WHAT IS DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION?
Differentiation defined
"Differentiation can be defined as a way of teaching in which teachers proactively modify curriculum, teaching methods, resources, learning activities, and student products. The needs of individual students and/or small groups of students are addressed to maximize the learning opportunity for each student in the classroom." — Tomlinson, et al.
"Differentiation is changing the pace, level or kind of instruction you provide in response to individual learner needs, styles, or interest." — Heacox
Why differentiation?
When learning tasks are consistently too hard, students become anxious and frustrated. When tasks are consistently too easy, boredom results. Both boredom and anxiety inhibit a student's motivation to learn, and — eventually — harm achievement as well. Differentiated instruction helps teachers avoid student anxiety and boredom that can be evident in one-size-fits-all curriculum.
Differentiation is…
Differentiation is not…
"Differentiation can be defined as a way of teaching in which teachers proactively modify curriculum, teaching methods, resources, learning activities, and student products. The needs of individual students and/or small groups of students are addressed to maximize the learning opportunity for each student in the classroom." — Tomlinson, et al.
"Differentiation is changing the pace, level or kind of instruction you provide in response to individual learner needs, styles, or interest." — Heacox
Why differentiation?
When learning tasks are consistently too hard, students become anxious and frustrated. When tasks are consistently too easy, boredom results. Both boredom and anxiety inhibit a student's motivation to learn, and — eventually — harm achievement as well. Differentiated instruction helps teachers avoid student anxiety and boredom that can be evident in one-size-fits-all curriculum.
Differentiation is…
- Having high expectations for all students
- Adjustment of the core content
- Assigning activities geared to different learning styles, interests, and levels of thinking
- Providing students with choices about what and how they learn
- Flexible because teachers move students in and out of groups based upon students' instructional needs
- Acknowledgment of individual needs
- Articulated, high level goals reflecting continuous progress
- Assessment to determine student growth and new needs
- Adjustment of curriculum by complexity, breadth, and rate
- Educational experiences which extend, replace, or supplement standard curriculum
Differentiation is not…
- Individual learning plans for each student
- More problems, questions, or assignments
- Get it on your own
- Recreational reading
- Independent reading without curriculum connections
- Free time to draw or practice your talent
- Cooperative learning groups where the gifted kid gets to be the leader
- Activities that all students will be able to do
- Interest centers unless linked to core content and at a complex level
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