Why Differentiate??? Students have different needs, abilities, and strengths. One size fits all teaching does not work. Differentiation provides students with multiple ways to access content. Differentiation facilitates student ownership in their learning process.

Differentiated Instruction “Differentiated instruction is a teaching philosophy based on the premise that teachers should adapt instruction to student differences. Rather than marching students through the curriculum lockstep, teachers should modify their instruction to meet students’ varying readiness levels, learning preferences, and interests. Therefore, the teacher proactively plans a variety of ways to ‘get at’ and express learning.” Carol Ann Tomlinson

So what is differentiation?? A teachers response to any learners need Instruction and assessment that respects and encourages student differences Guided by general principals of differentiation

Teachers can differentiate according to students’ Readiness to Learn Interests Learning Profile/Style

to Differentiate Content Reading Partners / Reading Buddies Read/Summarize Read/Question/Answer Visual Organizer/Summarizer Parallel Reading with Teacher Prompt Choral Reading/Antiphonal Reading Flip Books Split Journals (Double Entry – Triple Entry) Books on Tape Highlights on Tape Digests/ “Cliff Notes” Note-taking Organizers Varied Texts Varied Supplementary Materials Highlighted Texts Think-Pair-Share/Preview Tomlinson – ‘00

Differentiating Process Making adaptations to the “sense making” of a lesson Offer students more than one way to grasp content, master skills, and develop ownership of important ideas Examples: Role-playing; Hands-on activities; Learning Contracts; Flexible grouping Learning Centers and Tiered Activities

- CHOICE- The Great Motivator! Requires children to be aware of their own readiness, interests, and learning profiles. Students have choices provided by the teacher. (YOU are still in charge of crafting challenging opportunities for all students – NO taking the easy way out!) Use choice across the curriculum: writing topics, content writing prompts, self-selected reading, contract menus, math problems, spelling words, product and assessment options, seating, group arrangement, ETC... GUARANTEES BUY-IN AND ENTHUSIASM FOR LEARNING!

to Differentiate Product Choices based on readiness, interest, and learning profile Clear expectations Timelines Agreements Product Guides Rubrics Evaluation

Map Diagram Sculpture Discussion Demonstration Poem Profile Chart Play Dance Campaign Cassette Quiz Show Banner Brochure Debate Flow Chart Puppet Show Tour Lecture Editorial Painting Costume Placement Blueprint Catalogue Dialogue Newspaper Scrapbook Lecture Questionnaire Flag Scrapbook Graph Debate Museum Learning Center Advertisement Book List Calendar Coloring Book Game Research Project TV Show Song Dictionary Film Collection Trial Machine Book Mural Award Recipe Test Puzzle Model Timeline Toy Article Diary Poster Magazine Computer Program Photographs Terrarium Petition Drive Teaching Lesson Prototype Speech Club Cartoon Biography Review Invention Possible Products