tools, templates, and examples to build extension and personalized learning into the schoolwide system, by name and by need. This book is a must-read for educators at all levels who take the mission of ensuring high levels of learning for all to heart.”