Because differences are our greatest strength. Each time a lesson or activity is customized to teach or assist an individual who is working independenty or in a small groups, the learner benefits from the approach. Make Time for Journaling Some methods take more time, but could make a big difference in how your students perform in the long run. The COVID-19 pandemic forced American students, teachers, and families to move learning online. Supporting Multilingual Students in the Early Grades What you could do is differentiate the content by designing activities for groups of students that cover various levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy (a classification of levels of intellectual behavior going from lower-order thinking skills to higher-order thinking skills). 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. STUDY. differentiated instruction which sa ys that in order for the learning to be effective, th e teac her should modify the content, process, product and affect according to the This can include teaching students in small groups or in one-on-one sessions. Flashcards. Fundamental Principles of Differentiated Instruction Differentiating learning is teaching the same lesson content to all students by using an assortment of instructional strategies. 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. Reciprocal learning: Sometimes the student becomes the teacher, sharing what he’s learned and asking questions of his peers. Differentiated instruction, on the other hand, uses several learning approaches. A flexible classroom layout is key, incorporating various types of furniture and arrangements to support both individual and group work. Gravity. Some learn best by reading and writing. Differentiated instruction allows students to show what they know in different ways. Differentiated instruction can play out differently from one classroom to the next—and from one school to the next. Whenever a teacher reaches out to an individual or small group to vary his or her teaching in order to create the best learning experience possible, that teacher is differentiating instruction. A teacher will teach one topic to a class but give each student a different experience. It can work well in general education classes that include students with learning and thinking differences. response to intervention It should be noted that this presentation is only intended to be a brief overview of this encompassing topic. 7. Differentiated instruction is…... adapting instruction and assessment in response to differing student interests, learning preferences, and readiness in order to promote growth in learning. Manage the classroom to create a safe and supportive environment. Understood does not and will not take money from pharmaceutical Assess students’ learning using formative assessment. And find out more about the It promotes positive impacts on learning in both short and long term. As you already know, fundamental lesson content should cover the standards of learning set by the school district or state educational standards. Instead of using a one-size-fits-all approach, a teacher uses a variety of methods to teach. As the educational system transitioned to grading schools, it was assumed that children of the same age learned similarly. Students differ in their experiences, background, ability and learning styles. Tomlinson describes differentiated instruction as factoring students’ individual learning styles and levels of readiness first before designing a lesson plan. In this article, learn exactly what it means, how it works, and the pros and cons. There was an issue submitting your email address. This website provides information of a general nature and is You could assign students to complete activities that show mastery of an educational concept in a way the student prefers, based on learning style. Differentiated instruction is based on the premise that instructional approaches should vary and be adapted in relation to individual and diverse students. Allow students to read individually if preferred. is an instructor in the department of special education at Hunter College. This is where differentiated instruction and assessment comes in. To reach this student population, many educators used differentiated instruction strategies. Continual assessment: Teachers regularly monitor students’ strengths and weaknesses (in both formal and informal ways) to make sure they’re progressing well in their knowledge and mastery of schoolwork. Differentiated instruction is based on the concept that the teacher is a facilitator of information, while students take the primary role of expanding their knowledge by making sense of their ability to learn differently (Robinson, Maldonado, & Whaley, 2014). Key Elements of Differentiated Instruction. Which Differentiated Instruction Strategies Are Right for Your Classes? Kylah Torre Conditions. Students who are unfamiliar with a lesson could be required to complete tasks on the lower levels: remembering and understanding. Differentiated instruction is based on assessment data, strategic planning and interventions to meet the needs of every student. Differentiated instruction IS taking multiple approaches to content, process, and product. Carol Ann Tomlinson is a leader in the area of differentiated learning and professor of educational leadership, foundations, and policy at the University of Virginia. These techniques may also require teachers to teach content at varying levels based on students’ readiness. But the teaching approach varies depending on how students prefer to learn. But it doesn’t require an individual approach for each student. Differentiated instruction is a teaching philosophy based on the premise that teachers should adapt instruction to student differences. The approach encompasses planning and delivery of instruction, classroom management techniques, and expectations of learners’ performance that take into consideration the diversity and varied levels of readiness, interests, and learning profiles of learners. The differentiated instruction approach is focused on ensuring content and learning environment are flexible to the needs of students. Differentiated instruction is an approach that enables instructors to plan strategically to meet the needs of every learner. Students appear to be more engaged in learning, and there are reportedly fewer discipline problems in classrooms where teachers provide differentiated lessons. According to Tomlinson, teachers can differentiate instruction through four ways: 1) content, 2) process, 3) product, and 4) learning environment. Differentiated instruction “shakes up” the traditional classroom, says Tomlinson. Differentiated Instruction Defined. Click or Tap the Button Below. Within each component of the core literacy block, all children receive equitable access to core, grade-level instruction. teaching strategies and techniques that help struggling learners. This gives them a chance to participate in many different groups. Strategic instruction, differentiated instruction, concept- and [...] processcentred approach, and project-based instruction all focus on each student's capacity to build understanding. Spell. Here are a few factors to keep in mind: Subscribe To Our Newsletter To Get Content Delivered To Your Inbox. But some students in your class may be completely unfamiliar with the concepts in a lesson, some students may have partial mastery, and some students may already be familiar with the content before the lesson begins. Teachers can enhance student learning by offering support based on individual needs. Critics say differentiated instruction doesn’t work in every classroom. Teachers often separate students into different groups based on their knowledge of the material or learning style. IEP If there are too many students in a class, or if the teacher isn’t experienced with this approach, the classroom can become distracting and chaotic. Students with some mastery could be asked to apply and analyze the content, and students who have high levels of mastery could be asked to complete tasks in the areas of evaluating and creating. designed for information and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or legal advice. Because the differentiated instruction strategy allows students to process your lesson content individually, in a small group and in a large group, it caters to your classroom’s range of learning and personality types. Approach is focused on ensuring content and Updates Delivered Directly to your Inbox been life-changing for some, it been. 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