Welcome to Differentiating Instruction in the Inclusive Classroom! My intention is that this class will meet your immediate needs in the classroom; I hope we can use this site as a means to share information and ideas.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Reflect on Session 1
How has this class session confirmed/broadened/contradicted your understanding of differentiated instruction? What did we cover that seemed important or thought-provoking? What topics would you like to see included going forward?
It has broaden my understanding of how many possible ways you can create your curriculum to reach the varying levels of students. I gained a better understanding of the use of Bloom's taxonomy to gain better access to students in the classroom. I also believe that teacher collaboration is important and that many minds work better than one. I would like to continue working on practical application differentiation in the classroom setting.
Having had no formal education courses, this was my first time seeing teaching practices labeled, framed, and organized as in Bloom's Taxonomy. This was incredibly eye-opening and helpful to me. Applying a language to the procedures I've been performing every day helped me to better see the relationship between these procedures, e.g. why application-based activities are essential to master before analysis-based activities. The modeling of tiered objectives and then the small group activity in which we generated our own tiers for an original objective gave me a concrete visualization of how to arrange my lessons within my units. The power point was very informative; seeing the graphs and diagrams of concepts from the Skillful Teacher Curriculum, as well as the kinds of differentiation teachers can implement helped me to organize ideas I'd had floating around in my head into clearer order.
This class has increased my optimism. I believe that this can be done well and feel a little less alone in my frustration as well as in my desire to pursue better instruction. Creating tiered objectives was most challenging and worthwhile. I found that working on being mindful of the steps on the way to my ultimate objective was difficult yet it opened a discussion of modifying levels of analysis, which is immediately useful to me. More guided discussion of practical applications with members of the class would be very helpful.
I completely agree with Melissa that this first session rejuvenated me in terms of wanting to put a solid effort into differentiating my own instruction and making inclusion work. I feel as though I am in good company with this group and I look forward to more candid and productive discussions. I enjoyed working on the tiered objectives because it reminded me to be more conscious of creating clear objectives and then making sure to scaffold them so that students can show mastery at the different levels.
It has broaden my understanding of how many possible ways you can create your curriculum to reach the varying levels of students. I gained a better understanding of the use of Bloom's taxonomy to gain better access to students in the classroom. I also believe that teacher collaboration is important and that many minds work better than one. I would like to continue working on practical application differentiation in the classroom setting.
ReplyDeleteHaving had no formal education courses, this was my first time seeing teaching practices labeled, framed, and organized as in Bloom's Taxonomy. This was incredibly eye-opening and helpful to me. Applying a language to the procedures I've been performing every day helped me to better see the relationship between these procedures, e.g. why application-based activities are essential to master before analysis-based activities. The modeling of tiered objectives and then the small group activity in which we generated our own tiers for an original objective gave me a concrete visualization of how to arrange my lessons within my units.
ReplyDeleteThe power point was very informative; seeing the graphs and diagrams of concepts from the Skillful Teacher Curriculum, as well as the kinds of differentiation teachers can implement helped me to organize ideas I'd had floating around in my head into clearer order.
This class has increased my optimism. I believe that this can be done well and feel a little less alone in my frustration as well as in my desire to pursue better instruction. Creating tiered objectives was most challenging and worthwhile. I found that working on being mindful of the steps on the way to my ultimate objective was difficult yet it opened a discussion of modifying levels of analysis, which is immediately useful to me.
ReplyDeleteMore guided discussion of practical applications with members of the class would be very helpful.
I completely agree with Melissa that this first session rejuvenated me in terms of wanting to put a solid effort into differentiating my own instruction and making inclusion work. I feel as though I am in good company with this group and I look forward to more candid and productive discussions. I enjoyed working on the tiered objectives because it reminded me to be more conscious of creating clear objectives and then making sure to scaffold them so that students can show mastery at the different levels.
Delete