Differentiation

Once again, I went in to post my D2L assignment and what happens? It is under maintenance and I can not let send it. I am just excited that I saved it in Word! It has been a frustrating assignment to post, perhaps I need the differentiation.

As for differentiation, there seems to be so many ways to do it in the classroom. It seems like we have often heard more about it the past few years. This year I have students reading above fifth grade reading level all the way down to kindergarten. I know we all can relate to such a wide range of learners in our classrooms. So differentiation is extremely important. To me it is changing instruction and a variety of other things to meet the needs of each individual learner. It creates the best learning experience for children and can be done in so many different ways such as through changing content, activities and/or assignments, and changing the environment.

With the broad range of learners in our classrooms, it is important that we meet the needs of readers. Our LEAD 21 curriculum offers this differentiation to our students by allowing them to read about similar topics and themes around a student’s level. Then students are able to have discussions and share with each other their ideas and thoughts on the same theme. In addition, I am able to supplement additional reading materials to further allow students to read texts at their levels. We have come so far in the past few years where we used to all read the same basal and everyone read the same text.

Another way I differentiate is in the area of math. Students also are also given numerous ways to share answers to math problems. Some problems are changed to help students better understand them while others may be given an extension of the problem to allow them to be challenged. One thing that we have worked on most recently is that of money. Some students spend time working on identifying coins and are focused on a game called collect 25 cents. Others are able to play to 50 cents or even a dollar or even more. Same concepts but allow students to continue to grow with the concept or skill. I feel like I have grown in this area in the past few years but know that I have a long ways to go in this area.

Another simple way I use differentiation is by allowing students to work alone, with partners, or even in a small group.

There are numerous ways that we make accommodations with our students. I need to improve in this area and allow my students to have more freedom and the flexibility to choose ways to present their learning or knowledge. Whether it is through a written test, a presentation, puppet show, an assignment, a project, or another way, I need to offer more opportunities for my students to experience these choices.

I feel like I would like to learn about more ways to differentiate in other areas. I do not have any questions at the moment.