Consider these quick steps to plan differentiated lessons and use them to help you implement some new strategies after the New Year!

 

Step 1 PRE-ASSESSMENT: A pre-assessment of your students is crucial to help you understand how each student understands new material.

• Watch this video on the use of exit tickets that help teachers pre-assess and plan.
• Examples: 5 Question Quiz, KWL Chart, Journal, Mind Map, Frayer Diagram
• Tips: Explain to students what you plan to do with the results and why this is important.

Use questions or prompts that gauge their understanding of the main goals or points of the unit.

Keep it simple!

Step 2 CONTENT & PROCESS: Once you have a clear understanding of where each student is starting the unit, consider using a learning menu or a choice board to vary the complexity and the process of learning. This can also be a great way to reach not only struggling students, but also to challenge high achieving students.

 

 

Watch this video on Learning Menus.              View this FREE webinar from Rutgers on Choice Menus.

STEP 3 PRODUCTS: After students have had the chance to interact with new material, it’s time for them to show you what they learned. Remember assessment can be a powerful tool to guide instruction during the unit, not just at the end. When assessing their learning, think outside the box, this doesn’t always need to be a written test.

• Consider trying the “BAWD” Strategy: Build, Act, Write, or Draw. Read more about this strategy on Edutopia’s website.
• Examples: Choice Boards, Student made Videos or Presentations, Journals, Interviews, Student Written Quiz Questions, Playing Kahoot! or Quizziz, Exit Tickets, Chalkboard Splash/Graffiti Walls, Mini-White Board Questions, and many more!

 

Do you feel you have too many students? Is your curriculum plan too packed to differentiate?

Read this quick article on the MYTHS of Differentiated Instruction

Want to learn more about Differentiated Instruction?

Click here to sign up for FREE Professional Learning from Step Up for Students

Check out this page of differentiation resources from Edutopia.

Click here to register for an online webinar on STEAM and personalized instruction from EdWeb.

Do you have K-2 students?  Check out this series form PBS on integrating media in the classroom.

 

 

To view all previous Teacher Resources for Success postings, click here.