Overview | di4all

Positive Thought about Differentiated Instruction:

Differentiated Instruction is some that all teachers can do.

Differentiated Instruction is low cost.

Differentiated instruction works for all kids!

Differentiated instruction brings out the student advocate side in the teacher.

Differentiated instruction is not a packaged program or an add on to the curriculum.

Most high-quality teachers are already doing some form of differentiated instruction.

Stages for Differentiation:

Phase 1: Information Gathering

Major Questions

What is to be studied?
What is the student needs relative to topic?

Basis for Planning:

Lesson outline or curriculum map

Specific Type of information needed:

Essential Questions
Key Concepts
Powerful Learning:
(concept acquisition: first-hand experience, second-hand exposure, & Third-hand processing)
Guided Questions
Key Vocabulary, Forms, and Functions
Critical attributes of students understanding the topic
Evidence of Student Learning (acceptable "proof" of learning)

Phase 2: Knowing the Learner

(Readiness, interest, Preferences, Multiple Intelligences, Learning Style, etc)

Identify Students Identity

Pre-assessment
Student interest
Student Learning Profiles
Ongoing Assessment
Post Assessment

Phase 3: Designing Differentiated Teaching and Learning Strategies

Strategies used
Resources used
Technology can provide support for ongoing performance-based assessments

Quote

"DI is mostly about what we do ahead of time, not how we interact or conduct the lesson at the time. There are some good aspects going on in the classroom, but that facilitation can only occur with purposeful and thoughtful planning. I can make flexible decisions because I've already prepared the resources or other avenues in anticipation of student needs. Am I always prepared for everything? No way. I get better with time, however."

Rick Wormeli, MiddleWeb List Serve Response, "Getting Started with Differentiation", 2003.

"When you are creating a differentiated task, you really aren't trying to find something totally different for each child to do. What you are really trying to do is have all the students focus on teh same big idea or essential understanding."

"In any particular task, students themselves start at a different points on a continuum. So the teacher is trying to start the students where they are on the contiinuum and move them along that continuum as fast and as far as they can.

~Carol Ann Tomlinson

"What is important about differentiation? The important thing about differentiation is that it attempts to increase student achievement. The important thing about differentiation is that it is pro-active. The important thing about differentiation is that it demands the reconfiguration of various curriculum components. The important thing about differentiation is that it requires appropriate professional development, planning, classroom management, and changes in grouping arrangements. But the most important thing about curriculum differentiation is that it respects and responds to student differences."

Jeanne Purcell, Deb Burns. "Capturing the Essence of Curriculum Differentiation". The Trillium. Ontario ASCD. June 2002

Check this sites out!

Find Your Strengths!

Multiple Intelligences

Differentiation Instruction With Technology