Differentiation Planning Template

Differentiation - teaching to the learning needs and styles of all students
- developing as many ways as possible for students to
succeed in your class

The issue: There are several challenges when trying to meet the needs
of every student
a. students’ needs have to be identified
b. identifying needs takes extra time
c. identifying needs requires a shift in how we address
curriculum development/assessment
d. grading is problematic: do we grade for progress and risk not adequately informing /preparing students for the next level?

Why does the issue exist?
1) Self Esteem: some students don’t feel they are able to learn well, they often compare themselves to others

2) Teacher Evaluation: Teachers don’t ask the students how
well the teaching is working for them

3) Time: Teachers don’t feel they have the time
to address individual assessment

Teaching Strategies: 1) collaboration and sharing with other teachers
about students they have in common
2) establish trust in a safe, community culture
3) use ice breakers, surveys, questioning
4) create learning profiles
5) employ Blackboard
6) create rubrics to identify strengths and weaknesses
7) help students to identify different learning styles
and how to improve in all areas
8) developing assessments that accommodate
different skill levels (A & B tests)
9) cultivate a curriculum rich in variety to emphasize
all of Gardner’s intelligences

Expectations: 1) Attendance/participation increase
2) progress academically, socially, and physically
3) teacher efficacy: evaluation of ourselves
4) formative and summative assessments, pre-tests etc.
5) teaching metacognition

Evidence:
Pre-tests vs. post-tests to see progress
Formative evaluations/self-assessments to check progress
Group projects/authentic assessments
Portfolios that catalogue successes and challenges
in a visual way