Differentiation: developing a shared language

DifferentiationDeveloping a shared language

Dr Catherine Hart www.crowther.org.au

Are we stuck in a rut?

Do we work in a system that demands

conformity?

Cat herding clip – super bowl

“The biggest mistake ... in teaching

has been to treat all children as if

they are variants of the same individual and thus to feel justified

in teaching them all the same

subjects in the same way”

Howard Gardner

Using your non-dominant hand...

Write your name in the left hand corner

of the page

Great minds do NOT think alike

Activities from Glen Weibe

You have 20 seconds to do this

190124752000

Using your non-dominant hand, write down the number shown.

You have 20 seconds to do this

Whilst great minds do NOT think alike...

Try again and this time use your dominant hand ... and think of three things:

Federation - 1901 Hours-days-weeks Emergency - 000

Moving from a ‘how to skin a cat class’ to...

Differentiation is...

A flexible approach to teaching in which the teacher plans and carries out varied approaches to content, process, and product in anticipation and in response to student differences in readiness, interest and learning needs”

Carol Ann Tomlinson

Or more simply...

is an appropriate teacher response to

learners’ needs

Differentiation is NOT...

• A brand-new way of teaching• IEPs for every student• Tracking or ability grouping• Constant group work• Allowing students to work only in

preferred ways on preferred topics• Occasional variations in teaching style

or level of questions asked of individuals

Cindy Strickland

Differentiation is NOT an add-on, it’s a build-on, it is the foundation of your ‘house’

Glenn Weibe

Clarifying terms

Individualisation

Differentiation

Personalisation

In pairs: Do you have the same expectations for all your students?

Do you want all your students to succeed?

“Emphasise excellence for all – not just the top, bottom or middle of the distribution – and recognise diverse forms of excellence”

Robert Sternberg

Why differentiate?

Learner Diversity

• ESL • Learning difficulties• disabilities• Gifted & Talented• Cultural differences • Gender differences • Everyone.. . Not just at ends of the

spectrum

Proactive not reactive

Student ProfilePerson Learner Member of a group

In pairs:

How do you currently cater for learner diversity in your classroom? Your PLT? Your school?

Differentiation happens when…

Teachers consider:

Who

What

How

Where & When

Learners

Content

Process & Product

Environment

Content

Process

Environment Product

YOU

The Five Dimensions of Differentiation