Beginning Differentiation



As an educator you can differentiate learning and content presentation for different groups of students such as ELL students, special needs students, and advanced learners. As an educator one of our main goals is to find the keys to helping students to learn and reach their full potential.
     For this lesson students are learning about ocean animals. Students will research an ocean animal of their choice. Students will demonstrate their learning by writing a paragraph, drawing a picture, or by giving an oral report on their animal.  Below are some ways to differentiate learning and content presentation.

ELL Students:
-          Graphic Organizer: Students can use a graphic organizer to help them recognize and understand the vocabulary.
-          Pairing: Students can work on the projects with a partner so that they have someone to follow and emulate. Think, Pair, Share is a great strategy for ELL students.
-          Technology: Students can use technology to assist them in learning.
-          Copy Cat:  Students can copy a paragraph or fill in the blanks of a paragraph.
-          Visuals: Using a lot of visuals when presenting content is a great help to these students.

Special Needs Students:
-          Graphic Organizers: Students can use a graphic organizer which will help outline what students need to look for and will help to eliminate some of the reading.
-          Pairing: Students can be paired with higher achieving students that they can follow and emulate.
-          Lessening the Work Load: Students will be given less work. For example these students may write one to two sentences instead of three to four sentences.
-          Adjusting Assignments: Students could draw a picture to illustrate learning as an alternative for writing sentences.
-          Technology: Students can use technology to assist them in their learning.
-          Visuals: Using a lot of visuals when presenting content.

 Advanced or Gifted Learners:
-          Peer Tutoring: These students can be group leaders and can lend aid, as well as set an example for lower achieving students.
-          Individual Work: These students can be given extra individual work. For example these students may write three to five sentences instead of two or three sentences for a writing assignment.
-          Advanced Assignments: These students may be given more advanced assignments. This may look like completing more advanced worksheets or reading books that are at greater difficulty level.
-          Technology: These students can be allowed computer time to do further research.
-          Pairing: These students can be grouped with other advanced learners to challenge their thinking.

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