Mythbusters: Differentiation Edition

With so many resources available for differentiation, why do we still struggle with implementing the ideas? We all tend to agree that one size fits all is not what works in our classrooms, and we also agree that we want to grow each and every student the best way we know how. So what gives?…

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The Reading Journey

“Everyone is a reader…Some just haven’t found their best route yet.” – unknown During a recent reading association meeting I was met with some interesting reading statistics:  “Reading scientists” predict that 95% of students can be taught to read accurately and fluently.  If this is true, how do we help our struggling readers in their journey to becoming successful…

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The Dilemma of Guided Reading and the Rest of the Class

“But what is the rest of the class doing?” This is the question teachers often ask themselves when they begin to think about implementing guided reading. The answers or lack thereof are what make many shy away from implementing it because for guided reading to be effective, the rest of the class must be involved…

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Love the Uniqueness

  This month our ERG theme is love!  Webster defines it as an intense feeling of deep affection.  As I sit and ponder over what it is that I love about teaching, my first thought is its uniqueness.  Each day I have the gift of a fresh start and the privilege of working with very…

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Using Conferences to Differentiate

Look inside almost any classroom today and you’ll see a mirror of our country. You’ll find students from multiple cultures, some of whom are trying to bridge the languages and behaviors of two worlds. Students with very advanced learning skills sit next to students who struggle mightily with one or more school subjects. Children with…

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Show What You Know

When we think about measuring what students know and are able to do, we typically picture a traditional paper and pencil assessment scenario.  Often the students are asked to take a quiz or test on some topic that has been taught and we use the paper to figure out if they know what they should.…

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Differentiation = Achievement

Effective teachers are always working to reach the spectrum of readiness, learning styles, and backgrounds of their students, so each will make positive progress over time and grow as learners. Our children come with a wide array of needs, so an educator has to decide how to differentiate in the classroom to spark the meaningful…

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How to Differentiate Content

Getting started with differentiation can seem overwhelming at first.  Carol Ann Tomlinson, faculty member at the University of Virginia’s Curry School of Education, suggests that teachers should start small and then add on incrementally over the years.  Yes, it takes years to become a true expert in differentiation!   One way to start small is…

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Explaining Differentiated Assignments

As teachers we want to meet the needs of all of our students.  This is difficult when there are many different learning levels and styles in our classrooms.  We know that differentiated instruction works, but how do we tell parents what this actually means?  How do we explain differentiated assignments? Our goal in the classroom…

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Online Support for Differentiation

Our students are each unique and each comes with individual needs, learning styles, varied backgrounds, and interests.  To be effective in our classrooms we must differentiate instruction to respect the specific learning needs of each of our young learners.  As Carol Ann Tomlinson puts it, “Differentiation is responsive teaching rather than one size fits all…

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