1. Supporting Differentiation with Technology
Vallorie Schlecht
Educational Technology
Tucson Unified School District
Pass our Comparison/Contrast – how are students similar, how are they different to be filled out as the wait to start.
Share with group…

2. What will it look like in
Why should I
bother?
Today’s Topics
What is
differentiation?
Hints!
Give me Hints!!
What will it look like in
my classroom?

3. Differentiation is
doing “whatever it takes to ensure that struggling and advanced learners, students with varied cultural heritages, and children with different background experiences all grow as much as they possibly can each day, each week, and throughout the year.”
Carol Ann Tomlinson
Read the charts they completed.
Discuss that even though we have diverse children with a variety of needs, we are still teaching much the way we were 100 years ago.
Why?

4. Creating a Case for Change
What practices used in schools 100 years ago are still in use today?
What research and initiatives support the need for change?
Brainstorm ideas – Share with person next to you.
Ask the next questions – Whole group answers…..

5. Essential Elements Laser-like focus
Data-based decisions drive instruction
No gingerbread kids
Equal, respectful work
Three Ring Circus
Read the story from Differentiated pg. 36.
Laser-like focus on the essential understandings for all students. What they should know and be able to do.
Clarity ensures struggling learners focus efforts on the essentials.
Assessment and Instruction are inseperable. Student readiness, interests and how they learn must be determined. Therefore, there must be ongoing diagnostic assessment.
Class-discussion, journal entries, exit cards, skills inventories, pretests, homework, interest inventories.
Teacher must attend to student differences. We have no cookie cutter kids. Teacher unconditionally accepts students as they are and expects them to become all they can be.
Equal work does not mean the same work. Readiness levels vary. Offer all students the opportunity to explore essential understandings and skills AT THE DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY for which they are ready.
Task should be equal – eqully interesting, equally important, and equally engaging.
Engaging leads to a discussion of reasonable and respectful work – Past, student that are approaching standards typically have been given remediation/skill and drill work. Those that meet get slightly harder, but usually more interesting work. Those above get fluffy work, play time, or much more of the regular.
Circus – Well, it should be -

6. Exceeds Meets Approaches Falls Far Below Differentiation Extensions
Reteaching
Mastery
Non-Mastery
Authentic Assessment
Group
Instruction
State Curriculum
Daily Lessons
Assessment

7. Differentiation Content Process Product Learning Environment
Reading materials
Curriculum adjustment
Reading buddies
Process
Tiered activities
Manipulatives
Personal agendas
Product
Choice
Activities matched to learning styles/strengths
Learning Environment
Varied groups
Varied activity levels
Routines

8. Creative Content MarcoPolo Cox Education Network
Education Online
Ebsco
Incredible Internet Information
Searching for information
Narrowing options

9. Prospective Processes
Webquests, Thinkquests, Module Makers
Asset – Streaming Video
Graphic Organizers
Inspiration
Eduplace
Score

10. Possible Products Creating Choices
Utilizing Primary Technology Products
PowerPoint Presentation (video or photos)
Newspaper
Jeopardy Game
Tape of a Newscast
Excel Poster
Kidpix Graph
Using Rubrics
Rubistar
Poster Activity

11. Inviting Environments
Computers
Video Equipment
Audio Equipment
Cooking Devices
Digital Cameras
Scanners
Projectors
Telephones

12. Curiosity
It is a curiosity of teaching that no two days are alike, but, if we are not careful, all the days can take on a deadening sameness. We must remember that we have every opportunity to transform ourselves and our practice, just as we have every opportunity to stagnate, remaining much the same teachers we were when we began.
Carol Ann Tomlinson

13. Questions Vallorie Schlecht Tucson Unified School District
(520)

14. United Streaming has thousands of clips!

15. Lineweaver Zoo
Did you know?
Lions live together for a long time in a pride, just like a family.
Zookeeper in Charge
Victoria Stewart
This animal was found at