Differentiated instruction is built on a foundation of effective teaching practices. Quality curriculum is one of these defining principles, as what is taught serves as the basis for how it is taught. Quality curriculum has its basis in standards, or descriptions of student outcomes in content areas. (Puckett, 2013, Chap. 5, Introduction) However, many educators have concerns regarding these new standards for various reasons outlined in Chapter 5 in the textbook including, but not limited to: Lack      of training to implement the new standards A      realistic view of standard mastery of students with special needs Too      much government control over creative freedom of instruction How      these new standards will be implemented on such a large scale The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are meant to provide educators and parents with a consistent and clear understanding of student expectations. While written to address English Language Arts and Mathematics, the CCSS address college and career ready knowledge and skills in preparing students to transition from high school to college. Assignment Instructions: First, read Chapter 5 of the course text. Then view the webinar, “Common Core State Standards: Where Does Differentiating Fit”. Next, read and respond to the following scenario: Ms. Phillips instructs in a middle school inclusion class with 20 ‘typical’ students, three students who have an IEP for a Specific Learning Disability, one student who has an IEP for “Other Health Impairment” (ADHD) and two students who are identified as ELL.  Her class is beginning with a unit on the American Civil War that will focus on the significance of the Civil War Battle and the reason and significance behind President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. As the unit starts, Ms. Phillips provides her students with a KWL chart to share what they already know about the Civil War  Example of a Student Response to the KWL Chart (Creately, 2011) After reviewing the student’s KWL charts (see an example above), Ms. Phillips realizes that she should integrate differentiated strategies to provide a more well-rounded and accurate understanding of the topic and to make it more personally relevant.  For this discussion: Create      two measurable lesson objectives that are aligned with one Common Core      Standard. For each of the objectives, create two differentiated strategies      designed to master the objective.  Explain      how the strategies you've suggested are engaging to diverse learners.  Cite      scholarly sources to support how your strategies are examples of      differentiation.  Instructor Guidance Week 3 Introduction This week you will: Create      an instructional alignment between the Common Core State Standards (CCSS)      and differentiated instruction. Develop      engaging and motivating differentiated strategies that align with Common      Core State Standards. Implement      instructional plans ...

1. Differentiated instruction is built on a foundation of effective
teaching practices. Quality curriculum is one of these defining
principles, as what is taught serves as the basis for how it is
taught. Quality curriculum has its basis in standards, or
descriptions of student outcomes in content areas. (Puckett,
2013, Chap. 5, Introduction)
However, many educators have concerns regarding these new
standards for various reasons outlined in Chapter 5 in the
textbook including, but not limited to:
Lack of training to implement the new standards
A realistic view of standard mastery of students with special
needs
Too much government control over creative freedom of
instruction
How these new standards will be implemented on such a
large scale
The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are meant to provide
educators and parents with a consistent and clear understanding
of student expectations. While written to address English
Language Arts and Mathematics, the CCSS address college and
career ready knowledge and skills in preparing students to
transition from high school to college.

2. Assignment Instructions:
First, read Chapter 5 of the course text. Then view the webinar,
“Common Core State Standards: Where Does Differentiating
Fit”.
Next, read and respond to the following scenario:
Ms. Phillips instructs in a middle school inclusion class with 20
‘typical’ students, three students who have an IEP for a Specific
Learning Disability, one student who has an IEP for “Other
Health Impairment” (ADHD) and two students who are
identified as ELL. Her class is beginning with a unit on the
American Civil War that will focus on the significance of the
Civil War Battle and the reason and significance behind
President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.
As the unit starts, Ms. Phillips provides her students with a
KWL chart to share what they already know about the Civil
War
Example of a Student Response to the KWL Chart (Creately,
2011)
After reviewing the student’s KWL charts (see an example
above), Ms. Phillips realizes that she should integrate
differentiated strategies to provide a more well-rounded and
accurate understanding of the topic and to make it more
personally relevant.

