IMPACT OF DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION AND ASSESSMENT Holly A. Hiler

How was the teacher able assess for the ultimate goal of students reading, writing, thinking, and speaking critically about global topics? Ms. Vagenas, a 7 th grade Social Studies teacher at the Queens School of Inquiry, assesses students reading, writing, thinking, and speaking skills through a learning menu. She states “ a learning menu is compilation of different activites, specifically differentiated instruction for various different learning, while building a pond for various different literacy skills” (Teaching Channel, 2012). This allows students to work at their own pace and allow the teacher to focus on student’s and their needs. Each section is graded, which give students a good foundation as they move forward throughout the lesson.

How does the lesson show she is preparing her students for multiple assessment type? Ms. Venegas uses several different assessment types. Her assessments vary from pop quizez, critical thinking, summarizing ideas, and have many different instructional materials (travel brochure, learning menu, ect.). She challenges students throughout each activity and ensures students comprehend the material presented before moving that students onwatrd to the next step. Through this, students understand different assessments and will better understand them for future classrooms and lesson plans.

How does student choice play a part of her differentiated instruction? Students within this lesson plan get to choose what specifc topic they want to learn about within the area that Mr. Venegas chooses. Students are encouraged to choose something they enjoy, but also know little about. Through this, students are more apt to stay on target and learn more throughout the lesson plan.

Share one new idea from this lesson and how you could use it or modify it for your own instruction. One idea that I would choose for my own use in lesson plans is the learning menu. I like how students know what their learning objectives are and what they need to accomplish in order to go on to the stage of the lesson plan. I also would use the way Ms. Venegas quizzes students throughout each part of the lesson to ensure students comprehended the material. This a great way to formatively assess students.

References:  Teaching Channel. (2012). Differentiating with learning menus [Video file]. Retrieved from ing-instruction-strategyDifferentiating with learning menus [Video file]. Retrieved from ing-instruction-strategy