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Differentiated Instruction:

An Overview By Lisa Weston

Resource SpecialistKelly Springs Elementary

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The movement toward inclusion has impacted classrooms by requiring teachers to respond to a broader range of academic needs. How can we possibly reach all the students in our classrooms when they are academically diverse, have special needs, are English as a Second Language (ESL) learners, or have some combination of any or all of these factors?The answer to this question is …….

Differentiated Instruction!

Why Differentiate?

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All kids are different.

One size does not fit all.

Differentiation provides all students with access to all curriculum.

Why Differentiate

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What Is Differentiation?

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A teacher’s response to learner needs

The recognition of students’ varying background knowledge and preferences

Instruction that appeals to students’ differences

Who can Differentiate?

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Content Process Product

According to Students’

Readiness InterestLearningProfile

Teachers Can Differentiate

Adapted from The Differentiated Classroom: Responding to the Needs of All Learners (Tomlinson, 1999).

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When a teacher tries to teach something to the entire class at the

same time, chances are, one-third of the kids already know it; one-third will get it, and the remaining third won’t.

So two-thirds of the children are wasting their time.

Lillian Katz

Differentiation Strategies

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Use of computers/Programs Assessment & Diagnosis Adjusting Questions Learning Contracts Flexible Grouping Tiered Activities Anchor Activities Independent Study Differentiated Centers Curriculum Compacting Use of the Internet/Learning centers Graduated Task- Product-Rubrics Use of Multiple Texts and Supplementary Materials

Tiered Instruction

One Size Doesn’t Fit All

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When Can Tiered Instruction Be Used?

Used when the teacher wants all students to focus on the same essential ideas and key skills. Used to provide students with different learning needs a route to reach the essential ideas and key skills while being appropriately challenged.

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What Can Be Tiered?Assignments Activities Homework Learning Centers Experiments Materials Assessments Writing Prompts

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What are the steps for tiered instruction?There are 5 major organizational points to tiered instruction:1. Choose a concept that students should know or understand and whether to tier according to readiness, interest, or learning profile. 2. Assess student's profile, readiness, and interest. 3. Create an activity or project that is clearly focused on the concept. 4. Adjust the activity to provide different levels of difficulty. 5. Match students to appropriate tiered assignment.

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When are anchor activities used? to begin the day when students complete an assignment when students are stuck and waiting for help

Types of anchor activities DEAR Time - Silent Reading Journal Writing or Learning Logs Vocabulary Work Math “Problem of the Day” Learning Centre Spelling Practice Portfolio Management Agenda notes

What are anchor activities?specified ongoing activities on which students work independently ongoing assignments that students can work on throughout a unit

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In many classrooms, students work on routine activities like journal writing, vocabulary activities and spelling. These types of activities can used as "Anchor Activities" that are options for students after assigned work is complete. The goal is to have students moving independently from one assignment to another without needing teacher direction. Anchor activities can be posted within the classroom in a variety of ways. Simply listing the activities on a chart or chalkboard is one method. Below are additional methods of presentation used by teachers

Examples of Anchor Activities

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“In this class, we are never finished.  Learning is a process that never ends.”Carol Ann Tomlinson

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Thank you for your time and attention. Please let me know HOW I can help you ! Lisa