Tools for High-Quality Differentiated Instruction : An ASCD Action Tool

As teachers undertake the transition to differentiating instruction, they¿re going to have lots of questions about how to discover their students¿ learning needs, plan appropriate instruction. That¿s why every successful implementation of DI needs this practical resource. Inside the three-ring binder are 60 tools that can be used in every grade and subject, designed to help teachers reach higher levels of expertise with differentiation. By using the tools in teacher workshops and team meetings, and making them available for teachers to refer to in their classrooms, you support teachers throughout the critical stages of implementing DI. Tools are organized around the key principles of effective differentiation: * Creating a safe learning environment and organizing the classroom to support multiple ways of working * Focusing differentiation on the essential knowledge, understandings, and skills in the curriculum * Using ongoing assessment of readiness, interest, and learning profile to identify every student¿s learning needs and monitor their progress * Designing respectful learning activities that incorporate student variation and provide appropriate challenge while addressing common learning goals * Using a variety of instructional strategies that support flexible grouping so students experience learning in a wide range of contexts Included with the tools are more than 40 samples that show teachers how to use the tools in various grade levels (primary through high school) and subject areas, so they get a clear idea of how to make DI an everyday reality in their classrooms.