Differentiated Instruction: An Introduction

March 21–23, 2012  |  Philadelphia, Pa.

The decision to implement sound, defensible differentiation in mixed ability classrooms requires a shifting of both mind set and practice. This three-day session will examine what is actually involved in defensible differentiation in terms of teacher thinking, instructional practices, and classroom procedures. Participants will glean practical strategies for introducing their students to differentiation and implementing it in such a way that it improves the performance of all students, while supporting and challenging their unique needs in a community of respect. Special attention will be paid to how to accomplish this while operating in a standards-driven world. Educators will emerge with a storehouse of instructional plans and managerial strategies tailored to the needs of their individual educational settings.

Participant Outcomes:

• Distinguish between defensible and ill-conceived differentiation practices.
• Design sound instructional tasks that attend to standards while engaging students in their learning.
• Tailor instruction to meet the needs of struggling learners, advanced learners, learners with special needs, and English language learners.
• Establish a classroom community and management system that allows for the fluid implementation of differentiated instruction.

Institute Staff: Maria Molina, Education Consultant, Miami, Fla., and Kristina Doubet, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va. Registration Fee: $449 (ASCD members), $513 (Nonmembers) Materials Fee: $38 for How to Differentiate Instruction in Mixed-Ability Classrooms, 2nd Edition and Leading and Managing a Differentiated Classroom Registration Code: PD12PC015