DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION What it happening in your child’s classroom?

All your child’s teacher talks about is differentiated instruction. Do you really know what this means for your child? Definition: It’s a teacher’s proactive response to students’ needs as defined by their abilities, learning styles, and interests. The goal is to provide challenge and success for all learners. Differentiation is based on the notion that, in order to learn, students need to experience a bit of challenge and that when work is too easy intellectual growth is impaired or, perhaps, even impossible. What Every Parent Should Know About Differentiated Instruction - Duke Gifted Letter. (n.d.). Duke Gifted Letter. Retrieved February 17, 2011, from

My goals: What DI is and is not Goals of DI Feel more comfortable with a less “traditional” classroom view The positive impact DI can make for your child Learn how you can get involved

What differentiated Instruction is NOT Differentiated Instruction is NOT chaotic……. Yes students will move around and there will be talking, but this method has a purpose and is well organized by the teachers. Differentiated Instruction is NOT individualization….. It does not mean a different lesson for each student. It does not mean giving all students the same work or assessments all of the time. Differentiated Instruction is NOT assigning more work for students who are advanced….. DI works for all students including students with disabilities.

What Differentiated Instruction IS Differentiated Instruction IS a vision of success for ALL students….. teachers using DI are proactive and realize that different students have different needs. Differentiated Instruction IS qualitative…. adjusting the quality of an assignment will be more effective than adjusting the quantity. Differentiated Instruction IS rooted in assessment…. assessments no longer happen only at the end of a unit. With DI teachers are using assessments throughout the process to better understand the needs of your child. Lessons are designed based on the assessment information.

What Differentiated Instruction IS continued……. Differentiated instruction IS student centered…. students are involved in their learning. They are given a voice and choice with teacher direction to make their learning more successful. Differentiated instruction IS a blend of instructional strategies…….. DI includes whole group instruction, small group and individual instruction. Tiered lessons are offered with different degrees of difficulty to address a common goal.

The Goal of Differentiated Instruction The goal of differentiated instruction is to balance the learning needs of the students and the requirements of the curriculum. Differentiated Instruction. (n.d.). School District U 46. Retrieved February 21, 2011, from 17

Making Parents more Comfortable with Differentiated Instruction Next you will see some videos from teachers in my building who have classrooms where differentiated instruction is the “norm”. They will briefly describe what it looks like in their teaching situation.

Teacher who are using differentiated Instruction Jennifer Blazejewski is a 3rd grade inclusion teacher. Jennifer and I co- teach in a mixed ability third grade classroom. We have had a lot of success with our differentiated methods. Our students have shown growth both academically and socially.

Teachers Continued… Even as a technology teacher, Maria Yanga, uses differentiated instruction in her lab for all of her classrooms. She teaches grades one through four. Almost all of her classes are mixed ability.

Teachers Continued…. Dan Lewis is a second grade teacher in an inclusion classroom. His classroom is a model classroom for differentiated instruction. His students have had many successes.

Positive Impact on Education Students with mixed abilities are learning together. Students with mixed abilities learn from each other. With differentiated instruction students are more involved in and responsible for their own learning. A variety of teaching methods as well as assessments are being utilized. Struggling students are no longer pushed aside with busy work. Advanced students are no longer bored with the instruction. Students are challenged

How can you get involved? Offer feedback to your child’s teacher about your child and their personality. Samples of your child’s previous work can be helpful. Discuss your child’s day with them. Be actively involved in their home assignments. Differentiated classrooms could always use helpers. Ask your child’s teacher about volunteering. Be involved in the school and school-wide activities. Network with other parents in the building. Be an advocate for your child.