When, Why, and How Should We Differentiate Math Instruction in the Middle School?

1. When, Why, and How Should We Differentiate Math Instruction in the Middle School?

2. Mathematics is no longer for the selected few. All children must be expected to succeed in mathematics. NCTM Curriculum Standards

3. What’s Differentiated Instruction? It is a chance to offer a variety of learning options that address different levels, interest and learning styles of diverse needs of students in mixed ability classrooms.

4. What has changed in mathematics that makes it important to do this? Because of the changing needs of society, and in order to function in a technological world, all our students must learn mathematics in the broadest scope. NCTM Standard Addend Series. Kindergarten Book, p IX.

5. Because our student populations have changed, our math expectation for all students have to change. We need to teach in a way that truly makes academic success available to every student regardless of cultural differences, and we need to adjust the way we present learning experiences for our students. http://www.smcm.edu/academics/EdStudy/d7-Proj/Projects/ResearchSites/acbrowning/index.htm

6. What do these changing expectations for mathematics have to do with incorporating differentiating instruction into classrooms ?

7. How has this change in the goal for mathematics impacted the role of teacher ? “Teachers who showed greatest ability to move toward differentiated classrooms were inquirers about students and saw schooling as an organic enterprise in which disequilibrium or disturbance was a catalyst for growth” –Tomlinson

8. How will DI change classroom procedures? When students are busy making up their own minds, the role of the teacher shifts. This new focus defines the teacher as one who is circulating, redirecting, disciplining, questioning, assessing, guiding, directing, fascinating, validating, facilitating, moving, monitoring, challenging, motivating, watching, moderating, diagnosing, trouble-shooting, observing, encouraging, suggesting, watching, modeling and clarifying. http://members.shaw.ca/priscillatheroux/teacherrole.html

9. It is a different approach to teaching and one that runs counter to the way many of us learned to do and teach mathematics. Realistically, student-centered learning can be time-consuming and messy, efficiency will sometimes argue for the teacher directed whole group lessons. (Jamie McKenzie, The WIRED Classroom)

10. Designing a DI lesson is more involved than a one size fit’s all lesson. In a differentiated lesson “The teacher should think in terms of what students must learn rather than what tasks they must complete.” – Casteel & Johnson

11. In a thinking curriculum, students develop an in-depth understanding of the essential concepts and processes for dealing with those concepts, similar to the approach taken by experts in tackling their tasks. (Herman et al., 1992, p.17) When questioning, problem-solving and investigation become the priority classroom activities, all students reap the benefits of active mathematics participation. http://members.shaw.ca/priscillatheroux/teacherrole.html

12. When we differentiate we build upon: * Prior knowledge * Prior experiences * Culturally defined values and norms * Biological differences in cognitive development * Home environment * Maturity level * Self-efficacy * Culturally determined perceptions of school and learning http://www.smcm.edu/academics/EdStudy/d7-Proj/Projects/ResearchSites/acbrowning/index.htm

13. Problems of the Homogeneous Classroom 1) Unless you are teaching only one child, there will always be levels in experiences and readiness for any topic. 2) It is impossible to address an individual’s needs. 3) There are very few opportunities to change groups or levels.

14. 4) Teachers in these types of classrooms are at risk of developing limiting expectations for their students. (The Self-fulfilling Prophecy). (Schiedewind & Davidson, 2000) 5) There is not proof that such classrooms lead to higher test scores, or a greater acquisition of knowledge. 6) Placement in a lower level track can be quite damaging to a child’s self-efficacy http://www.smcm.edu/academics/EdStudy/d7Proj/Projects/ResearchSites/acbrowning/Benefits.htm

15. In a Heterogeneous Classroom • Students are exposed to a variety of types of people which adds to their social experiences (Watson, 1985). • Labels and stigmas for students are more likely to be avoided (Watson, 1985). • Teachers can develop ways of effectively meeting the needs of all students in a heterogeneous classroom. http://www.smcm.edu/academics/EdStudy/d7-Proj/Projects/ResearchSites/acbrowning/Benefits.htm

16. The differences between students in a heterogeneous classroom are loud and clear. Teachers will have to acknowledge and address these differences, unlike in homogenous classrooms where the assumption exists that one method of teaching will fit all students. • In order to make learning in a heterogeneous classroom accessible to every student, a teacher must be willing to differentiate to a certain extent. Differentiation is challenging, but there are many benefits to both the teacher and the students. http://www.smcm.edu/academics/EdStudy/d7-Proj/Projects/ResearchSites/acbrowning/Benefits.htm

17. Student Benefits of a Differentiated Classroom * Every student has an opportunity to succeed. A single experience with success is enough for a student to approach new learning situations with confidence and motivation (Stronck, 1980). * Opportunity is there to discover personal strengths and show multiple intelligences. * Less frustration due to confusion or boredom.

