Differentiation in the Classroom

What does it mean to differentiate in the classroom? Our classrooms are filled with students who have a wide spectrum of ability levels and learning styles. It is up to us to meet their individual needs. This means that you provide different levels of teaching and active engagement, as well as use a variety of teaching methods.

Teachers that differentiate reach out to students where they are at in order to take them where they need to go. Differentiated classrooms are rich learning environments filled with choices and opportunities. Differentiation doesn't have to be hard, but it should be thoughtful. Let's take a look at differentiating in different subject areas.

Reading

The first and most important thing a teacher needs to know is their student's reading level. Once you find out your students independent reading level, you can help them to self select appropriate books. This is the beginning step for differentiating in reading. Give your students "just right books", and help them to slowly move up the reading ladder. Recommended reading: Differentiating Reading Instruction by Laura Robb

As students read their individual books and respond in journals, meet with small, flexible guided reading groups. Bring students together based on their ability levels, skills, and strategies for a short lesson. Change groups around as needed. Try to meet with students in a one on one mini conference each week to check up on their personal reading. Recommended Reading: Guided Reading: Good First Teaching for All Children by Fountas and Pinnell

Introduce literature circles. Setting students up in book club groups not only gives them an opportunity to select a book, but it gives them a chance to socialize about books. This "book talking" is a powerful way to engage students in reading, and meets individual needs at the same time. Recommended Reading: Literature Circles by Harvey Daniels


Writing

Choice in writing, writing conferences, and guided writing are key to differentiating. Each student works on a piece of writing (even within a specified genre) that means something to them. Meeting with individuals to discuss their writing, and meeting with small flex groups based on need is differentiation at its best. Set up a writing workshop situation where you can spend most of your teaching time in one on one and small group situations. Recommended Reading: Writing Workshop: The Essential Guide by Ralph Fletcher

Math

Think "guided math". Just like guided reading, you work with small, flexible groups based on individual needs. Perhaps you have three students who struggle with beginning division. You pull those students together in a small group and work with them. What do the other students do while you are working with small groups? You can set up math exploratory centers, assign math practice, or create choice projects that allows students to apply math skills to real world situations.

Another way to differentiate in math is to compact the curriculum. Give students pretests before teaching a unit of math. Students who master the objectives are given a challenging project while you teach the rest of the class. Meet with your project students a few times a week, and give them the opportunity to share their project with the class at the end of the unit. Recommended Reading: Math Intervention: Building Number Power with Formative Assessments, Differentiation, and Games, Grades PreK-2 and Math Intervention: Building Number Power with Formative Assessments, Differentiation, and Games, Grades 3-5

Social Studies and Science

Differentiate social studies and science curriculum by giving students choice. Meet their needs by meeting their interests. Give students choices within a framework for researching, reading, writing, and completing projects. Are your students studying Colonial Times? Allow students to choose a specific topic within Colonial times to research. Give them a final project choice. Your choices should include audio, visual, tactile, and kinesthetic activities, as well as activities that include multiple intelligences. A variety of choices should be designed to meet a wide range of ability levels and learning styles.

Differentiating in the classroom not only meets your student's needs, but it also gives new life to your learning environment. Actively engage your students each and everyday by challenging them through their interests, learning styles, and ability level.