3. For this discussion:
Create two measurable lesson objectives that are aligned
with one Common Core Standard. For each of the objectives,
create two differentiated strategies designed to master the
objective.
Explain how the strategies you've suggested are engaging to
diverse learners.
Cite scholarly sources to support how your strategies are
examples of differentiation.
Instructor Guidance
Week 3
Introduction
This week you will:
Create an instructional alignment between the Common Core
State Standards (CCSS) and differentiated instruction.
Develop engaging and motivating differentiated strategies
that align with Common Core State Standards.
Implement instructional plans to promote opportunities for
success in differentiated learning environments.
Now that you’ve designed the physical layout of your classroom
and have a strong idea of how you will create a positive

4. behavior management system, it is time to get instruction
started! With the adoption of the Common Core State Standards,
schools are holding students to higher standards and requiring
more advanced proficiency in graduation requirements. This
means that you, the teacher, will need to create engaging and
dynamic lesson plans that align with the new standards that also
promote opportunities for success in your differentiated
learning environment. It is important to point out that the CCSS
do not specify how to teach or how to assess; the standards only
identify what students should know and be able to do (CCSS,
2014).
Discussions Boards
The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are meant to provide
educators and parents with a consistent and clear understanding
of student expectations. While written to address English
Language Arts and Mathematics, the CCSS address college and
career ready knowledge and skills in preparing students to
transition from high school to college. One example of
providing multiple means of instruction through differentiation
is through instructional technology. The following short video
from PowerUP What Works (2013) will help to provide some
information that will helpful to you.
Other methods of differentiated instructional strategies can be
found in
Miss Taylor Brooke Stancil's Differentiated Instructional
Strategies Kit (Links to an external site.)
with suggestions for all ages, grades and content area.

5. Assignment
To begin, this is a three-minute video that clearly explains the
purpose behind the Common Core State Standards (CCSS):
This video was created by the DC Public School system. As the
video explains, one of the purposes of the Common Core State
Standards (CCSS) is to scaffold ideas, starting with a
foundation and then gradually becoming more challenging and
abstract. Differentiated instruction has a similar conceptual
framework as teachers must continually work to identify and
implement strategies that work for all students.
For your assignment this week you will create a blog that is
written in user-friendly terms and is easily understood by other
educators, parents, and community stakeholders regarding the
purpose of the Common Core State Standards, the evidence-
based foundation for differentiated instruction, and how the two
methods align. In addition, you will include resources,
references, guides, and materials that will contribute to your
reading audiences’ understanding of each topic and how they
can be integrated into curriculum material and instructional
delivery.
References
Common Core State Standards Initiative. (2014).
Myths vs facts (Links to an external site.)
. Retrieved from http://www.corestandards.org/about-the-
standards/myths-vs-facts/

6. DC Public Schools. (2012, November 2).
Three-minute video explaining the common core state standards
(Links to an external site.)
[Video file]. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5s0rRk9sER0
PowerUp What Works. (2013, September 16).
Embedded supports to differentiate instruction for struggling
students
(Links to an external site.)
[Video file]. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GTdUtAUl2M&list=PL9-
_3Cww3Z20IhrLNjMDWARunIckafQnP
Stancil, T. (2011, November 30).
All children can learn (Links to an external site.)
. Retrieved from
http://cnweb.cn.edu/tedu/New%20Website%20Docs/Differentiat
edInstructionStrategiesKit.pdf
Required Resources
Required Text
Puckett, K (2013).
Differentiating Instruction: A Practical Guide
[Electronic version]. Retrieved from
https://content.ashford.edu/
Chapter 5: Instructional Strategies Supporting Differentiated
Instructional Practices

7. Multimedia
Tomlinson, C., Britt, S. (2012).
Common core state standards: Where does differentiating fit?
ACSD. (Links to an external site.)
[Video File]. Retrieved from http://www.ascd.org/professional-
development/webinars/tomlinson-and-britt-webinar.aspx
Recommended Resources
Articles
Newton, S. (n.d.).
Civil war - kwl. (Links to an external site.)
Retrieved from
http://creately.com/diagram/example/go7g10ui1/Civil War -
KWL
Stancil, T. (n.d.).
Differentiated instruction strategies
.
Retrieved from http://cnweb.cn.edu/tedu/New Website
Docs/DifferentiatedInstructionStrategiesKit.pdf
Uzayr, S. (2012, March 13).
Top 10 free online blogging platforms. (Links to an external
site.)
Retrieved from http://sixrevisions.com/tools/top-free-online-
blogging/
Multimedia
nlumarketing. (2012, Feburary 1).
Career Readiness and Common Core Standards.
(Links to an external site.)
[Video file]. Retrieved from

8. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VedAZSrszzE
nlumarketing. (2011, December 8).
Tips for Differentiating Instruction with Common Core
Standards.
(Links to an external site.)
[Video file]. Retrieved from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RN3i0Ws06vA
Websites
Common Core State Standards (Links to an external site.)
(http://www.corestandards.org)