How was your day today?

Free Response Writing Prompt You may answer in any way you wish: Draw a picture, write a poem, create a symbol, write a paragraph, create a rap, etc… How was your day today?

Foundation to Differentiation K-12 Facilitators: Summer Bowers and Andrea Perkins, TV/TIP Coaches Dawn Goulart and Joan Spott, TV/TIP Coaches

What we call differentiation is not a recipe for teaching. It is not an instructional strategy. It is not what a teacher does when he or she has time. It is a way of thinking about teaching and learning. It is a philosophy. ~ Carol Ann Tomlinson

KWL Chart • What do you know and wonder about in regards to differentiation?

KWL Chart • What do you know and wonder about in regards to differentiation? • Take 5 minutes to fill out your KWL chart for the know and wonder section of your paper. Handout page 2

KWL Group Work: • Create three groups (Elementary, Middle School, High School) • Share the Know and Wonder columns from your individual charts and transfer your group’s collective ideas to large chart paper • Please pick 2 Knows and 2 Wonders to share

Today’s Outcomes: • Established Goal: You will have the opportunity to learn how to teach a diverse group of students within one classroom • Understandings: You will understand that pre-assessments are the foundation to creating a differentiated classroom. • Essential Questions: Why should you differentiate? What materials are needed to differentiate? • You will learn strategies to differentiate your curriculum to meet the needs of your students.

What is Differentiated Instruction? • Differentiation is a process through which teachers enhance learning by matching student characteristics to instruction and assessment. Differentiation allows all students to access the same classroom curriculum by providing entry points, learning tasks, and outcomes that are tailored to students’ needs. In a differentiated classroom, variance occurs in the way in which students gain access to the content being taught. (Hall, Strangman, & Meyer, 2003).

Things That Need To Be In Place Before You Can Begin To Differentiate Instruction • Classroom Community • Positive Classroom Environment • Classroom Management • Routines & Procedures • Knowledge of Content Standards • Teacher – Student Connections • Knowledge of students likes & dislikes • Knowledge of what students know & don’t know Handout Page 3

Differentiation occurs due to students’… • Teacher – Student Connections • Readiness • Interests • And/Or Learning Profile

Readiness: • Students skill level and background knowledge • Diagnostic Assessments • Pre-Assessments • Free Response Journal Entry • KWL Chart • Essential Components Handout • Inventories (See Packet) Handout Page 4

Interest • Student Interest Inventory • What a student may want to explore • What motivates that student • Your Turn! • Classroom Practices Inventory (Packet Page 5) • Take a moment to complete the classroom practices inventory. • What is an “ah-ha” that you had while completing the inventory? Turn and share with your elbow partner. • Their Turn! • Student Inventory (Packet Page 7) • Compare & Contrast

Learning Profile • Learning Styles: • Visual, Auditory, Tactile, Kinesthetic • Grouping Preferences • Individual, Partner Work, Group Work • Grouping Students (Packet Page 13) • Environmental Preferences • Quiet vs. Noise • Needs Personal Space

Where can you differentiate? • Differentiate Your Instruction by Adapting: • Environment • Process/Instruction • Content • Product • Essential Components Handout Packet page 4

Bloom’s Taxonomy Review: • Affective Domain (growth in feelings or emotional areas) • Psychomotor Domain (manual or physical skills) • Cognitive Domain (mental skills) • Knowledge To create a more • Comprehension “holistic” lesson! • Application • Analysis • Synthesis • Evaluation

Examples!It’s About Time! • Literature Circles • Novel Studies • Book Club

Literature Circles • Discussion Leader (1) • Illustrator (2) • Vocabulary Highlighter (3) • Passage Illuminator (4) • Connection Maker (5)

Examples!It’s About Time! Literature Circles Novel Studies Book Club Web Quests www.webquest.org

Exploring the Uncharted Waters! By Brandon, Alex, Nishant, C.J., and Evin

Rats! There were many rats that carried diseases. Many of us lacked vitamin C, giving us scurvy. We stayed alive only because of Alex’s great medical skills. Another major problem was the sea monster. Many of our crew members were picked up by the kraken, or giant squid. Fortunately, all the major officers survived.

Cube It Article Discussion • Rationale: Learners learn best when they are given time to practice, discuss and try out new learning. This activity is a scaffolded processing activity designed to give participants an opportunity to practice applying their new learning.

Cube It Article Discussion • Read and “annolight” the article individually. • Form groupsbased on grade level / content area. • Cube It! With the article in mind and differentiation as the topic, discuss the article using the one or two options your group rolls on the cube.

Cube-It Activity DESCRIBE IT: What does it look, sound, smell, feel, or taste like? COMPARE IT: What is it similar to? What is it different from? ASSOCIATE IT: What does it make you think of? How does it relate to your content area / grade level? ANALYZE IT: How is it made? How does it work? What are its essential features or components? APPLY IT: How does it fit into your experience? How can you use it? ARGUE FOR OR AGAINST IT: Is it a positive or a negative? Is it helpful or harmful? What are its pros and cons?

Divide & Conquer • More Examples!!!! • Summer~Elementary (K – 5) • Andrea ~ Secondary ( 6 – 12) Join your group and let’s share!!!!

Evaluation • Ticket Out: • Please fill out the Professional Development Reflection Log and turn in. • Homework: • Try a differentiation strategy with your class. • Come prepared to next session with a subject or lesson that you would like to differentiate. • February 12, 2009, CV Adult School Room 15, 4 – 6 PM • Please bring today’s packet with you next time as well.

How was your day today?