To the Point
Prairie Point Staff Newsletter
Issue 10: Monday, October 6, 2014
Differentiation...a belief system.
To summarize, I heard some of the following:
"Why shouldn't all students be held to the same standards?" "What happens when a child's parents think they are doing great because their grades are good, but they get to high school and fail?" "Isn't it unfair for some students to be provided with different work than other students?" "If those kids would just work harder and focus more, they would be able to do the same work as everyone else." "The curriculum is the curriculum - I can't change it." "If a student can't learn the regular curriculum, shouldn't they be in the special education class?"
Since that day I've often reflected back to what was really being said in that room. What I've come to realize is that we all believed in the importance of student learning - and we all wanted students to be successful. We just had very different beliefs about the nature of that learning, students, and the definition of success.
At the heart of it, differentiated instruction is based on the belief that ALL STUDENTS CAN LEARN, but need different levels of time and support in order to do so. Differentiating my instruction did not mean lowering expectations, but adjusting what I did to make it possible for some students to reach them. Differentiating my instruction did not mean making things easier or providing a "crutch" to students, rather, making it possible for them to do the work and be successful with it. After all, if they weren't working harder than I was, they weren't learning.
Differentiation is first and foremost a belief. If I believe that all students can learn and meet high expectations, and I believe that it's my responsibility to support that learning, I must ultimately believe that differentiation of curriculum and instruction is not only nice to do, but it is absolutely necessary.
News & Info
Wednesday Morning Meetings
Next Meeting - Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Topic: Danielson Framework for Teaching
PLEASE BRING YOUR SPIRAL DANIELSON BOOK AND BE READY TO DISCUSS THE DOMAIN YOU READ AT OUR PREVIOUS MEETING.
Please review the agenda prior to each meeting. Wednesday meetings will be held in the Community Room. We will begin promptly at 7:35 a.m.
If you are unable to make it to a meeting, please let us know in advance, if possible. Please see Heidi or Jen as soon as you can after the meeting to find out what you missed.
NEW: Teacher Appraisal Support Module #2
We have a NEW Prairie Point TEAM Website!!!
The website has the TEAM calendar, referral process and paperwork, as well as archived student paperwork (still being uploaded). There is a form for you to use to submit paperwork as well. Please see any member of TEAM if you have any questions as to how use the website or refer a student.
Coming Events!
Teacher Workshop - How to Design a Writing Workshop for Early Elementary Students
Please see the flyer below for more information about this, and other educational programs offered by the Oswego Public Library.
Wednesday, Oct 8, 2014, 06:30 PM
Oswego Public Library - Montgomery, Reading Drive, Montgomery, IL, United States
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
Writer's Workshop
Tuesday, Oct 14, 2014, 07:30 AM
Prairie Point Community Room
RSVPs are enabled for this event.