“Many Ways to Learn”

Tiffany Cooke

My Question

How can I differentiate class instruction to better meet the needs of individual

students?

Differentiating Curriculum

• DOL

• Spelling

• Power Journals

DOL

• Green Level – Types of mistakes

• Yellow – Number of mistakes

• Blue – No help

• White - Paragraphs

Benefits

• Discussion

• Quizzes

• Easy to differentiate

Challenges

• White DOL

• More time

• More quiz levels

Colleague Comments• “I like the new DOL’s. Last year…we knew how

many mistakes, but often we wouldn’t be sure where the mistakes were or we would change things that weren’t wrong. Now we know what we are looking for.” - Mrs. Moss, resource teacher

• “Thanks for having the mistakes listed. It really helped us to be able to help the students with it instead of just having them do busy work.” Angie, an ISS assistant

Student Comments

• “I like the challenge of figuring out what’s missing.” – Student on yellow level

• “It took me more time to find my mistakes. Usually while doing the other levels, I wouldn’t take my time because it was

easy.” – Student on white level

Power Journals

• Green – a drawing component and short writing component.

• Yellow – 7th grade core

• Blue – 8th grade core

• White – 9th grade core

Benefits• Reinforced learning

• Exposure to terminology from state core

• Interactive reading conversation with a teacher, friends, classmates, and family

Challenges

• Completion

• Forged signatures

• Time

• Internalized strategies?

Student Comments• “It was easier for me to draw.” – a resource

student

• “It was helping me.” – an autistic student

• “I am a good reader. I get bored when things are too easy.” – a student on white level

Multiple Intelligence Spelling

• Musical Spelling Words

• Cheerleading Spelling Words

• Kinesthetic Games

• Drawing/ Pictionary

• Sequential Spelling Tiles

Benefits and Challenges

• Enjoyment

• Not internalized

• Low quiz scores

• Parent concerns

Leveled Spelling

Students could choose from level

5, 6, 7, 8, or 9.

Benefits

• High completion

• Higher quiz scores

• Students and parents liked it

• Students were exposed to words from all levels.

Challenges

• Class time

• My time

• Quizzes

• Organization

Student Comments

• “I wasn’t bored. I had a challenge. Most teachers don’t challenge me as much.” – A student on 9th grade level

• “It was perfect for me. It wasn’t too hard or too easy.” - A student on 7th grade level

• “I liked knowing I could move up or down if it was too hard or too easy.” – A resource student.

Multiple Intelligence Projects

• 1st Quarter – Student Introductions

• 2nd Quarter –Literary Analysis

• 4th Quarter – MI Groups and Greek challenges

Multiple Intelligences

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Enjoy Choice Variety

5 A Lot

4 A Little

3 Not Sure

2 Not Much

1 Not At All

Favorite Ways to Learn

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Levels Choices MI Groups

Total

What Would You Recommend Keeping For Next Year?

020

406080

100120

Games

Level

s

Multi

ple In

telli

gence

s

Choices

Group

s

Challe

nges

Proje

cts

Technolo

gy

What Would You Recommend Changing For Next Year?

01020304050607080

Games

Level

s

Multi

ple In

telli

gence

s

Choices

Group

s

Challe

nges

Proje

cts

Technolo

gy

Benefits for Struggling Students

• Power and control

• Success as a norm, rather than failure

• Increased participation

Benefits for Advanced Students

• Finally my needs are important, too!

• Better time management

• Behavior improvements

• High participation

• Tutoring by choice

Teacher Benefits• Others are interested

• Articulate individual strengths, weaknesses, and growth.

• Students as true individuals

• Meaningful conversations with students

• Celebrate success in class, rather than focusing only on grades and weaknesses.

Teacher Challenges

• Time

• Organization

• Efficiency

The Future

• Streamline the process

• Bring up grades

• Refocus on literature

• Keep dancing