18. Benefits to the Teacher * More sense of control over each student’s learning progress (Tomlinson, 1995). * A greater understanding of each students ability to learn. * The reward of having a classroom that allows equal opportunity for success for all students. http://www.smcm.edu/academics/EdStudy/d7-Proj/Projects/ResearchSites/acbrowning/Benefits.htm

19. Good planning takes effort and practice. When you begin with a solid major concept (sometimes called “Big Idea” or “Enduring Understanding”) you will have an easier time planning learning experiences that aim to enhance understanding of that concept. Although the major concept for every child is the same, you can easily plan several ways to approach learning the same concept. http://www.smcm.edu/academics/EdStudy/d7-Proj/Projects/ResearchSites/acbrowning/How/planning.htm

20. The major concept (Big Idea or Enduring Understanding) serves as an anchor for the unit/lesson you are planning to differentiate. Even if you decide to take different students on varying paths of learning, they will all end up at the same point with an understanding of the same major concept. http://www.smcm.edu/academics/EdStudy/d7Proj/Projects/ResearchSites/acbrowning/How/planning.htm

21. A key to differentiated instruction is assessment prior to planning the details of a lesson. The teacher who differentiates instruction plans his or her lesson based on the information he or she has gathered about what the students already know, and still need to learn. The teacher can then avoid planning a lesson that is way above or below the students’ capabilities.

22. Assessment Many teachers may already differentiate instruction to some extent by responding to the needs of those learners who are either struggling with a concept, or have already mastered the concept being taught. However, this type of “microdifferentiation” (Tomlinson 1995) occurs after the teacher has already begun teaching a single lesson to all of the students. This single lesson was most likely planned without a variety of opportunities for students to learn or express knowledge, or with no plan for flexible grouping based on preassessment. http://www.smcm.edu/academics/EdStudy/d7-Proj/Projects/ResearchSites/acbrowning/How/Assess.htm

23. Content, Processes, and Products * Content refers to the concepts and sub-concepts each student learns in a particular lesson. * Process refers to the learning experiences that you choose to provide for your students to achieve an understanding of the content in a lesson. * Products are the end result of the lesson. Each student applies what she or he has learned in the lesson to create a final product, or to show his or her acquired skill.

24. How can these elements of a lesson (content, processes, and products) be different for different students, and still allow each student to come away with knowledge of the same major concepts and skills in a 45 (ish) minute period?

25. The Strategies for Differentiating Instruction Adjusting Questions Readiness / Ability Compacting Curriculum Learning Contracts Tiered Lessons Learning Centers Flexible Grouping Acceleration/Deceleration Anchoring Activities Student Interest Peer Teaching Learning Profiles/Styles Buddy-Studies Independent Study Projects

26. Strategies to Differentiate Adjusting Questions - Although everyone is expected to acquire the same basic content the level of complexity of the questions may differ. Compacting Curriculum - This is based on assessing who already knows what, and creating relevant experiences for those who can move on.

27. Tiered Lessons - adapting alternative ways to reach a common goal. Flexible Grouping - allows for creating appropriate challenges while avoiding labels. This can encourage the development of multiple leaders that arise in different situations.

28. Adjusting Question Complexity • As you consider adjusting questions or group placement . . • How does a student understand, define, or explain a task? • How does a student organize their approach to the task? • 3) Does the student see relationships? • Does the student relate this work to similar problems? • Does the student vary their approach to different problems? • 6) Can they describe their strategy? • 7) Does the student show evidence of thinking ahead or backwards? • 8) Can the student generalize the process or results? • 9) Can the student self-evaluate? • 10) How does the student work in a group?

29. Curriculum Compacting is used when a teacher encounters a student who has already mastered a concept that other students have not. • How is this done? • Decide on a level of a achievement that indicates “mastery”. Many teachers use 80% on a preassessment as an indication of mastery (Reis, 1998; Reis, 1992). • Pre-assess students to decide who has already “mastered” the material. • Plan enrichment activities or adjust content for learners who attain a mastery level. • Use a record to keep track of the progress of the students.

30. Common Difficulties with Curriculum Compacting: * Trouble with designing enrichment activities that are geared toward students’ interests, and are quality. * A lack of support from experts on instruction for advanced learners. “Using Curriculum Compacting to Challenge the Above-Average”, by Sally M. Reis and Joseph S. Renzulli (1992).

