DifferentiationTechniques

Belowisanannotatedlistofwhatdifferentiationis
anddifferentiationtechniques.

differentiation:
Differentiation is delivering the same information in different ways to best reach
individual students. The standards and objectives are the same, but the way
students are taught and/or the way they are assessed is tailored to differences in
students.
The three ways to differentiate involve changing the content, the process,
and/or the product.
Content refers to how a teacher delivers the information, what
strategies he or she uses, the visuals or media or methods he or
she uses.
Process refers the activities that students do throughout the
lesson/unit to show their growing understanding of the content
being taught.
Product refers to the summative assessments usually due at the
end of the unit that show mastery of the content learned, such as
tests, essays, presentations, projects, etc.

differentiationTechniques:
Evaluate students using formative assessments.
A teacher cannot know what to do to differentiate learning if he or she
does not first understand his or her students. The best way to do this is
through formative assessments. As a teacher constantly assesses and
reassesses students, he or she can best learn how to help his or her
students.
Pre-tests can help a teacher figure out which students know what
so that they can be taught and/or grouped accordingly.
Surveys can help a teacher understand what students prefer to do
and what does or does not work well in terms of assignments,
groupings, etc.
Asking questions throughout lessons can help a teacher keep track
of how students are grasping content and what needs to be
retaught, if anything.
Assigning homework can help a teacher see specifically what
content students are or are not understanding.
 Some students may need to be retaught. However, some students,
because of their demonstration of mastery of the topic, may be exempt
from doing some of the work.
Create lessons that target different students learning styles.
When you do this, you can teach to students strengths and also bolster
their weaknesses. This is great for when you want students to
demonstrate mastery of a topic via a project. Giving them choices
according to their learning styles can help them enjoy the assignment
more and feel like it is easier for them to achieve success. A teacher can
teach, construct activities, provide support, and design assessments
according to these styles.
You can do this according to the VARK model.
Visual
Students prefer to learn through the use of images,
maps, graphic organizers, etc.
Auditory
Students prefer to learn through the use of listening
opportunities like lecture, speaking, class discussion,
etc.
Reading/Writing
Students prefer to learn through the use of reading,
taking notes, writing essays, etc.
Kinesthetic
Students prefer to learn through the use of hands-on
opportunities, manipulatives, etc.
You can do this according to Gardners eight Multiple Intelligences.
Verbal-Linguistic
Students have strengths in reading, writing, speaking,
etc.
Logical-Mathematical
Students have strengths in logic, problem solving,
reasoning, etc.
Visual-Spatial
Students have strengths in imagery, being aware of
the surrounding environment, reading maps, charts,
graphs, etc.,
Bodily-Kinesthetic
Students have strengths in physical abilities, body
awareness, etc.
 Musical-Rhythmic
Students have strengths in music, sounds, rhythms,
etc.
Naturalist
Students have strengths in big-picture ideas,
categorizing, understanding the hierarchy of the world
around them, etc.
Interpersonal
Students have strengths in knowing others,
communication, interacting with others, etc.
Intrapersonal
Students have strengths in knowing self, goal setting,
introspection, independence, etc.
Design tiered lesson plans.
Carolyn Coil has a great book titled Standards-Based Activities and
Assessments for the Differentiated Classroom. It includes ideas for the tic
tac toe activity chooser and criteria cards that I show in Goal 7. It also has
ideas, templates, and instructions for writing tiered lessons and units. In
addition to this, it shows the reader how to make individual lesson plans
according to students learning styles, preferences, etc.
Group students based on similar abilities (homogeneous grouping), similar topics
or interests, etc.
Homogeneous groupings help the students see that there are others at
the same level as they. It makes them have to work together to achieve
their goals and not rely on a stronger student like they might in
heterogeneous groupings.
Similar topic or interest groupings mean that the students already have
something in common. When students are passionate about their topics or
interests, this helps them feel more invested in the assignments and
makes them more likely to put forth more effort.
Arrange the classroom to create the best learning environment possible.
Thinking about where everything is in the classroom can help a teacher
manage his or her classroom better and make it so that students can learn
better.
Desk arrangement is important. Depending on whether you are
doing lecture, group work, learning centers, etc., a teacher needs to
arrange his or her classroom accordingly.
Designated areas can be set aside to help specific students, such
as a quiet space for those who need fewer distractions, a space to
 pull out students who need extra help, or an area for students to get
together to discuss information.
Learning centers can be organized based on learning styles, topic,
etc. Students can then visit these centers to learn about content
material in a way that best reaches them.
Classroom decor can be distracting to some students but
uninspiring to others. Finding a balance between creativity and
order is important. Some students get preoccupied with too much
visual stimulation. However, other students need the stimulation
from the color and designs of artistic bulletin boards. Having a mix
of different styles can help students feel comfortable and safe in a
shared learning environment.
Use Blooms Taxonomy to create activities.
This way, different students at different levels can do assignments that
match their level.
Students who do not have a good grasp of the topic being taught
can do an activity lower on Blooms Taxonomy (like matching
vocabulary words to their definitions).
Students who demonstrate more mastery of the topic can do an
activity higher on Blooms Taxonomy (like writing sentences using
the vocabulary words in context).
Vary the time spent on direct instruction, class discussion, group work,
independent practice, etc.
Since different students learn in different ways, subject material should not
all be taught in one way. A teacher needs to mix it up so that a variety of
learning styles are targeted.
Be aware of your own learning styles and preferences.
Teachers tend to teach in their preferred style. Knowing what this style is
can help a teacher recognize if he or she is teaching too often in this way.
Once he or she realizes this, he or she can then be more mindful of
including other styles and preferences when planning lessons, activities,
and assessments.
Give the students choices.
Students can choose what activities to complete or in what way they will
do a summative assessment or how they will learn the material. Not only
is this differentiation, it also makes them feel more in control of their own
learning, and they will be more likely to be invested in the assignments.
Continue to research differentiation techniques.
Teachers need to keep learning, too.
 Below are websites that contain information about differentiation and
differentiation techniques. I used these sites to gather information for this
list.
Concordia University: What is Differentiated Instruction?
Edutopia: 18 Teacher-Tested Strategies for Differentiated
Instruction
Prodigy: 20 Differentiated Instruction Strategies and Examples
Reading Rockets: Differentiated Instruction for Reading
Reading Rockets: What Is Differentiated Instruction?
Strategies That Differentiate Instruction
Teach Hub: Implementing Differentiated Instruction Strategies
We Are Teachers: 5 Differentiated Instruction Strategies to Try Out
This Year