Implementing Differentiated Insturction

Differentiated Instruction is important because all students learn differently and only teaching a certain way will highlight some students learning, but may completely shut others off. In order to be fair, using different teaching styles will promote learning for all students and  help keep them engaged. Another key factor in promoting learning is making students feel comfortable in your class, this is something that I am really going to strive for whenever I begin my teaching. Students will be more willing to make mistakes and become engaged whenever they reach the point of feeling comfortable.

https://loorducation.wordpress.com/edu-605-differentiated-instruction/

"Research shows that teachers ask between 300–400 questions per day, the majority of which are short in length, directed to a particular student, and have a specific answer for which the teacher is seeking"(Department of Education, Tasmania, School Education Division, 2008). I do not believe that questioning should be done this way, questions should be purposeful, well thought out, require a higher level of thinking, and lead into what is going to be taught next. Whenever questions are only directed to specific students, the other students in the class are usually not engaged and they end up "zoning" out. Thinking back to my high school days, I remember being asked questions and while thinking about my answer, I was often cut off by the teacher because they assumed I did not know the answer. Making sure I give my students adequate time to think through the answer and give an intelligent answer is something that I need to work on and implement into my instruction. Often times, students are nervous to give an incorrect answer because they do not want to be embarrassed in front of their classmates. It is also key to make students do not feel like your questions are interrogating, instead, have them realize that the questions are only asked to help them make connections.

Tips for effective questioning: 

• Will this question create a higher level of questioning? 
• Could this question create discussion and a teachable moment for the rest of the class? 
• Does the question correlate to what the students already know, and what is going to be taught in the near future? 
• Is the question clear and concise? 

The difference in how you ask a question may not seem like it would make a difference, but giving the students a question that is easily answered with "yes" or "no" is not creating a higher level of thinking and is not a good form of review.

Making students feel comfortable in my class is something that I plan on implementing from day 1...It is not going to be easy, but it is definitely possible.

Thanks,
Mike