Teachers in our district are expected to do both. I continue to emphasize that the language arts curriculum is naturally differentiated Think alouds teach to the whole class; I encourage teachers to use material that is challenging to their top students at least once a week Guided reading-small groups-differentiates through level and skill groupings Independent reading/workshop--students read at their level; teachers conference and, if appropriate, use this time to challenge the top students. Beginning in 2nd grade, teachers implement literature circles which differentiate by choice and level (teachers help guide students to choose the "just right" text) During ss and "projects", teachers often differentiate in ways you mentioned. As we continue to work on the language arts curriculum, both teachers and parents realize that language arts is truly differentiated if a balanced literacy approach is followed. Carol LA Content Specialist, K-8 On Feb 22, 2007, at 5:11 PM, Joy wrote:
> Excellent point, Myra! I can't agree with you more, and I've seen > this have pretty amazing results in my class. > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > Why does differentiated instruction have to be homogeneous > grouping? Can't it be where you offer many choices of how to > present what they've learned or how they want to learn, and each > child chooses the way that is most successful for them? For > instance, when the reading partners in my classroom (4th grade), > complete a genre or author study, they must present what they've > learned to the rest of us. Some options are a power point > presentation, a collage, essays, pretend interview of the author, > one partnership came up with designing an award for the author. > They designed & built it, and included the reasons why they thought > he deserved such an award. > I believe if you allow your students some independent thinking > time, they'll come up with ideas that feed into their strengths. > And if you need to teach into their weak areas, pair them with > someone you know is strong in that area. The teacher is not the end > all of our student's education. I think we need to give some of the > responsibility and autonomy to our students. > Myra > 4th grade > Plainview, NY > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Christine Halliday > Date: Sunday, February 18, 2007 10:20 am > Subject: [MOSAIC] overwhelmed > To: mosaic@literacyworkshop.org > >> Hi, >> I'm a "nontraditional" teacher in my 5th year teaching 4th >> grade. Have read >> "Mosaic", "reading with meaning" and parts of Fountas & Pinell >> for 3-6. >> Went to an inspiring in-service with Ellin Keene @ a week ago. >> Despite all >> that, I feel a bit overwhelmed and, consequently, at sea. >> Matching state & >> district requirements to what I've found in the research seems >> impossible. >> Am especially stumped by my district's requirements to do >> "Differentiated >> Instruction":( i.e. homogeneous grouping) for 30-60 min a day. >> This goes >> against everything I believe in: that we can all learn from each >> other. >> Meanwhile, ELA and Special Ed students are being mainstreamed >> with no >> back-up or extra personnel. >> Does anyone else feel overwhelmed? Sometimes, I fall back on a >> routine >> simply because I don't know what else to do. Thanks for letting >> me vent! I >> want to teach my students in teh best way possible, and some >> days I don't >> know what that is! >> Chris/4/PA >> >> _________________________________________________________________ >> Play Flexicon: the crossword game that feeds your brain. PLAY >> now for FREE. >> http://zone.msn.com/en/flexicon/default.htm?icid=flexicon_hmtagline >> >> >> > _______________________________________________ > Mosaic mailing list > Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/ > mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > > > > > Joy/NC/4 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > How children learn is as important as what they learn: process > and content go hand in hand. http://www.responsiveclassroom.org > > > > > > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > Food fight? Enjoy some healthy debate > in the Yahoo! Answers Food & Drink Q&A. > _______________________________________________ > Mosaic mailing list > Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/ > mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
