Enhancing Instructional Skills Through Differentiation

1. Enhancing Your Instructional Skills Through Differentiation Melissa Storm The Access Center

2. Session Overview • Introduction • Differentiation Strategies • Practice • Practical Issues • Collaboration • Next Steps

3. Why Differentiate? • All kids are different. • One size does not fit all. • Differentiation provides all students with access to all curriculum.

4. What is Differentiation? • A teacher’s response to learner needs • The recognition of students’ varying background knowledge and preferences • Instruction that appeals to students’ differences

5. Teachers Can Differentiate Content Process Product According to Students’ Interest Learning Profile Readiness Adapted from The Differentiated Classroom: Responding to the Needs of All Learners (Tomlinson, 1999)

6. Comparing Traditional and Differentiated Classrooms • Addressing student differences • Use of assessment • Use of student interest and learning style

7. Comparing Traditional and Differentiated Classrooms • Instructional format • Assignment options • Factors guiding instruction

8. Discussion Question What are you already doing to differentiate instruction in your classroom?

9. Differentiation Strategies • All strategies are aligned with instructional goals and objectives • Specific strategies are selected based on • Focus of instruction • Focus of differentiation

10. Example of a Differentiated Classroom Judy Rex’s Classroom in Scottsdale, AZ 3rd-4th grade multi-age class Children from 2nd grade reading level through high school

11. Some Differentiation Strategies • Choice Boards • Tiered Activities • Learning Contracts

12. Differentiation Strategies

13. Develop a two-sentence summary of your strategy. • Provide an example of how the strategy could be used in your classroom. Reading/Language Arts – Compacting Math – Independent Study Science – Interest Centers or Interest Groups Social Studies/History – Flexible Grouping

14. Case Studies • What aspects of differentiation do you see? • Which techniques could you use in your classroom? How? • What questions or concerns came up?

15. Differentiation Practice

16. Assessment in the Differentiated Classroom • Ongoing • Instruction-dependent • Student-dependent • Informs continued instruction

17. Where do I Go From Here?Some Tips for Implementing Differentiation in your Classroom • Start slowly • Organize your classroom space

18. Group Assignments Bookshelf Teacher Station 1 Teacher Station 2 Schedule Inboxes

19. Where do I Go From Here?Some Tips for Implementing Differentiation in your Classroom • Start student files • Start student portfolios • Use a clipboard • Use of technology • Start class with familiar tasks • Use task cards, a tape recorder, or an overhead for directions • Have systems for student questions

20. Implementing Differentiated Instruction in your District or School • Start with Committed Staff • Look for Existing Resources/Infrastructure • Start with One or Two Strategies • Try it and Be Willing to Alter and Extend

21. Implementing Differentiated Instruction: Additional Considerations • Administrative Support to Teachers • Professional Development • Adequate Planning Time

22. Collaborating Effectively General Education and Special Education • Interpersonal Communication • Physical Arrangement • Curriculum • Classroom Management

23. Collaborating Effectively Teachers and Instructional Assistants • Communicate • Schedules • Share classroom experiences • Share responsibility for students

24. Investing Students • Student “buy-in” • Provide choice • Allow students to assess their own mastery • Adjust physical environment • Increase student responsibility

25. Where do I Go From Here? • Support networks • Online discussion forum http://www.k8accesscenter.org • What’s New > Effective Classroom Strategies Discussion • Collaboration

26. Resources • Assessment • Curriculum Based Measurement www.studentprogress.org • National Center on Accessing the General Curriculum (NCAC) www.cast.org/ncac/ • The Access Center www.k8accesscenter.org