FAQ

=Frequently Asked Questions = = = 

**1) What is differentiated instruction?**
“Differentiated instruction is an instructional theory that allows teachers to face the challenge of taking diverse student factors into account when planning and delivering instruction. Based on this theory, teachers can structure learning environments that address the variety of learning styles, interests, and abilities found within a classroom.” []

**2) How does differentiated instruction work?**
"Differentiated instruction is based upon the belief that students learn best when they make connections and choices between the curriculum and their diverse interests and experiences, and that the greatest learning occurs when students are pushed slightly beyond the point where they can work without assistance. This point differs for students who are working below grade level and for those who are gifted in a given area.” []   

3) How do teachers decide how and when to differentiate?
Assessment for placement is good, but not enough to evaluate the depth of understanding. Depth of understanding can be evaluated by observing, problem solving skills, writing, discussions, and explanations of thinking. Other assessment avenues are flexible grouping, working with appropriate learning partners and triads.

4) What is evidence of differentiation in the classroom?
 ·<span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;"> Match student's ability with learning style <span style="font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">·<span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;"> Pre-test assessments <span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman'; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;"> <span style="font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· Use a variety of learning strategies <span style="font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· Group work <span style="font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">·<span style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;"> Variety of resources

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">**5) Does differentiation mean individualization?**
<span style="font-weight: normal; color: #000000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype'; msobidifontfamily: Arial;">Differentiation is done on a daily basis but does not necessarily mean that each student is doing something different.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif; msobidifontfamily: Arial;"> <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">
 * <span style="font-weight: normal; color: #000000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype'; msobidifontfamily: Arial;">Individualization is defined as the activities, content, and materials are designed for individual learning. The learners' learning style determines the curriculum. Instead of teacher- or curriculum centered instruction the teaching is geared to the needs of the student. **

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">**6) I am not differentiating, I thought I was?**
<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif; msobidifontfamily: Arial;">What evidence is apparent in your classroom? See question #4.

Try to set goals within your lesson to add one component every grading period to start, or as frequently as you feel comfortable. It is not a race to include all parts of a differentiated classroom within one lesson, take baby steps and grow as your students grow in the comfort of the new dynamics of your classroom.

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">**7) How can I differentiate content when I’m teaching a district mandated curriculum?**
<span style="font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· Look within your curriculum to see if there is room for student choice in the planning template. Have students choose categories of study to help engage reluctant learners. <span style="font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· When you are giving a lecture in class, have students read the chapter from the book instead of listening to the lecture. <span style="font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· Start with small choices and keep objectives the same. <span style="font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· Use group work vs. seat work. <span style="font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· The curriculum is the what, and as a teacher you decide the how <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">

<span style="color: green; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype'; msobidifontfamily: Arial; msobidifontweight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> ==<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">**<span style="color: green; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">8) How am I going to grade all these different assignments?** == ==<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif; msobidifontfamily: Arial;">** 9) ** <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">**Isn’t Differentiated Instruction for elementary schools?** == Students come at various levels of readiness, learning styles and interests. So as educators, we need to meet these needs at all levels. To help teachers in a secondary classroom to differentiate you can do the following: <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· Split up your classroom into different learning centers <span style="font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· Choose a wide range of material. Not all students have the same reading ability. Choosing leveled texts on the same topic allows all students to get information in the printed form.
 * Don’t grade everything! Students definitely need feedback on the quality of their work, but it does not have to be teacher feedback. It is important for students to learn to evaluate their own work as well as that of their peers. The feedback (peer and individual) needs to fit within your given rubric and criteria. **
 * As educators, the most we can ask of any student is that they strive to become their very best. It is our job as facilitators of instruction to support the learner on this journey. **

<span style="color: green; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype'; msobidifontfamily: Arial; msobidifontweight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> ==<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">**<span style="color: green; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">10) How do I measure my student’s learning styles?** == Most styles of learning fall into the following categories: <span style="font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">·  __ Visual Learners __ – Visual learners learn more when they read the material. Graphic organizers are great tool to help these learners. <span style="font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">·  __ Auditory Learners __ – Auditory learners enjoy being part of the discussion and talking to other students about their learners. They would rather listen to lectures, song and stories and enjoy the tone and inflection in the voice. <span style="font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· __ Tactile Learners __ – Tactile learners learn best if they are able to handle the material. They also need to be involved in concrete activities and experiences. <span style="font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· __ Kinesthetic Learners __ – Kinesthetic learners need to become physically involved in the activity. These activities must also be relevant to their lives. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">Find an interest inventory that meets your needs as a classroom teacher. Authors of learning styles materials / inventories: <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· Ken and Rita Dunn <span style="font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· Eric Jensen

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">**11) Where do we get the time to differentiate?**
Some students will need additional instruction, some will finish early, some will need more time on-task. Teachers can instruct a small group while other students are working individually or in pairs/triads. In successfully structured classrooms, everyone knows what to do and how to do it. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype'; msobidifontfamily: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> Teachers need to create rubrics that are generic <span style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; msobidifontfamily: Symbolmso-list;">· Col laborate with colleagues to share the work <span style="font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· Students can help create lesson plans <span style="font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; mso-list: Ignore; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· Go at a pace that works for you as a teacher  <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">
==<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">**<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">12) How do teachers decide how and when to differentiate? ** == <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">Assessment for placement is good, but not enough to evaluate the depth of understanding. Depth of understanding can be evaluated by observing, problem solving skills, writing, discussions, and explanations of thinking. Other assessment avenues are flexible grouping, working with appropriate learning partners and triads.

=
<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">Not any one measure of progress is absolute. Student portfolios are a great way to gauge progress throughout the year. If students are learning, challenged, happy at school the differentiated / responsive classroom is a success. ======