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Image provided by - http://strips.bitstrips.com/14b92da928df7965788a8ea93722842d.png  Differentiated Instruction - A Great Way to Reach All Students ** The purpose of this website is to give administrators and teachers, especially those in a co-teaching environment, an opportunity to explore the benefits of Differentiated Instruction. **

“Until a human beings basic human needs are attended to…energies cannot go to learning.” Carol Ann Tomlinson

__ The Differentiated Classroom - Responding to the Needs of All __ __Learners__ – Carol Ann Tomlinson This book describes the core theories of differentiated instruction and provides examples of its use at various grade levels. Tomlinson does not offer a quick fix strategy that most experienced educators know does not exist. This book offers a unique and helpful approach to thinking and learning. “First, the teacher should be aware of student uniqueness and diversity. Second, assessment and instruction are inseparable,” (Tomlinson 10).

__ Fullfilling the Promise of the Differentiated Classroom – Strategies and Tools for Responsive Teaching __ – Carol Ann Tomlinson Once again, Tomlinson does a superb job of explaining differentiated Instruction. The reader will gain a valuable detailed description of what must be considered in order to create and maintain a differentiated classroom. A chart is provided, which can serve as an excellent resource for teachers who are looking for examples of modifying classroom elements based on student needs. Valuable resources are also provided to the teacher throughout the book. Teachers should utilize the “Toolbox” section, which includes various examples of activities that encourage students to take an active role in their learning.

Image provided by - http://www.nipissingu.ca/faculty/nancym/EDUCABQ/Methods/Differentiated%20Instruction.png

__How to Differentiate Instruction in Mixed-Ability Classrooms__ – Carol Ann Tomlinson As noted in the above chart, Tomlinson encourages the reader to modify instruction based on content, process, product as well as readiness level, interest and learning profile. The book offers specific strategies for classroom management as well as assessment in a variety of roles. “Strategies for Managing a Differentiated Classroom” was an excellent chapter where Tomlinson lists seventeen strategies for managing a differentiated classroom at any grade level. After reading this chapter alone the teacher starts to question their practices. This chapter provides an outline and starting point for an educator who realizes that the way we have taught kids traditionally is obsolete and ineffective.

__ Differentiation in Practice – A Resource Guide For Differentiating Curriculum __ – Carol Ann Tomlinson This book offers the teacher various strategies on how to differentiate activities based on student readiness, interests, and learning profiles. Tomlinson includes examples of differentiated units of study and provides the reader with templates for differentiating various subjects, including language arts, social studies, science, mathematics, and world/foreign languages.

Reconcilable Differences? Standards-Based Teaching and Differentiation. __Educational Leadership__ This article outlines the philosophy of differentiation and suggests to the reader that meeting the needs of individual learners while teaching common standards is an achievable goal.Tomlinson notes how a large percentage of learners slip through the cracks when high stakes testing takes precedent over individualized learning. Tomlinson provides examples of positive cases where standards and differentiation worked hand in hand. Simply put, “Curriculum tells us what to teach: Differentiation tells us //how.”//

[] This article outlines a middle school teachers journey through her implementation of differentiated activities. The article also provides the reader with several examples of strategies.
 * The following are a list of websites that focus on the topic of Differentiated Instruction **

[] Examining this website provides the teacher with a quick outline of differentiation. You will understand that in differentiation can occur in 3 key areas content, product, and process. You will also find suggestions as to how you can “manipulate the environment through accommodating individual learning styles.”

[] This website offers teachers free downloads and educational articles that focus on learning styles, multiple intelligences, Bloom’s Taxonomy, and differentiation.

[] - Teachers who are interested in learning about the key elements of differentiation will find this website extremely helpful. It provides the reader with guidelines on key elements of differentiating content, process and product. Unfortunately the links to the valuable resources, many of which were authored by Carol Ann Tomlinson are not currently active.

[] - This website is a must for novice and veteran teachers. You will find an explanation of how Bloom's Taxonomy can be utilized as well as the various roles the teacher will have in the classroom.

Works Cited Tomlinson, Carol A., and Caroline Eidson. __Differentiation in Practice : A Resource Guide for Differentiating Curriculum, Grades 5-9__. Alexandria: Association for Supervision & Curriculum Development, 2003.

Tomlinson, Carol A. "Reconcilable Differences." __Educational Leadership__ 2000th ser. 58 (2000): 6-11.

Tomlinson, Carol Ann, and Susan Demirsky Allan. __How to Differentiate Instruction in Mixed-Ability Classrooms__. Alexandria: Association for Supervision & Curriculum Development, 2001.

Tomlinson, Carol Ann. __Fulfilling the Promise of the Differentiated Classroom : Strategies and Tools for Responsive Teaching__. Alexandria: Association for Supervision & Curriculum Development, 2003.

Tomlinson, Carol Ann. __Fulfilling the Promise of the Differentiated Classroom : Strategies and Tools for Responsive Teaching__. Alexandria: Association for Supervision & Curriculum Development, 2003.