My Growth as a Professional Differentiator :)

I am pleased to say that my classroom practices have improved since the beginning of the semester. I went back and re-read my first blog posting that discussed my classroom practices at the beginning of the year, and compared it to my current reflection on the inventory and made some positive discoveries.

• First, I am differentiating more often. I am using different grouping formats (hetero- and homogeneous) for instruction based on their learning needs. Conducting my graduate research project has allowed me to see the benefits of these varieties first-hand.


• I continue to use several instructional formats when teaching and have utilized a variety of instructional resources (videos, Internet, hands-on, Powerpoints, inquiry-based learning, as well as traditional formats) to facilitate learning.


• I also make an effort to pre-assess students' knowledge at the beginning (using a large webbing on chart paper), and refer back to the chart several times during the unit. This allows the students visually see how we are building on what they knew and to recognize what they have learned.


• I have realized that my students responded best to the inquiry-based instructional strategies and visual aids, so I've used more of them in my instruction.

I've discovered that I'd like to improve in my ability to match specific learning needs to assess students. I've realized that my instructional methods tend to be paper-pencil, and I want to learn other modalities for evaluating students' learning. Texts such as Teaching Gifted Kids in the Regular Classroom (Winnebrenner) and Standards Based Learning have been excellent tools to help me differentiate for independent contracts and menus. Another great siteI am looking into resources such as the Layered Curriculum (Kathie Nunley) to help me identify instructional options (http://www.layeredcurriculum.com/).I still haven't attempted curriculum compacting, so it's still on the 'to do' list. I have joined NAGC and have browsed their site and put things on the 'to do' list as well. Another great website, http://daretodifferentiate.wikispaces.com/ contains all types of ready-to-print and easy to modify activities that teachers can use with their students.

My growth definitely been a process. I get excited about different ideas and ways to teach and help students learn, and I want to try it all at once! Then I overwhelm myself, get frustrated, and feel like I am not doing enough :( I've had to really learn to be realistic about what I can do when changing my instruction. I sometimes lose focus when I get that excited, and I need to temper that as well. All in all, I'm proud of how I've developed and will continue do so.