Differentiation

Letter To WHS Parents re TAKS Data (3.12.2008)

2008-03-31T16:53:00.000-07:00

Links to the Letter sent to Our WHS Parents re 2007 TAKS data can be found here.

2008-03-18T12:26:00.000-07:00

2008-03-17T19:12:00.000-07:00

-- Diagram from Tomlinson & Allan, Leadership for Differentiating Schools & Classrooms

DIFFERENTIATION IS:

Differentiation can be defined as a way of teaching in which teachers proactively modify curriculum, teaching methods, resources, learning activities, and student products.

The needs of individual students and/or small groups of students are addressed to maximize the learning opportunity for each student in the classroom. ~Tomlinson, et al.

Differentiation is changing the pace, level or kind of instruction you provide in response to individual learner needs, styles, or interest. ~Heacox

2008-03-16T19:28:00.000-07:00

Personal Learning Goal Portfolios - Period 1

Group A

2008-03-16T19:00:00.000-07:00

Period 2 - Personal Learning Goal Portfolios

Group A

2008-03-01T11:58:00.000-08:00

Why Differentiation?

When learning tasks are consistently too hard, students become anxious and frustrated.
When tasks are consistently too easy, boredom results. Both boredom and anxiety inhibit a student’s motivation to learn, and – eventually—harm achievement as well. Differentiated instruction helps teachers avoid student anxiety and boredom that can be evident in one-size-fits-all curriculum.

Differentiation Involves...

Having high expectations for all students.
Adjustment of the core content.
Assigning activities geared to different learning styles, interests, and levels of thinking.
Providing students with choices about what and how they learn.
Flexible because teachers move students in and out of groups based upon students’ instructional needs.
Acknowledgment of individual needs
Articulated, high level goals reflecting continuous progress.
Assessment to determine student growth and new needs.
Adjustment of curriculum by complexity, breadth, and rate.
Educational experiences which extend, replace, or supplement standard curriculum.