DIFFERENTIATE by STUDENT INTEREST
Creating practice activities and assessments tailored to students' interests is a powerful way to differentiate. Simple pre-assessments can supply a lot of information about student interests in topics or types of assignments. Interest inventories will also provide important information to you about your students. Students involved in the study of their favorite topics will likely perform better, create fewer classroom management concerns, and bring a positive environment to the room. Final products will exhibit the care and excitement involved when students are interested in the topic. Address their different interests by providing varied content, practice tasks, or final output options. The positive atmosphere this creates in the classroom will far outweigh the initial challenges involved in planning.
Give Students Choice
_Make the goals of learning clear and allow students to bring into play their own interests to reach the goals. Giving choice, however, still requires structure. Allow students to explore their different content interests through learning contracts, webquests, or literature circles. Remember that differentiation does not have to happen all the time and that differentiation does not mean individualized instruction. Finding creative, well-planned, and managed ways to allow students choice in their learning will have a powerful effect on meeting the curriculum goals.
DIFFERENTIATING BY GIVING CHOICE
Create New Interests
Sharing your passion for a topic may inspire interest in students. Let them know about what you care about and students may discover a new interest. Knowing your students well, you may already have an idea about exciting content. Building on different INTELLIGENCES, you can share your ideas effectively and differentiate for improved motivation. Offer them experiences through application of the material to the real world. This will improve engagement and expand their horizons.
Introducing different types of products may also develop new interests. Using new technology to express ideas will make topics more exciting. Use ideas from other teachers or coordinate projects with specials teachers to make the final product options of a project fresh and appealing to students.
Alternatively, differentiate the process or practice students will do. Using the JIGSAW, for example, students can explore a high-interest element of the new topic.
Introducing different types of products may also develop new interests. Using new technology to express ideas will make topics more exciting. Use ideas from other teachers or coordinate projects with specials teachers to make the final product options of a project fresh and appealing to students.
Alternatively, differentiate the process or practice students will do. Using the JIGSAW, for example, students can explore a high-interest element of the new topic.