Differentiated Instruction

Andrea Marshall and Carolynn York

What is differentiated instruction?

What do we already know?

Differentiated instruction:

 Vygotsky: Social context and the interactions students make with the social context.

“Social context and the interactions of the student within that social context play a fundamental role in the acquisition of knowledge. Students in their zone of proximal development can, with resistance, resolve a problem that they could not have resolved alone and move on to another level of knowledge” (Education for All 14)

Program-based to student-based

Curriculum = what Differentiation = how

Students are different!

An approach to teaching guided towards the needs of the students.

A philosophy of education.

Creating a classroom environment where student’s are motivated to learn.

• Not every student has to learn or do things at the same time or in the same way.

Differentiated instruction is…

A teacher can differentiate by means

of…

Content

Process

Product

A teacher can differentiate content, process and product according to student’s…

Readiness Interests

Learning ProfileThey do not learn at

the same pace.

Learning styles

You need to know your students.

Concept map for differentiating instruction

(C. A Tomlinson)

Please refer to handout!

3 ways to differentiate or 4?

Content

ProcessEnvironment

Product

Strategies to differentiate in the classroom…

Readiness/Ability

Adjusting questions

Compacting curriculum

Tiered assignments

Acceleration/deceleration

Flexible grouping

Peer teaching

Learning profiles (learning styles)

Student interests

Reading buddies (elementary students)

Independent study tasks

Learning contracts

Learning centers

Anchoring activities

Miss. York’s Hamlet lesson…

differentiated instruction?

- What strategies were used throughout the lesson?

- Content, Process or Product?

- Readiness, Interests or Learning styles?

How else can I differentiate in the classroom?

Is there more?

Please refer to handout!

Differentiated Instruction

Design Down

What do I want my students to learn? (Content)

How will I know they have learned it? (Process)

How will I design instruction and assessment to help them learn? (Product)

EDUC 8D10 (A. Macdonald)

Benefits to differentiating instruction…

Teaching to all your students

Diversity in the classroom

Providing option for your students (choices based on interest)

Allowing students to take different steps when learning

Assignment with different levels of difficulty (same content)

Reduced classroom management issues

Student motivation

If you can engage your students in your lessons you can create life long and independent learners

Remember!!

In order to differentiate, you need to take the time to know your students.

Takes time

Requires energy

Equality vs. equity

Differentiated Instruction

On some level, differentiation is just a teacher acknowledging that kids learn in different ways […] Become a kid watcher. Study the kids in any moment and in any way you can. Learn to see them as individuals rather than a group. Ask them how the class is working for them and how to make it work better. Then begin to respond to what you see. Each step you take will teach you, if you want to learn. If you combine that with regular pre-assessment of student competencies and begin to think about teaching with student needs in mind, you'll be off to a great start.

- C. A. Tomlinson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJMkcL6Do0Q