It challenges the sense that the curriculum is just coverage of facts. Teachers Can Benefit NEA member Denise DeFiore, interdisciplinary resource teacher at a new middle school in Silver Spring, Md., that's set to open this fall using differentiation, says kids aren't the only ones who reap benefits from this kind of instruction. It's more engaging for the teacher, too. DeFiore says, which often involves designing a tiered lesson plan. That might involve enlisting the help of the media specialist and computer teacher, or perhaps bringing in community resources.
Differentiation is a fine motor skill.
The way to get there is to teach them to look at kids as individuals and to let kids show you what they can do. We want young teachers to develop the right set of habits that will lead to differentiation. In truth, differentiation probably calls for an expert teacher. Experience has taught her that children need varying degrees of structure. Use ongoing assessments of readiness and interests, and preassess to find students needing more support and those who can leap forward.