Melissa Storm

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Enhancing Your Instructional Skills Through
Differentiation

• Melissa Storm
• The Access Center

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Session Overview

• Introduction
• Differentiation Strategies
• Practice
• Practical Issues
• Collaboration
• Next Steps

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Why Differentiate?

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

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What is Differentiation?

• A teachers response to learner needs
• The recognition of students varying background
  knowledge and preferences
• Instruction that appeals to students differences

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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)
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Comparing Traditional and Differentiated
Classrooms

• Addressing student differences
• Use of assessment
• Use of student interest and learning style

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Comparing Traditional and Differentiated
Classrooms

• Instructional format
• Assignment options
• Factors guiding instruction

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Discussion Question
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Differentiation Strategies

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

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Example of a Differentiated Classroom
Judy Rexs Classroom in Scottsdale, AZ 3rd-4th
grade multi-age class Children from 2nd grade
reading level through high school
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Some Differentiation Strategies

• Choice Boards
• Tiered Activities
• Learning Contracts

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Differentiation Strategies
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1. Develop a two-sentence summary of your strategy.
2. 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
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Case Studies

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

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Differentiation Practice
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Assessment in the Differentiated Classroom

• Ongoing
• Instruction-dependent
• Student-dependent
• Informs continued instruction

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Where do I Go From Here?Some Tips for
Implementing Differentiation in your Classroom

• Start slowly
• Organize your classroom space

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Inboxes
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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

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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

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Implementing Differentiated Instruction
Additional Considerations

• Administrative Support to Teachers
• Professional Development
• Adequate Planning Time

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Collaborating Effectively

• General Education and Special Education
• Interpersonal Communication
• Physical Arrangement
• Curriculum
• Classroom Management

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Collaborating Effectively

• Teachers and Instructional Assistants
• Communicate
• Schedules
• Share classroom experiences
• Share responsibility for students

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Investing Students

• Student buy-in
• Provide choice
• Allow students to assess their own mastery
• Adjust physical environment
• Increase student responsibility

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Where do I Go From Here?

• Support networks
• Online discussion forum
• http//www.k8accesscenter.org
• Whats New gt Effective Classroom Strategies
  Discussion
• Collaboration

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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