Movie: "At Work in the Differentiated Classroom"

***A differentiated lesson is not the same thing as a differentiated classroom*** 

Good differentiation includes:

1. Use good curriculum: This idea goes hand in hand with hallmark #2. Teachers need to develop lessons for advanced students, and the other tiers. It usually works best to develop a lesson with your advanced student in mind, then differentiate it to appropriately challenge your lower level students.
2. Continually asses your students learning level, interests, and their needs: This is the same idea as in hallmark #1. One great way to assess students readiness and knowledge is by doing a 3-2-1 summary slip. These summary slips is done by having students list 3 things they learned about "it", 2 comments about your personal connections or reflections, and 1 question you have about "it". This is a way for the teacher to know how to help the students learn better, where they need more instruction, and the things they were able to make connections with. 
3. Develop classroom community: The teacher needs to help every student feel valued. The teacher needs to find every student fascinating and worthwhile. It doesn't matter which differentiated group students are in, they still need to feel like they are a valued contributor to the classroom. By having the students read their work or the teacher reading the students work for them (with their permission) they can learn from each other and about each other. You need to have classroom community so that students feel safe sharing their work. 
4. Engaging for all: This is like hallmark #6. You need to make the tasks in the differentiated groups  respectful and engaging. This will help the students feel good about which ever group they are in. If a student wants to move back to the differentiated group they were in before (usually wanting to move back to a lower group) because they felt more comfortable and because it was easier; remember what it teaches in hallmark #5. We need to provide students with a way up and not a way out. Encourage the student to be engaged and try their best. Set up a time to talk with a student after a week or two. If they are still worried about their new placement try to come up with a common plan and goal between you and the student  (hallmark #3). 

I loved this video! It was so beneficial to see good classroom differentiation in action. I loved how energetic and confident the teacher was. I think that by being excited and confident about what you are teaching it will help your students be excited to learn about it and confident in their learning abilities. 

The biggest thing I took away from this video was the importance of creating a safe classroom. I think having a feeling of classroom community is equally as important as having a differentiated classroom. To help students succeed you need to differentiate, but in order to not have management issues or bullying, you need to have classroom community. Students need to accept and respect each other and their learning levels and abilities. Students need to feel safe to share their work and thoughts with the teacher and the rest of the class. I strongly believe that when students feel safe, they will have a stronger desire and ability to learn. 

Photo: http://youthvoices.net/sites/default/files/image/22701/feb/clip-art0020.jpg