1. How do you decide which instructional strategy is best suited to particular learning goals in your classroom?
2. Share a scenario from your classroom which, like the examples in the chapter, show how you differentiate (or might differentiate) process based on student readiness, interest, and/or learning profile.
For me, I always go to graphic organizers to help me teach reading skills. I look to see what is the main skill for each reading street story. For example, I did a lot of modeling and large group practice with sequencing and then when I was ready to see where the students were in their level of understanding, I partnered students based on ability. I tiered the graphic organizers based on students ability levels. I also looked at personalities and who prefers to work alone, and who likes partner work. I just spent time today getting my graphic organizers ready for cause/effect. I now need to figure out my groups based on how well the students did on a paper I gave them to complete. I have really been trying to differentiate my reading skills. I feel comfortable with graphic organizers, so that's why I am starting there. I'm looking at interest groups and independent study for my Literature circle groups. I'm still trying to organize my groups based on interest and assigning each child a role in discussions. Unfortunately, my personal life is interfering, but I will get there!
ReplyDeleteYou know I would love to video tape you doing your literature circle groups! Leveled graphic organizers sound like an effective way to differentiate. I like it that you consider personality when grouping students, and that you're adding the interest component. Good luck! Lee Ann
ReplyDeleteI am going to kill two birds with one stone in this blog as my now $3000 dollar "free" cat is sitting beside me helping me....yes, you heard me she is now up to $3000 after this weekend! Lily likes the two birds idea. Anyway, I totally love what Michele talked about as far as graphic organizers. I am constantly using them for reading and writing in my classroom. I have borrowed from her and she has some great books with great ideas for graphic organizers and she has great ideas if anyone needs any help with what to choose. Now for my blog.....I have just begun to attempt differentiated graphic organizers too. I just used them with animal reports. I allowed differentiated process according to student interests. They were allowed to select a topic of interest in research for the animal that they chose. I also attempted to vary the graphic organizers by allowing my higher students to attempt more note taking and allowed the others a more organized graphic organizer to place all of the information upon it. I think it worked pretty well for my first attempt and when I look back upon my lesson I can definitely say that it was differentiated! Which, I must say, is beginning to be on my mind constantly when thinking about my lessons!!!!! Anyone else feel that way too??? Yikes! Dennine
ReplyDeleteHow do you decide which instructional strategy is best suited to particular learning goals in your classroom?
ReplyDeleteThe way in which I decide which instructional strategy is best for my students learning goals is through the goals stated on their IEP and the number of students who share the same goals. I have to be careful at times because every student I teach has struggles in their academics, some more than others. It benefits the lower functioning to be exposed to higher levels of learning as well as the higher functioning to be re-exposed to concepts they may have mastered, but have not used in a while in order to not forget the concepts. I also try to take into account the behavioral needs of my students. Not all of my students are able to sit still for long periods of time. There is usually a need for them to stand or tap or rock or lean. In this case, I try to switch up the ways in which I teach a lesson by using the board for a little while, then the overhead projector for a little while, then play a game in which the students can be on teams and communicate with one another, if one is accessible for the lesson I am covering. I am learning that the students pay attention longer and are engaged in every facet of the lesson. Again, before any of this begins, the teacher must know their students. Interest inventories are a great way to break the ice with students. I spent the first day of school going over rules and an interest inventory not only to get to know the students, but to show them the similarities and differences between them and their classmates.
To comment on Michele's post...I try to have my students work together. There are certain students who are not selected when we play vocabulary games or math games. This is when I decide to join the underdog's team. Then the students see how it feels to not be chosen and ironically, they select the student not chosen the second time around. I love tiered graphic organizers. I generally use a Venn Diagram to show similarities and differences because of the middle section in which the similarities are displayed, but I need to broaden my organizer horizon and use others. The spider organizer is another way in which the students can attach important points to the main idea and I use that from time to time as well.
ReplyDeleteMichelle, I also like using graphic organizers. My class likes using them. I found some really cool ones to use with character and settings. It is somewhat difficult to organize and differentiate all of the levels in my class. I just keep trying and find that I am getting better at it. Lots of preparation and organizational skills. Kara
ReplyDeleteAn example of differentiate process based on readiness I use in my classroom is color coding center folders. I like the cubing example in the book, so I thought it would be easier to use folders for my centers. This week during centers, I will have a vocabulary center. I am using the colors blue(advanced), yellow(on level), and green(strategic). I decided to use the colors our reading series use for the leveled readers. Each folder has a vocabulary activity. I also laminated each folder and I am able to use a visa visa marker to write names of the students who will work in the appropriate folders. I can reuse the folders from week to week to change up my centers and skills. Kara
ReplyDeleteDennine, I loved your science report activity last week. Thank you for letting me videotape you! It was truly a differentiated lesson, and all of your students were engaged.
ReplyDeleteAleicia, it's great how you always put your student needs above all things. You consider both the academic and motivational levels.
Kara, your centers are truly differentiated! Many teachers think that just by doing centers, they are differentiating. Not really...to truly be differentiated, different options need to be offerred within the centers themselves. Lee Ann