Differentiated Instruction
What is differentiated learning?
Differentiated instruction is essential to teaching to the mass differences within the classroom. It requires instructors to step “outside the boxes” of their own preferences and look into the “boxes” of their students. The challenge begins when teachers feel more comfortable teaching to their own styles of learning despite the knowledge that their students may not identify with this form of instruction.
Teachers must choose to be intentional, specifically noticing the direct feedback (body language) presented from within their classrooms. Differentiated instruction approaches learning as a multi-sensory multiple intelligence model. Thematic unit plans and lectures, with varied styles of instruction used, are often beneficial to meeting the needs of the entire classroom.
“Teaching should be such that what is offered is perceived as a valuable gift and not as a hard duty.”
The three elements of differentiated instruction are content, process, and procedure. The heart of this type of instruction is giving “choice”, linked to many successes within the classroom, to students allowing for assessment of learning. Students are able to select their preference for learning by given varied assignment choice to demonstrate proficiency.
It is not always convenient to offer multiple assignment choices, but this intentional opportunity to give selection of multi-sensory and creative options, as much as possible, creates a love of learning within the classroom. Collaborative learning opportunities provide varied ideas for problem solving. Socratic instruction allowing students to discover answers to posed questions.
Inspire Academy is a "safe place to learn" using differentiated instruction and multi-sensory instruction techniques allowing for multiple intelligence and strength compensations.