Differentiation 201901 by Brenda Williamson https://padlet.com/bwilliamson9/uzh5izrtvasd spring 2018 en-us 2019-01-10 21:30:21 UTC 2019-02-07 00:57:08 UTC hello@padlet.com Kodi Oakes https://padlet.com/bwilliamson9/uzh5izrtvasd/wish/326993143 From what I've been hearing and seeing from the web, differentiation reminds me a lot of accommodation and modification, but more for the instruction side of learning. I think I have a good example to share from math a few weeks back. I'm working with three students, two know multiplication and 1 does not. Their current math curriculum is integrated and inclusive and class is working on perimeter and area. Already in a unique challenge I don't want to completely change the standard and modify all the assignments. I found a lesson with using string and the tiled floor of a school to teach and reinforce perimeter and area. Then I found worksheets, or made squares on graph paper and taught them how to find perimeter and area that way. Finally, this week we covered the formula that class is learning. Ultimately I did choose to get rid of volume and surface area of complex shapes for now, because this current lesson plan is only for 9 weeks total. The rest of the class has been receiving a lecture daily on a new topic and daily hw to reinforce the lesson of the day. That would be my view on differentiation, a small group instruction on with a different instructional method to the same learning concept. In this instance, perimeter and area given in a lecture setting vs. a hand-on visual learning activity. ]]> 2019-02-02 21:07:59 UTC https://padlet.com/bwilliamson9/uzh5izrtvasd/wish/326993143 kmonahan21 https://padlet.com/bwilliamson9/uzh5izrtvasd/wish/327001840 The most general example I can think of for a general education classroom is simply lowering the demand or expectation of the work the students are doing. For a math lesson, instead of having all students complete 10 questions, maybe some students who work slower only complete 5. Other students who have a difficult time with the process complete the first step and then are helped through to the final product or are given all the stepping stones and simply calculate the final product. Assignments such as this don’t really apply in my classroom since I teach developmental preschool, but there are a few examples I can think of throughout the day. For example, when my students first arrive, they all “sign in” by writing their name. Of course, not all of my students can write their names so some of them are tracing horizontal or diagonal lines or tracing simple shapes. Some of them are tracing their names or are provided with hand over hand prompting to help them get the feel for it. Throughout the day, we break into small groups for social skills where some of my students and playing connect four and simply working on turn taking and others are playing multi-step board games and learning how to deal with losing the game without a tantrum. Differentiation ranges widely depending on the student and the classroom structure; it is a very individualized and thoughtful plan. 


]]> 2019-02-02 23:23:07 UTC https://padlet.com/bwilliamson9/uzh5izrtvasd/wish/327001840 Rebecca Ingram https://padlet.com/bwilliamson9/uzh5izrtvasd/wish/327096589 For me, differentiation can best be described as understanding your students’ abilities and adapting the content, learning environment and process to fit their unique learning styles and needs. Differentiation is an incredibly effective strategy in education that can be used to fit the needs of a wide variety of students. In my own classroom, I use differentiation in many ways, each way with the specific needs of my students in mind. For example, one of the simplest ways to use differentiation is adapting the learning environment to meet the individual needs of the students. In my own classroom, this looks like providing yoga balls and rocking chairs for the students to sit on, allowing students to work in independently or with an adult, and allowing the students to sit in specific areas based on their learning styles. Another simple example of differentiation is integrating technology into the content to allow the students to reach the subject from a different angle. In my own classroom, I have found that many of my students enjoy using the computer, and are able to learn at their own pace when utilizing computer programs. Lastly, another differentiation strategy that I use in my own classroom is what I call “station learning”. In my classroom, I group my students in learning groups based on their abilities and needs. By grouping them based on these factors I am able to deliver differentiated instruction to the specific groups based on the needs and level of the students. I have also found that my students respond very well to small group instruction and I am able to instruct the students in a more effective manner. Although these are just three simple examples of differentiation, there are numerous ways and strategies to use the concept of differentiation in your own class. I feel that the most important and crucial aspect of differentiation is understanding your students on an academic and personal level and creating an environment where the students can be most successful. ]]> 2019-02-03 19:33:37 UTC https://padlet.com/bwilliamson9/uzh5izrtvasd/wish/327096589 Swan https://padlet.com/bwilliamson9/uzh5izrtvasd/wish/327137833   Differentiating instruction is paramount to student learning outcomes. One size does not fit all. I found it easier to differentiate instruction teaching elementary school as we had daily centers. In my second grade classroom we had 2 hours of language arts and 1 hour of math daily. Centers allowed me to pre-teach, re-teach, level and provide one on one assistance. 
  Now in middle school, I find it to be more challenging. I have only 45 minutes and no centers. I have grouped kiddos according to their needs. Utilizing Language Live and TransMath (this program needs a name change) I am able to have some kiddos working on computer based lessons while others are with me. This works for ELA and math. 
 Other examples of differentiation in my classroom include utilizing NewsELA where I can change the reading level of articles so everyone can participate at their level. Math is easier. Some of my kiddos need extra help with multiplication so thats what they get. Others are working on division. No problem. Another is struggling with place value. Homework doesn't have to be a one size fits all either. Give them or let them chose what they need. I believe the more choices that are offered, the better the outcome.]]> 2019-02-04 01:14:15 UTC https://padlet.com/bwilliamson9/uzh5izrtvasd/wish/327137833 Differentiation is teaching to each student exactly what each student needs based on what they already know and what they need to learn. Differentiation means to me really knowing your students strengths and weaknesses. I work with a ten year old who has a short, sporadic attention span. He will look at a page of math in a replacement curriculum and freak out. He gets up, deciding he cannot do any of it, quickly I modify the quantity. This has worked so far. lovescookie00 https://padlet.com/bwilliamson9/uzh5izrtvasd/wish/327196012 2019-02-04 08:59:42 UTC https://padlet.com/bwilliamson9/uzh5izrtvasd/wish/327196012 Good Ideas bwilliamson9 https://padlet.com/bwilliamson9/uzh5izrtvasd/wish/328554028 Differentiation = just good teaching!  Thank you for the great examples of how to make different ideas and concepts available to all learners by varying the teaching strategies and tools!  

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