The place to start when thinking of learning what students know is pre assessment. There needs to be a design instrument which will help you decide how much knowledge students are coming into your classroom with. Students must feel no pressure with this type of assessment so that you can get a true measure. This is difficult with the emphasis that our society places on standardized testing. There should be clear communication that no grade is being given, the test must be explained clearly, and all reading and writing limitations should be accommodated so that you can get an idea of student strengths and weaknesses within your subject area. You can use a pen and paper assessment, especially for older students, or you can do something as simple as conservations with your students to get a true picture of what needs to happen.
The next step is formative assessment once lessons begin being taught and it is a critical time to determine if you can move on to a new topic or if you need to regroup and try again. There should be a checklist of desired behaviors and attitudes that should be observed in order to advance to more difficult lessons. This can be used to guide and plan appropriate lessons to be taught in future classes and also how they will be taught so maximum learning is achieved. When we see what it is that is desired then we know that we are free to build upon previous lessons and that students will be able to scaffold their learning as well. It is important to remember that there is no one way to do this and different forms of assessment should be utilized so that all students have the best chance to be successful. I really liked the quote "students should be innocent of understanding until they are convicted of learning." In order to be able to judge this, students should be able to apply learning to new situations while still being able to explain clearly what it is that they have grasped.
Grading should also be used to establish goals for a teacher's lessons. They should be a means of communicating the status of the understanding of your desired goals. Differentiation should be utilized so that all students, regardless of their learning limitations, should be able to accomplish what it is that you want them to take from the lesson. We also need to keep in mind that we need to be honest when we grade and not give better or worse grades than the student has earned. The three P's should be remembered always. We need to take into account the performance, the process that students utilize, and also the progress that they are making. Where they are going versus where they came from can be a very useful tool for teachers.
Two instructional strategies that teachers should use in order to be effective are learning centers and the multiple intelligences. When using the multiple intelligences method things such as self checks, learning goals, alignment of tasks, worthwhile assignments, age appropriate material, choices, and the ability to access new content should all be considered. When using learning centers the following things should also be considered or taken into account: movement in the room, meaningful tasks, choices, color design, materials, student readiness, interests of students, and analytical methods which will accomplish desired learning goals.
The next step is formative assessment once lessons begin being taught and it is a critical time to determine if you can move on to a new topic or if you need to regroup and try again. There should be a checklist of desired behaviors and attitudes that should be observed in order to advance to more difficult lessons. This can be used to guide and plan appropriate lessons to be taught in future classes and also how they will be taught so maximum learning is achieved. When we see what it is that is desired then we know that we are free to build upon previous lessons and that students will be able to scaffold their learning as well. It is important to remember that there is no one way to do this and different forms of assessment should be utilized so that all students have the best chance to be successful. I really liked the quote "students should be innocent of understanding until they are convicted of learning." In order to be able to judge this, students should be able to apply learning to new situations while still being able to explain clearly what it is that they have grasped.
Grading should also be used to establish goals for a teacher's lessons. They should be a means of communicating the status of the understanding of your desired goals. Differentiation should be utilized so that all students, regardless of their learning limitations, should be able to accomplish what it is that you want them to take from the lesson. We also need to keep in mind that we need to be honest when we grade and not give better or worse grades than the student has earned. The three P's should be remembered always. We need to take into account the performance, the process that students utilize, and also the progress that they are making. Where they are going versus where they came from can be a very useful tool for teachers.
Two instructional strategies that teachers should use in order to be effective are learning centers and the multiple intelligences. When using the multiple intelligences method things such as self checks, learning goals, alignment of tasks, worthwhile assignments, age appropriate material, choices, and the ability to access new content should all be considered. When using learning centers the following things should also be considered or taken into account: movement in the room, meaningful tasks, choices, color design, materials, student readiness, interests of students, and analytical methods which will accomplish desired learning goals.
Lesson 7 Elementary DI
In this reflection I am discussing elementary differentiated instruction. I have taught middle school (6-8) for 10 years so the last three in elementary school has been eye opening but at the same time some of the most rewarding teaching that I have done. Those facts are what made this reflection so valuable for me.