31. One way to differentiate is to focus on tiering one lesson, rather that creating 3 separate lesson for each concept. How can this be accomplished fairly and reasonably?

32. Flexible Grouping Be sure to keep groups from becoming stagnant (Tomlinson, 2001). Students need to work with a variety of peers in groups based on interests, readiness, or self-selected groups. Without changing the groups in your classroom, students will quickly find a relationship between how they are grouped and the type of work they receive. Flexible groups are also necessary because students’ abilities vary from time to time. A student who is struggling with one concept may excel in another (Tomlinson, 1995). Be sure to honor these changes.

33. Flexible Groups… Are decided upon in a variety of ways, such as… o Interests of students o Readiness of students based on pre- assessment data o Requests of students

34. Flexible Groups… * Allow students to decide to leave a particular group if appropriate. (A student may start off at a slow pace, but progress at a quicker pace, so he or she may want to move into the group with less guidance.) * Avoid labeling within a classroom. * Accommodate differences within an individual. A single student may struggle with one concept, but excel in another. * Are always changing. Students should not be able to predict what group they will be assigned to.

35. Assessment is not Necessarily Evaluation • Assessment should be defined simply as gathering information about students (Gregory & Chapman, 2002). • Such information may include: • What do your students know about the concept you are teaching? • What else do they need to learn? • How well are they formulating an understanding of what you have taught so far? • How did the student respond to this type of teaching style?

36. The Locker Problem • A school has 1,000 lockers and 1,000 students. The students decide to have fun one day, so they take turns opening and closing the lockers, according to the following plan. • The first student opens every locker. • The second student closes every second locker. • The third student opens every third closed locker. • The fourth student closes every fourth open locker. • The students continue in this manner until all 1,000 students have had their turn. • When all the students are finished, which lockers remain open?

37. A Quarter of Me Materials Large paper String Markers (Crayons) Scissors Rulers We are moving to a land of different people. To live and to play the games there we need to be proportionally smaller. For this land we need to be a quarter of our size. Use the string to measure your height, length of arms and legs, width of your shoulders, the distance from the top of your head to your shoulder, distance from your shoulder to your waist, distance from your waist to the floor, distance from ear to ear, distance from hip to hip, and length of foot. Using the string measurements, create a proportional representation of your body on the large paper.

38. Work with a partner. Use the string to measure.

39. As you start to plan . . . What is a good focus question? What does the student need to know about this unit? What should they be able to do? Recognize Identify Define Review Compare Classify Create Other ? What types of questions should the student be able to answer? What resources will you use? Considering the time limits, what are reasonable expectations for the unit? Connect to the NCTM Standards - 2000

40. With your team, explain how you would differentiate this lesson in three different levels.

41. Remember as you start to plan • There’s no single perfect example of differentiated instruction. • Differentiating takes effort, time, and is a career long pursuit. • Start with a unit, concept, or lesson and try it out. • Start by practicing forming good, broad essential questions and clear objectives of the lesson.

42. Take small steps: Start with just one unit. • Reflect on your progress. • Communicate with your students and their parents about your decision. • Seek out a colleague as support and for collaboration. http://www.smcm.edu/academics/EdStudy/d7-Proj/Projects/ResearchSites/acbrowning/Advice.htm

43. As You Try to Differentiate Instruction, What Goals Should You Aim for With Your Students? * Trust: Make sure that you are open with your student about your decisions. For example: Why have you chosen to put a students in a particular group? * High Expectations: Always insist on high quality work from every student. Explain why something is or is not meeting your expectations. * A Community of Learners: Convey the message that every student is an important part of your classroom. “We are all in this together.” http://www.smcm.edu/academics/EdStudy/d7-Proj/Projects/ResearchSites/acbrowning/How/environ.htm

44. Differentiated Instruction Resources • http://www.spots.ab.ca/~ptheroux/differentiating.html • Great description of differentiated instruction. • http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content/diff_instruction.html • A web resource provided by an expert on differentiated instruction--Carol Ann Tomlinson. • http://www.teachnology.com/litined/dif_instruction/ • This site provides links to several articles on differentiated instruction

45. Check out the following web sites for help with developing strong Major Concepts/Enduring Understandings: * http://xnet.rrc.mb.ca/glenh/understanding_by_design.htm “Backward Planning”. This method of planning was made popular by * http://www.ubdexchange.org/ Another resource on planning from “Understanding by Design”.