The challenge of time As a teacher, my first teaching challenge is getting enough time with my students. Wanting to be with my kids and in my school more than I already am doesn’t make me an exception-I would say it’s the rule with good teachers (which most of us are in one way or another). There […]
differentiation
What If You Couldn't!? — Shifting our Thinking about Teaching
Going into the classroom to finish up the second decade of my career I still learn. Â My room and my style are different from that first class 19 years ago, but the philosophy behind what I do has not changed. Â I believe in active learning. Â I believe in appreciating differences. Â I believe every child has […]
How to Implement Successful Differentiation Strategies
As a special education teacher, I see differentiation going on all the time, but that doesn’t mean that teachers always know that they’re doing it or what differentiation means. I hope that with this infographic, teachers not only will see how to implement successful differentiation strategies, but understand what the word means. So, for all […]
Differentiation in Science and Social Studies: 3 Things to Keep in Mind
A common occurrence across the country is taking students and grouping them by abilities in order to better meet their needs. It is a perfect sounding theory. But once those students are grouped by ability, are they all exactly the same? Absolutely not. So, exactly how do you differentiate for those students within a similar population? […]
Elementary Math: One Approach to Differentiation
When I was an elementary student, many years ago, I was a quick learner.  I remember sitting in the classroom and looking for ways to challenge myself.  I was often reading/working ahead or helping others around me.  I was thrilled when I made it  into junior high and was able to take upper level math classes.  Here, […]
Coping with a Different Child
Each class has one, that quirky child who just can’t seem to fit in. Even the nicest kids aren’t sure how to handle them. I could be a psychological issue, a hygiene issue, the desire to cling to everyone, the OCD boss, or the super-social ADHD student who just cannot be quiet. As adults, we […]
How to Differentiate Instruction
In my last post, I talked about the difference between an accommodation and a modification, two things that many educators have a difficult time differentiating between. Accommodations and modifications generally get utilized by students with 504 plans and Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). Differentiation becomes a sticky topic these days, though, as we educators feel the […]
Doing the Differentiation Dance
[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] Earlier this year, my department administrator came by to do one of the four classroom observations she does each semester. We were at the very beginning of a unit so I […]