Differentiation Session Michael Elder November 8, 2011 Northwoods Park Middle School Room 54

A Quick Differentiation QUIZ Did every student do it? Should every student do it? Could every student do it? Would every student want to do it? Did the student do it willingly and zestfully? Did the student use authentic resources and methodology? Was it done for an audience other than (or in addition to) the teacher?

Your Work Sharing your Projects from last time Bonnie Amy Amanda, Amanda, and Angie- I thought I had one from you all, but I am not putting my fingers on it right now…

Review and Remember Strategies Anchor Activities Curriculum Compacting Tiered Lessons Learning Contracts

Curriculum Compacting Let’s review from Session 2 What? Why? How? Who?

Anchor Activity Purpose: Examples/Ideas Google Time Answers the question, What do I do if I finish early? Typically related to the subject Typically independent Examples/Ideas Google Time Let’s use our technology to search for examples you can use! There are tons of resources and no sense in Reinventing the Wheel I Like http://www.saskschools.ca/~bestpractice/anchor/index.html http://foridahoteachers.org/anchor_activities.htm

Differentiating Review By Content By Process By Product By Learning Environment Check out these ideas from Tomlinson, C. & Eidson, C. (2003). Differentiation in practice: A resource guide for differentiating curriculum (Grades 5-9). ASCD. (pages 6,7,9) Also available for other grade bands.

What can be tiered? Assignments Experiments Materials Activities Homework Learning Centers Experiments Materials Assessments Writing Prompts

Tiering Lessons How to Tier and Examples It’s search and research time Let’s take a few minutes to do some Internet searching for tiering examples or clarification that you can use

Learning Contracts An agreement between teacher and student An opportunity for a student to work somewhat independently Increases student responsibility for their own learning Provides some freedom for the student in acquiring skills and understandings

Learning Contracts Include: A skills component A content component A time line Specification of expectations Behavior Criteria for successful completion and quality Signatures of agreement to terms (Student and Teacher) ACSD (1997) Tomlinson (1995)

Consequences: Learning contracts set positive consequences Example: continued freedom They also set negative consequences Example: teacher sets work parameters

What Next? Thursday, December 8 Example of use of one of the strategies What can you still use help with?