One Size Does Not Fit All: An Introduction to Differentiated Instruction Facilitated By Sara Fridley & Kathleen West Region 3 Education Service Agency Workshop 1

Take Care of Business Introductions Expectations of Trainers Graduate Credit Service Agreements

Workshop Outcomes Increased understanding of what Differentiated Instruction IS & IS NOT Add to our Instructional Strategies Toolbox Increased understanding of theories of multiple intelligence/learning styles Begin planning a differentiated lesson/unit for your own classroom

“Currently, students are required to adapt... to the prevalent teaching practices and instructional materials and assessment instruments. Those who can’t adapt are viewed as being deficient in their ability to learn.” - Marie Carbo, Educating Everybody’s Children

Differentiation IS NOT... The same as individualization Just another way to group kids Expecting less of struggling learners than of typical learners A substitute for specialized services Chaotic New

Good Differentiation IS... Varied avenues to content, process, product Respectful of all learners Proactive Student-centered A blend of whole class, small group, and individual instruction Based on students’ readiness, interests, and/or learning profile

Essential Question What diversity impacts and influences curriculum and instruction?

Diversity in the Classroom ADD ADHD Gifted/Talented LD Vision Impaired Hearing Impaired Maturity Autistic Physically Disabled Multiple Handicapped English Language Learners Social Status Economic Status

3 Key Ways to Differentiate Instruction Process –Activities –Calls on students to use key skills Content –What we teach students –Materials and methods used Product –How students show what they have learned –Should also allow students to extend what they learned

Key #1 – Adapt Process Students use key skills –Bloom’s Taxonomy –Multiple Intelligence Theories Common focus –Vary student activities Teacher uses a variety of methods

Process Differentiation Examples Tiered Assignments –Layered Curriculum (Nunley) Learning Centers Jig Saw Assignments Learning Logs Graphic Organizers Modify their environment (fidgets)

Key #2 – Adapt Content Refers to both materials & methods Accommodate students’ different starting points –Some students ready for more complex or abstract levels –Some students ready for independent work

Content Differentiation Examples Multiple texts Interest centers Learning contracts Support systems –Audiotapes –Mentors –Study partners

Key #3 – Adapt Product Culminating learning experience that occurs after many days or weeks of study Demonstration and extension of what they know, understand, and are able to do

Product Differentiation Examples Variety of assessment types Tiered Assignments Independent Study

Variables to Consider Readiness – in reading, math, & beyond Complexity & Challenge of both process & product Pace of learning and production Grouping practices Use of assessment results to inform teaching and learning

Principles to Guide Differentiated Classrooms Focus on essentials Attend to student differences –NO strategy works on ALL students Assess often and use it to make adjustments/modifications Mutual respect Be flexible Doesn’t happen 100% of the time!!!!

Simple Ways to Start Add an interdisciplinary element to a favorite unit Collaborate with other teachers Offer students a variety of presentation options Apply Multiple Intelligence thinking to group/individual projects

A Few Fun Strategies Lefties Rule! Creature Comforts! Teach In Color!

Left Handed – In a Right Handed World One person in 10 is left handed Hand preference is evident by age 5 Most common items/tools are designed for right handed people –Scissors –Rulers –Musical instruments

Creature Comforts Grades K-12 Tolerance for sitting will ALWAYS be at different levels for different people. Even adults benefit from Fidgets or Movement Set ground rules in the classroom. Remove “it” if/when it becomes a toy or distraction

Tactile Fidgets Grades K-12 Paper clip Cellophane tape rolled backwards around a finger Pipe cleaners Stress balls Pocket Fidget (small item kept in the child’s pocket) Carpet square under desk

Visual Fidgets Grades K-12 Lava lamp Fish tank Mobile

Nomadic Learners “If we build in enough movement during the class period, students will be less likely to move on their own.” Motion resources –Minds in Motion –Learning on Their Feet

Ideas for the Nomadic Learner Mini Field Trip A Home Away From Home The Office Music Stand Learning Rocking Chair Reversal

Act It Out – Visual Clues Grades 4-12 Vocabulary strategy for the Kinesthetic Learner –Place students into groups –Provide 60 seconds to figure out how to Act Out a vocabulary word Example – PERIMETER (walking around edge of room)

perimeter area

Color Increases Understanding Using color for key concepts can increase memory retention up to 25%

Experiment

Memorize the Pattern 30 seconds OrangePurpleYellowBlue RedPinkBlackBlue YellowOrangeRedGreen OrangePurpleYellowBlue RedPinkBlackBlue YellowOrangeRedGreen

