What is it? Why do it? How do you do it? Tiered Assignment's What is it? Why do it? How do you do it?

Curriculum Differentiation What do you know about tiered assignments? What concerns or fears do you have regarding differentiation and tiered assignments? What would you like to learn more about?

A Working Definition of Differentiation: Differentiation has come to mean “consistently using a variety of instructional approaches to modify content, process, and/or products in response to learning readiness and interest of academically diverse students.” Tomlinson, Carol Ann. The Differentiated Classroom

Differentiation is not a curriculum Differentiation is not a curriculum. It is a way of thinking about teaching and learning of various styles. Differentiation is synonymous with good teaching. Important for teachers to find ways of instruction that allows each student to succeed. Students must feel safe, be held to high expectations and realize the diverse population of learners.

When Differentiating Instruction, The Three Most Important Questions to Continually Ask Yourself... What will I do instructionally to get my students to learn this? What do I want may students to know, understand, and be able to do? How will my students show what they know?

Summer’s over kids! Now it is time for all of you round pegs to fit into these square pegs.

Other options of differentiation: **Choice Boards **Tic-Tac-Toe Boards **Raft Assignments **Higher-level questioning ** Curriculum Compacting ** Independent Contracts ** Learning/Interest-centers

The differentiation strategy for today is Tiered assignments. The purpose of tiered assignments is to provide students with options and allowing them to learn at their individual level.

Tiered Assignments -An instructional strategy that allows the teacher to provide mixed-ability groups access to the same content and objectives during a lesson. -All students gain an understanding of the key concept but at their own ability and level. -Students come together to share and learn from one another.

The facts on Tiered Assignments Teach the same objective but at various levels and modalities/multiple intelligences Range from simple to complex using blooms taxonomy Each tier builds upon the previous one and allows students to experience success at their own academic level. (i.e…a ladder) Use pre-assessments, abilities, interests & talents to group students Equally amount of work; engagement; expectations

Tier 1: Below grade-level Recall and understand from Bloom’s Taxonomy Asks students to recall general information Ask students to list and briefly describe characters of a story Identify parts of something; write a summary or outline Explain a topic, make inferences about what their reading Demonstrate basic knowledge of the content or objective. Understand the information and put into their own words

Tier 2: On grade-level Analyzing the Information Applying the Information in a new form Write a poem retelling a story Demonstrate a drawing based on information Sketch a scene from a play by using stage directions Demonstrate understanding and knowledge of the information Compare and Contrast characters Distinguish between fact and opinion Categorizing data; types of genre

Tier 3: Above Grade-level Evaluating the Information Creating New Information or product Making judgment on ideas or concepts/literature Critique a book or assess author’s viewpoint Students use their own knowledge to develop an original idea or thought. Rewrite the ending to a story, write an extra chapter, create a song, poem or play from the information Design a book cover with an illustration and back cover summary Using a global event to create a new product Completion of these types of activities (creating) shows mastery of expected skill

Now It’s Your Turn… Think of a lesson or standard that you would like to teach from the third nine weeks. Using differentiation, create a tiered assignment for two different subjects. **We will share what you think is your best “tier” when you are finished.**

I’ve already mapped out all the skills that I know so that I can save you time!