Differentiated instruction is a process in which teachers learn to change their pace, style, and level of instruction in response to student differences. These include different interests and different readiness levels. They also include the different learning styles of students. There are three specific areas in which to differentiate: the content of the lesson, the process used to teach, and the final product.
Content
Flexible Grouping is the process of using different groupings for instruction.
- Student-led common interest groups: These are a group of students that all share a common interest. The students work together and ask for help from each other. The job of the teacher is to monitor the group to make sure that the interactions are positive in nature, and that leadership is passed form student to student.
- Student-led shared task groups: These are small groups of four or five students that are purposely set up to be heterogeneous. All of the students work together on th same task.
- Dyads (buddies): These are groups that are formed on their own with or without the teacher’s help/ They come together to mentor or tutor each other, and to support each other in learning.
Tiered Assignments are tiered lessons students do in heterogeneous groups.
- Tiered by complexity
- Tiered by product
- Tiering should be invisible. The work should not seem like it is more or less than the other groups;just different
Focus Activities are activities that help students focus and pay attention. Focus activities can be questions, challenges, or problems. They may require recalling prior learned information and applying it. An example is to read a chapter for homework and i]sit with a study buddy together to find “feeling” words to better understand the main character.
Process
Learning Contracts are an individualized approach to improve student learning and behavior. The contract places the responsibility and the choice for learning and behavior on the student.
Cubing helps students think about a topic from six points of view. It can be done individually, with partners, or as a tiered assignment. If used as a tired assignment, use several differently colored cubes, one for each group, with each cube having different tasks.
Product
Technology Projects
Choice Boards
