The Idea Of Differentiating

    "What we bring to school as learners matters how we learn. "
Every student comes to school wanting certain things. They want to be heard and acknowledged, they also want to know why it is important for them to learn the things you are trying to teach them. I think the best thing we can do as teachers is to provide our students with the opportunity to ask questions, so they can understand the importance of the things we are trying to teach them. Another important thing that needs to be addressed is what kind of challenges you are giving your students. Sometimes I think teachers get so wrapped up in fitting the entire curriculum in that they can, that they don’t stop and think about how challenging or not challenging it can be for students. Again, we need to remember that every student is different and what may come easy for one student may not for another. This is why differentiation is so important. In this instance you do not only need to differentiate instruction for students who feel like the

content is too challenging, but also for those students who feel that it isn’t challenging enough. You definitely need to find a balance because if you have this happening too often, you are going to have trouble on your hands. It is the teacher’s responsibility to gauge the skills of their students by observation and through assessment so that you know where on the scale your students are. Teachers need to strive to build connections with their students so that they know how best to deliver the curriculum. That is why it is so crucial for teachers to constantly reflect upon their teaching practices. Always ask yourself after a lesson if you are providing your students with meaningful instruction and engaging activities for them to construct lasting knowledge. It truly is our job to narrow down their Zone of Proximal Development and provide them with enough support to help them grow.

Cogs of Differentiation

Helping your students grow requires “responsive instruction.” Although it probably takes lots of practice, if you take the time to get to know your students and how they learn, you will become a great teacher. I know from talking to other teachers that this is something that can never be completely mastered, you will always be learning better ways to adapt your instruction to meet the needs of your students. If you are willing to consistently ask yourself what the needs of your students are and consciously make an effort to focus your attention on meeting those needs to help them grow, differentiating your instruction will not only come easier but will strengthen your relationship with those students. They will know that you care because you are providing them with tasks that are sufficiently challenging, in their ZPD, and are also giving them affirmations that you believe in them and are there to help them.

What we bring to school as learners matters how we learn. Everyone learns differently, some people learn visually, others need hands-on experiences to acquire and retain new information. When we differentiate our instruction, we need to take into account that not all of our students are going to learn the same. We need to get to know our students to determine how they learn best and provide them with many opportunities to construct understanding in a way that is beneficial to them.