Buffalo Grove HS Learning and Instruction : Instructional Friday Focus: Differentiated Instruction

Dear Bison Colleagues,

Happy Friday! As we close out another great week at Buffalo Grove HS, I am focused on the topic of differentiated instruction.

Teach and Learn with Passion!

Teaching and Learning Quotes:

“It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it."

Aristotle

Danielson Framework for Teaching reminder:

There are 4 domains, 22 components and 76 elements that are considered aspects of a teacher's responsibility as documented through empirical studies. The 4 domains are:

1. Planning and Preparation

2. The Classroom Environment

3. Instruction

4. Professional Responsibilities

Looking at Domain 1 Planning and Preparation

1b: Demonstrating Knowledge of Students

Here's a peek at what "distinguished" looks like for 1b :

Teacher demonstrates thorough knowledge of students’ backgrounds, skills, and interests, and uses this knowledge to plan for individual student learning.

Strategy/Tool to Try: (thanks to ITF Jeff Vlk)

http://appcrawlr.com/ios/myhomework

Instructional Focus:

Differentiated Instruction is the key to successful teaching and learning. There are countless ways to differentiate a lesson. Whether you choose a variety of grouping or offer students choice in the way they display their learning - everyone benefits when students are better engaged through differentiated strategies.

This link is to a PLETHORA of differentiation resources...check one out and give it a try!

http://cybraryman.com/differentiated.html

Differentiation Strategies:

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/differentiated-instruction-strategies-pbl-andrew-miller

http://www.ascd.org/publications/curriculum-update/winter2000/Differentiating-Instruction.aspx

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/differentiated-instruction-content-areas-strategies-reading-thinking-and-writing-learn

Bison Learning Leaders: