Differentiated Instruction Institute

Honoring Academic Diversity Through Differentiated Practices: A Differentiated Learning Experience

The diversity in today’s classrooms presents educators with a great opportunity and a great challenge.  The opportunity calls on teachers and school leaders to create environments, use resources, and craft frameworks of learning that enable the diverse range of individuals to learn together.  When we are wise stewards of that opportunity, our students are successful academically, and we contribute to a world in which citizens can function well together. The challenge, of course, is how to create, grow, and sustain such environments.  This two-day session will introduce, expand on, and model key elements of differentiated instruction, seen through the unique lens of long-term, sustained school change. Designed for teachers, teacher leaders, coaches, and administrative leaders, some segments within the two-day program will bring all participants together in examination and discussion of what effective differentiation looks like and how teachers and leaders can support growth in differentiating effectively.  There will also be opportunities for break-out sessions, giving topical choices and inviting participants to focus either on deeper classroom implementation of differentiation or the creation of schoolwide cultural conditions in which differentiated practices can flourish and be sustained.

Participants in the two-day session will

Know:

•       Key vocabulary and principles related to differentiation;
•       Key vocabulary and principles related to long-term change for differentiation;
•       A range of differentiation practices that appear in classrooms and the rationale behind the strategies;
•       The manner in which differentiated practices grow and deepen over time;
•       How leadership styles and concerns may hinder long-term change toward differentiation;
•       The key elements of motivation and trust and how they impact differentiation implementation; and
•       A variety of professional development designs that can encourage sustained differentiation growth.

Understand:

•       Differentiation is a way of thinking about teaching and learning.
•       Differentiation aims to maximize the growth of each learner.
•       An invitational learning environment is foundational for student growth and success.
•       The quality of what we teach shapes how we teach & the quality of outcomes.
•       On-going assessment is the compass for effective instructional planning.
•       Flexible classroom routines allow a balance of group & individual needs.
•       Trust and motivation are critical keys to adult and student achievement.
•       The specific phase of differentiation implementation signals key actions for the leader.
•       Differentiation implementation issues may arise due to misconceptions about differentiation quality.
•       The quality of differentiation is influenced by the clarity of the long-term vision for it.

Be Able to:

•       Identify key elements of differentiation in classroom scenarios;
•       Analyze examples of differentiation using key vocabulary and principles;
•       Determine the kind of professional learning that would sustain differentiation at any of the three phases;
•       Identify and project pathways around roadblocks to differentiation at the classroom and school level;
•       Create a relationship-rich, focused conversation framework to lead a dialogue about differentiation; and
•       Produce a thoughtful change plan for either the differentiated classroom and/or the differentiated school.