Differentiated+Instruction

=Differentiated Instruction=

What is differentiated instruction?
An instructional theory that allows teachers to meet each student where they are at. It helps teachers to take student differences into account when planning and executing a lesson. Instruction is differentiated based on three areas: Content of instruction, processes and techniques of learning a lesson, and products and artifacts made by students to demonstrate their learning.

Teachers DO... Teachers DO NOT...
 * What do teachers specifically do?**
 * Provide several learning options, or different paths to learning, which help students take in information and make sense of concepts and skills
 * Provide levels of support and challenge for all students, including those who lag behind, those who are advanced, and those who are right in the middle
 * Develop a separate lesson plan for each student in a classroom
 * "Water down" the curriculum for specific students

These are just a few of many strategies that can help differentiated learning
 * What are some differentiated instruction strategies?**
 * Acceleration
 * Flexible groupings
 * Mentoring
 * Independent Study
 * Literature circles
 * Contracting
 * Tiered instruction
 * Tic-Tac-Toe Choices
 * Collaborative learning

According to eSchoolNews, technology empowers differentiated instruction. DI can highlight 21st century technology skills and use alternative assignments and methods of assessment to help students learn. Using technology might connect better with a student and help reinforce the lesson you are trying to teach. Technology can //personalize instruction, enhance learning with multimedia components, help students construct new knowledge,// and //provide motivation for student work.// Some examples differentiated instruction that uses technology would be using computer software, literature circles, WebQuests, building collaborative wikis, or creating RAFTTs. Let's highlight RAFTTs. It stands for... Students use this process to make artifacts of learning. They could be allowed to choose what format and technology they will use to showcase their learning. Some students may choose to make a powerpoint or video while others may use a word processing software to show their learning. For more information about how to use RAFTT, check out this article: What is RAFT?
 * How does technology play into differentiated instruction?**
 * **R**- Role: The role or character the writers take on
 * **A**- Audience: Who will view the product?
 * **F**- Format: They way the student will show their understanding
 * **T**- Topic: The focus of the product. The nitty gritty questions such as who, what, when, where, and why
 * **T**- Technology: The application that will be used to present the final product


 * Check out this article written by Jennipher Willoughby about how to implement differentiated instruction:** Differentiated Instruction: Meeting Students Where They Are. She gives excellent suggestions about how to differentiate instruction in the three general ares listed above.


 * Another resource for differentiation:** Dare to Differentiate This wiki provides lots of great resources and ideas about how to make differentiation fun in your classroom.

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