PowerPoint Presentation for teacher training in differentiation strategies for Elementary

1. Differentiation
Logos International School
October 2012
Pam Sephton

2. Differentiation
Most classes in the world fall into a normal
distribution curve of ability
How about your class? What would the
curve look like?
Middle
Ability (MA)
Lower High Ability
Ability (LA) (HA)

3. Differentiation
So how can we teach them all ensuring
that they learn and make progress?
One way is through differentiation… so
what is it?
Write down what you think it means?
Talk to the person next to you and share
your ideas…
Share any ideas with us all…

4. Differentiation
Differentiation is an approach to teaching
that attempts to ensure that all students
learn well despite their many differences.
We can differentiate in 2 main ways through:
1. The process
2. The content

5. Differentiation
Teaching
method
and style
Activities /
Questions
choice
Resources Process Pacing
Support Language
Thinking
process

6. Differentiation
Ideas
Skills Concepts
Content
Organization Information
of information + Facts

7. Differentiation
Let’s focus on the process…
Step 1: know your class
think of the 3 main groups
who is in which group
These will be different for different curriculum areas
e.g. English and Mathematics etc. These groupings
can be used to create other groupings which include
gender, friendship, or a mix depending on the activity.

8. Differentiation
Let’s focus on the process…
Step 2: be clear about the objective for the
lesson
 What do you want the children to have learned
by the end of the lesson?
 What do they need to do to succeed –
success criteria
The objective may be the same but the activity and
outcome may be different for different groups –
remember to extend and challenge the HA chn

9. Differentiation
Let’s focus on the process…
Step 3: decide what each group needs and make
a plan
 How will you differentiate the whole class teacher
input? (questioning, expectation, compacting, support, paired
talk)
 How will you differentiate the groups activities?
(outcome, support, change content, collaboration, other
strategies)
 Remember the TA’s role – make it clear
Look at the various grouping strategies: cascade,
envoy, goldfish, carousel, snowball, jigsaw, pair
swapping

10. Differentiation
Let’s focus on the process…
Step 4: Assess how the groups did
 by looking at their work
 talking to the TA
 talking to the children – ask them if they think they have
achieved the objective
 Give them a specific task to complete that will show
their learning –see differentiating the plenary
It is important for children to learn to evaluate their
own learning and to be willing to evaluate others too
(peer assessment and marking / feedback)

11. Differentiation
Let’s focus on the process…
Step 5: Evaluate the lesson
 Make notes on your plan about how each group did
and what they need to do next
 Make notes about what worked well and what didn’t
 Consider tasks for consolidation or extension for
homework
This information will inform future planning as it gives
information about children’s prior learning and areas
for development or next steps

12. Differentiation
What have you learned today? (tell the person next to you)
Write 2 things that you can put into practice
straightaway
Write questions on a post-it note
Same same but
different and equal 
Check out the booklet