Teaching in a Differentiated Classroom

By Haibin Li

Teaching in a Differentiated Classroom

• Characteristics of a Differentiated Classroom• Requirements for Teacher in a

Differentiated Classroom• Strategies for Differentiation

Characteristics of Differentiated Classroom

• Instruction Differentiation• Assessment Differentiation• Flexible Work Patterns• Students’ Engagement

Characteristic 1:Instruction Differentiation

• All students are encouraged to explore and learn the skills and factual information related to key concepts and principles at various levels and with different approaches.

• Different instructions are given to the struggling learners and advanced learners, enabling them to master and apply the knowledge and skills being taught at their own paces.

Characteristic 2:Assessment Differentiation

• Instead of giving one-time overall assessments for the whole class, the teacher gives continuous assessments at individual or group level to check students’ readiness for moving forward.

• Based on the assessment result, teacher may provide additional instructions or guidance to facilitate students’ further exploration of ideas when needed.

Characteristic 3:Flexible Work Patterns

• Students may work individually, in pairs, or in a group.

• The grouping can be based on learning style, learning ability, interest, or some other factors.

• The goal is to provide a learning environment and work pattern that best meet students’ needs

Characteristic 4:Students’ Engagement

• In a differentiated classroom, varied activities, contents, and instructions allow the teaching and learning pertain more to the students learning interests, ability, and style, thus promotes students engagement.

• Students are more active in their own learning process, more eager to explore ideas and concepts, and be responsible for their own work.

Requirements for Teacher

• Get to Know Your Student• Adjust teaching contents and design

engaging activities• Planning

Requirement 1:Get to Know Your Student

• Methods– Observation– Formative Assessment– Parent-Teacher Communication

• Learning Profile– Learning Style– Learning Interest– Knowledge Level– Social Background– Cultural Background

Requirement 2:Adjust Contents and Design Activities

• Come up with different ways for teaching and learning so that all students can work toward the same goal while each student may have his/her own path and pace to the goal.

• Different learning options and tasks at different challenge levels should be arranged to help students make sense of the concepts and skills being taught.

Requirement 3:Planning

• The teaching materials, methods, classroom activities, group and individual assignments should be carefully planned out before class time.

• In this sense the teacher in a differentiated classroom moves away from the role of knowledge keeper and dispenser to the role of learning option planner and organizer.

Strategies for Differentiated Instruction

• Content• Process• Product• Learning Environment

Strategy 1:Differentiation by Content

• The content is what’s being taught in the classroom based on state and federal curriculum standards.

• Based on the knowledge level of students, the content may be differentiated quantitatively or qualitatively.

• Teachers provide different texts, novels, or any other forms of materials to help students achieve the learning goals, without changing the instructional objectives or lowering the performance standards.

Strategy 2:Differentiation by Process

• The process is how the teaching and learning activities are organized in the classroom.

• Design activities of various complexity level and targeting different learning styles so that students can learn in a way that is easiest for them.

• Offer instructions in multiple modalities to ensure students’ engagement and deepen their understanding of the content.

• Allow multiple working patterns, including individual assignments and group collaborations.

Strategy 3:Differentiation by Product

• Product is what the students produce as a result of the learning process to demonstrate their understanding of a concept or mastery of a skill.

• Offer students different avenues to show evidence of what they have learned.

• Encourage students to choose different projects according to their learning preferences and strengths.

Strategy 4:Learning Environment Differentiation

• Learning environment differentiation refers to creating and maintaining an optimal classroom setting and learning atmosphere to facilitate teaching and learning interactions.

• A safe and collaborative learning environment promotes students’ engagement in classroom activities and makes the teaching-learning process more effective.

• A teacher should consider environmental elements and students’ sensitivities when maintain classroom settings.

Teaching in a Differentiated Classroom

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6P-XVPFXL4I

Teaching in a Differentiated Classroom

Questions?