Differentiation

There are many different learners in the classroom. How can you meet all of the needs? Is it impossible, or are there strategies and things that educators could do to reach more learners?

This page will be the start of overview of many learner differences. We watched this short interview with Caroline Tomlinson, the author of//How to Differentiate Instruction in a Mixed Ability Classroom//, //The Differentiated Classroom: Responding to the Needs of All Learners//, and //Leadership for Differentiated Schools and Classrooms//. She shares what transformed her thinking. Video: @http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNfshXciwUA


 * //In class, you will review how differentiation with scaffolding can be used in your webquests.//

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or
 * All Students: @http://members.shaw.ca/priscillatheroux/differentiating.html
 * Focus - gifted students (but can be used for ALL gifted:-): @http://www.byrdseed.com/four-ways-to-differentiate-objectives/

**TASK #1** :

 * 1) After completing steps 1 - 6 below, look at your webquest, and determine the ways that you differentiate instruction and scaffold learning with the activity and assessments
 * 2) Then, look at your webquest and describe more ways that you could help more learners. See the links above for ideas.
 * 3) Document these thoughts in your 510_last name document
 * 4) Continue with Task #2 below to create your own guidelines for differentiating instruction

= Differentiation or "Labeling?" = (2 weeks needed) As educators, we walk a fine-line of identifying individual learning needs and stigmatizing students that may have a lasting negative affect on the student's learning. Here is an article from the NEW YORK TIMES, that highlights the issue: Special Education and Minorities

Task #2

 * What are going to be YOUR guidelines for differentiating learning so that you help students and do not stigmatize them?**

Process

 * Review the resources below.
 * Keep note of any resources that impact, challenge or confirm your thinking
 * In your Google Reflection document (510_last name), write your guidelines (at least eight). Create your guidelines, describe each one in detail and support with references from your reading
 * Link to or cite references to support your thinking for each guideline. Use at Least 5 different references (from this page or others you find)!
 * Send your professor an email notification when they are complete.

**Understanding the ISSUE**
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 * 1) **We have read chapter 1 by Linda Darling-Hammond (receive from Instructor):** This chapter highlights the large scale issue of the inequality in education and how it affects the USA. Read and reflect on the chapter. This chapter is about the inequalities in education, not the specifically differentiation, special needs students or ELL. But the issues are related. Some we can impact students individually, some we cannot.
 * 2) We have a growing number of ELL students in the USA. This short article highlights the issue: @http://www.thenyic.org/node/21
 * 3) Read one peer-reviewed, journal article that presents research to support differentiation. Include this article as one of your references within your guidelines for differentiation (make sure the article is not older than 10 years - 2002 - present). This PDF provides some articles or find your own [[file:Annotated Bibliography of Theory and Research Related to Differentiation of Instruction.pdf]]
 * 4) Watch this video from a 16 year old with ADD

5. When we stigmatize students - young or old, it can have a negative "brain" affect, and actually inhibit the ability of brains to learn. Teachers, parents, peers and strangers have the ability to affect the way the brain is working. Watch this video (20 min) to learn more about how the social and emotion parts of the brain affect what our brains can cognitively do:

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6. What you can do-Because YOU make a Difference!
Use at least 5 of the resources below. You may also Internet Search and You Tube search.
 * Understand the Different Learning Disabilities: @http://www.helpguide.org/mental/learning_disabilities.htm
 * Checklist for identification: @http://www.ncld.org/publications-a-more/checklists-worksheets-a-forms/ld-checklist-of-signs-and-symptoms
 * Teaching students with Learning Disabilities: @http://www.dldcec.org/understanding/default.htm
 * Support ELLs and their families: http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/poptopics/englang-learners.html (this one may not open)
 * Promote Literacy in the Early Years:@http://www.dropoutprevention.org/effective-strategies/early-literacy-development
 * Help Reduce Drop-out rates: http://208.69.169.142/student-dropout-retention-strategies
 * Standards Aligned System (SAS) - @http://www.pdesas.org/
 * Resources for Differentiating Classroom Lessons: @http://www.edutopia.org/stw-differentiated-instruction-budget-resources-downloads
 * Articles from your instructor
 * Think about the Video above and what you have learned so far and the resources available to you. Think about the Internet resources & people.