Cause 2: Differentiation Task 3

DIFFERENTIATION TASK 3

This is the time of year when we reflect on how to improve our practice.  One tool we use is research.

You will be reading a one page (front and back) article about Differentiation.  Remember this has been our focus this year. The article breaks Differentiation into four classroom elements based on student readiness, interest, or learning profile:

1) content - what the student needs to learn or how the student will  get access to the information;

2) process - activities in which the student engages in order to make sense of or master the content;

3) products - culminating projects that ask the student to rehearse, apply, and extend what he or she has learned in a unit; and

4) learning environment - the way the classroom works and feels.

TASK:

I. Read the article independently, then meet with your grade level and discuss the four types of differentiation mentioned above.  Use this time to reflect on your practice.  Please use the reflection page provided to the grade level chairperson to document each teacher's response. Submit this to Mrs. Fisher by Friday, April 27th.

II. After meeting with your grade level, please post a comment by answering the three following questions:

1.) Which differentiation area am I the strongest in?

2.) Which differenation area am I the weakest in?

3.) Which differentiation area will I work on for the remainder of the year to develop a better understanding of; and/or try to implement more of?

Cause 2: Differentiation Task 2

After each grade level submitted a definition of differentiation, we met in an Early Release Training to finalize a common Arlington Heights Elementary definition of DIFFERENTIATION:

"Differentiation is showing respect for student differences by diversifying classroom practices to maximize success for each student and meeting their individual needs."


During a Math Vertical Learning Team, we then took a deeper look at Differentiation by using the Plastic Foldables that were handed out.  As we scanned and skimmed the foldable, we were to jot down the following three A's: Something you AGREED with, something that you ASPIRE to do, and an Ah' HA!  After discussing and sharing within our Vertical Learning Team, they were to then take it back to their grade levels and complete the same activity. 

So this takes us to TASK 2,  The PASS IT ON Journal! 

As a staff, we decided that WE are our best professional development.  Arlington Heights has wonderful differentiation taking place within each of our classrooms.  We started a PRIMARY and an INTERMEDIATE Differentiation Journal so that we could document some of these findings so that we could share and learn from EACH other. 

PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO VISIT A CLASSROOM AND ADD TO THE JOURNAL.  PLEASE COMPLETE AND PASS IT ON WITHIN TWO DAYS.  THANK YOU!!!