What is Differentiate Instruction?

“Differentiation is making sure that the right students get the right learning tasks at the right time. Once you have a sense of what each student holds as "known‟ and what he or she needs in order to learn, then the process going forward is one of adaptability, learning strategies, and student driven as opposed to curriculum driven.

Assessment as Learning: Using Classroom Assessment to Maximize Student Learning Lorna M. Earl Corwin Press, Inc. – 2003 – pp. 86-87

HELPING US KNOW WHO KIDS ARE SO WE CAN TEACH THEM BETTER...

When we examine this statement how do we go about this? Try answering these questions:

1. A positive thing people say about me is:
2. When I feel great about school, it's probably because:
3. A dream I have for myself is:
4. I like spending time on:
5. Something that captures my imagination is:
6. The best thing about my family is:
7. My strength as a learner is:
8. What I can contribute in my classroom is:
9. A thing I wish people knew about me is:
10. I'm proud of:

Now that we have answered those questions how can we help our students make the best use of their resources and time? In our classroom this year we are going to use many different kinds of activities, games, assessments, which are going to teach you the lessons we need to learn this year, and they are also going to be a barometer of how you are doing in your class work, and where you excel, and where I can assist you.

The relationship that families, and schools have form the core of a society. We, as educators, strive to do our best to serve the needs of all our children. We often must challenge our selves when we know that a child is having difficulty learning a lesson, or that a gifted learner is bored sitting in a classroom that does not challenge them.

The purpose for this little textbook is to use this as a communication tool, for all of us to help the children we have in our school each year. In the next chapter of out book we will now discuss some of the salient learning strategies we will learn this year. Just remember your feedback is always welcomed.

Let's discuss how we assess your child. On page 3, ten questions were listed in order for us to assess how your child learns and what they like learning. Now let's look at our classroom through many different eyes. My job in this process is a mentor, and coach. All my students will have a voice, they will be taught how to use their time productively, they will learn how to organize their materials and their space, and we are all going to work cooperatively in our classroom. Respect, empathy, and communication, are our "Guiding Principles".

In order for our children to put their best foot forward, we employ a technique called "self-efficacy, which is getting your child to believe in themselves. (Tomlinson, 2004). Children learn at their best when they know that the subject matter we are going to teach them is capable of being learned. Positive messages like "I am anxious to see your answers", "show your best work", and "show how much you have learned" are all motivational statements that will assist your child in their academic journey. (Chapman, & King, 201

The Physical Environment of Our Classroom

When you enter our classroom you will see that the room is arranged differently than the traditional classroom. Desks are grouped into 4 different pods. Around the room there are marked areas where children access information and lessons regarding science, reading, writing, social studies, and our gathering space. Each area has it's purpose, the children are first assigned seats in a pod, then throughout the year their seat will be changed so that they will not only learn to communicate with their classmates, but will also show their fellow classmates how they learn.

In our gathering place you will notice our calender, weather chart, and our assignment chart for "Person of the Day" The Person of the Day is line leader, runs errands to the office, and opens the door when someone comes to visit. Each student gets an opportunity monthly to have this valued position.