Differentiated Instruction Essay

Differentiated instruction seems to be a philosophy that has captured the attention of many over a long period of time. Yet, when speaking to teachers about differentiated instruction, many don’t know what it entails. According to Carol Ann Tomlinson, differentiated instruction is a teacher’s response to learner’s needs. The differentiated instruction is guided by principals such as respectful tasks, flexible grouping, and ongoing assessment and adjustment. Teachers can differentiate the content, process, or product according to student’s readiness, interests, and learning profile through a range of instructional and management strategies (Tomlinson & Allen, 2000).

Many teachers struggle to differentiate instruction for a number of reasons.

A teacher who is differentiating understands a student’s needs to express humor, or work with a group, or have additional teaching on a particular skill, or delve more deeply into a particular topic, or have guided help with reading passage-and the teacher responds actively and positively to that need. Differentiation is simply attending to the learning needs of particular student or small group of students rather than the more typical pattern of teaching the class as though all individuals in it basically alike.” (Tomlinson & Allen, 2000, pg.4). The whole point of the differentiating philosophy is to achieve maximum learning gains, and to have the ability to close the learning gaps that students have. In education, we have struggled for a very long time with meeting the needs of all

In part, I believe our schedule allows teachers to differentiate. For example, teachers are given time for whole group, small group and intervention instructional time. Other than during whole group time, teachers are asked to hone in on six students at a time. The small group instructional periods are to meet students where they are while providing instruction according to their grade level standards. This year teachers are feeling defeated due to some changes in their evaluation system. When a principal comes in to observe, it the lesson being taught is not according to the grade level standard, that teacher automatically receives a Beginning for their rating. Teachers have expressed disappointment and anger over this. Many feel that they can’t teach at their grade level due to the student’s deficiencies. For this reason, I think it is crucial for teachers to be provided with tools and concrete examples of how they can differentiate, while staying true to the rigor of their grade level standard. Our teachers are caring and passionate. I really don’t think they refuse to differentiate as much as I think they are just unsure of how to