Dear Wibbeteers!

Genius Ladder 2.0

As many of you have noted, the Genius Ladder is one of our most popular and powerful games for teaching writing. (A description of the Genius Ladder is in the download, “Designing Your WBT Model Classroom” available under “Free EBooks” above.)

Here are two simple additions to the game that will significantly extend the Genius Ladder’s powers … using nothing but a pair of dice!

Tell your kids that they’ve been doing so great, that you think they’re ready to move up to Genius Ladder 2.0. Explain that when they get to the Extender level, there are now six options:

1. Triple Extender
In the woods, the big dog barked at the bear.
The big dog, in the woods, barked at the bear.
The big dog barked at the bear in the woods.
2. Adverb Extender (use an ly adverb)
The big dog bark loudly at the bear.
3. Preposition Extender
The big dog barked at the bear in the woods.
4. Compound Extender (use a conjunction with an independent clause)
The big dog barked at the bear in the woods and the boy ran to see what was wrong.
5. Complex Extender (use a dependent clause)
The big dog, sounding frightened, barked at the bear.
6. The Dreaded Compound Complex Extender (dependent clause, conjunction and two independent clauses)
The big dog, sounding frightened, barked at the bear in the woods and the boy ran to see what was wrong.

Thus, when your kids get to the Extender sentence they must write as many as they can following one of the six patterns. But how do they know which pattern? You let one of your kids roll a die (kids love that!). The number rolled determines the pattern for the whole class. And, of course, earning the privilege of rolling the die is a reward which will prompt your most challenging kids to become angels.

A second feature of Genius Ladder 2.0 is a new rule for Adders. Rolling a PAIR of dice determines the minimum number of words in each Adder sentence. For example, a roll of 9 means that every Adder must have at least 9 words.

Adding dice and new challenges to the Extender level will not only get kids deeply engaged in the Genius Ladder but also guide them into more sophisticated sentence constructions.

Let me know what you think by posting your response to this post.

Please buy me a red and green hanky because I’ll be weeping tears of joy all Christmas.

What a fantastic morsel of WBT goodness, Coach!

I think this is a fun way for students to get continued exposure to those grammar topics that are tricky!

I can't wait to try Genius Ladder 2.0 in my classroom!


Tiffany
WBT Intern, 2011-2012

I think it can be a fun way to practice these skills. One thing I would probably do is start with two or three on these by making a die that only has the numbers that I am working on. (ex: on die with two 1's, two 2's, and two 3's.) This way you could tailor what you are doing to what has been introduced and practice those skills without having to wait until they are ready for all six.

When you teach K-5th, you have to do a lot of adjusting.

Susan Floyd
WBT Intern, 2011-12

Good idea Susan, differentiate the lesson.
Annette

So awesome!! Genius Ladder 2.0 - Merry Christmas to me!!

Thanks Coach B for a new idea! my 3rd graders beg to do Genius Ladder. They will really love this. Susan, that is definitely a great idea to just do 2-3 at a time. With the younger kids, especially special needs students, it can get complicated.

I like the additions!