STUDENTS IN ANY CLASSROOM differ in many ways, only some of which the teacher can reasonably attend to in developing instructional plans. Some differences will be cognitive—for example, what previous concepts and skills students can call upon. Some differences will be more about learning preferences. Other differences will be more about preferences, including behaviors such as persistence or inquisitiveness or the lack thereof and personal interests.
Although teachers sometimes allow students to work on alternative projects, it is much less likely that teachers vary the material they ask their students to work with in STEM fields. Often we see science/math teachers frequently teach all students based on a fairly narrow curriculum goal presented in a textbook. The teacher will recognize that some students need additional help and will provide as much support as possible to those students while the other students are working independently.
This counter-example doesn't necessarily show an emphasis on reasoning. Students' reasoning is more important than their answer finding
Perhaps it is because teachers may never have been trained to really understand how students differ scientifically or mathematically. However, students in the same math/science classroom clearly do differ in significant ways. Teachers want to be successful in their instruction of all students. Understanding differences and differentiating instruction are important processes for achievement of that goal.
So what does this look like?
I want you all to focus on ways that you've seen or done in terms of differentiating for the students that you have. How have you supported all learners outside of the counter-example that I gave above. How has this differentiation led to student reasoning instead of finding a quick response or a trick to get the answer (I'm looking at you PEMDAS, Happy Henry Likes Beer But Could Not Obtain Four Nuts, ROYGBIV, etc.)?
What I want you to do.
- Think about ways you have differentiated for student learning. How have you gone beyond helping individual students to differentiate the learning?
- Draw a picture of it. Either by hand, online, whatever. It doesn't have to be excellent quality. Sometimes the absurdity of it adds! :) It could even be abstract, you will describe it below).
- Write a short paragraph about what you've done and what the picture represents. (Keep it to about 150-300 words).
- We will share these the next time we meet (in 2 weeks).
- Tag challenge-6