Differentiation is essential in today's classroom. Google Apps makes it easier. Learn how to use Google Apps and other technology to support differentiation in your classroom. Whether it's Docs for writer's workshop, Forms for assessment, Sheets for collecting and analyzing data, Blogger for student or teacher blogs, or Genius Hour, Google has an app for that. These tools and ideas can be adapted and used in almost any content area.

1. Using Google Apps to
Support Differentiation
Christine Esposito
Charlottesville City Schools
http://goo.gl/d0PWIm

2. What differentiation is
According to Carol Tomlinson, differentiation
is “a sequence of common sense decisions
made by teachers with a student first
orientation”
Definition from:
http://caroltomlinson.
com/Presentations/Amherst_Secondary.pdf

3. What is differentiation, continued
It’s making sure each student learns what he
or she should learn by establishing clear goals,
assessing persistently to see where each
student is relative to the goals, and adjusting
instruction based on assessment information so that each student can learn as much as
possible as efficiently as possible
http://caroltomlinson.com/Presentations/Amherst_Secondary.pdf

4. Differentiate content,
process or product
for readiness,
interest or learning
profile
Tomlinson, Carol Ann and
Marcia B. Imbeau.
“Understanding Differentiation
in Order to Lead.” Leading
and Managing a
Differentiated Classroom.
Alexandria: ASCD, 2010. 18.
Print.

5. What differentiation is NOT
It is not a set of strategies. It is a way of
thinking about teaching and learning.
http://caroltomlinson.com/Presentations/Amherst_Secondary.pdf
Google Apps adds another layer in changing
how you think about teaching and learning.

6. Creating Groups for Sharing Docs
● Use contacts to create groups
○ Add students to as many groups as you
want - by class, reading group, writing
group, etc. Share documents by group
name rather than individual student
names. Groups are easily changed.
○ Ebadi, Suu Kyi, and Sirleaf are class names
○ JL #1, JL#2, and Raz-Kids are reading
group names and go across classes

7. Docs
●
●
●
●
Weekly Assignment Sheets
Hint Cards
Task Cards
Collaborative Writing Groups*,Planning
Documents
● Anchor Activities
○ RAFTs and Choice Boards
● Choose “Publish to Web” to embed in websites
● Your ideas

9. Google Forms
● Embed into websites
● Student surveys
○ Use to find out preferences, strengths, weaknesses
● Parent surveys
○ I also send home paper copies as needed so that I
have info from all parents.
● Clinic sign-up
○ Teacher offered or student requested clinics for

10. More Google Forms
● Project check-in
○ Responses - these responses make it much easier to
give students exactly what they need
● Quizzes - Flubaroo is a must!
● Reading logs
○ These serve as the basis for reading conferences
● Exit slips of almost any kind
● Your ideas

11. Sheets
● Use spreadsheets to sort data to facilitate
grouping students.
○ Data “Wall”
○ Student profile cards
● Analyzing data
○ What makes a perfect school?
● Your ideas

12. Blogging
● Class blog: assign students to update daily
● Teacher blog
○ One-stop for all class-related information
○ Curation space for
■ Anchor charts no longer being displayed
■ Hint and task cards, anchor activities
■ Assessments, Videos, Assignments
● Individual blogs
○ book reviews, current events, student choice
○ Student who volunteered as tribute
● Your ideas

13. Sites
● Genius hour projects
○ Basketball videos to help younger students improve
their game
●
●
●
●
Class website
Curation space
Filing cabinet for differentiated activities *
Your ideas

15. Additional uses for Google Apps
● Calendar
○
○
○
○
○
Expert of the day
Assignment calendar
Small group schedules
“Clinic” dates
Use YouCanBook.Me for student or parent conferences
● Draw or Presentation
○ Collaborative projects
○ Students create a postcard
● Your ideas

16. Genius Hour or 20% Time
During these projects, students have used:
● Docs - for planning their project
● Sheets - for analyzing collected data
● Forms - creating surveys
● Draw - making prototypes
● Sites - to share their information
● Blogs - reflecting on the process

17. Contact Information
esposic1@charlottesvilleschools.org
chrispo@gmail.com
http://msespo.edublogs.org
Twitter:
● Personal: @EspoLearns
● Class account: @WalkerMLCottage