Full Description
"Places all of a teacher's concerns on the table, and whittles them away with classroom strategies."
-Toby Karten, Educational Consultant
"The ideas in this book will be useful for years to come."
-William Fitzhugh, Teacher, Reisterstown Elementary School, MD
"In the good old days, we didn't have to differentiate."
If this is how you feel about differentiated instruction (DI), you are not alone. Although research shows that DI maximizes learning and neural development, teachers still struggle with its challenges, especially in the high school classroom. Applying her unique expertise as a researcher, teacher, trainer, and parent, Kathie F. Nunley provides practical and supportive solutions to the real obstacles teachers face in mixed ability high school classrooms.
Each chapter lists an obstacle-"I have too much content to cover," or "I can't grade all those different assignments," or "I thought I was differentiating"-and then provides:
A discussion of the pedagogical and curriculum issues
Ready-to-use solution strategies
Examples and scenarios showing the strategies in action
Practice assignments
Written with common sense, wisdom, and humor, this easy-to-navigate guide is a must-have resource for all high school teachers and instructional leaders committed to the benefits of differentiated instruction for high school learners.
Contents
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Introduction: I Just Can't Do That in MY School / Classroom / Situation
Teachers are Creative People
Laugh and the World Laughs with You
So what is differentiated instruction?
Obstacle #1: I Long to Return Back to The Good Old Days
A Description of the Issue
Solution Strategies
Obstacle #2: I Thought I Was Differentiating
A Description of the Issue
Solution Strategies
Obstacle #3: I Teach the Way I Was Taught
A Description of the Issue
Solution Strategies
Practice Assignments for Overcoming This Obstacle
Obstacle #4: I Don't Know How
A Description of the Issue
Solution Strategies
The Easiest Road to Differentiation is Student Choice
Add A Second Piece: Accountability
Finish with the Final Piece: Encouraging Higher-Level Thinking
Practice Assignments for Overcoming This Obstacle
Obstacle #5: I Have Too Much Content to Cover
A Description of the Issue
Solution Strategies
Realize That you Can't Lecture Fast Enough
Practice Assignments for Overcoming This Obstacle
Obstacle #6: I'm Good at Lecturing
A Description of the Issue
Classrooms May Result in A Power Struggle
Solution Strategies
Perception is Everything
Gain Control by Giving Some of It Up
Obstacle #7: I Can't See How I Would Grade All Those Different Assignments
A Description of the Issue
Solution Strategies
Setting up a Paper or Electronic Grade Book
Entering Only Unit Grades and Exams
Entering Grades by Sub-Units
Entering Grades by Objectives
Daily or Weekly Grades
Design a Grade Scale by Considering "What's an A worth?"
And on What Basis Or Criteria Do We Award Points, Marks and Grades?
Design a Grade Scale by Considering "What's an F worth?"
Practice Assignments for Overcoming This Obstacle
Obstacle #8: I Thought Differentiated Instruction Was for Elementary Schools
A Description of the Issue
Solution Strategies
Practice Assignments for Overcoming This Obstacle
Obstacle #9: I Subscribe to Ability Grouping
A Description of the Issue
Segregation Within the Classroom
Preparing Global Thinkers
Solution Strategies
Practice Assignments for Overcoming This Obstacle
Obstacle #10: I Have Real Logistical Issues
A Description of the Issue
Solution Strategies & Practice Assignments for Overcoming These Obstacles
Liability Issues
Scheduling Issues
The Room is Too Small
Obstacle #11: I Want My Classroom Under Control
A Description of the Issue
Perception of Control Trumps All
Leadership Style Determines Perception of Control
An Easy Measure of Leadership
Solution Strategies
Practice Assignments for Overcoming This Obstacle
Obstacle #12: I Don't Know How to Measure My Students' Learning Style
A Description of the Issue
Solution Strategies
Take a cue from your IEP's
Provide a Home Base
Practice Assignments for Overcoming This Obstacle
Obstacle#13: I Have Neither the Time Nor the Funding for All That
A Description of the Time Issue
I Don't Have the Time to Plan for All That
Solution Strategies
Practice Assignments for Overcoming This Obstacle
A Description of the Funding Issue
Solution Strategies
Practice Assignments for Overcoming This Obstacle
Obstacle #14: I've Been Teaching This Way for Years and It Works
A Description of the Issue
Solution Strategies
Practice Assignments for Overcoming This Obstacle
Obstacle#15: There's No Support For It At My School
A Description of the Issue
Solution Strategies
Practice Assignments for Overcoming This Obstacle
Obstacle #16: My District Requires Me to Follow a Prescribed Text
A Description of the Issue
Textbook Options Can Create More Effective Readers
A Variety of Reading Materials Keeps Information Updated
A Variety of Texts Makes the Information Available to More Students
Solution Strategies
Practice Assignments for Overcoming This Obstacle
Obstacle #17: Parents Expect Lecture Format in High School For College Prep
A Description of the Issue
Differentiated Reading Strategies Help Prepare Students for College Learning
Solution Strategies
Practice Assignments for Overcoming This Obstacle
Obstacle #18: The Bottom Line—If They Are Learning, You Are Teaching
A Description of the Issue
Some Students Struggle with Linguistic Dependent Input and Output
Some Students Struggle with Visual Input and Output
Solution Strategies
Practice Assignments for Overcoming This Obstacle
Suggestions for Further Reading
Layered Curriculum and Other Specific Strategies for Differentiating Instruction
Neuroscience and Learning
Inclusion Strategies
Control Theory and Self Efficacy
Pedagogical Theory
History of the United States School System
Classroom and School Leadership
References
Index
