What is differentiation?
In EdSpeak: A Glossary of Education Terms, Phrases, Buzzwords, and Jargon, Diane Ravitch defines differentiating instruction as a form of instruction that seeks to "maximize each student's growth by recognizing that students have different ways of learning, different interests, and different ways of responding to instruction.
"In practice, it involves offering several different learning experiences in response to students' varied needs. Educators may vary learning activities and materials by difficulty, so as to challenge students at different readiness levels; by topic, in response to students' interests; and by students' preferred ways of learning or expressing themselves" (p. 75). It is important to meet students where they are, whether they above or below grade level. In addition, education should be engaging (thought-provoking and fun). Differentiated Instruction includes
Differentiation is not assigning a student more work or additional assignments. |
|