“Differentiation can show us how to teach the same standard to a range of learners by employing a variety of teaching and learning modes.” - - Carol Ann Tomlinson.
This quote and all the chapters we reviewed in class support the importance of differentiated instruction and how through it, learner-centered instruction and standard-based instruction can work together. However, all this knowledge and tools are being introduced to educators and to us, the ones preparing to be in the field. It is our responsibility to use them and continuously prepare, learn and adjust our own style in order to fit the needs of our students.
Tomlinson also says, “Differentiated Instruction shows us how to teach and Standards tell us what to teach.” Understanding each of them and their benefits is essential, not only for the students but to teachers as well. We know children learn in different ways but as educators we can teach in different ways. What a powerful tool to have, be able to reach out to each student.
Differentiated Instruction is an opportunity to accomplish this, but it requires time, planning and good communication with our students and their families. It might sound complicated but it is also a challenge, and worth a try.
I want to finish this week's reflection with a few quotes from an article written by Scott Stephens ( The Plain Dealer, April 1st. 2008), whose views are very interesting and appropriate to our class discussion.
“ With different learning styles, why not different testing styles?” he wrote. Also, “students learn in different ways. So why should everyone be tested the same way?” In the article, Stephens cites State Superintendent Susan Zelman, who says, “There are multiple pathways for students to succeed in school and there are multiple ways to measure that success”
In closing, two thoughts occurred to me while writing this week' assignment, that Differentiated Instruction is critical to our career's as Educators, and that I have much more to learn!
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4 comments:
I'm right with ya! I gotta lot more to learn too! Just as long as my brain doesn't blow up first. Hey, I wonder if they make surge protectors and circuit breakers for brains. Oh yeah, they do---it's called alcohol! lol
I love your thoughts and insight about differentiated instruction. I agree that it is our responsibility to keep learning and practicing the techniques we learned in this class as well as other things we learn throughout our schooling. Like any other job practices, procedures, and methods are always changing and being added, so like any other career it is our responsibility to learn these, try them to the best of our ability and make them effective. Not only is it our job, but it is our duty to our students. Their education is in our hands which builds their foundation and impacts their future in more ways than we probably know. I think of my boyfriend who is an accountant. Every year different rules and regulations are changing and it is his responsibility to know these changes and how to implement them in the field because it is required. I also think of careers in the medical field. New procedures are happening all of the time and like teachers, doctors have to know these to help their patients the best way possible. I like your approach to differentiated instruction and more importantly your attitude towards! it!
How about Testing the Testers. What next. We have groups of people that claim cultural biases with standardized tests. More tests means more tests. How would I know if I could have scored a 32 on the regular test but when they corrected for Rural school system bias to the priveledge Suburban bias to the Urban un-ready, un-interested, kinetheteic model. I could have scored a 33.
How do they know that the tests are really measuring anything anyways. I mean really.
I enjoyed your reflection Addy.
Thanks for sharing the PD article! It's interesting that Susan Z. makes that statement...I'm not really seeing "multiple ways to measure that success” in the OATs...
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