Differentiating instruction presentation 2

Editor's Notes

• #3: Differentiated instruction is known as an instructional theory which allows teachers to take the diverse students factors into account when instruction is developed for the classroom. Within the theory teachers can work with the learning environments of the different learning styles, interests, and abilities that each student has. Differentiated instruction works best when the students have a connection between the curriculum and his or her diverse interests and experiences (Glencoe, 2000). Within the presentation, a person will view four different trends that work within differentiated instruction for diverse students. Instructional issues for diverse learners will be highlighted, along with a lesson plan outline. The differentiated instruction will be based on math and science.
• #4: The learning environment proves to be an important aspect of any and every classroom. The learning environment ranges from seemingly simple ideas, such as the color of the walls, and placement of the pencil sharpener to more complex ideas, such as what bulletin boards will have displayed, the placement of the desks, and the seating of each child. The classroom is where a student will spend most of their day. It has to be inviting and non-distracting. It should be arranged so students have access to everything that they need and use on a daily basis. It should have a space for the whole group to get together, and it should have space for each child to have a little personal space for themselves. Quiet spaces, for students who may prefer to work alone, are beneficial if the classroom is large enough. Interactive bulletin boards are a great way to utilize classroom space, and even teacher placement should be well thought out. In a science and Math classroom the placement of pupils, classroom space, and classroom resources are all essential for an optimal learning environment. Students with special needs can have their needs met through proper student placement. For example, students who are easily distracted shouldn’t sit next to a student with ADHD or the door. They should probably sit near the teacher, or by some focused students. ESL students can be placed by each other so they can help each other out with the material and the language. It will also be easier for the teacher to address their needs all at once for difficult words they may not be familiar with. Resources within the learning environment that can be utilized by the students is also important. For example, a science classroom would need specific tools for many activities, such as a microscopes, petri dishes, measurement tools, etc. Without access to specific teaching tools, learning environments can become dull. Some instructional issues that may come about for diverse learners in learning environment would be that the environment doesn’t meet their needs. There could also be such a diverse class of students that placement is difficult. The environment may also only meet the needs of certain students and not others due to limited resources.
• #5: Centers are set up in order to allow students to experience and work with a selected or random, small group of students. Centers are designed to be engaging and often are activity based learning. Often, there are 4 or more groups, and they all work on a different skill, or activity. Teachers will often enlist the help of parent volunteers and assign a parent to each group in order to help with the activity and learning. Centers can be made up by the teacher, or they can be composed by the class as a whole so the students feel even more involved with their learning. Centers meet the needs of most students, and with proper planning, they can meet the needs of all of the students. The smaller groups enable more one on one instruction for students having difficulty. They also set up a team work atmosphere, where students can work together to get particular activities done, or learn skills from one another. If there are students with specific needs in a classroom that does centers, the teacher can arrange which students go into the center’s groups in order to make the most beneficial matches among student abilities and prior knowledge. Centers provides a diverse learning environment that can be used among all subjects, especially Math and Science. Some instructional issues with centers may come about if there are not enough parent volunteers, or if the parent volunteers have little to no knowledge of the material being taught. Parents should get a brief run down of the activity and how to do it according to what group they choose to work with, or what group has been chosen for them. Other problems that could occur during centers are time restrictions. You have to get so much done within a limited amount of time before you rotate to another group. This may mean that certain activities don’t get completed by certain groups, and may prove to cause problems among students with special needs.
• #6: Student choice boards are great ways to the learning process because they are student centered. Student centered activities involve the students more. Choice boards also make students accountable for their progress and assignments. No one size shoes fits all people. This is applicable to students and their different learning styles. Not every student learns or retains information at the same pace. The assignments within the choice boards assist students in reaching their individual goals. Students are able to take account for what they do and come up with a goal plan on how they are going to obtain their goals. Choice boards are effective for both math and science content areas. It allows for students to take responsibility of the learning process.
• #7: Flexible grouping gives students the opportunity to work in different groups with a variety of students who many be struggling in the same areas as them. Flexible grouping is a form of ability grouping where students are able to receive needed assistance in the areas they need more academic growth. The grouping depends on specific goals the teacher has for each student, something like an individual goal plan for students. It is anticipated that the grouping will assist them in reaching those individual goals. Flexible grouping can be either teacher centered or student centered depending on the needs of the students. Also, through teacher observation while grouping sessions are going, teachers are able to assist students in need of their individual skills, and by the activity that needs to be completed.
• #8: This lesson pan can be used for second grade students who may be learning about money, counting, and what amount of each coins make. During the instruction stage the teacher will advise the student what different types of activities will occur at each station. The teacher will already have the desired materials needed for each station waiting for them so students will not need to be away from the area to get any materials. Students will be able to participate in 4 different stations/learning activities and through the repetition of the material, will be able to have a better understanding of money. They will be required to know what value each coin is worth. Through prior knowledge in and out of the classroom, students should be prepared for the activities. Prior to students being dismissed to each learning center, the teacher will have a brief overview related to money, and how to count money. This will set as for what the students could expect to be doing and learning at each center.
• #9: In the top worksheet the students will need to review the coins listed to determine the total price of what is listed. Then they will want to cut out the correct price amount that is listed on the side and glue it right next to the correct coins. The bottom worksheet will list different amounts of money. It will be up to the students to use the pretend plastic coins to determine what coins they would use to create the amount listed. Once the have they amount they can write it in each square. In the middle worksheet the students will have to look at each row of coins listed and determine what the total cost is and write their answer below. In the far right worksheet the students will wanted to look at the coin listed on the left and write what the name of each coin is and how much each coin will be worth.