Memorize the Pattern 30 seconds PurpleOrangeYellowBlue RedOrangeYellowGreen BluePurpleGreenOrange PurpleOrangeYellowBlue RedOrangeYellowGreen BluePurpleGreenOrange

Memorize the Pattern 30 seconds OrangeBlueGreenPurple YellowPinkRed OrangeBlueGreen OrangeBlueGreenPurple YellowPinkRed OrangeBlueGreen

Teach in Color Color Code –Key Concepts –Colored Pens –Color with Sunshine –Highlight grammar Colored Acetate –Number chart –Sliding mask –Highlighting tape –Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome Painted Essay

A Simple Start “Color Code” key concepts –Easy in modern classrooms White boards & computer software –Key terms in all content areas –Math (parts of equations) –Language arts (parts of speech, important vocabulary, editing) Correct “with sunshine” Students do their own color coding

Words in Color CALEB GATTEGNO

Correct “With Sunshine” Use yellow highlighter to identify incorrect answers Give student option to correct and receive partial (or whole) credit –Option – require students to explain in writing what they did wrong and how they corrected the problem

Use Colored Pens In writing for peer editing –Each member of group gets a different color –Can instantly see if everyone has contributed Option – students use colored pen for their own editing/revising For language study of verbs –Color code the different tenses –Color code the verb endings

Skier (to ski) Je skie Tu skies Il/elle/on skie Nous skions Vous skiez Ils/elles skient

Verb Tense Sample Jack rides his bike every day. He usually gets up at 7 o'clock and rides to work. As a matter of fact, he is on his way to work at the moment. Look at him riding his bike! Last week, he rode his bike over 100 miles. This week he has ridden his bike only 40, but then again, it is only Wednesday. Jack is going to ride his bike into the countryside this weekend where he hope he will be able to ride on some mountain trails.

The Painted Essay

Vision & Learning “25% of students in grades k-6 have visual problems that are serious enough to impede learning.” (American Public Health Association) “It is estimated that 80% of children with a learning disability have an undiagnosed vision problem.” (Vision Council of America)

20/20 does not mean that vision is perfect! The 20/20 vision test does not test how well you see at reading distance. In fact, the 20/20 test fails to evaluate many other important aspects of normal vision such as: – Eye focusing –Eye coordination –Eye teaming (binocular vision) –Eye movement –Visual perceptual skills –Color vision

Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome 12% of population Contrast problems (only 1 symptom) –Black text on bright white paper –Striped patterns on carpet clothes seem to move –Vertical/horizontal blinds Leads to classroom difficulties –Restlessness –Difficulty staying on task

Use Colored Paper or Acetate Contrast problems (only 1 of many symptoms) Strategies –Use dull colored paper for writing to reduce glare –Use colored acetate over black text on white paper –Use a bookmark when reading to avoid losing place –Has an excellent simulation of Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome

Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome Contrast problems (only 1 symptom) Strategies –Use dull colored paper for writing –Use colored acetate over black text on white paper –Use a bookmark when reading to avoid losing place

Time For Lunch

Multiple Intelligences Begin With the Brain

Dots on Grids AB C D

Simple Learning Styles Auditory –Learns best from listening Visual –Learns best from seeing Kinesthetic/Tactile –Learns best from doing

Why Visual Literacy? Average youth today –By age ,000 hours watching TV By age 14 has seen 12,000 murders on network TV programming!!!! –By 18 – 12,500 hours in school Average vocabulary of 14-year-olds is shrinking –In 1950 – 25,000 words –In 1999 – 10,000 words

Visual Learner Images go directly to long-term memory in brain Humans process visuals 60,000 times faster than text Words processed sequentially –Keyboard Images processed simultaneously –Camera

Turn Your Paper Sideways Grades 2-7 (or higher if needed) A trick for lining up numbers when working with multi-digit numbers in columns –TURN THE PAPER SIDEWAYS & use the lines as column guides –Also provides novelty (brain trigger)

Jig-Saw Book Good tool for kinesthetic learners They can manipulate the content

Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences Logical/Mathematical Visual/Spatial Musical/Rhythmic Bodily/Kinesthetic Naturalist Interpersonal Intrapersonal Verbal/Linguistic

Sternberg Intelligences Analytical Practical Creative

Watch the ASCD Video

Writing Intelligence Preference Lesson Plans As a result of the lesson, students should –Know what? –Understand what? –Be able to do what? What range of learner needs in your class relate to the topic?

Assignments for February Try a new strategy & report back to the group about the experience Begin the planning process for a lesson using intelligence preference –Choose a standard (or standards) to teach –Identify student goals for that standard –Bring your lesson materials to use

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