Differentiation4 Trends

Team A

Asia Adams, D’Anna Case, Aysha Davis,

Felicia Fant, Beulah Hines, and

Lori Koglmeier

MTE532

University of Phoenix

Nicole Baker

Agenda

Definition

Steps in Differentiation

Differentiation Theory Explanation

Trends in Math

Trends in Science

Instructional Issues for Diverse Learners

Lesson Plan

References

Differentiation

According to the Access Center website:

Differentiated instruction, also called differentiation, is a process through which teachers enhance learning by matching student characteristics to instruction and assessment. 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. Differentiated instruction is not a single strategy, but rather an approach to instruction that incorporates a variety of strategies.

As archived by the U.S. Department of Education:

Differentiation is a student-centered teaching concept in which

the classroom teacher plans for the diverse needs of students.

The teacher must consider differences in the students:

– Learning styles, skill levels, and rates– Learning difficulties– Language proficiency– Background experiences and knowledge– Interests– Motivation– Ability to attend– Social and emotional development– Various intelligences– Levels of abstraction– Physical needs

Steps to Differentiation

1. Choice

- Allows students to have a choice when completing an objective.

- Allowing students to choose their assignments provides a sense of ownership.

2. Flexible Grouping

- Students work in a variety of groups depending on task

- Allows students to work with diverse groups of peers

- Choose groups according to activity

3. Centers

- Variety of centers gives students a choice for individual choice

- Student chooses center aligned with learning style

4. Varying Assessments

- Assessments by learning difficulty and learning style

Differentiation Theory Explanation

Trends in Math

Choiceboard: An organizer – prepared by teacher containing various activities increasing in difficulty for

students to choose and complete

– Tic-tac-toe format, choose three– Students can make requirement decisions– Reinforces the goals of the lesson– Activities build on each other – Are of varying difficulty– Good for diverse learners

Trends in Math

Compacting is the process of adjusting instruction to account for prior student mastery of learning objectives.

Compacting involves a three-step process:

1. assess the student to determine his/her level of knowledge on the material to be studied and determine what he/she still needs to master

2. create plans for what the student needs to know, and excuse the student from studying what he/she already knows

3. create plans for freed up time to be spent in enriched or accelerated study

A third grade class is learning to identify the parts of fractions. Diagnostics indicate that two students already know the parts of fractions. This excuses these students from completing the identifying activities, and are taught to add and subtract fractions.

Trends in Science

FOSS (Full Option Science System) is a research based system that is dedicated to improving learning and

teaching of science for grades K-8• Created to engage students in the processes of observing objects and events,

testing hypothesis, and generate explanations as they explore the natural world.

• To construct their own inquiries, analyses and investigations• Directly correlated to state and core standards• Separate modules and courses according to grade level.• Teacher materials including guides, videos, and experiment kits• Useful techniques for special needs students. Items to promote a hands on

dimension.• Program produces alternatives to standard print by incorporating files such as

Braille, large print, digital, and audio books

Trends in Science

Tiered assignments are a way of getting everyone tothe same goal (learning a concept or skill) by using different strategies

and methods.

• Students are taught the same concepts for each lesson.• The teacher assesses the students’ current level of information and strengths:

– Categorize students according their abilities.– Assigns activities to each student to demonstrate their grasp of the

material.– Activities are progressively more difficult based on the students’

abilities.– Geared toward each student’s skills.

• The trend is applicable to science, math, and other subjects.

Instructional Issues• Class Size – Hard to implement differentiated instruction in large classrooms.

• Professional Staff - One teacher cannot differentiate alone.

• Resources - Requires a variety of materials and resources be available for students with differing

learning styles.

• Administrative Support - Differentiated instruction is quality instruction, but it may look like organized chaos at times. Support depends on progress and grades.

• Parental Support - Support from parents is an absolute must for differentiated instruction to have an impact.

• Time Consuming – Grouping students according to level requires assignments, assessments, and instructional material for all levels

Differentiated Instruction Student’s Side

Differentiated Lesson Plan – Math and Science

Class Title: Science and Math

Lesson Title: Landfill (Creating a Trash Pizza)

Grade Level: 2nd Grade

Objectives:

1. Explain the term landfill and recycle

2. Sort sample contents of a typical landfill

3. Understand that the trash we throw away does not go away

4. Create a pie chart using percentages

Materials:

5. Landfill pie chart guide – handout

6. Paper plates, scissors, and glue

7. Assorted representative garbage

Class Duration: 1 day

Lesson Plan – Page 2

Differentiated Strategies Used:

1. Questioning - Teacher

2. Team Learning – Students

3. Sharing and Cooperation – Students

4. Enlisting help from students – Teacher

5. Visual example of percentages

Activities

6. Question students on What is a Landfill and what goes into one.

7. Call on several students until a list is compiled on the board.

8. Have one of the students pass out the Pie Chart guides while another passes out the Paper Plates and still another the red construction paper circles.

9. On a circular table, have containers filled with trash – pieces of newspaper, leaves, grass, pasta, beans, paper clips, rubber bands, toothpicks, small pieces of plastic bags, and clear beads.

10. At their desks, have students glue the round red paper circle to the paper plate.

Lesson Plan – Page 3

6. Now using a ruler and a marker, divide the plate in pieces using the handout as the guide. We now have our pizza with sauce.

7. Next, have the students quietly go around the table and add pieces of trash to his or her pizza filling up section again using the handout guide, ie placing paper in the biggest section of the pie.

8. After the students have completed his or her pie, have the students return to their desks.

Assessment – Informal Questioning

9. Ask students which section has the most trash. Ask another the percentage from the handout.

10. Ask students which section has the smallest amount and again ask the percentage.

11. Ask which types of trash live longer in the landfill and why.

12. Ask students ways of disposing trash other than the garbage can.

13. Have students explain why having less trash makes a healthier planet.

References

Full option science system. (2011). Retrieved from http://lhsfoss.org/introduction/index.html

Hollowell, K. (2011). What are the problems with differentiated instruction?. Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/about_5066080_problems-differentiated-instruction.html

Math-sciencetrends. (n.d.). In Differentiated Instruction and Math and Science Trends . Retrieved September 19, 2011, from http://math-sciencetrends.wikispaces.com/Math-Science+Trends+MAIN

Teacherbad (2010, October 25). Differentiated instruction [Video file]. Retrieved from Differentiated Instruction by Teachbad website: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8Mr-QUhZ9A

Teachtoons. (2010, October 10). Differentiation theory explanation [Video file]. Retrieved from YouTube website: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO9MovZ77_o

Welcome to FOSSweb for FOSS second edition. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.fossweb.com/

References - 2

Walker, M. (2007, February 6). Differentiated Instruction. Retrieved from http://www2.ed.gov/teachers/how/tools/initiative/summerworkshop/walker/index.html

What are tiered activities?. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://differentiatedinstructionlessonplans.com/what-are-tiered-activities

What Is differentiated instruction?. (2004). Retrieved from http://www.k8accesscenter.org/training_resources/mathdifferentiation.asp

Willis, S. (2000). Differentiating instruction: Finding manageable ways to meet individual needs. Retrieved from http://www.ascd.org/publications/curriculum-update/winter2000/Differentiating-Instruction.aspx