Differentiation
Assesing Students for Instruction
Student individual success is dependent upon individualizing instruction, monitoring the response to that instruction, and making the necessary adaptations that will facilitate learning. The essential components of Individualizing programming include the following three steps:
Step 1: Assess to Identity Target Skill or content
Determine Scope and Sequence of Skills or Content to Be Taught
Decide What Behavior to Assess
Select an Evaluation Activity
Administer the Evaluation Device
Record the Student's Performance
Determine Specifc Short and Long Range Instructional Objectives
Step 2: Determine Factors Likely to Facilitate Learning
Step 3: Plan Instruction
Step 1: Assess to Identity Target Skill or content
Determine Scope and Sequence of Skills or Content to Be Taught
Decide What Behavior to Assess
Select an Evaluation Activity
Administer the Evaluation Device
Record the Student's Performance
Determine Specifc Short and Long Range Instructional Objectives
Step 2: Determine Factors Likely to Facilitate Learning
Step 3: Plan Instruction
Effective Learning Strategies
Learning Strategies - techniques, principles, or rules that enable students to learn, to solve problems, and to complete task independently.
Assessing and Teaching Math
Math assessment can include the use of formal and informal assessment techniques. Examples of formal math assessments include acheivement and diagnostic tests and criterion-references tests. Examples of informal math assessments include curriculum-based measurements, teacher-consructed tests, assessments at the concrete, semiconcrete, and abstract levels, and diagnostic math interviews.
Teaching Reading
Basal Reading Approach includes a sequential set of reading texts, and supplementary materials such as workbooks, flashcards, skill packs, wall charts, related activities, placement andachievement tests and computer software. Most basal readers recommend a directed reading activity procedure for teaching a reading lesson.
Literature Based Reading Approach uses trade books and children's literature books that are leveled by grade level or reading stages to motivate youngsters to read.
Whole Language Approach uses students' language and experiences to increase their reading and writing abilities. Emphasis is placed on reading for meaning rather than learning decoding skills.
Language Experience Approach integrates the development of reading skills through listening, speaking and writing skills.
Phonics Approach teaches word recognition through learning grapheme-phoneme associations. Phonics instruction builds on a foundation of phonemeic awareness and can be integrated into a total reading program.
Linguistic Approach: Word Families and Onset-Rime is designed for students who were not successful in the basal approach. Words are taught in word families - onsets-rimes.
Literature Based Reading Approach uses trade books and children's literature books that are leveled by grade level or reading stages to motivate youngsters to read.
Whole Language Approach uses students' language and experiences to increase their reading and writing abilities. Emphasis is placed on reading for meaning rather than learning decoding skills.
Language Experience Approach integrates the development of reading skills through listening, speaking and writing skills.
Phonics Approach teaches word recognition through learning grapheme-phoneme associations. Phonics instruction builds on a foundation of phonemeic awareness and can be integrated into a total reading program.
Linguistic Approach: Word Families and Onset-Rime is designed for students who were not successful in the basal approach. Words are taught in word families - onsets-rimes.
Assessing and Teaching Language
Language is interactive; therefore, the teacher should be creative when implementing teaching methods. Below are strategies for increasing language comprehension, strategies for increasing language production, and imitation and modeling strategies.
Strategies for Increasing Language
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Strategies for Increasing Language Production
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Imitation and Modeling Strategies
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Assessing and Teaching Spelling
Spelling assessment can include the use of formal and informal assessment techniques. Examples of formal spelling assessments include acheivement and diagnostic tests and criterion-references tests. Examples of informal spelling assessments include dictated spelling test, informal spelling inventory,
curriculum-based measurements, spellikng error analysis, cloze procedure, and probes. There are nine spelling competencies which enable the student to be an effective speller. They include auditory discrimination, consonants, phonograms, plurals, syllabication, structural elements, ending changes, vowel digraphs and diphthongs, and silent e. There are several methods and strategies for teaching spelling. The following provide alternatives for teaching spelling skills to students with spelling difficulties.
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Classroom Management and Organization
Classroom management aims at encouraging and establishing student self-control through a process of promoting positive student achievement and behavior. Effective teachers should do the following:
- develop caring, supportive relationships with and among students
- organize and implement instruction in ways that optimize students’ access to learning
- use group management methods that encourage student engagement with academic tasks
- promote the development of student social skills and self-regulation
- use appropriate interventions to assist students who have behavior problems.
Creating Responsive Learning Environments
Teachers must be responsive to the needs of students who are at risk for school failure. These include students with disabilites; stuents from socioecnonmic backgrounds; and student from cultural and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The follwing are strategies for motivating students to learn.
Plan for Motivation
Create a supportive and positive |
Motivate through
Appropriate Expectations Communicate positive expectations. |
Use Extrinsic Incentives for Students
Reward good or improved performances. |
Recognize and Provide Intrinsic Motivation
Induce students to develop their own motivation |
Use Strategies
to Promote Motivation Use basic social skills |
RTI
Response to Intervention (RTI) is a way to help students at the first signs of difficulty. RTI supports academic, behavioral, and community needs through intensive instruction. It is a multi-tier approach is used to efficiently differentiate instruction for all students. The model incorporates increasing intensities of instruction offering specific, research-based interventions matched to student needs.
For more information on RTI, visit the RTI Action Network website.
Texas organization for delivery of services for students with exceptionalities
Other Resources
National Center for Learning Disabilities
LD Online
Learning Disabilities Association of America
National Center on Student Progress Monitoring
Florida Center for Reading Research
What Works Clearinghouse
Misunderstood Minds
All Kinds of Minds
Council for Learning Disabilities
The International Dyslexia Association
Learning Disabilities Worldwide
LD Online
Learning Disabilities Association of America
National Center on Student Progress Monitoring
Florida Center for Reading Research
What Works Clearinghouse
Misunderstood Minds
All Kinds of Minds
Council for Learning Disabilities
The International Dyslexia Association
Learning Disabilities Worldwide