Jeff

May 4th, 2010

The reason I originally signed up for this course is because I knew that for many students, the traditional teaching model of teacher led whole class learning was a waste of time. I wasn't sure how realistic or workable any other model was, but I knew I wanted to do better for my students. The most important thing I have learned in my time struggling with the D.I. model is that in order to take a risk with this new way of thinking and teaching, the students really have to understand and be comfortable with it. The teacher must be comitted to building a supportive learning environment in their classroom, if students are afraid to be seen as different or take the risk of being wrong, then the differentaited model will not work. This takes persaverence and work in the classroom.

If I had any advice to give new teachers trying this it is; be a model for your students. The most powerful thing I have done in my classroom in the past two years is to model for my students how I am willing to take a risk and be wrong, and learn from my mistakes and try again with a new plan. You want them to be willing to take risks, to be wrong and learn from their mistakes, to learn in different ways and have different strategies to accomplish their goals, to set goals etc. If you expect them to do these things, you must model these things for them daily in the classroom. Students are keen observers, your actions speak far louder than your words to them. You must constantly be there to encourage them and support them with different ideas and strategies that may help them solve their problem or encourage them to go farther. When the kids see that you really care about them and their success, they will be much more willing to work towards their learning goals. Your attitude as seen through your actions is the single most important element of differentaited instruction.

Understanding Quality Curriculum

The thing that I think is most important about UBD's ideas of quality curriculum is that it provides a way to think about constructing your program of study that makes the meaning and purpose of the course evident and obvious for both the teacher and the student. a) By orgranizing your course around essential questions and understandings the students can easily construct and grasp the 'big picture' ideas that really matter. If they can see how what they are studying helps them learn something that really matters, they are much more likely to buy into your program, they will have more motivation and understanding. b) If you 'start with the end in mind' and know exactly what your learning outcomes are and what they look like, your teaching will be more focused on exactly how to get the students to where they need to be.

2009-2010 School Year

My plan to make students feel more supported and comfortable learning in my classroom comes in two parts. My grade 7 social students will learn about learning styles and find their own individual learning style and preferences. I hope to encourage them to communicate with others (including me) how they learn best and how they can increase their own chance of being sucessful lifelong learners by knowing themselves.

In Grade 10 history I hope to give my students more choice in how they engage the content and skills in my class and how they express what they have learned. Specifically, i want to let them show how they have grown this year through a format that is real and powerful for them (although it must also be usefull and hopefully engaging to their audience.) Photostory, movies, picture essays, diaoramas, oral presentations and webpages are some of the methods I am considering, I hope the students will be able to offer some additional suggestions.

My definition of differentation

The root word of differentation is different. Differentation therefore means to recognize that different students have unique learning needs and to plan your instruction accorfdingly. Ideally this should include such strategies as getting to know your students and their individual learning styles, teaching to their interests, and adapting your teaching to reflect their needs, sucesses and struggles.

Some sites i found that have usefull information [|Sacramento School District on differentiation] [|EnhanceLearning.ca - A good overview with some usefull links to more information] [|Another website with a list of links to differentation]

From wikipedia: Often referred to as an [|educational philosophy], differentiated instruction is viewed as a proactive approach to instruction and an idea that has as many faces as practitioners. The model of differentiated instruction requires teachers to tailor their instruction and adjust the curriculum to students’ needs rather than expecting students to modify themselves to fit the curriculum. Teachers who are committed to this approach believe that who they teach shapes how they teach because who the students are shapes how they learn.

The key idea of differentiated learning is that the teacher needs to adapt the teaching to meet the different learning needs of the different students.

Important points from the October 9th day 1. Get to know your students and their needs 2. Plan your lessons around different strategies to meet their needs 3. Understand that differentiated teaching is a process and will not happen overnight 4. Be flexible and willing to take risks to help students learn 5. The basis of d.t. is assessment; pre-teaching assessment, formative and summative assessment, assessment as learning, for learning and of learning.

November 17th Assessment for learning is the teacher gathering informantion about where the students are at to plan future instruction Assessment as learning is the students assessing their own and other people's work to see what they succeeded at, how they can do it better and how they can improve Assessment of learning is the teacher or student evaluating how successfull they have been in meeting their learning goals.**

Why differences are important

2. Ask the students to take a few minutes and write down their thoughts about the story. In particular think about, “What happened in the story? Why did it happen? What is the moral of the story?” Story about me and French Story about my sister and flute, me and math Some ways I can help you learn better and be more successful. Some suggestions you have to make this class better.
 * 1) Understanding through story: Read the kids a story about animals. In this story a bunch of little animals such as bird chicks, baby lizards, baby raccoons and baby dolphins were all found together by an eagle pair. The eagles felt sorry for them and decided to adopt them and try and be their parents. The eagles tried hard to take care of them but one by one the little animals died. The dolphin died first from lack of water. The raccoon died next because he was climbing around and fell out of the tree. As the baby lizard got a little older he climbed down out of the tree one day and no one ever saw him again. Only the baby eagle thrived and grew up with his adopted parents.
 * 1) Pass around some pictures of people in different cultures and situations around the world and talk about differences. Every person in the world has a different background; different experiences, wants and needs. This is true when it come to learning as well. We don’t all learn the same way or at the same speed or equally well on the same topics.
 * 1) Connect it to our classroom – As your teacher I want to help you be successful and learn better. Here are some of the ways we have tried to learn differently, I want to do better.
 * 2) Conclusion: I need your help. (Take the personality test if there is time) Now that you have thought about differences a little bit and how you understand the world and learn best. What are:

Where I am on the differentation curve right now Overall 1.5 from the one to four scale Descriptors: Implied or stated belief that all students need the same teaching and learning experiences Assess prior knowledge at group level May modify some tasks for some students Students work graded against rubric or against group norms Use whole or small group instruction with same content Class generally uses same materials and text

Learner Profiles** I think learner profiles are valuable tools to: a) Help teachers better understand some students that they can't seem to connect with, a guide to some important questions. b) Have a brief record of what students are like from year to year. I have done profiles on a few students this year, I feel comfortable using them as necissary. I think that my school's size is an advantage for its learners, as staff can get to know most students on quite a good individual basis. This really helps with relationship building, which is a key element for the success of many students.