Differentiate
What does it mean to DIFFERENTIATE for my students?
I've never met two students who were the same. Why would I design and expect the same assessments for every student, and wouldn't that be incredibly boring? One of the best things about being a teacher, in my opinion, is that I get to develop relationships with my students. Learning who they are as learners and as individuals is one of the most exciting aspects of my job. I want my students to enjoy my class and if I expect the same thing from every student I will never achieve the engagement necessary for real learning. Students need to be challenged to think outside of their comfort zone, but also need the opportunity to showcase their talents. Differentiation allows students to demonstrate their learning in multiple ways, and it moves us all beyond the cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all mentality that stifles creativity and imagination.
I've never met two students who were the same. Why would I design and expect the same assessments for every student, and wouldn't that be incredibly boring? One of the best things about being a teacher, in my opinion, is that I get to develop relationships with my students. Learning who they are as learners and as individuals is one of the most exciting aspects of my job. I want my students to enjoy my class and if I expect the same thing from every student I will never achieve the engagement necessary for real learning. Students need to be challenged to think outside of their comfort zone, but also need the opportunity to showcase their talents. Differentiation allows students to demonstrate their learning in multiple ways, and it moves us all beyond the cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all mentality that stifles creativity and imagination.