giftEDnz Blog Post Challenge 2018- Differentiation, what does it look like in your learning environment? How do you personalise learning?
Differentiation starts when we:
Photo Source Credit: Unknown. Quote: Ms Frizzell, The Magic School Bus!
Incorporating this mindset into your learning environment can be the first step to students delving into their interests in a safe and supportive environment. Having a robust Inquiry based program driven by big, open questions supports differentiation planned through curriculum areas. It gives a broad overview, to map out student learning with flexibility to deviate when necessary.
Give students choices based on their personal interests and passions. This means they have more ownership and agency of their learning. Last term I incorporated this into our reading and instructional writing using this resource:
Having choices gave students real purpose for reading, introduced them to more vocabulary and discussion in a meaningful way. They were excited about the whole process and it really boosted their confidence. One of my students linked the problem solving involved in the reading and making process of a cardboard Ninja sword to "debugging.'" He was making links to computational thinking!
Throughout this process I am gaining assessment data through observations and relevant testing so that our students are supported and scaffolded in their learning. I collaborate with other teachers and of course the students themselves to set achievable goals.Then we learn more about how to reach our goals. Making this process transparent so that knowing how to reach them isn't a mystery. Working as part of a supportive and collaborative teaching team is also key to develop differentiation.
To reinvigorate learning you can set up provocations to spark new ideas and thinking. Alternatively it could be used to support new learning focused on areas that students might need more exposure to. Being able to "take chances, make mistakes and get messy." is a positive place to start!
Nga Mihi,
Bex
I really enjoyed reading this Bex. I don't think we can ever underestimate the power of being part of a collaborative team that is on the same wavelength - particularly in terms of understanding what differentiation is, and isn't. It can be quite lonely when you know what best practice is but you're fighting against misconceptions. I loved your examples you wrote about. (Just catching up on mine!)
ReplyDeleteI love collaborating with other teachers. You learn so much and really support each other. Especially with those challenging areas.
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