Reasons for Optimism About Differentiation

1) Drawing from theory and research, how would you rationalize (maybe to another
teacher, a parent, etc.) using differentiated instruction in a classroom?

Many researchers have suggested that students perform best when given a moderate amount of challenge in the classroom. Vygotsky proposes the idea of the "zone of proximal development" in which students need some help to complete the assigned task. According to Vygotsky, students perform best when instruction is in the "zone of proximal development." Studies have also shown that students learn best when they're success rate on assignments is approximately 80%, which is in support of Vygotsky's theory. By using differentiation in the classroom, teachers can teach all students at their individual levels of maximum growth potential. If you simply teach at the level that most of the class is comfortable with, some students are receiving far too much challenge, and others are receiving no challenge at all. These students on the high and low end of the ability spectrum will not experience as much growth in the non-differentiated classroom.

2) Within the differentiated model, where do you feel more research is needed?
Why?

I would like to see more research in the realm of interest differentiation. No quantitative data on the results of interest differentiation was offered in the article. It seems as though interest differentiation would be the most difficult to implement in the classroom, and it's important that we gather as much data on its effectiveness as possible in order to make it worthwhile for teachers.

"Teaching Beyond the Book"

Think about the article “Teaching Beyond the Book.” Why do we want to teach to kids’ strengths? How is this helpful to students? to teachers? Is there a relationship between strength and interests?

It is very important to teach to the strengths of our students. By recognizing their strengths, a teacher can make students feel more valuable in the classroom and also make them more motivated to learn. Displaying each student's individual strengths in the classroom can improve peer relations and individual students' self-esteem. Teachers also were shown to see more potential in their students when they were aware of their individual strengths, and taught those students more effectively and in a more differentiated manner.

Recognizing student strengths is helpful to teachers as well as students; it makes the students easier to teach. By allowing students to research their areas of interest as they relate to the Civil War, Mrs. Lupold ignited a desire to learn in her students. This, I'm sure, made the unit incredibly more interesting for both the teacher and the students. By allowing them to bring in their own research, the unit was given an entirely new flavor.

There is a very strong relationship between strength and interest. We often exhibit our biggest strengths in areas that are of interest to us. Like the example of the boys building in class in the article. They are very interested in building, and exceptionally good at it. The teacher used this interest and strength to make those boys interested in writing. By tapping into the interests of students, we can increase their strengths in other areas.

RAFT / Affect and Learning Environment

Anne's RAFT
Role: Anne
Audience: Miss Brinn
Format: Letter
Topic: What it'd take to make it okay in here...

Dear Miss Brinn,

I need you to take the time to understand me. I am different than many of the other students. I do not think that I am better than them, or deserve more attention, but I know that I am different, and I need your help to fit in. It's not my fault that I am ahead of most of my classmates; trust me, I wish I wasn't. I am not trying to make trouble in your classroom, I just want to learn and to fit in.

Here's how you can help me:
- listen to me
- allow me to explain myself when you get angry
- give me different work than other students, or at least more work so that I don't get so bored
- don't call the attention of the whole class to how different I am
- I just want to fit in...please help me.

Thank you,
Anne

Thinking about the student you chose for your RAFT and articles you read for class…

What role does affect and learning environment most likely play in a student’s success in school?

More than anything, it is pivotally important as a teacher that you get to know every student. You have to make the classroom a home for your students so that they can be completely comfortable. Also, it is very important that a teacher be aware of the individual strengths and weaknesses of their students, both so that they can foster the learning of the student and so that they know what students will feel most comfortable with and what they will find challenging. Students are very sensitive, and it can be very damaging to your relationship with the if you wound their self-esteem in front of the class.

In addition to forming trusting relationships between teacher and students, you must also foster a trusting relationship between students in your classroom. Students will not feel comfortable expressing their needs or concerns in class if they're not comfortable with their classmates. There is only so much you can do to make your students friends, but teachers should foster as much community in the classroom as possible.

A classroom without trust and understanding will not be nearly as successful as a classroom in which every student feels accepted and understood.