Differentiated instruction has been and most likely will always be
a crucial component of our discussions in TBT and BLT meetings
when we discuss strategies to address student learning in our
classrooms. In the article “Defining Differentiated Instruction,”
Rebecca Alber, Contributing Editor for edutopia.com, explains
some key points in defining differentiation as it looks when put
into practice.
Alber explains, “We have to start where each child is in his learning process in order to authentically meet his academic needs and help him grow.” While this statement is true, it can sometimes be difficult to put this statement into practice. Albert suggests starting with the student. Examine student records like IEPs to determine accommodations or modifications that need to be made for the student while in your classroom.
Alber explains, “We have to start where each child is in his learning process in order to authentically meet his academic needs and help him grow.” While this statement is true, it can sometimes be difficult to put this statement into practice. Albert suggests starting with the student. Examine student records like IEPs to determine accommodations or modifications that need to be made for the student while in your classroom.
“Making an assignment, task, or objective different for one
student than the rest of the class is meeting that child where they
are in their learning journey,” Alber expresses. Using an example
from Of Mice and M en, Alber provides an excellent example to
illustrate how to modify an assignment to allow a student in her
classroom to feel successful. Most importantly, though, Alber
recognized that success for this student would look differently
than the other students for this assignment.
Finally, differentiated instruction “may mean providing extra time to complete an assignment, giving directions again, reducing the length of an assignment, or offering alternate assignments or projects altogether.” Albert continues to provide classroom ready examples of differentiation but also strengthens her primary point that differentiation is about fairness. While some teachers may believe that “making an assignment less difficult for one student is not fair to the others,” Alber believes that teachers need to evaluate what is fair for every student in their classroom. Some students just don’t learn the same way as others and may need differentiated instruction to access the content of the class.
Visit http://www.edutopia.org/blog/differentiated-instruction-
definition-strategies-alber to read the entire article and to follow links to ready-to-use strategies to differentiate instruction in your classroom.
In the iTunes store, look up The Whole Child Podcast and search “Differentiated Instruction Works” to hear educators discuss how they put differentiation into practice.
Finally, differentiated instruction “may mean providing extra time to complete an assignment, giving directions again, reducing the length of an assignment, or offering alternate assignments or projects altogether.” Albert continues to provide classroom ready examples of differentiation but also strengthens her primary point that differentiation is about fairness. While some teachers may believe that “making an assignment less difficult for one student is not fair to the others,” Alber believes that teachers need to evaluate what is fair for every student in their classroom. Some students just don’t learn the same way as others and may need differentiated instruction to access the content of the class.
Put it into practice!
Differentiation can come in many forms. Try one of these strategies to differentiate instruction in your classroom.
1. Cloze notes or guided notes
to help students focus on quality of content rather quantity of writing.
2. Sentence Starters to help struggling writers develop ideas for writing
3. Graphic organizers to help students organize complex thoughts and ideas
4. Assessment choices provide options for students to show mastery of a skill or concept
Differentiation can come in many forms. Try one of these strategies to differentiate instruction in your classroom.
1. Cloze notes or guided notes
to help students focus on quality of content rather quantity of writing.
2. Sentence Starters to help struggling writers develop ideas for writing
3. Graphic organizers to help students organize complex thoughts and ideas
4. Assessment choices provide options for students to show mastery of a skill or concept
Visit http://www.edutopia.org/blog/differentiated-instruction-
definition-strategies-alber to read the entire article and to follow links to ready-to-use strategies to differentiate instruction in your classroom.
In the iTunes store, look up The Whole Child Podcast and search “Differentiated Instruction Works” to hear educators discuss how they put differentiation into practice.
