“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 Tomlison
“Our first obligation is to ensure that standards-based teaching practice does not conflict with best teaching practice. Once those are aligned, differentiation -- or attention to the diverse needs of learners -- follows naturally.” – Carol Ann Tomlison
These two quotes help summarize the importance of differentiated instruction. Carol Ann Tomlinson helps break down the curricular elements of content, process, and product because the way each student process ideas as they read, think, and conjure ideas with the use of materials is all different. As she says in my second quote once you have the content, process, and product aligned teaching your curriculum should (key word) flow naturally. I don’t feel people give teachers enough credit. In doing my lesson plan I have tried to think of every possible scenario that may arise and how I would handle questions, reactions, failures with just one lesson plan. Teachers teach a whole 8 hour day. I have spent the last week trying to work on one lesson plan using differentiated instruction. Yes, it is very easy to stand up there and give them the content, but whether they understand it and engage in it is what really matters and the use of differentiated instruction is our gateway in doing so. As for my second quote, give us two very special aspects in teaching curricula. We are given the standards which help us and give us a direction and differentiated instruction which gives us the pathway to use our creativity, imagination, and even think like the students for once. What would be fun and what would they enjoy doing. I hated school when it was boring and just had to take notes. As new teachers we are given the opportunity to excel and show our excitement to each student and we might even learn from them. Hopefully my lesson plan will be filled with excitement, engage my students, give them different ways in learning and fun.
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3 comments:
The worst part about spending an entire week thinking about what could happen is there is always something else that you didn't think of. We just have to be quick on the uptake and tell ourselves that if something does happen that we didn't plan for we will figure it out!
i totally agree with you. each of the different teaching ideas is good in its own way. we are the ones that have to use and interpret them to our advantage. your lesson was very good! it was interesting and engaging! i think any little kid would have had so much fun playing with the shaving cream! and all of your cross-curricular ideas with the books and the art projects were awesome! those kids are gonna love you!
I agree with Jenny; I really enjoyed your lesson. These are my favorite quotes from your post:
"We are given the standards which help us and give us a direction and differentiated instruction which gives us the pathway to use our creativity, imagination, and even think like the students for once."
"As new teachers we are given the opportunity to excel and show our excitement to each student and we might even learn from them."
I think you hit the nail on the head.
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