Darlene+P

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Differentiated instruction is meeting the learning needs of every student in your classroom. It is accepting the fact that "Children come to us already differentiated. It makes sense that we would use differentiated instruction." DI is teaching to the student's needs, not to the teacher's needs.

DI has got me thinking and investigating 2 things: 1. Readiness for Learning and how many children are really ready for learning when they arrive at school in the morning. How many are hungry? Why are they hungry-is there food in the house? is it a lifestyle choice? is it a time issue? Whatever the underlying issues are.. I can't fix...but I can try to get them all fed, so that there is a possibility they are more ready for learning than if they were hungry. Breakfast for learning, food banks, local donations are all possibilities.

2. The testosterone theory- boys, or those humans with high levels of testosterone have different learning styles than the estrogen population. Our schools are becoming increasing run by women and so of course people tend to teach to what they know and prefer. Boys do not fit into this sytem very well. How do reach the boys and turn the classrooms into places that are thrilling, exciting and invite exploration and creation?

Creating Learner Profiles- I have already worked through a Multiple Intelligences Unit with my Grade 4 class. Each student ended with a visual graph of their strengths and weaknesses. Now I plan to continue presenting more information about Learning Styles and having the students be able to identify their learning style preference.. All of this information will be stored for easy reference on a Learner Profile Page for each student.

Glasser's Choice theory- Nirvana- a perfect place to be. This is my belief about humans ..we all want to learn and it is our instinct to do so. Students do not need bribery or force, instead they need environments that provide positive choices. If we look at babies and adult learners they show us this in how they learn. We do not always allow this free type of learning in the schools because we often do not believe that students know what is best for themselves. Also students are all at different levels of what their basic needs are.

My learning preference is a Beach Ball - variety of resources, adaptive environment, various manipulatives, choice of activities, spontaneity, extensions to activities, personal freedom.

January 26th, 2010 Quality Curriculum- Always so much to know and new ways of doing everything. I guess that is progess. Understanding by Design is of course the right way to plan, and I am glad that it is being explored and becoming better understood by teachers like myself. In this world of information overload it is is difficult to know what is Most Important and Not-negotiable, what is important, and what is worth being familiar with. There is a difference between information "that is nice to know, vs information that is needed to know". Focus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

March 30th,2010

Two things I believe About Differentiated Instruction is I believe that Differentiated Instruction is essential to every learning situation in life I believe that Differentiated Instruction is already a pasrt of my teaching, but it could be so much more with growth and time.

May11th,2010

My current Di mindset is that I am a firm believer in the foundations of the theory. As a learner myself I expect nothing less than a DI environment to work inside. I certainly understand that it is is not possible everyday in every subject, but it is an environment that can be created. if students come to learn the foundations of DI, then thay can begin to become advoacates for themselves as they continue through the learning journey of life. DI helps to remove the fears so often associated with learning and that is one of my main goals in education- to help students learn how to get what they need in every learning environment and to have the vocabulary to speak up and ask for their personal learning needs to be met.

What has changed for me is my confidence to continue with so many of the teaching practises I believed in, but had never really had validatd before. The awareness of Carol Thomlinson, and the other guru's of DI is so exciting to me.

This class with Joanne and Nancy has been invaluable in many ways. First they modelled and practised what they talked ablout. It was a positive learning environment that I never felt threatened in, or to be made feel negative. Second was thte valuable time spent talking with colleagues about the practical issues surrounding DI and having peers as a support system. And of course the readings, videos, assignments, from class helped me along my journey to understanding DI and creating the best possible learning environment for all furure learners I may come in contact with.

My current understanding of the 3 NON-NEGOTIABLES, which are Supportive Learning Environment, Continuous Assessment and Quality Curriculum, is that there are so many elements at play at any one time when we are considering best practise. Each one supports the other and it is only when all three are working harmoniously with each other that Quality Learning, that has true purpos,e can happen.

If I had to rate my current knowledge level of these 3 I would rate myself in the middle. I am familiar with the terms, I could fumble my way through an explanation, but I could not defend any of my words with any level of confidence.

I am able to see aspects of all 3 non-negotiables in my my teaching,and I am now becoming aware of the terminology use to describe it. As we have learned about the 3, I have definitely grown in the vocabulary and understanding of what can be achieved. Now it is up to me to continue on the path of learning and begin to implement more each day, each month, each year...if circumstances permit!

My students have been happier with the Physical Arrangemnets and the amount of Teacher control. They have also had more pre-tests and been able to chart their own course in many subjects They are more aware of the Big idea for each lesson and where we are headed and what are the specific learning outcomes for each lesson/unit.

Year 2- 2010-2011

"It takes robust instruction and flexible curriculum....,a truly daunting challenge given the increasing diversity of the student population." (Kameenui, Carnine, Simmons andCoyne, 2002,p27). This statement sums how overwhelmed I feel on many days when I consider how far along the DI spectrum I am. I am conscience of good teaching practise, but it often seems so hard to get to. "Why is the extra effort into Differentiated worth it??"

Well, it is worth it for my students and to help me become a better teacher that reaches more of my students and where they are at in their learning. Through differentiated Instruction I can see all the elements that are required to be put together to make a complete teaching package that will make my classroom be a place I am proud to teach in, and one that students feel good in, because they can be proud aof all their learning achievemnets.

January 25th,2010 Differentiated Instruction is not just about saying, "Yeah I do mix things things up for the students that need it." It is an actual plan and focus with key elements that must be met. Differntiated Instruction must begin with a specific plan in mind, and continue to be flexible throughout the implementation. There is a lot of preteaching that must be done so that the classroom can continue to be organized and focussed, even though students are allowed to work at differentiated levels and tasks.

April 12th, 2011 The Planning Component of DI. Well, in order to keep Quality Curriculum and Continuous Assessment and Respectful Tasks at the forefront of my teaching I must enter into a very conscious planning mind set. Good ideas and fun are nice....but... very often they miss the mark. I must be diligent in planning units that keep ALL the elements of Differentiated Instruction intact, and thriving. Basically I need a really good fire on my bookshelf, and filing cabinet, and One year off to plan the best units to meet the needs and wants of students, parents, community....ahhhh....only in my dreams.