Differentiating
Instruction
Teaching Strategies
Here are just a few key strategies which can be used in a differentiated classroom. For more strategies, check out resources from ASCD.
Formative Assessment is essential for differentiated instruction. Teachers need to know what students know and need to know in order to target instruction toward their learning needs.
This can be done quickly through exit tickets on index cards or by using technology for quick checks for understanding. Socrative, EdPuzzle, and Kahoot are three of our favorites.
RAFT
The RAFT strategy allows students to select a product which matches their learning preferences in order to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding. Consider several learning styles when developing each row in the grid. R = Role, A = Audience, F = Format, and T = Topic. John McCarthy Ed.S. explains this strategy will in his blogpost and gives several examples.
NOTE: Make sure all rows help students meet the learning objectives.
See examples here:
English, Science, Social Studies
Language Arts, Science, History, Math
ELA -Alliteration and Onomatopoeia
Think-Tac-Toe
Think-Tac-Toe is a great strategy to give students choices to demonstrate their understandings. Design nine activities students can select from to show they know a concept or skill. Start with your learning objectives and create activities using a variety of learning styles and/or student interests.
Differentiating with Think Tac Toe Examples
ChoiceBoards, Menus & Think Tac Toe
NOTE: Make sure that all choices can be used to demonstrate understanding of your learning objectives. If you want students to select three in a row, make the middle box something you want all students to complete.
Guided Groups
Students select which group they are going to be in based on their understanding of the concept.
A = I have no idea and need to hear the lesson again.
B = I get it, but I have some clarifying questions
C = I get it. I can work independently.
The teacher works with the A and B students while the C students go off and work independently. The B students move to the independent group as soon as their questions are clarified.
Watch this strategy in action here!
Learning- Menus
This is another strategy which gives students choices.
They can choose an Appetizer, an Entree, and a Dessert. The choices can be differentiated by readiness, interests, or learning profile.
Tiered
Assignments
Tiered Assignments are what Carol Ann Tomlinson, the leading expert on Differentiated Instruction, calls the "meat and potatoes" of differentiation.
In a tiered assignment, a teacher takes an existing assignment and develops one or more additional versions of the assignment by providing scaffolding for students who might struggle or by providing additional challenge for students who might need it.
Read about "Challenge by Choice", by Davie Suarez which gives you practical ideas on how to create a great tiered assignment along with some research that supports this strategy.
Important tips to keep in mind:
When providing challenge, MORE is not BETTER. Bright students quickly figure out that they are often "punished" for being smart by having to do more than others. The same concept applies for students who are struggling--doing fewer problems is not really effective differentiation.
Make sure all activities are equally respectful and engaging. You shouldn't have some students using play dough while others are completing a worksheet.
Here is a great example of several tiered assessment embedded into an effective presentation about tiered assignments created by Kristina Doubet, from Half Hollows Hills Schools.
Example Tiered Assignments: