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Try This: Differentiate Your Windowpanes with Ease
Windowpanes already have built-in choice: 8 boxes, and students pick their path. Here are three ways to lean into that, depending on how much you want to take on right now. Need a quick refresher on Windowpanes? Check out this guide on introducing them to your Math Menu.
Start here (low lift)
Give students one windowpane (the one for your grade level) and ask everyone to choose at least 5 panes to complete. Same content for everyone: the differentiation is just in what order and how many they tackle first. Lowest lift, easiest way to try choice for the first time.
Try this next (moderate lift)
Print one grade level's panes on the front (A–D) and a different grade level's panes on the back (E–H). Everyone chooses at least 5 panes total across both sides. Now you're offering access points and stretch on a single sheet (a bit more prep, but no extra pages to manage).
Go further (higher lift)
Print two full grade levels' windowpanes as two separate sheets, and let students choose 8 panes total across both. This gives the widest range of entry points and challenge, but means prepping and keeping track of two pages per student.
Pick whichever feels doable this week: you don't have to jump to the biggest lift right away.
Copy-and-paste prompts for AI Math Coach
Prompt 1: Planning
I'm using a windowpane on [mathematical concept] with my [grade level] students. Can you help me decide which differentiation approach to use (one grade level with students choosing 5 of 8 panes, two grade levels split front/back with students choosing 5 of 8 total, or two full grade-level sheets with students choosing 8 of 16 total) based on the range of readiness in my group: [describe your students' range]?
Prompt 2: Reflection
I just tried [differentiation approach] with a windowpane on [mathematical concept]. Here's what I noticed: [which panes students gravitated toward, how engagement looked, anything surprising]. What should I pay attention to next time, or how might I adjust the approach?
Bring it back: After you try one of these, come tell your AI Math Coach what you noticed: which panes did students gravitate toward? Did the choice change who engaged with harder problems?
Ready to try it?
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