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