Differentiated Instruction in the “Real World”: Quick & Easy Time Management Strategies

1. Differentiated Instruction in the “Real World”:Quick & Easy Time Management Strategies Paula Kluth, Ph.D. www.paulakluth.com pkluth@earthlink.net ------- Raising Student Achievement December 2006

2. #1 Try a Differentiation Schedule • Differentiation schedules • Catalog the active formats/structures you use • Insert these different formats/structures strategically into your month or semester; add or adjust as needed • Predictability within schedule (e.g., keep all centers the same, same types of questions on graffiti)

3. #2 Do One Thing at a Time! • Pick something NEW to target (e.g., adding 3 new collaborative structures, creating active lectures, introducing group work). • Plan it. • Try it. • Keep working on that until it feels comfortable. • Then add another idea!

4. #3 Practice, Practice, Practice! You will have to try some of the techniques several times. You may have to remind students HOW to use/practice the techniques (enlist support).

5. #4 Don’t Do All the WORK • Put the students to work • design prompts for collaborative activities • have them regularly “run” parts of lessons/parts of the day • Find collaborative partners

6. #5 Put Structures in Place That Will Differentiate FOR You • Activity Boxes • Learning Agendas • Anchor Activities • ongoing assignments that students can work on independently (busy work with value).

7. The Appalachian Trail Learning Agenda: Paul Date: _________________

8. When you are finished changing…you are finished. -Ben Franklin