The Differentiated Instruction Book of Lists

The Differentiated Instruction Book of Lists is a definitive reference for DI for teachers in grades K-12. Ready for immediate use, it offers over 150 up-to-date lists for developing instructional materials, lesson planning, and assessment. Organised into 12 convenient sections, the book is full of practical examples, teaching ideas, and activities that can be used or adapted to meet students' diverse needs. Coverage includes curriculum design, lesson planning, instructional strategies, assessment, classroom management, strategies by subject area (from Language Arts to Math to Physical Education), new media, etc.

• Offers an easy-to-use guide that gives quick tips and methods to plan effectively for delivering truly differentiated lessons
• Filled with helpful DI lists, lesson plans, strategies, assessments, and more
• Jennifer Fox is the author of the bestselling book Your Child's Strengths

The Differentiated Instruction Book of Lists is a hands-on guide for meeting the instructional needs of all students so that they can reach their full potential.

Table of Contents

The Authors v

Acknowledgments vii

Preface xv

Introduction 1

Section 1 Understanding Differentiated Instruction 5

• List 1.1. A Vision for the Differentiated Instruction Classroom 6
• List 1.2. One-Size-Fits-All Teaching Versus Differentiated Teaching 7
• List 1.3. Small Things That Make a Big Difference 8
• List 1.4. Common Misconceptions 10
• List 1.5. Differentiate the Materials 12
• List 1.6. Differentiate the Task 14
• List 1.7. Differentiate the Homework 15
• List 1.8. Differentiate Checking for Understanding 16
• List 1.9. Differentiate the Outcome 17
• List 1.10. Are You Ready for Differentiated Instruction? A Few More Examples of What Is Expected 18
• List 1.11. Definitions of Concepts Commonly Associated with Differentiated Instruction 20

Section 2 Teaching with the Individual in Mind 25

• List 2.1. Building Relationships 26
• List 2.2. Strategies to Determine Individual Strengths 28
• List 2.3. Interest Inventories 30
• List 2.4. Planning with Learning Styles in Mind 32
• List 2.5. Multiple Intelligences and Differentiated Instruction 34
• List 2.6. Tips for Raising Students’ Comfort Level 35
• List 2.7. Tips to Help Struggling Students 37
• List 2.8. Tips for Motivating All Students 39
• List 2.9. Class Discussion Strategies 41

Section 3 Planning the Differentiated Curriculum 43

• List 3.1. Where to Begin and What to Do 44
• List 3.2. Tips for Keeping Records for Differentiated Lesson Plans 46
• List 3.3. How to Create Differentiated Lesson Plans with Bloom’s Taxonomy 48
• List 3.4. Differentiated Assessments 50
• List 3.5. Curriculum Compacting: Why and How 53
• List 3.6. What Are Authentic Choices? How to Plan with Them 55
• List 3.7. General Planning Tips for the Differentiated Classroom 58

Section 4 Most Commonly Used Differentiated Instruction Techniques and How to Use Them 61

• List 4.1. Tiered Lessons 63
• List 4.2. Scaffolding Tools 66
• List 4.3. Project-Based Learning 69
• List 4.4. Learning Contracts 73
• List 4.5. Graphic Organizers 77
• List 4.6. Flexible Grouping 83
• List 4.7. Learning Stations 86
• List 4.8. Rubrics 88

Section 5 Differentiated Classroom Management 91

• List 5.1. Arranging the Classroom for Optimal Differentiated Instruction Management 93
• List 5.2. Strategies for Differentiated Classroom Management 95
• List 5.3. Why Students Misbehave 97
• List 5.4. Discipline Strategies 100
• List 5.5. Strength-Based Discipline: An Individualized Approach 102
• List 5.6. Examples of Strength-Based Versus Deficit-Based Labels 104
• List 5.7. Classroom Management and Parental Communication Tips 105

Section 6 Roles and Responsibilities 109

• List 6.1. Classroom Teacher 110
• List 6.2. Students 111
• List 6.3. Administrators 114
• List 6.4. Parents 117
• List 6.5. Support Staff 119

