Differentiated Instruction: Differentiated Instruction:

Making The ConnectionsMaking The Connections

Facilitated BySara Fridley & Kathleen West Region 3 Education Service Agencysara.fridley@k12.sd.uskathleen.a.west@k12.sd.us

Workshop 4

Workshop OutcomesWorkshop Outcomes

• Complete paperwork for cohort stipends

• Adding to our toolbox of strategies for differentiating instruction

• Review & reflect upon some key topics

ESA VoucherESA Voucher

• Fill out top right corner with complete name & address info

• Sign & Date• First payment – May 20• Second payment – June 20

SHIFTSHIFTHAPPENSHAPPENS

Essential QuestionEssential Question• How do we enrich the

experiences of our students, so that they will remember their experiences in our classrooms?

Can You Identify This?Can You Identify This?

• Small machines. A detail of a very small motor. the "blades" are half the width of one strand of hair.(ABCNews.com)

Can You Identify This?Can You Identify This?

• Migrating Bacteria. Bacterial colonies growing in a pattern in a petri dish. (ABCNews.com)

Use Large, Rich WordsUse Large, Rich WordsEncourage kids to ask, “What does that mean?”Encourage kids to ask, “What does that mean?”

• Hydrophobic: what are the roots of this word that help us know what it means?(ABCNews.com)

Triggering Better MemoryTriggering Better Memory

• Memory storage is stimulated by• Novelty• Emotion (fear, excitement)• Personal Connections

Understanding MemoryUnderstanding Memory

• http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2007/11/memory/brain-interactive

Hot Topics From Kathie NunleyHot Topics From Kathie Nunley• HOT TOPIC # 1: Teachers are constantly warned

against using sarcasm with students due to the ease with which it can be misinterpreted. New research on how the brain processes sarcasm shows just how complex it is. While the left hemisphere is primarily responsible for the literal interpretation of what you hear, the right hemisphere, along with areas of the frontal lobes interpret the social and emotional aspects of what you hear. A specific region in the right ventromedial area of the prefrontal cortex puts these two pieces together. Damage to any of these areas affects a person's ability to understand sarcasm.

• Shamay-Tsoory, S. & Tomer, R.(2005). Neuropsychology, Vol 19(3)

Hot Topics From Kathie NunleyHot Topics From Kathie Nunley

• HOT TOPIC #2: Feel like your memory just isn't what it used to be? Most of us know that memory is affected by age and one of the earliest signs of mental decline that we notice. But learning and memory can be improved at any age. According to experiments done on other animals, young brains can improve learning and memory by physical exercise alone. Middle-aged brains can improve by combining physical exercise with mental exercises. Older brains can improve through either physical or mental exercise alone.

• Harburger, L, et al. (2007). Behavioral Neuroscience, Vol 121(4).

Know Your StudentsKnow Your Students

• Getting to know your students is the key to making DI work

• Variations• Profile Poster• Mystery Bag • Bio Match• Graphing How I’m Smart• Interest Surveys (students & parents)

Key #3 – Adapt ProductKey #3 – Adapt Product

• Students use key skills to create product• Bloom’s Taxonomy• Multiple Intelligence Theories

• Common focus• Vary student activities• Vary complexity

Some Fun Strategies for ProductSome Fun Strategies for Product

• Puzzle a Day• Electronic Activities

• Scavenger Hunts• Virtual Field Trips• Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts• Web Quests• eZines

Puzzles For Critical ThinkingPuzzles For Critical Thinking

• A Puzzle a Day – Practice That Pays• Exercise critical thinking skills• Easily adapt for different grade levels• Use as . . . . . .

• Centers

• Bell Ringers

• Challenge Activities

Have a computer in your classroom?Have a computer in your classroom?

