Echo Wu, Ph.D. Murray State University KAGE, February 24, 2015 You Can Do it! Daily Practice Using Differentiation Strategies in Regular Classroom Echo Wu, Ph.D. Murray State University KAGE, February 24, 2015

Today’s Outline Why differentiation? Myths in gifted education What can teachers do without too much extra work? Strategies for daily practice

Why Do We Need Differentiation? Gifted Ed vs Special Ed Differences between GT & regular kids -- Readiness (Content: depth & breadth) -- Pace of learning (process) -- Learning styles (process) -- Learning preferences (products)

Myths of Gifted Education To look closer at the needs of gifted students, let’s see this video on myths in gifted education: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDJst-y_ptI

A Quick Discussion Think about your students: What are the most important reasons you need to differentiate in your own classroom? Share one or two cases you have experienced Have you differentiated before? How do you feel about differentiation?

Too Much Already! And Extra Work?

No! It’s a Myth! Differentiation Can be Easier Than You Think!

What Do You Want to Differentiate? Content: Providing different levels of content, allowing GT students to gain deeper, broader understanding of a subject Process: Adjusting the pace of instruction, allowing GT students to work in their own speed or style Products: Giving them options to produce different products, bringing their own talents into classroom

Daily Practice: Differentiate Content Understand students’ readiness Understand what they are interested It can be quick! (Within 1-2 minute) -- Exit cards -- Quick quiz -- Questions -- Multiple choices

Daily Practice: Differentiate Process Understand how students learning style Multiple Intelligence You may use a survey to check MIs of your students: For older students: http://tinyurl.com/miforstudents For younger kids: http://tinyurl.com/miforkids For adults: http://tinyurl.com/miforadults

Daily Practice: Differentiate Products http://tinyurl.com/productchoice -- autobiography -- documentary -- essay -- experiment -- hands-on activity -- reading -- song lyrics -- story/poem -- chart -- oral report/speech -- design -- drawing -- illustrations -- photo essay -- drama -- exhibit -- animated movie -- flip chart -- game -- puppet show -- map -- role-play -- sculpture -- TV broadcast

Eight Intelligences 1. Verbal/Linguistic 2. Logical/Mathematical 3. Visual/Spatial 4. Bodily-Kinesthetic 5. Musical 6. Interpersonal 7. Intrapersonal 8. Naturalist

What Is Your MI? Discuss in small group, and see the order you choose for your own MIs & the reasons

Example: Choice Board Choice Boards offer students a way to make decisions about what they will do in order to meet class requirements. They could be for a single lesson, a week long lesson, or even a month long period of study.

You Need to… Setting Standards It is important that no matter which choices students make, they must learn the basic/key ideas and use the skills central to the topic or area of study Create minimum requirement Make sure students understand that you expect ALL of them to achieve

Example: Learning Contract A learning contract is a collaboratively written agreement between a student and a teacher that describe clearly what is to be learned, how it will be learned, and how that learning will be evaluated.

Some Easy Ways for Daily Classroom Differentiation Carol Tomlinson Interview (Wu, 2009) Use some time to work with a small group of your students Anchor activities Find learning stations/centers Tiered lesson (essential knowledge & skills but different degrees of difficulty or complexity)

A List of Differentiation Strategies

Need to Pay Attention to… Start slowly! “Start with some strategies that don’t radically change the way you teach. In that way, neither planning nor management seems beyond your grasp” Tell students what you are doing and tell them why and what! They can understand and enjoy DI more quickly than you may think Think about practical ways, e.g., how to move around in the classroom; directions for multiple tasks; how they can get help etc. Both formal and informal assessments are important

Shine On Today! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEa0xpWi7C4

Thank You! Contact Information Echo Wu, Ph.D. College of Education Murray State University Tel: 270-226-5530 Email: ewu@murraystate.edu