Personal Educational Interest
All children learn differently and differentiating instructional activities will be sure to meet all students’ needs. Children do not all learn the same way, some do better with hands on activities while others do better reading out of a textbook, or writing information down. As teachers, it is our responsibility to include instructional activities that will meet each learner’s abilities. Differentiating instruction means that there will be many different activities that students can choose from. This can be accomplished with all content areas. Different centers could include, matching magnetic letters with sight words, using a computer game to make shape patterns or number recognition, bean table with measuring cups to record different measurements, writing and listening center, or an art area where crafts can be made to go along with a lesson. These are only a few ideas to use in the classroom. Centers should be changed as the material being covered changes. Using differentiating instruction teaches children about a topic the way they learn best. It also teaches self-discovery, decision making skills, and independence.
Charlesworth, R. & Lind, K.K. (2013). Math and science for young children (7th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
Gibson, V. (n.d.). Differentiating instruction: Making it happen in classrooms. Macmillan/McGraw-Hill. Retrieved March 7, 2014, from
https://www.mheonline.com/_treasures/pdf/vicki_gibson.pdf.
Gronlund, G. (2006). Make early learning standards come alive: Connecting your practice and curriculum to state guidelines). St. Paul, MN: Redleaf Press.
McAndrews, S.L. (2008). Diagnostic literacy assessments and instructional strategies: A literacy specialist resource. Newark, DE: International Reading Association.
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. (n.d.). Differentiated learning. Retrieved March 7, 2014, from http://www.nctm.org/resources/content.aspx?id=22624.
Roe, B.D. & Smith, S.H. (2012). Teaching reading in today’s elementary schools (11th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
Scholastic. (n.d.). What is differentiating instruction?. Retrieved March 7, 2014, from
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/what-differentiated-instruction.
Teaching Today. (n.d.). Differentiating instruction: Meeting students where they are. Retrieved March 7, 2014, from
http://www.glencoe.com/sec/teachingtoday/subject/di_meeting.phtml.
Teaching Today. (n.d.). Differentiating instruction in social studies. Retrieved March 7, 2014,
from http://www.glencoe.com/sec/teachingtoday/subject/diff_instruction_ss.phtml.
Vanderbilt University Center for Teaching. (n.d.). Bloom’s taxonomy. Retrieved March 7, 2014, from
http://www.cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/blooms-taxonomy/.
Charlesworth, R. & Lind, K.K. (2013). Math and science for young children (7th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
Gibson, V. (n.d.). Differentiating instruction: Making it happen in classrooms. Macmillan/McGraw-Hill. Retrieved March 7, 2014, from
https://www.mheonline.com/_treasures/pdf/vicki_gibson.pdf.
Gronlund, G. (2006). Make early learning standards come alive: Connecting your practice and curriculum to state guidelines). St. Paul, MN: Redleaf Press.
McAndrews, S.L. (2008). Diagnostic literacy assessments and instructional strategies: A literacy specialist resource. Newark, DE: International Reading Association.
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. (n.d.). Differentiated learning. Retrieved March 7, 2014, from http://www.nctm.org/resources/content.aspx?id=22624.
Roe, B.D. & Smith, S.H. (2012). Teaching reading in today’s elementary schools (11th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
Scholastic. (n.d.). What is differentiating instruction?. Retrieved March 7, 2014, from
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/what-differentiated-instruction.
Teaching Today. (n.d.). Differentiating instruction: Meeting students where they are. Retrieved March 7, 2014, from
http://www.glencoe.com/sec/teachingtoday/subject/di_meeting.phtml.
Teaching Today. (n.d.). Differentiating instruction in social studies. Retrieved March 7, 2014,
from http://www.glencoe.com/sec/teachingtoday/subject/diff_instruction_ss.phtml.
Vanderbilt University Center for Teaching. (n.d.). Bloom’s taxonomy. Retrieved March 7, 2014, from
http://www.cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/blooms-taxonomy/.