What is Differentiated Instruction? Well, there are many
definitions of differentiated instruction such as: teaching students the same
materials in different ways, teaching students in the same classroom at
different cognitive levels, and so on. How I feel differentiated instruction should
be defined is as follows: a teacher using different instructional strategies to
meet a pre-determined standard for all students, while also creating a higher level
of rigor to match the ability level of each individual student in the
classroom. 
This means that every student will achieve the standard being taught
that day in class while also allowing exploration for students who obtain the standard
without much effort and extra needed supports for students who struggle to meet
the standard. Instructional mediums including manipulatives, technologies, and
grouping strategies could be used in the same classroom to ensure every student
is working to their potential. A great example of differentiated instruction
would be in a classroom with stations that allow for students to interact with
the above mentioned technologies. The teacher would be a supporter of the students
who struggle the most while the students who have obtained mastery with the content
standard could explore applications and other higher order thinking skills on
Bloom’s Taxonomy. I like to think of differentiated instruction as a teacher in
a one-room school house. She or he would teacher multiple grade levels the same
content but at a level that each student could understand. The main goal with Differentiated
Instruction is that every student obtains the standard in the way that is most
appropriate for their needs.
Citations:
Fecich, S. (2015, July 7). GCSE657. Graduate Class. Lecture conducted from , 2015, 7 July- 2015, 20 August.
http://www.snipview.com/q/Mathematical_manipulatives
This means that every student will achieve the standard being taught
that day in class while also allowing exploration for students who obtain the standard
without much effort and extra needed supports for students who struggle to meet
the standard. Instructional mediums including manipulatives, technologies, and
grouping strategies could be used in the same classroom to ensure every student
is working to their potential. A great example of differentiated instruction
would be in a classroom with stations that allow for students to interact with
the above mentioned technologies. The teacher would be a supporter of the students
who struggle the most while the students who have obtained mastery with the content
standard could explore applications and other higher order thinking skills on
Bloom’s Taxonomy. I like to think of differentiated instruction as a teacher in
a one-room school house. She or he would teacher multiple grade levels the same
content but at a level that each student could understand. The main goal with Differentiated
Instruction is that every student obtains the standard in the way that is most
appropriate for their needs. Citations:
Fecich, S. (2015, July 7). GCSE657. Graduate Class. Lecture conducted from , 2015, 7 July- 2015, 20 August.
http://www.snipview.com/q/Mathematical_manipulatives
I love your definition of differentiated instruction! Teachers should definitely hold high standards for all of their students and expect nothing less from them. I think this is very difficult to do at times because we might get discouraged when we don't see immediate results or we just have tried so hard to work with that one student over and over again. However, showing that particular student how much you care and develop that relationship so that they know what you expect from them makes such a difference. I also like your example of station teaching. I think this is a great way for DI. This lets the students move around during class and gives them multiple opportunities to learn in various ways. How great would it be for students to come in everyday and after listening to a 10 minute lecture, know exactly what they need to do next in their station and be aware of that expectation that the teacher holds. I think station teaching can also be incorporated into almost every class and should be used more often! Great post.
ReplyDeleteI really like how you described your idea of differentiated instruction. I also think about a one room school house when it comes to how we should teach in a classroom, because not everyone learns the same, which in turn means we need to teach things differently to cater to each individual students needs. I also like the idea of grouping because not only does this help the students to learn to work with other people but it also helps students who may assist another student in completing a task learn by teaching their fellow classmates. Great explanation of differentiated instruction!
ReplyDeleteMike, I really enjoyed your definition of differentiated instruction. I think that every student deserves to be taught in a way that is best suited for them. I agree that stations would be a great way to incorporate DI in a classroom. Stations help reach all the levels of the students. I think that stations should be used in all classrooms for all ages. I have used stations in Kindergarten and it worked great for all my students. It is a wonderful way to incorporate DI. I really enjoyed your post!
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