When considering elementary DI it is important to keep the focus on the students. Instruction needs to be clearly defined and also modeled before 5th grade students can perform like we desire them to. At the same time, creativity must be allowed to flourish as thinking skills have become sacrificed with the craze over standardized testing. I believe that this is why differentiation is so important for current educators. The readiness to learn and perform tasks, student interest in topics that we cover, and individual student learning profiles should all be well thought out before starting this process. All arrangements should be made so that instruction is delivered in a way that benefits all parties involved. An appropriate grading rubric must also be developed and should cover desired results that we seek from our lesson. Assignments should be developed and constructed with this goal in mind. If you follow specific procedures, have well planned meaningful lessons which engage students, and then implement them correctly then student success should be all but assured. Routines should also be created so maximum assessment can be demonstrated by our students. This has to be an accurate measure of what is being taken from our lessons.
You may ask how it is best to get these desired results from our students. A plethora of resources and technology tools are now available which in the past could only be dreamed of. We have the availability of videos and movie clips which can now represent issues and topics that textbooks used to get across. Power point is another excellent resource for our ever increasing technological beings who come into our classes each year. One thing I have learned is that it is never too early to expose children to different technological methods of being educated. many times they know the programs better than we do. Choice in accomplishing goals has been enhanced by the development of age appropriate story maps which encourages student choice and children can now accomplish the same goals in many different manners. Well managed classrooms can see the desired results much quicker than those that use the complete craziness which comes with a lack of execution. The work that goes into a lesson prior to its inception pays huge dividends for both the teacher and the students in their class.
Traits that are acquired by our students in a perfect situation are a commitment to the class, loyalty to classmates and also the assignments, and accountability that ensures that each student is fully committed to performing their best. The responsibility is eventually transferred from the teacher to the students and a class can almost become self reliant with the teacher being a moderator and additional resource for already performing groups. Leadership is something that is encouraged while also being a team player and listening to others when necessary. Skill building is combined with the ultimate sense of community when done correctly. With the flexibility of instructional methods and the freedom for movement within the classroom, students can indeed reap maximum benefit from their learning and can begin to take over their own learning which is an invaluable skill as they move through the rest of their schooling.
In this reflection I am discussing elementary differentiated instruction. I have taught middle school (6-8) for 10 years so the last three in elementary school has been eye opening but at the same time some of the most rewarding teaching that I have done. Those facts are what made this reflection so valuable for me.
When considering elementary DI it is important to keep the focus on the students. Instruction needs to be clearly defined and also modeled before 5th grade students can perform like we desire them to. At the same time, creativity must be allowed to flourish as thinking skills have become sacrificed with the craze over standardized testing. I believe that this is why differentiation is so important for current educators. The readiness to learn and perform tasks, student interest in topics that we cover, and individual student learning profiles should all be well thought out before starting this process. All arrangements should be made so that instruction is delivered in a way that benefits all parties involved. An appropriate grading rubric must also be developed and should cover desired results that we seek from our lesson. Assignments should be developed and constructed with this goal in mind. If you follow specific procedures, have well planned meaningful lessons which engage students, and then implement them correctly then student success should be all but assured. Routines should also be created so maximum assessment can be demonstrated by our students. This has to be an accurate measure of what is being taken from our lessons.
You may ask how it is best to get these desired results from our students. A plethora of resources and technology tools are now available which in the past could only be dreamed of. We have the availability of videos and movie clips which can now represent issues and topics that textbooks used to get across. Power point is another excellent resource for our ever increasing technological beings who come into our classes each year. One thing I have learned is that it is never too early to expose children to different technological methods of being educated. many times they know the programs better than we do. Choice in accomplishing goals has been enhanced by the development of age appropriate story maps which encourages student choice and children can now accomplish the same goals in many different manners. Well managed classrooms can see the desired results much quicker than those that use the complete craziness which comes with a lack of execution. The work that goes into a lesson prior to its inception pays huge dividends for both the teacher and the students in their class.
Traits that are acquired by our students in a perfect situation are a commitment to the class, loyalty to classmates and also the assignments, and accountability that ensures that each student is fully committed to performing their best. The responsibility is eventually transferred from the teacher to the students and a class can almost become self reliant with the teacher being a moderator and additional resource for already performing groups. Leadership is something that is encouraged while also being a team player and listening to others when necessary. Skill building is combined with the ultimate sense of community when done correctly. With the flexibility of instructional methods and the freedom for movement within the classroom, students can indeed reap maximum benefit from their learning and can begin to take over their own learning which is an invaluable skill as they move through the rest of their schooling.
Here is a copy of my differentiated ocean unit. Please enjoy.
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