Welcome To Class!
Foundations and Implications of a Differentiated Classroom
Differentiation in the Classroom
Justification for Differentiation: Opportunities to Succeed
"The idea of differentiating instruction is an approach to teaching that advocates active planning for and attention to student differences in classrooms, in the context of high quality curriculums" (Tomlinson, 2013). Differentiated instruction is designed to accommodate students' different styles of learning, providing integrated forms of instruction to meet all learning needs. It is developed under the understanding that no two children are alike and require different methods of learning new information (Hall, Strangman, & Meyer, 2009). It is a method identified by several students as the way of assisting students with obtaining success in diverse educational settings. A method commonly used along side Universal Design for Learning; which involves increasing student flexibility with curriculum while decreasing student barriers (Hall, Strangman, & Meyer, 2013).
Meeting Social and Emotional Needs
Positive Learning Environment/ Safe and Secure
- Make Learning Relevant
2. Create a Classroom Code of Conduct
Students require a clear understanding for acceptable and unacceptable behavior. A helpful way of building such is asking students acceptable ways to treat people. Within the discussion, students will construct a list of kind, respectful, empathetic, and fair behaviors.
3. Teach Positive Actions
It is important not to assume that students already know positive actions and to teach them in a consistent, thorough, and systematic way (Alfred, 2008). It includes teaching positive actions toward others, for self-esteem, as well as healthy choice.
4. Instill Intrinsic Motivation
It is an important aspect of positive actions that involves a three step process. The first step involves establishing a thought, secondly, acting upon that thought consistently, and thirdly, experiencing a personal feelings as a result of the action. Through this process a cycle begins, encouraging students to think and act positively to reach a desired reaction (Alfred, 2008).
5. Reinforce Positive Behaviors
This allows teachers to strengthen intrinsic motivators through encouraging positive behaviors. The process involves recognizing accomplishments with certificates, tokens, and stickers. Its more effective when student engage students in the positive behavior inquiring about how it left him or her feeling, establishing a relationship between the action and the feelings (Alfred, 2008).
6. Engage Positive Role Models
Engaging the community and family members is important to students' success. Families can get involved in school and classroom activities and provide positive encouragement to succeed (Alfred, 2008)
7. Always Be Positive
Maintaining a positive attitude may be the most important step of creating a positive classroom environment, however also the most difficult. There is a saying "Kids will be kids" but there is a positive way to respond to all behaviors in all situations. Maintaining a positive attitude has the ability to make the difference between successful, happy students and ill-mannered, unsuccessful students (Alfred,2008).
Eliminate Fear of Failure and Humiliation
References
Alfred, C. (2008). Seven Strategies for Building Positive Classrooms. Retrieved from
http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/sept08/vol66/num01/Seven-Strategies-for-Building-Positive-Classrooms.aspxHall, T., Strangman, N., & Meyer, A. (2009). Differentiated Instruction and
Implications for UDL Implementation. Retrieved from http://aim.cast.org/sites/aim.cast.org/files/DI_UDL.1.14.11.pdf
Sullo, B. (2014). Motivated Student. Chapter 1. Eliminate Fear from the Classroom. Retrieved from http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/109028/chapters/Eliminate-Fear-from-the-Classroom.aspx
Tomlinson, C. (2013). Fulfilling the Promise of Differentiation. Retrieved from http://www.caroltomlinson.com/
Links:
Kindergarten Assessment
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/104919866292077864/
Kindergarten Sample work
http://www.theeducatorsspinonit.com/2012/04/what-kindergarten-writing-looks-like.html