View not found. 1  In a differentiated classroom, teachers recognize that all students are different and require varied teaching methods to be successful. Studies show that these students’ personal reading lives and their delight in reading start to wane, and by middle school, they read less on their own than they did in the early grades (Ruddell & Unrau, 1997). Mr. Shelton learns that differentiated instruction is an approach whereby teachers adjust their curriculum and instruction to maximize the learning of all students: average learners, English language learners, struggling students, students with learning disabilities, and gifted and talented students. Differentiated instruction for Diana, and for other struggling students, may mean providing a handout with sentence starters or a graphic organizer to help them with constructing meaning. Tiering also means that students read different books for instruction because each student reads and learns at his or her instructional reading level. The U.S. Department of Education noted that more than 8 million students in grades 4 through 12 are struggling readers (2003). Build lessons, develop teaching materials, and vary your approach so that all students, regardless of where they are starting from, can learn content effectively, according to their needs. No relaxed fit. Unfortunately, many times a similar strategy is used in the classroom. instruction with increased precision and effectiveness. Differentiated instruction is student owned. Tomlinson describes differentiated instruction as factoring students’ individual learning styles and levels of readiness first before designing a lesson plan. Differentiating instruction may mean teaching the same material to all students using a variety of instructional strategies, or it may require the teacher to deliver lessons at varying levels of difficulty based on the ability of each student. Nothing for a person with long or short legs. I invite you to step inside my eighth-grade classroom at the beginning of my reading workshop. Use the following strategies to differentiate by output: For example, some of my students might write a paragraph in response to their reading while others create performance and art projects to show what they’ve learned. So it doesn’t make much sense to present information in one way and expect every student to learn effectively. What is differentiated instruction? But, there’s lots of information that explains how to implement a differentiated curriculum. As Carol Ann Tomlinson has said, differentiation means giving students multiple options for taking in information (1999). Of course, with a classroom full of kids, the idea of differentiated instruction may seem daunting. Just the same jeans on every rack. , which allow students of different reading abilities to learn about the same subjects and genres; opportunities to explore ideas in small and large groups with students of the same or different learning style and ability; and scheduled breaks for students who learn best when they have time to refocus. As you observe lessons in my classroom, you'll also note that the reading strategies I’m modeling relate to inferential thinking — using facts and details to discover unstated meanings and new understandings. Continually ask, How can this information support change in my teaching practices? This question will start your differentiation journey. Differentiated Instruction (DI) is a teaching strategy teachers adopt to attend to student diversity in inclusive classrooms. Unfortunately, many times a similar strategy is used in the classroom. 9–12. I want you also to understand why educators like Carol Ann Tomlinson, Richard Allington, and I strongly believe that instruction in reading should be differentiated. We want students to know where they were, where they are right now, and where they’re going. For example, you might include. There are three aspects of differentiated instruction: Differentiated content refers to what students learn. All rights reserved. It may mean providing extra time to complete an assignment, giving directions again, reducing the length of an assignment, or offering alternate assignments or projects altogether. By providing each student with reasonable levels of challenge and instructional scaffolding as needed, students learn that hard work results in successful growth. It asks teachers to know their students well so they can provide each one with experiences and tasks that will improve learning. By Sure, many students would be able to take in the lesson, but there would be others who would have a hard time because, like those jeans, a different style fits them better. Given the increasing diversity of the student body, teachers are called to appropriately address students’ various learning needs by means of differentiated instruction (DI). Learn more about what it means to have differentiated instruction in the classroom. Differentiation means tailoring instruction to meet individual needs. Whether teachers differentiate content, process, products, or the learning environment, the use of ongoing assessment and flexible grouping makes this a successful approach to instruction. Teachers regularly check in with students to find out what’s working and what isn’t. In fact, the read aloud has become the common mentor or teaching text for my students, and a primary teaching tool. Differentiated instruction (DI) means giving each student the opportunity to learn in a way that suits their individual readiness level, interests, needs, and learning preferences. Copyright © 2020. Understandably, learners falter when teachers ask them to infer and analyze texts they can’t decode and comprehend. My experiences with teaching students who are reading below grade level continue to show me that although these students may have difficulty reading, they are capable of inferring, drawing conclusions, and making connections to characters, events, people, and information. First, teachers must know their students well. Differentiating instruction means that you observe and understand the differences and similarities among students and use this information to plan instruction. Differentiated instruction is NOT just another way to provide homogeneous grouping. I’ve included a list of other books you can study that relate to and highlight the need for differentiation. That would be frustrating, right? Here’s an analogy: Imagine going into a department store to buy jeans and finding the same pair on every rack. (of cells or tissue) having specialized structures or…. Differentiated instruction is a cyclical process of finding out about the learner and responding by differentiating. During my