1. Critical knowledge or skill
More basic
Original task
More complex
Tiered Assignments
Pam
TA= teacher-prescribed learning activities that are specifically designed to respond to differences in readiness, interests, or learning preferences.

2. Pam
Diagnose student needs
Design tasks that respond to  needs
Prescribe specific tasks to particular students
TA are purposeful, but there are many ways to design tiered assignments.
Tiered assignments are the most prescriptive, learner-responsive, and sophisticated strategy for differentiation. -Heacox

3. Use a tiered assignment when students differ on...
Developmental stages
Readiness for learning
Learning preferences
Amount of structure or support
Amount of time, instruction or practice
Reading skill or prior knowledge
Whether instruction or a task is necessary or appropriate
Pam

4. Use a tiered assignment when you know...
something will be too easy or hard for some students
some students need more basic work or others need more complex work
Pam
You do not need to use tiered assignments as a daily practice; use them as necessary and appropriate, based on your learner's, to provide "just right, right now" learning experiences.
Tasks should be equally active engaging, and interesting, and should take roughly the same amount of time.

5. Tomlinson’s Equalizer
Foundational
Concrete
Simple
Fewer Facts
Smaller Leap
More Structured
Clearly Defined Problems
Less Independence
Slower Pace
Transformative
Abstract
Complex
Multi-Faceted
Greater Leap
More Open
Fuzzy Problems
Greater Independence
Quicker Pace

6. Steps in Designing Tiered Assignments
Kathy
Not everything is tiered. It is important to clearly focus on significant learning goals, design tasks that respond specifically to the learning needs of your students, and create learning experiences that meet the student's demands for fairness. 
The steps outlined here are from Heacox 2009.
1. Does the content, skill or process reflect a significant learning goal? Is this critical learning?
2. Could use the equalizer here.
3. "shop" in your materials and lesson plans

7. What makes a well-designed tiered assignment?
Kathy
refer to checklist
Tasks should be respectful in that they should relate and build knowledge toward the standards for excellence and provide meaningful experiences.
What makes a well-designed tiered assignment?

8. Exploration In self-selected groups…
Explore the tiered lessons that Strickland has provided
Share examples of what you have done
Discuss what options texts may include (may not always be the best)
Elelmentary probably grade level groups, HS/MS get in like groups provide up to an hour

9. Lesson Planning
Allow about 30 minutes
Working alone or together, create a tiered lesson plan using the worksheet at the back of your packet
Start with the KUD