Gabby Getzendanner

Module 4
Differentiating curriculum and instruction is a rich and effective approach to use when
providing for the needs of all students, including those with special education needs such as
students with learning disabilities, gifted and talented students, and English language learners.
Differentiated instruction is allowing each student to learn at the depth, complexity, and pace that
is most beneficial to them .The principals of differentiation are proactive, student centered ,
assessment based and a blend.

Proactive in the classroom is crucial anticipating that lessons may change and learning
problems may occur. Teachers need to be proactive to the students learning needs. Students need
to understand the material. Teachers make content and classroom language more understandable
to their students. This should include constructing background knowledge and providing many
nonverbal clues such as pictures, objects, demonstrations, gestures, and intonation cues. Other
strategies that should be incorporated include building from language that is already understood,
using graphic organizers, hands-on learning opportunities, and cooperative or peer tutoring
techniques.

Student centered
Opportunities for students needs and interests to be met are important. Having students
use both their language skills and new content material in direct communication. Through
cooperative learning, study buddies, project-based learning, and one-to-one teacher/student
interactions need to be engaging to all learners. While students talking to each other about class
work, they learn important language and content through conversations and make it easier to

understand than teacher lectures. It provides many more opportunities students need to process
and apply the language they are learning at the same time teachers can adjust their instruction to
assist their needs.

Assessment
Teachers provide students with the information on what they know and how they need to
improve to go on to the next level. Before during and after lessons students are continuously
being assess. It allows for teachers to effectively teach and provide students with the skills to
have a higher level of thinking .After instruction the teacher evaluates students based on their
knowledge .
Strategies to developing critical thinking skills include asking students higher order thinking
questions. Students need to develop more advanced higher-order thinking skills as their language
increases. Teaching and reinforcing study skills and test-taking skills, and holding high
expectations more and more each year. During my observation ,
My mentor illustrated differentiation instruction in many ways shes always asking for her
students input on topics they might want to learn abou9t. . What interest them? For example
during writing workshops, they brainstorm topics they might want to write about in their journal.
This allows them to explore ideas of common interest.
In my future classroom I will blend in whole groups, small groups and work with
individuals students to meet all learning needs. Groups are great because everyone can
collaborate ideas and practice social skills to gain different perspectives. One on one is all very
important this can be done during a guided reading session. Teachers can help guide students
through blending of sounds that make a word. I plan on being flexible and accommodating to

my future students. Every child is different and having multiple teaching strategies can be very
effective to a childs learning. My goal as a teacher is to motivate and influence my students
effectively in their learning..