Section 7 Using Differentiated Instruction Techniques at Different Grade Levels 121

• List 7.1. Kindergarten 123
• List 7.2. Grades 1–5 125
• List 7.3. Middle School 128
• List 7.4. High School 130

Section 8 Strategies for Differentiating Language Arts 133

• List 8.1. What Exemplary Reading Teachers Do to Differentiate Reading Instruction 135
• List 8.2. Strategies to Improve Reading 136
• List 8.3. Tips for Differentiating Small-Group Reading Instruction 138
• List 8.4. Assigned Reading: Dealing with Low Interest 139
• List 8.5. Differentiated Writing Assignments and Strategies 141
• List 8.6. Examples of Exciting Differentiated Language Arts

Assignments 144

• List 8.7. Tips for Differentiating Instruction for English Language Learners 145
• List 8.8. Tips for Differentiating Writing Assignments 146

Section 9 Strategies for Differentiating Math 149

• List 9.1. Using Reading and Writing to Differentiate Math Instruction 150
• List 9.2. Five Specific Ways to Integrate Writing in the Math Curriculum 152
• List 9.3. Group Work as a Way to Differentiate the Math Class 155
• List 9.4. Ways to Integrate Group Work in the Math Curriculum 156
• List 9.5. Math Manipulatives 158
• List 9.6. Project-Based Learning Ideas and the Math Class 161
• List 9.7. Beyond Traditional Quizzes and Tests: Differentiated Assessments in Math 164
• List 9.8. Math Anxiety and Differentiated Instruction 168

Section 10 Strategies for Differentiating Science 171

• List 10.1. General Differentiated Strategies for Science 172
• List 10.2. Inquiry-Based Instruction and Science 174
• List 10.3. Multimedia Projects, Science, and Differentiated Instruction 176
• List 10.4. Practical Advice for the Laboratory 177
• List 10.5. Technology, Differentiated Instruction, and Science Class 179

Section 11 Strategies for Differentiating Social Studies 181

• List 11.1. Gallery Walks 182
• List 11.2. Time Lines 185
• List 11.3. Political Cartoons 186
• List 11.4. Authentic Civic Projects 187
• List 11.5. Multimedia Presentations 190
• List 11.6. Research Methods 193
• List 11.7. Class Discussion 195

Section 12 Strategies for Differentiating the Arts 199

• List 12.1. Group Work in the Arts 200
• List 12.2. Ways to Help All Students Feel Successful in Art 203
• List 12.3. Technology, Differentiated Instruction, and Visual Arts 205
• List 12.4. Technology, Differentiated Instruction, and Performing Arts 207

Section 13 Strategies for Physical Education and Health 209

• List 13.1. Tips on Using Differentiated Instruction in Physical Education 210
• List 13.2. Strategies for Differentiating Skill Training 212
• List 13.3. How to Encourage Everyone’s Participation 214
• List 13.4. Ideas for Coaches 217
• List 13.5. Physical Education and the Unhealthy Student 219

Section 14 New Media Strategies that Naturally Differentiate Instruction 221

• List 14.1. How Online Tools Can Help Organize and Differentiate Instruction 223
• List 14.2. Ways to Use Facebook in the Classroom 224
• List 14.3. Ways to Use Twitter in the Classroom 226
• List 14.4. Using Ning in the Classroom 228
• List 14.5. Blogging in the Classroom 230
• List 14.6. Wikis in the Classroom 234
• List 14.7. Cultivating a Positive Digital Footprint 237
• List 14.8. Administrative Considerations When Using New Media in the Classroom 239
• List 14.9. New Media Uses That Are Not OK 241

Section 15 Special Considerations 243

• List 15.1. Differentiated Instruction and the Gifted Student 244
• List 15.2. Differentiated Instruction and the Advanced Placement Curriculum 246
• List 15.3. Differentiated Instruction and the At-Risk Student 247
• List 15.4. Differentiated Instruction and Diversity Inclusion 248

References 249

Index 257