read aloud, conferences, and small-group meetings, students write to explore hunches, concepts, meaning, and connections. To deepen your understanding, let me share information with you that explains this strong commitment to differentiated learning. In a differentiated classroom, the teacher assumes that different learners have differing needs and proactively plans lessons that … When I provide them with books at their instructional levels, they also know that they can analyze and think while they read. Unfortunately, this leaves too many students behind instead of moving them forward (Tomlinson, 2002). Learn about differentiated instruction in the classroom with these tips and guidelines from teaching expert Laura Robb. Download the PDF from here. Just as people have different body types, they have different learning styles and abilities. There’s the speed of light and the speed of sound. One tip for achieving this is to plan the most complex learning activity first – one that would challenge the most advanced learner in your class. They note: “A full 70 percent of U.S. middle and high school students require differentiated instruction, which is instruction targeted to their individual strengths and weaknesses.”  â€“Reading Next. Then modify that activi… First off, students walk the path at their own pace. It later came to greater prominence with No Child Left Behind. Besides, it would be a ridiculous approach to selling jeans. TM ® & © 2016 Scholastic Inc. All Rights Reserved. Differentiated instruction describes the variety of methods teachers use to accommodate a diverse range of learners. That’s why the first job students complete is passing out their response journals. Here are some seminal books on differentiation. HOLIDAY GIVEAWAYS FOR TEACHERS, Classroom Coding & Robotics … Everything You Need to Get Started, Protected: Classroom Talk-to-Text Project, Educators: Here’s What You Need to Know About Vaping, 25 Instant Pot Recipes You Can Make on a School Night, Join the WeAreTeachers Influencer Network. Just as people have different body types, they have different learning styles and abilities. Of course, with a classroom full of kids, the idea of differentiated instruction may seem daunting. Laura Robb. Differentiation is the educational practice of modifying or adapting instruction, school materials, subject content, class projects, and assessment methods to better meet the needs of diverse learners. Assessment and reassessment of students are key. True, many shoppers with a certain body type looking for a particular style would be more than happy to buy those jeans. 3–5, Assessment and reassessment of students are key. However, empirical research has yielded mixed evidence on teachers’ reported use of DI. Oh, and yes, fish do pass gas. Stay longer in my classroom, and you would observe that writing has taken center stage. In subsequent chapters of this book, we’ll take a closer look at these elements and explore ways to integrate them into your lessons so you can support every student you teach. Start here for simple, helpful ways to differentiate your classroom. But do you know what it really means? Synonyms and related words Definition and synonyms of differentiated instruction from the online English dictionary from Macmillan Education. Third, teachers give students options for showing what they’ve learned: How about a book report, a group-written play, or an art collage on Ben Franklin’s inventions? In addition, it’s important for students to practice reading at school and at home, using books at their comfort levels. Teaching up means raising the ‘ceiling’ for all students. As we continue to learn more about the learner, we respond by differentiating . Sometimes, I use a whole-class instructional approach, where each students is reading a different text while exploring an issue or practicing the application of a reading strategy that I have modeled in my read aloud. Whether they come from middle- and upper-class income levels, from low-income households, from families living in poverty, or from families who are English language learners, 70 percent of adolescent learners will benefit from differentiated instruction. Differentiated instruction is a way of teaching that matches a variety of learning styles. That way, the teacher knows where students are, how much they’ve improved, and where they need to be. approach that helps educators tailor their teaching so that all students That’s where differentiated instruction comes in. From this list you can see that differentiating instruction asks teachers to continually strive to know and to respond to each students’ needs to maximize learning. Differentiation is the way a teacher prepares instruction to meet the needs of all the children in an inclusive classroom, from the most challenged to the most gifted.Differentiating instruction is not only going to help your special education students fully participate, it will also enrich and improve the experience of the general education students. Differentiated instruction is the way in which a teacher anticipates and responds to a variety of students' needs in the classroom. 6 Armstrong Road | Suite 301 | Shelton, CT | 06484. Second, teachers provide flexible learning options. Differentiating instruction means that you observe and understand the differences and similarities among students and use this information to plan instruction. Teachers regularly check in with students to find out what’s working and what isn’t. Reading students’ writing helps me know what students understand and where they need more support. Differentiated instruction is a way of thinking about teaching and learning. Differentiated instruction IS proactive. for simple, helpful ways to differentiate your classroom. Teachers who use differentiated instruction tailor their teaching approach to … Most primary teachers differentiate reading instruction through guided reading (Fountas & Pinnell, 2001). So now we’re going to talk a little bit about what that means. My read aloud shows that struggling readers can think at high levels. Supporting Multilingual Students in the Early Grades. Is there a speed of smell? No slim. Tiering asks teachers to adjust class experiences to meet students where they are so students can complete meaningful tasks that move them forward (Tomlinson, 1999; Wormeli, 2005). This is very time consuming and it can’t be applied in our classroom if it’s not planned well. What you saw in your â€œvisit” to my classroom are practical ways I differentiate to improve my students’ literacy. That’s where differentiated instruction comes in. WeAreTeachers is here to help. http://www.theaudiopedia.com What is DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION? Typically, a buzzard remained a buzzard, and a cardinal was forever a cardinal. Differentiated instruction honors students’ diverse backgrounds and learning styles. Gina Biancarosa and Catherine Snow (2004), authors of Reading Next, point to a statistic that should cause all middle grade, middle school, and high school educators to rethink their instructional practices. This writing is critical in a differentiated reading classroom. Add a diet of tough textbooks and less time for reading instruction to this diminished interest in personal reading, and the result is far too many students reading below grade level, struggling to learn. She cautions, however, that differentiated instruction is not individualized instruction. Smaller groups make it easier to see who has mastered the lesson goals and has acquired the skills to move on. It is also a model that guides instructional planning in response to students’ needs. First, teachers must know their students well. Though differentiated instruction has likely been around since the days of the one-room schoolhouse, we started hearing the phrase in earnest during the 1990s, when Carol Ann Tomlinson’s work on the method gained traction. For example, a lesson on fractions might include traditional instruction on the whiteboard, pictures with visual representations of fractions, and, perhaps, pool noodles for students who need a hands-on experience. Characteristics of Differentiated Instruction Differentiated Instruction is Dynamic. You and I need to explore and try ways to teach our students at their instructional levels. Continually build awareness As you begin to embrace some of these differentiation practices, it’s important for you to know the research that supports this kind of instruction. an art collage on Ben Franklin’s inventions? Here is a list of some key principles that form the foundation of differentiating instruction. differentiated definition: 1. clearly different from others: 2. With differentiation, teachers recognize their students as individuals with varying needs and provide them with more options for learning. Our memories of undifferentiated classrooms probably include the blue- bird, cardinal, and buzzard reading groups. Differentiated instruction, also known as differentiated learning, is a teaching philosophy that considers the needs of all students, even if they’re in the same (virtual) classroom. What are the ways you differentiate in your classroom? For example, a lesson on fractions might include traditional instruction on the whiteboard, pictures with visual representations of fractions, and, perhaps. In addition, I use it as a catalyst to raise students’ awareness of issues and to build background knowledge. Right now, too many middle schools place students in a curriculum in which everyone reads the same text and completes the same assignments. You know your principal can’t stop saying it. High school students in the lowest 25 percent of their class are 20 times more likely to drop out of school than excellent and proficient learners (Carnevale, 2001). Differentiated instruction and assessment, also known as differentiated learning or, in education, simply, differentiation, is a framework or philosophy for effective teaching that involves providing all students within their diverse classroom community of learners a range of different avenues for understanding new information (often in the same classroom) in terms of: acquiring content; processing, constructing, or making sense of ideas; and developing teaching materials and assessment measures so that all studen… So what does differentiated reading instruction look like? What does DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION mean? There’s no way you can ask your principal or teacher friend what it is, right? Underlying Principles of Differentiated Instruction . Students may have two or three learning options some days, but never 21 or 35 different options. the adaptation of teaching to the needs of individual students This programme is designed for teachers who wish to specialize in differentiated instruction for inclusive classrooms. This is the heart of differentiation, and this is the primary reason I have written this book. Second, teachers provide flexible learning options. Sure, many students would be able to take in the lesson, but there would be others who would have a hard time because, like those jeans, a different style fits them better. In it, you’ll find the planning techniques, strategies, and organization and management suggestions I have developed and that my students have helped me refine. Page 1: Defining Differentiated Instruction. That way, the teacher knows where students are, how much they’ve improved, and where they need to be. At The Tenney School, we take differentiated instruction to its foundation by creating an environment that places one student with one teacher. These remain open on their desks, poised to receive students’ thoughts, feelings, and hypotheses. Differentiated instruction is qualitative. Differentiated instruction. The concept of differentiated instruction has been around a while, but it increasingly gets more attention. Not only will these important strategies help students do well on tests, but — even more gratifying — they will make reading joyful and exciting. Differentiated instruction doesn’t mean that teachers give more work to advanced students and less work to students that might struggle. However, the quality of the work required may vary according to ability, interest, or previous content knowledge. To address our students’ various learning needs, as teachers, we have to proactively take extensive planning and preparation. $10,000 IN PRIZES! Differentiation is a way of teaching; it’s not a program or package of worksheets. Other times, students work in small groups. Differentiated Instruction. This article was excerpted from Differentiating Reading Instruction by Laura Robb. That is exactly why we don’t cover and move on. So it doesn’t make much sense to present information in one way and expect every student to learn effectively. What is differentiated instruction? After a brief warm-up exercise, and a read aloud for enjoyment, I introduce an essential component of my approach to differentiated reading instruction — the teaching read aloud. Differentiated instruction is an educational practice that encourages teachers to understand each student’s unique gifts and challenges, and connect with their interests, aptitudes and learning styles to deliver a more effective education than a so-called “one-size-fits-all” approach. 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