Professional Development

Designing Instruction for a Diverse Classroom

Teachers have known for years that it is crucial to find ways to meet the diverse learning needs of students. Many find that some of the conventional methods of sorting and separating students may have a negative backlash effect. Differentiated instruction offers a positive and systematic approach to the challenge of designing lessons and techniques to meet individual needs.

Differentiated instruction is a planned, deliberate, sequential, and systematic instructional technique designed to maximize the learning and achievement of all students in the classroom. By recognizing and positively responding to diverse student backgrounds, languages, abilities, and learning preferences, teachers are better able to deliver instruction that creates opportunities for improved student learning. Glencoe/McGraw-Hill consulted with Bob Wandberg, Ph.D., author and educator, Minnesota Department of Education, who delineates five key steps for delivering differentiated instruction, which are exemplified throughout our program materials.

1. Know your students' learning profiles.

   To gather student learning profiles, record student inventories, take note of conversations, make observations, and connect with other education specialists. The Universal Access activities and suggestions found in Glencoe texts can be used to craft lessons to suit your students' needs.

2. Use a variety of instructional methods.

   Differentiated Instruction varies the way that learning expectations are delivered to students. Texts such as Discovering Life Skills, The Developing Child, and Families Today offer suggestions for modifying instructional delivery to include problem-solving activities, writing, models, demonstrations, and graphic organizers.

3. Provide ample opportunities for student/teacher and student/student interactions.

   The varied use of small group, partner, and whole-class instruction provides a differentiated approach. Modify activities in the texts using suggested group and partner activities.

4. Allow students to demonstrate their learning with a variety of product options.

   Students who struggle with writing may prefer to demonstrate their learning orally, visually, or through media applications. Use Glencoe's Hands-On Labs, Technology Applications, Active Learning activities, and other creative activities as models for alternative product options. View the samples below.
   
   
   
   

5. Use varied methods to assess and evaluate student learning.

   Student assessment should be varied and frequent, formal and informal. They should include a range of low- to high-level thinking and responding skills in both traditional and authentic assessment formats. Self-evaluation rubrics, quizzes, critical thinking assignments, and discussion questions help you assess and evaluate student learning.