Differentiated Instruction

What is Differentiated Instruction?

       Differentiating instruction is the planning of curriculum and instruction using strategies that address student strengths, interests, skills, and readiness in flexible learning environments. It's not so much a plan or strategy, but a philosophy that guides a teacher's thoughts and actions in the classroom. Teachers differentiate instruction based on students' differing strengths, interests, backgrounds, and learning needs, how students apply knowledge and skills, and the differing rates and ways in which students learn. This type of instruction eliminates learning barriers for students and decreases frustration with concepts of learning with which they struggle. It helps provide appropriate degrees of challenge for all students in the class regardless of skill level and allows whole group instruction to be used by simply giving different assignments to different groups of students according to their skill level. This makes it possible for all students to learn the same concept, only in different ways that best meet their individual needs. Differentiating instruction provides several options for students to learn by taking into consideration students' differences in background, interest, skill, personality, etc. and giving them the opportunity to choose the way they'd best be able to express their knowledge through activities, content, and product.

 

       In using this type of instruction, teachers use flexible grouping, focus on teaching instruction in multiple ways, and give students opportunities to choose how to demonstrate what they've learned. Flexible grouping allows students with similar learning goals, preferences, or needs work together. It also allows for students to work with everyone in the class, not just students with their same skill level. Other strategies used in differentiated instruction are reading buddies, compacting, learning centers, independent study, tiered assignments, learning contracts, adjusting questions, and anchoring activities. I liked the idea of tiered assignments because it allows students to work with the same skill and come away with the same important knowledge while giving different versions of an activity to students based on their readiness. The concept of learning contracts was interesting; if it worked with a student I think it would be empowering for them and increase their intrinsic motivation.

 

 

 This video caught my eye because it summarized the essential parts of differentiated instruction so well. It stresses teaching in ways that students learn best and to discover things about your students so that you can find the best way to teach and help them. Instead of thinking about the differences in students' learning styles as a hindrance, the video says to appreciate their differences. The video also emphasizes interactive learning, mixed-ability grouping, using small groups for enrichment and reinforcement, and collaborative learning in pairs. It briefly describes how to differentiate content, product, and environment. I found it very helpful to have a simplified version of what's important in differentiating instruction so I enjoyed this video!

 

       Differentiation is important in elementary school because students are at such different levels and teachers must cater to their ability levels and engage their interests. I would definitely strive to make use of reading buddies while also encouraging independence. If I were to teach high school math I would allow for hands-on learning and opportunities for students to manipulate materials in order understand what they're learning about. I would adjust the levels of questions on homework or the wording on tests to cater to students' differing ability levels, especially in elementary school. I think it's important to use flexible grouping in both school settings as well. I think differentiated instruction can be a powerful tool in the classroom and I hope to use it effectively in my future classroom.