Throughout that year, I utilized a variety of management pointers for a differentiated classroom that had been presented during the conference. These guidelines helped me to begin integrating basic differentiation without losing my sanity. Here are some of those basic points to help you create a solid foundation for differentiation in your classroom
Some excellent tips on using differentiated instruction here. The term is thrown around a lot, however, I have found from talking to a number of first-year teachers that it wasn’t quite a focus in their education program in college. Many districts require it. Personally, I believe it is the best way to meet the needs of all your students in your classroom in order to properly scaffold their learning as well as challenge them.
Flexible groups is one of the most important factors for me. At my school, some teachers keep the same group throughout the year. Others do not. I truly recommend keeping consistent anecdotal notes on students and to re-evaluate your groups periodically in order to determine which skills they need to work on and then do your grouping based on that.
Another good point made in this article is that differentiation can come in many forms and in different parts of the lesson.
Basically, differentiation to me exemplifies my motto that fairness is not that everyone gets the same thing. It is that everyone gets what they need.
I have some kids with high test anxiety. Always looking for resources to give them or their parents since I don’t get to work with them nearly enough.
Steps for Organizing the Classroom
The number one rule for organization is to have a designated place for each item in the classroom. Paper, pencils, rulers, math manipulatives, books, curricula and craft supplies each need to have their own special place to live in the classroom. If this is a weakness in your classroom, consider the following steps to help organize materials:
- Make a list of each material in the classroom. Leave nothing out, even the paper clips need a place to live!
- In a column next to the list of materials, write the most common location in the classroom where the supply is used. For example, paper clips are most likely used at the teacher’s desk while blank paper is most commonly used at student’s desks.
- Organize the easy materials first. Chalk should go at the chalk board, curricula near the teacher’s desk, etc. This will narrow the list of things to organize.
- For each additional item on the list, stand in the classroom where the item is most commonly used and think through the most effective storage solutions. This might mean clear plastic bins on low shelves for math manipulatives for students to easily reach or a paper station in a clear area of the room to minimize student traffic jams when going for paper.
Label Containers for Ease of Use
Organizing classroom materials in containers is a great way to keep things neat and easy to grab. In order for this organization to be effective, though, every student in the classroom should be able to know what it is in each container as well as any classroom helpers, parent helpers and administrative staff.
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