Effective Differentiation Strategies in Mathematics

1. Developing a Common Vocabulary Math Alliance April 13, 2010 Judy Winn, Mary Spidell, & Christopher Guthrie

2. Differentiation • Organized yet flexible way of proactively adjusting teaching and learning to meet students where they are and help all students develop maximum growth as learners (Tomlinson, 1999) • …a broad term referring to the need to tailor teaching environments and practices to create appropriately different learning experiences for different students (Farmer, 1996)

3. Scaffolding (Scaffolded Instruction) • A process that allows a child or novice to solve a problem, carry out a task or achieve a goal which would be beyond his unassisted efforts (Wood, Bruner & Ross, p.90) • Scaffolds are temporary structures that remain in place until not needed (Dacey & Gartland, p. 150)

4. Tiering (Tiered Instruction) • Tiered instruction is a method by which the teacher can ensure that students with different learning needs work with the same essential ideas and learn the same key concepts and skills (Tomlinson, 1999) • ..allow(s) students to focus on the same general concept or skill, but to do so according to their general levels of readiness (Dacey & Gartland, p.97)

5. What it is: What it isn’t: • Organized yet flexible way of proactively adjusting teaching and learning to meet students where they are and help all students develop maximum growth as learners (Tomlinson, 1999) • …a broad term referring to the need to tailor teaching environments and practices to create appropriately different learning experiences for different students (Farmer, 1996) • An organized way of instructing students using different methods to meet all learners’ needs • A change in content, process, or product • Choosing appropriate and meaningful tasks to teach the same concepts to students with a variety of skill levels. • Giving every student the same assignment • Complete individualization • Done all the time • Quick & Easy Differentiation • Teaching a child “A” when everyone else is learning “B”. • Learning Style, Interests, & Readiness Non-examples Examples

6. Differentiation is… An organized, yet flexible way to adjust the content, process, and/or product of instruction to teach the same concepts to students with a variety of readiness levels. It is not a strategy; it is an approach.

7. What it is: What it isn’t: • A process that allows a child or novice to solve a problem, carry out a task or achieve a goal which would be beyond his unassisted efforts (Wood, Bruner & Ross, p.90) • Scaffolds are temporary structures that remain in place until not needed (Dacey & Gartland, p. 150) • Just the right amount of support • Confusing • Providing a variety of supports depending on the needs of the individual. Scaffolding • Calculators • Age/content appropriate posters (cue cards) • Multiplication charts • Modeling • Graphic organizers • Guiding questions Non-examples Examples

8. Scaffolding is… Providing the appropriate types and amounts of support for the appropriate length of time to allow the student to be successful at carrying out a task or achieve a goal which would be beyond his unassisted efforts. It is not lowering the bar; it is raising the student.

9. What it is: What it isn’t: • Tiered instruction is a method by which the teacher can ensure that students with different learning needs work with the same essential ideas and learn the same key concepts and skills (Tomlinson, 1999) • ..allow(s) students to focus on the same general concept or skill, but to do so according to their general levels of readiness (Dacey & Gartland, p.97) • Confusing • A method of teaching which encourages students to participate in tasks according to their skill levels. • Different activities but the same concepts • A replacement curriculum • Always different tasks at different readiness levels. Tiering • Place Value Addition: • Group A: 0-100 (whole #’s) • Group B: 0-1,000 (whole #’s) • group C: 0-1,000 (decimals) • Everybody is working on the same activity with the same expectations. Non-examples Examples

10. Tiering is… Providing students with a variety of activities that encourage students to participate and ensures that students with different learning needs work with the same essential ideas and learn the same key concepts and skills. It is not a replacement curriculum; it is variations within the curriculum.