Teacher Tools for the Critical Skills Classroom

Tools for the Critical Skills Classroom is a supplemental resource for teachers, designed to be used in association with the Level I and II Critical Skills Coaching Kit. ACSR is pleased to offer this set of resources for the classroom to support student work and teacher facilitation free of charge. The tools are designed to be copied and used. You will find few specific directions for how to use individual tools because they are designed to allow you to interpret and apply them in ways that fit your unique environment. There are three types of tools included here:

Student tools guide students through processes such as problem solving, decision making, and collaboration. It provides a vehicle for creating evidence of their thoughts and actions.

Assessment tools illustrate a variety of ways to effectively use quality criteria as a foundation for giving rich feedback to students and for engaging them in an assessment dialog.

Coaching, planning and design tools aid teachers in planning for facilitation and mediation of student experiences. There are also tools that demonstrate several different approaches to the crafting of problem-based challenges.

For your convenience, we have designated tools as appropriate for use at the Elementary, Middle or Secondary level. The differences are largely in format and phrasing, but feel free to use any tool as you deem appropriate.

Download our:

Nine Characteristics of the Critical Skills Classroom Poster (8 1/2" by 14")
Tools stickers (Word Doc - Avery 5160 labels)
Hints for Success stickers (Word Doc - Avery 5164 labels)

Title	GradeLevel	Purpose	Description
Skill/ Disposition/ Feedback Form 5		Rubrics	ASsessment
Sources & Resources 2	Elementary Middle School	Problem Solving	Student Tool
Understanding the Problem 2	Elementary Middle School	Problem Solving	Student Tool
What Do I See Happening?	Elementary Middle School	Collaboration	Student Tool
What Do I See Happening? 3	Elementary Middle School	Collaboration	Student Tool
What Do I See Happening? 4	Elementary Middle School	Collaboration	Student Tool
What Might Happen If? 2	Elementary Middle School	Decision Making	Student Tool
What Might Happen If? 4	Elementary Middle School	Decision Making	Student Tool
Who Is Doing What? (Planning Tool)	Elementary Middle School	Task Management	Student Tool
Planning Time Line 2	Elementary Middle School	Task Management	Student Tool
Plus, Minus, Interesting	Elementary Middle School	Decision Making	Student Tool
Project Planning Chart 2	Elementary Middle School	Task Management	Student Tool
Reflective Thinking	Elementary Middle School	Reflection	Student Tool
Problem Sleuthing 2	Elementary Middle School	Problem Sovling	Student Tool
Problem Solving Checklist	Elementary Middle School	Problem Solving	Student Tool
Reflective Thinking 3	Elementary Middle School	Reflection	Student Tool
Skill/ Disposition/ Feedback Form	Elementary Middle School	Rubrics	Assessment
Skill/ Disposition/ Feedback Form 2	Elementary Middle School	Rubrics	Assessment
Skill/ Disposition/ Feedback Form 3	Elementary Middle School	Rubrics	Assessment
Brainstorming Ideas	Elementary Middle School	Idea Generation	Student Tool
Brainstorming Ideas	Elementary Middle School	Idea Generation	Student Tool
Brainstorming 1	Elementary Middle School	Idea Generation	Student Tool
Brainstorming 2	Elementary Middle School	Idea Generation	Student Tool
Brainstorming 3	Elementary Middle School	Idea Generation	Student Tool
Brainstorming 4	Elementary Middle School	Idea Generation	Student Tool
Decide on the Best Idea.pdf	Elementary Middle School	Decision Making	Student Tool
Decide on the Best Idea 2	Elementary Middle School	Decision Making	Student Tool
Deciding Among Options 2	Elementary Middle School	Decision Making	Student Tool
Deciding Among Options	Elementary Middle School	Decision Making	Student Tool
Defining the Problem	Elementary Middle School	Problem Solving	Student Tool
Alternatives And Choices	Elementary Middle School	Decision Making	Student Tool
Getting Out of the Box	Elementary Middle School	Creative Thinking	Student Tool
Do We Have All The Information? 2	Elementary Middle School	Problem Solving	Student Tool
Helps & Hindrances 2	Elementary Middle School	Decision Making	Student Tool
Individual Feedback 2	Elementary Middle School	Feedback	Assessment
Learning Log 2	Elementary Middle School	Reflection	Student Tool
Looks Like/ Sounds Like/ Feels Like 2	Elementary Middle School	Quality	Student Tool
Make A Plan For Your Work 2	Elementary Middle School	Task Management	Student Tool
Mindmap Brainstorm 2	Elementary Middle School	Idea Generation	Student Tool
Mindmap Brainstorm	Elementary Middle School	Idea Generation	Student Tool
Should We Do This?	Elementary MMiddle School	Problem Solving	Student Tool
Ideas, People, Process, Products 2	Elementary Middle School	Collaboration	Student Tool
Project Planning Chart	Middle School	Task Management	Student Tool
What Do I See Happening? 2	Middle School High School	Collaboration	Student Tool
Looks Like/ Sounds Like/ Feels Like	Middle School High School	Quality	Student Tool
Alternatives, Possibilities, and Choices	Middle School High School	Decision Making	Student Tool
Group Problem Solving	Middle School High School	Problem Solving	Student Tool
Defining the Problem 2	Middle School High School	Problem Solving	Student Tool
Do We Have All The Information?	Middle School High School	Problem Solving	Student Tool
Brainstorming	Middle School High School	Idea Generation	Student Tool
Deciding Among Options	Middle School High School	Decision Making	Student Tool
Deciding Among Options 2	Middle School High School	Decision Making	Student Tool
Make A Plan For Your Work	Middle School High School	Task Management	Student Tool
Mulit-Skill & Disposition Feedback Form	Middle School High School	Feedback	Assessment
Observation Checklist	Middle School High School	Checklist	Assessment
Planning Time Line	Middle School High School	Task Management	Student Tool
Learning Log	Middle School High School	Reflection	Student Tool
Inquiry Chart	Middle School High School	Problem Solving	Student Tool
Ideas, People, Process, Products	Middle School High School	Collaboration	Student Tool
Individual Feedback	Middle School High School	Feedback	Assessment
Helps & Hindrances	Middle School High School	Decision Making	Student Tool
What Might Happen If?	Middle School High School	Decision Making	Student Tool
Understanding the Problem	Middle School High School	Problem Solving	Student Tool
Sources & Resources	Middle School High School	Documentation	Student Tool
Who Is Doing What? 2 (Planning Tool)	Middle School High School	Task Management	Student Tool
Product Quality	Middle School High School	Challenge Design	Assessment
Skill/ Disposition/ Feedback Form 4	Middle School High School	Rubrics	Assessment
Key Concepts of Reflective Thinking	Middle School High School	Reflection	Student Tool
Reflective Thinking 2	Middle School High School	Reflection	Student Tool
Plus, Minus, Interesting 2	Middle School High School	Decision Making	Student Tool
Problem Sleuthing	Middle School High School	Problem Solving	Student Tool
Should We Really Do This?	Middle School High School	Problem Solving	Student Tool
What Might Happen If? 3	Middle School High School	Decision Making	Student Tool