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Monday, November 15, 2010

Lots of Differentiation ideas!

I was running out of ideas about how to research how to differentiate, when I came across a website with a plethora of differentiation ideas, divided into low planning and high planning. I thought this would be useful to share just to have a list of ideas to reference if you are looking for differentiation ideas, so here it is:

Low Preparation ideas:
  • Choices of books
  • Homework options
  • Varied journal prompts
  • Orbitals
  • Varied pacing with anchor options
  • Student-teacher goal setting
  • Work alone or together
  • Flexible seating
  • Varied computer programs
  • Varied supplementary materials
  • Options for varied modes of expression
  • Varying scaffolding of same organizer
  • Let's Make a Deal projects
  • Think-Pair-Share by readiness, interest, learning profile
  • Use of collaboration, independence & cooperation
  • Open-ended activities
  • Mini workshops to re-teach or extend skills
  • Games to practice mastery of information & skill
  • Multiple levels of questions

High Preparation Ideas:
  • Tiered activities/labs
  • Tiered products
  • Independent studies
  • Multiple texts
  • Alternative assessments
  • Learning contracts
  • 4-MAT
  • Multiple Intelligence options
  • Compacting
  • Spelling by readiness
  • Entry Points
  • Tiered centers
  • Interest centers
  • Personal agendas
  • Literature circles
  • Stations
  • Complex Instruction
  • Tape recorded materials
  • Choice Boards
  • Think-Tac-Toe
  • Simulations
  • Problem Based Learning

The website suggests only using high preparation ideas once in awhile so you can make sure your planning is of high quality. They stress the importance is quality not quantity.


http://www.scienceforamerica.com/teacher-preparation/differentiation-in-science.html

1 comment:

  1. Thanks for sharing Niki! Those are all great ideas and will be great to experiment with! Going into the teaching world I feel we will be looking for different ideas constantly, so the list that you provided is great! Under the lower preparation is think-pair-share. In my clinical placment my class does a lot of that! It's a great way to get students thinking and listening to other ideas... The thinking wheel keeps turning :)

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