Differentiated Instruction

Deborah Blaz has taught French to grades 7-12 for the past 36 years in Indiana. She also serves as the World Language Department Chair at her school.

eResources

I. DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION: WHAT IT IS/ WHAT IT ISN’T

What is Differentiated Instruction?

What Differentiated Instruction IS

What Differentiation is NOT

Some Research to Support Differentiation

II. FROM CONTENT TO PROCESS TO PRODUCT

Content, or What to Teach

Process, or How to Practice

Product, or How to Assess

Preparing Yourself

Preparing the Students

Management Issues and Ideas

III. PLANNING A DIFFERENTIATED UNIT

Identify What Is to Be Taught (Content)

Pre-assess Students’ Needs and Capabilities

Choose the Form(s) of Assessment to Be Used (Product )

Decide on the Method of Presentation

Classroom Environment

Select a Variety of Learning Strategies (Process)

Sample Units

Learning Centers

Interdisciplinary Units

Cultural Adventure Unit: Language in Our Community (Spanish)

Project-Based Learning Unit

Checklist for a Differentiated Lesson or Unit

Checklist for Observing a Lesson/Unit that Uses Differentiated Instruction

IV. IDEAS SMORGASBORD

Vocabulary

Speaking/Listening

Reading

Post-Reading Projects/Strategies

Writing

Review

Other

V. Differentiated Assessment

Use Choice

Use Context

Use Variety

Managing Grades

VI. Reflections on Differentiation

Graphics

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers.

APPENDIX A: CHECKLISTS

APPENDIX B: THE LANGUAGE OF DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION: KEY WORDS AND CONCEPTS

APPENDIX C: LISTS OF ACTIVITIES AND STRATEGIES BY STANDARDS

Common Core

ACTFL

References