Making Differentiation a Habit


Book Description

Updated edition of a popular resource helps teachers seamlessly integrate differentiation practices into their daily routine. In this updated edition of her guide to daily differentiated instruction, Diane Heacox outlines the critical elements for success in today’s class­rooms. She gives educators evidence-based differentiation strategies and user-friendly tools to optimize teaching, learning, and assessment for all students. New features include an expanded section on grading, informa­tion on connections between personalized learning and differentiation, integration of strategies with tier one instructional interventions, scaf­folding strategies, revised planning templates, and updated resources, which include digital tools and apps for assessment. Digital content includes customizable forms from the book. A free downloadable PLC/Book Study Guide is available at freespirit.com/PLC.




Differentiating Instruction in the Regular Classroom


Book Description

This updated edition presents a practical introduction to differentiation and explains how to differentiate instruction in a wide range of settings to provide variety and challenge. Chapters focus on evaluation in a differentiated classroom and how to manage both behavior and work tasks. The book includes connections to Common Core State Standards. Digital content includes a PowerPoint presentation for professional development, customizable forms from the book, and curriculum maps, workcards, and matrix plans.




Advancing Differentiation


Book Description

Powerful strategies that will transform the way you teach and the way your students learn. Advancing Differentiation will lead you through the process of creating a thriving, student-centered, 21st-century classroom. Since its initial publica­tion, the book’s materials have undergone rigorous testing and refinement in classrooms all over the world to deliver the best and most effective differen­tiation strategies. The strategies in this book will help you: Deeply engage every learner while challenging students to think critically, self-regulate, and direct their own learning Set new roles for student and teacher that encourage learner autonomy Employ cutting-edge techniques for designing rigorous E4 curriculum (effective, engaging, enriching, and exciting) This revised and updated edition features: A primer on differentiation, which answers the crucial question, Why differentiate at all? Self-assessment surveys, observation forms, and new ideas for increasing proficiency in classroom differentiation Ways to address the changing needs of the future workforce More articulated curriculum design defining the differences between strategies and skills—refining the levels of conceptual knowledge




How to Differentiate Instruction in Academically Diverse Classrooms


Book Description

First published in 1995 as How to Differentiate Instruction in Mixed-Ability Classrooms, this new edition reflects evolving best practices, practitioners' experience, and Tomlinson's ongoing thinking about how to help all students access high-quality curriculum; engage in meaningful learning experiences; and feel safe and valued in their school. Written as a practical guide for teachers, this expanded 3rd edition of Carol Ann Tomlinson's groundbreaking work covers the fundamentals of differentiation and provides additional guidelines and new strategies for how to go about it. You'll learn What differentiation is and why it's essential How to set up the flexible and supportive learning environment that promotes success How to manage a differentiated classroom How to plan lessons differentiated by readiness, interest, and learning profile How to differentiate content, process, and products How to prepare students, parents, and yourself for the challenge of differentiation We differentiate instruction to honor the reality of the students we teach. They are energetic and outgoing. They are quiet and curious. They are confident and self-doubting. They are interested in a thousand things and deeply immersed in a particular topic. They are academically advanced and "kids in the middle" and struggling due to cognitive, emotional, economic, or sociological challenges. More of them than ever speak a different language at home. They learn at different rates and in different ways. And they all come together in our academically diverse classrooms.




Differentiation and the Brain


Book Description

Examine the basic principles of differentiation in light of what current research on educational neuroscience has revealed. This research pool offers information and insights that can help educators decide whether certain curricular, instructional, and assessment choices are likely to be more effective than others. Learn how to implement differentiation so that it achieves the desired result of shared responsibility between teacher and student.




Teach for Attention!


Book Description

A lively read from a working teacher offers practical engagement strategies for students with attention challenges If learning is a motor, student engagement is the key. But when teaching students with ADHD and other attention challenges, sometimes even the most finely tuned classroom can sputter. Teach for Attention! is your tool belt of teaching strategies for students with ADHD, low self-confidence, distraction, and other attention challenges. Dozens of true classroom stories show the strategies in action. It’s all about making simple fixes so you can reach every student without changing your approach or revamping your curriculum. Carry these ideas with you like tools on a belt—the right one will be there when you need it!




Differentiation for Gifted Learners


Book Description

Revised and updated edition helps educators increase rigor and depth for all advanced and gifted learners to fulfill their potential. With increasing numbers of students receiving gifted services every year, it’s more important than ever for differentiated instruction to go beyond adjusting content levels, task complexity, or product choice—it must truly challenge and support learners on all levels: academic, social, and emotional. This award-winning resource in the field of gifted education has been revised and updated to include: a discussion of underserved learners—particularly English language learners, students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and economically disadvantaged students updated information on learning standards, MTSS, and universal screening new guidelines for honors courses a focus on scholarly questioning, ethics, and empathy a novel new strategy to increase curricular depth and complexity information on learning orientations new research on neurological differences of gifted learners the pros and cons of co-teaching and how to assess its progress new tools to increase achievement, plus a discussion of “underlearning” the benefits of coaching and lesson study the authors’ perspectives on and guidelines for grading Downloadable digital content includes customizable reproducible forms and a PDF presentation; a free PLC/Book Study Guide for use in professional development is also available.




Fair Isn't Always Equal


Book Description

Differentiated instruction is a nice idea, but what happens when it comes to assessing and grading students? What's both fair and leads to real student learning? Fair Isn't Always Equal answers that question and much more. Rick Wormeli offers the latest research and common sense thinking that teachers and administrators seek when it comes to assessment and grading in differentiated classes. Filled with real examples and "gray" areas that middle and high school educators will easily recognize, Rick tackles important and sometimes controversial assessment and grading issues constructively. The book covers high-level concepts, ranging from "rationale for differentiating assessment and grading" to "understanding mastery" as well as the nitty-gritty details of grading and assessment, such as: whether to incorporate effort, attendance, and behavior into academic grades;whether to grade homework;setting up grade books and report cards to reflect differentiated practices;principles of successful assessment;how to create useful and fair test questions, including how to grade such prompts efficiently;whether to allow students to re-do assessments for full credit. This thorough and practical guide also includes a special section for teacher leaders that explores ways to support colleagues as they move toward successful assessment and grading practices for differentiated classrooms.




Content-Area Conversations


Book Description

Teachers across the country are seeking ways to make their multicultural classrooms come alive with student talk about content. Content-Area Conversations: How to Plan Discussion-Based Lessons for Diverse Language Learners is a practical, hands-on guide to creating and managing environments that spur sophisticated levels of student communication, both oral and written. Paying special attention to the needs of English language learners, the authors *Detail research-based steps for designing lessons that spark student talk; *Share real-life classroom scenarios and dialogues that bring theory to life; *Describe easy-to-use assessments for all grade levels; *Provide rubrics, worksheets, sentence frames, and other imaginative tools that encourage academic communication; and *Offer guiding questions to help teachers plan instruction. Teachers at any grade level, in any content area, will find a wide variety of strategies in this book to help students simultaneously learn English and learn in English. Drawing both on decades of research data and on the authors' real-life experiences as teachers of English language learners, this book is replete with ideas for fostering real academic discourse in your classroom.




Breakthrough Leadership in the Digital Age


Book Description

“By deconstructing learning science and making the connection to technology, Hess and Saxberg have outlined key strategies for school leaders as they work to transform traditional practices in schools. Whether it is whole-school reform or targeted interventions, principals will be motivated to rethink or‘re-engineer’ the use of technology to optimize teaching and learning.” —Gail Connelly, Executive Director National Association of Elementary School Principals.




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