Differentiation has been defined as ‘an approach to teaching that attempts to ensure that all students learn well, despite their many differences’ (original emphasis). Differentiation is the act of making something different. At its most basic level, differentiation consists of the efforts of teachers to respond to variance among learners in the classroom. Many teachers incorrectly assume … In a differentiated classroom, students understand what differentiation is all about and everyone feels they play an important role in the community. What is differentiated instruction? Differentiated instruction, while an important tactic for student success, requires some education and expertise to do well. Differentiation refers to a wide variety of teaching techniques and lesson adaptations that educators use to instruct a diverse group of students, with diverse learning needs, in the same course, classroom, or learning environment.   In a differentiated classroom, teachers recognize that all students are different and require varied teaching methods to be successful. Students benefit from it. For the purposes of this paper, only research studies dealing with differentiated instruction, over the last 25 years from 1980 to 2005, were included. 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 … Provide different types of content by setting up learning stations — divided … In education, differentiation can take on several approaches: Still, differentiation is a juggling act for teachers. Differentiation is a rational approach to meeting the needs of individual learners, but actually making it possible on a daily basis in the classroom can be a challenge. Differentiated instruction allows all students to access the same classroom curriculum by providing entry points, learning tasks, and outcomes that are tailored to students' needs (Hall, Strangman, & Meyer, 2003). approach that helps educators tailor their teaching so that all students Differentiated instruction is not a single strategy, but rather an approach to instruction that incorporates a variety of strategies. Ideas include anchor charts, activities, task cards, test prep, and lessons that help students work on speaking and listening standards. Articles were included in this review if they made pertinent reference to the model of differentiated … Differentiating instruction isn’t easy, but teachers and professional learning facilitators can work together to overcome the obstacles. Differentiation in the classroom is an important skill for teachers to give pupils the best chance at learning, regardless of their abilities, strengths and weaknesses. Students have a voice in how the community works and take responsibility for identifying a… Students bring with them individual needs – (sometimes labelled as learning styles) and barriers to learning that may make student achievement challenging, even in a differentiated classroom. (Duh.) In fact, research shows that there will be a steady increase in Hispanic, Asian Americans, and African American students in the coming years. Put simply, differentiation in teaching means tailoring your lessons for students with individual needs. differentiation, were searched for additional references. Differentiate instruction and encourage accountability talks. One where students treat one another with respect, help one another to be productive, and share in one another’s successes. Differentiated instruction in the classroom can be done several ways. Differentiating is a craft and one that takes practice. To learn about some of my favorite resources for multisensory teaching, tune in tomorrow for my follow-up post, "Resources for the Differentiated Classroom." Today's classrooms are more diverse than ever. Here are three educational technologies that enhance DI in the classroom: Therefore, differentiated instruction may be the panacea that educators are searching for. Page 1: Defining Differentiated Instruction. Grouping, varying amounts of time, or changing the task are the most common types of differentiation. Differentiation is an art that takes years practice but is never mastered. A differentiated classroom provides opportunities for student success, but not a guarantee that all students will succeed. A pernicious classroom environment cannot invite learners to be comfortable with themselves and one another. Differentiate learning so that students have access to the content and are supported to meet standards. You have to learn to be flexible, to use a range of strategies and have methods you can pull out the bag when you realise it is going wrong. Trivial and fluffy curriculum remains trivial and fluffy, even after differentiation. Differentiated instruction IS more qualitative than quantitative. Differentiation that is founded in ineffective classroom practice cannot succeed. That is why when we want to remember a telephone number we have to keep on repeating it so that it is n… It is expected, required. Create Learning Stations. Because no two students learn the same way, differentiating a lesson makes a teacher’s curriculum more accessible to students whose abilities vary from their peers. Differentiated instruction is a way of modifying the learning experience to meet students where they are. Also check out my families booklist . ... With these clarifications in mind, to create a hybrid of direct instruction and cooperative learning in your classroom, follow these steps: Differentiation is commonly used in heterogeneous groupingan educational strategy in which students of different abilities, learning needs, and levels of academic achievement are grouped together. 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. It improves classroom management. As far as grouping goes, students can be grouped by ability level, interests, or intermingled levels of understanding. One reason why differentiation is so important in ESOL is that the learners are so varied. Differentiated instruction or curriculum is when teachers maximize the learning potential of a classroom by modifying curriculum, teaching methods, learning resources and activities to address the needs of the students, as individuals or small groups gathered by learning level or readiness. Differentiation is the educational practice of modifying or adapting instruction, school materials, subject content, class projects, and assessment methods to better meet the needs of diverse learners. When they first learn new mathematical concepts, pupils use much of their working memory to think about what they are being taught. In heterogeneously grouped classrooms, for example, teachers vary instructional stra… Close. When searching for technology that promotes differentiated instruction, you should look for how standards correlate, the availability of formative assessments, and options of different skill levels on the same content. In an effectively differentiated classroom, the teacher focuses on building a learning community where students feel safe, accepted, and supported. Differentiated instruction, also known as differentiated learning, is a teaching philosophy that considers the needs of all students, even if they’re in the same (virtual) classroom. This involves changing the content, delivery, or methods of learning to ensure every child learns in a way that’s suitable for them. Grouping students by similar ability levels helps both teachers and students. Tailor assignments based on students’ learning goals – Using differentiation strategies to shake up … Read about tried and tested strategies and find one that meets the needs of you and your students. To differentiate effectively and support individual and diverse students in the classroom, the teacher is required to be flexible in their approach in order to adjust: The resource aims to contextualise differentiation and to suggest a number of strategies to support differentiated teaching and learning in … Differentiation in the classroom is a tough gig. We know from decades of cognitive science that our working memory – what we can think about in the moment and give attention to – is limited, some say between 4-7 pieces of information. Differentiation is a key high impact teaching strategy (HITS) used by teachers to craft lessons that provide the right amount of support and challenge for every student. Faced with such diversity, many schools are implementing differentiated instruction in an effort to effectively address all students' learning needs. Differentiation refers to a wide variety of teaching techniques and lesson adaptations that educators use to instruct a diverse group of students, with diverse learning needs, in the same course, classroom, or learning environment. Graduates are better prepared to implement contemporary a… Varied versions of an ill-focussed product are no more helpful. A handy working definition of differentiation – though still very broad – is provided by Simon Coffey, when he describes it as “A philosophy of education that recognises that pupils learn differently, that is, at different speeds but also qualitatively differently”. Today's classrooms are filled with diverse learners who differ not only culturally and linguistically but also in their cognitive abilities, background knowledge, and learning preferences. As inclusive education grows, so too does the need for effective differentiated instruction strategies in the classroom. Have a different weekend! 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