Differentiated Instruction
New Teacher Induction
What is differentiated instruction?
As teachers, we have a responsibility to meet the unique needs of each of our students. This means that we need to use instructional practices that reach our students. We cannot walk into our classrooms with a "one-size fits all" perspective. The four major pillars of differentiated instruction are content, process, product, and environment.
Content
- Break down assignments into smaller pieces
- Give students options
- Allow students to design their own experiment/research an area of interest to them
Classroom Environment
- Allow students to collaborate
- Put students in groups where they will be successful
- Give students the ability to research topics that they are interested/invested in
Product
- Give students the chance to be creative
- Allow students to displayed what they have learned through projects, presentations, music, etc.
Process
In a science classroom, students can be given the opportunity to design their own experiment or research a topic they are interested in. This gives students the opportunity to think like a scientist and take ownership of their learning. Students could also be given the choice to create a project in a medium that is best for them. For example, one student might prefer to make a presentation, while another student could communicate the same content/information through a smore or graphic.