Differentiation April Shinpaugh Agenda What is differentiation Ways

Differentiation April Shinpaugh

Agenda • What is differentiation? • Ways to differentiation: Ø Discussion of how to differentiate in every classroom Ø Examples and templates • Create our own lesson! Ø Use what works best for you!

Learning Objectives • Participants will gain an understanding of what differentiating is. • Participants will explore new methods for differentiating in the classroom. • Participants will successfully develop one differentiated lesson for their classroom or content area.

What is differentiation? • Not a new idea, but new to some classrooms • Used mainly in Special Ed and gifted • Differentiation can meet the needs of all students

Definition • 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(Tomlinson, 2014)

How to Differentiate?

4 Ways for Differentiating • Content • Process • Product • Learning Environment

Content • What does the student need to learn? • How will the student access this information?

Process • Activities to help the student learn the content and gain mastery

Products • Often hands-on activities for the students to display the knowledge they have gained

Learning Environment • Feeling of the classroom • Can take place in other settings such as outside

Strategies

Choice Boards • Give a choice! • Different way to display knowledge • Uses various elements such as Bloom’s Taxonomy or Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences • Various in level of difficulty Choice Boards Tutorial

Choice Board Activity Language/Level: ___________ Unit/Theme: _____________ This is a blank template for a choice board.

This choice board is a modified board for special education students.

Tiered Lessons • What is tiering? • Accommodate students on different levels • Add as much or as little difficulty as needed • Accommodate all types of workers

Let’s view an example.

Green Group How the Guinea Fowl Got Her Spots 1. Who are the characters in the story? 2. How did the Guinea Fowl protect her friend Cow from Lion? 3. How did Cow help protect Guinea Fowl? This lesson was built around a 2 nd grade reading class. The lesson is tiered based on ability level. Green Group is the lowest students. These students work with the teacher during the entire lesson.

Blue Group How the Guinea Fowl Got Her Spots 1. How is Guinea Fowl’s camouflage like the camouflage of other animals you have read about in this unit? How is it different? Use a venn diagram to compare and contrast. If you were a land animal, how would you hide from enemies? Blue Group are the children who are working on current grade level. These students will work primarily by themselves. However, the teacher will check on them periodically for progress.

Red Group How the Guinea Fowl Got Her Spots • Identify the genre of this selection. • What are some elements of this genre? • Think about how “How the Guinea Fowl Got Her Spots” adds to what you know about camouflage. Write a descriptive paragraph about camouflage and the animals we have read about in our story. Red Group are the students who are working above level. These students will work independently on their assignment.

Webquests • Great for incorporating technology into the classroom • Create your own using content or choose from already created • Can be used as whole group, independent, partner, or center work • Can we used as assessment tool

Where can I find webquests? • Zunal • Webquest

Compact Curriculum • Used to boost students who have mastered concepts being taught • “Streamlining” material being taught • Create a challenge for learners • Type of differentiation

R. A. F. T. • Fun, creative ways to write • Can be applied to any content area • Addresses: Role, Audience, Format, & Topic • Helps students develop a sense of audience and purpose

Unit/Theme: Famous People & Persuasive Writing___ Language/Level: __3 rd_____________ Role Audience Format Paul Revere town people persuasive paper Franklin D. Roosevelt Cesar Chavez Congress persuasive paper farm workers persuasive paper Eleanor Roosevelt Congress persuasive paper Fredrick Douglass slaves persuasive paper Topic persuade the people the British are coming persuade Congress to join WWII persuade farm workers they deserve equal rights persuade congress that women and African Americans deserve equal rights persuade slaves they should be freed and have the same rights as other Americans Students choose one item from Role, one from Audience, one from Format, and one from Topic. These items combined will develop the type of paper the teacher has requested.

Technology

How can these strategies be used with technology? • Incorporate student technology usage as an element in the assignment • Webquests are already used on technology • Have students create their own choice boards or assignments using technology

Start Small… Tips for Successful Implementation • Choose one item and familiarize yourself and your students with it • Start with a simple assignment and then add more intrinsic elements • Pilot with a small group of students • Use content you are familiar with

Templates • Templates for each of the differentiated strategies can be found on Dare to Differentiate

The Fun Part! Create your own lesson to fit your classroom!

Wrap-Up • Differentiation can be used to enhance you and your students classroom experience. • What was your favorite differentiation strategy? • How do you plan on using the strategy in your classroom? Is it more feasible to use it as whole group or small group? • Remember start off small!

Resources Tomlinson, C. A. (2014). What is differentiated instruction? http: //www. readingrockets. org/article/263 Curriculum Associates. (2014). Differentiated Instruction: Success for Every Student. http: //cainc. com/professionaldevelopment/topics/Diff. Instruction/index. htm Tools for School. (1998). Curriculum Compacting. http: //www 2. ed. gov/pubs/Toolsfor. Schools/curc. html Wikispaces. (2014). R. A. F. T. Assignments. https: //daretodifferentiate. wikispaces. com/R. A. F. T. +Assignm ents Schoodoodle. (2014). Differentiate Instruction Using Choice Boards. https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=d. Gbul. ODMVg. M Learn. NC. (2012). What is Tiering? http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=v. YI_GY 5 Kajk