• Great Online Resources• http://www.free.ed.gov• http://www.thinkfinity.com (formerly Marco

Polo)• http://school.discovery.com/schrockguide/• http://www.netrover.com/~kingskid/108.html• http://www.edhelper.com/• http://www.ceismc.gatech.edu/busyt/ • http://www.cloudnet.com/~edrbsass/edres.htm

eField Trips & Scavenger HuntseField Trips & Scavenger Hunts

• Virtual Tours• http://www.theteachersguide.com/virtualtours.html

• http://www.uen.org/utahlink/tours/• http://www.efieldtrips.org/

• Many require registration

• Includes “ask the expert” sessions

• http://oops.bizland.com/vtours.htm• http://www.exploratorium.edu/

eField Trips & Scavenger HuntseField Trips & Scavenger Hunts

• Internet Scavenger Hunts• http://www.education-world.com/a_lesson/archives/

hunt.shtml• http://www.thecoo.edu/~apeter/scavenger_hunts.htm

• Univ. Sioux Falls site with lots of topics

• http://www.nvo.com/ecnewletter/scavengerhuntsontheweb/

• http://lessonplancentral.com/lessons/Computers_and_Internet/Scavenger_Hunts/

• http://www.pitt.edu/~poole/eledScavenger.html

Life in the fast lane . . .Life in the fast lane . . .

In an increasingly fast-paced world we don’t make time for

creative activities.

WebQuestsWebQuests• Integration of

technology• Focus on critical

thinking skills• Not just a “report”

of facts

• Student centered

Web Quest DesignWeb Quest Design• Topic

• Orients students & captures their interest• “start where you’re at” – pick a topic you are

comfortable with• Task

• Describes the end product• Most critical piece – make it challenging & deep

• Process• Explains strategies students will use to complete the

task• Include roles & steps to follow

More Web Quest DesignMore Web Quest Design• Resources

• Web sites students will use to complete the task• May want to provide search parameters for older

students if specific sites aren’t provided• Evaluation

• Measures results of process• Use a rubric that clearly sets criteria

• Conclusion• Sums up activity• Encourages students to reflect on the process

(Metacognition)

Critical Thinking TasksCritical Thinking Tasks

• Apply• Solve• Compare• Analyze• Infer• Develop• Relate

• Critique• Evaluate• Support• Design• Invent• Distinguish• Classify

WebQuest ResourcesWebQuest Resources

• Quest Garden• http://webquest.org/questgarden/author/index.php

• Bernie Dodge & Tom March (the gurus!)• http://www.ozline.com/learning/index.htm

• A school district Web Quest resource• http://www.spa3.k12.sc.us/WebQuests.html

• Web Quest Task-onomy• http://webquest.sdsu.edu/taskonomy.html

• ThinkQuest: Student created web quest projects• http://www.thinkquest.org/library/index.html

More Web Quest ResourcesMore Web Quest Resources

• http://www.oconee.k12.sc.us/teachers/lharrison/2004/vermeerwq.htm• http://www.jameshollis.com/WQ2/• http://www.ccsd.net/schools/lummis/Hybarger/zoohomepage.html• http://can-do.com/uci/lessons98/BodyBuilder.html• http://www.bestwebquests.com• http://www.tenafly.k12.nj.us/~teisenberg2/mapquest/• http://www.tenafly.k12.nj.us/~teisenberg2/worldcultures/• http://www.busyteacherscafe.com/webquests/solarsystem/solarsystem_webqu

est.htm• http://www.busyteacherscafe.com/webquests/solarsystem/solarsystem_webqu

est.htm• http://coe.west.asu.edu/students/cindelicato/intro.html• http://www.milforded.org/schools/calfpen/jcox/wq/revwar.html

Web 2.0 Tools Web 2.0 Tools

• Q – How many Wiki people does it take to change a light bulb?

• A – One, but anyone can change it back.

• http://www.pbwiki.com

Wrapping It All UpWrapping It All Up

Principles to Guide Principles to Guide Differentiated ClassroomsDifferentiated Classrooms

• Focus on essentials• Attend to student differences• Assess often and use it to make

adjustments/modifications• Mutual respect• Be flexible• Doesn’t happen 100% of the time!!!!

Simple Ways to StartSimple Ways to Start

• Add an interdisciplinary element to a favorite unit

• Collaborate with other teachers• Add movement/touch/visual aids to existing

lessons & activities• Apply Multiple Intelligence thinking to

group/individual projects • Offer students a variety of presentation

options

Completing Your RequirementsCompleting Your Requirements

• Complete online evaluation when it is emailed to you.

• Email final version of lessons to Sara to post on ESA web page

• Have a great summer!