Acknowledgments
About the Author
Introduction: I Just Can’t Do That in MY School / Classroom / Situation
Teachers are Creative People
Laugh and the World Laughs with You
So what is differentiated instruction?
Obstacle #1: I Long to Return Back to The Good Old Days
A Description of the Issue
Obstacle #2: I Thought I Was Differentiating
A Description of the Issue
Obstacle #3: I Teach the Way I Was Taught
A Description of the Issue
Practice Assignments for Overcoming This Obstacle
Obstacle #4: I Don’t Know How
A Description of the Issue
The Easiest Road to Differentiation is Student Choice
Add A Second Piece: Accountability
Finish with the Final Piece: Encouraging Higher-Level Thinking
Practice Assignments for Overcoming This Obstacle
Obstacle #5: I Have Too Much Content to Cover
A Description of the Issue
Realize That you Can’t Lecture Fast Enough
Practice Assignments for Overcoming This Obstacle
Obstacle #6: I’m Good at Lecturing
A Description of the Issue
Classrooms May Result in A Power Struggle
Gain Control by Giving Some of It Up
Obstacle #7: I Can’t See How I Would Grade All Those Different Assignments
A Description of the Issue
Setting up a Paper or Electronic Grade Book
Entering Only Unit Grades and Exams
Entering Grades by Sub-Units
Entering Grades by Objectives
Design a Grade Scale by Considering “What’s an A worth?”
And on What Basis Or Criteria Do We Award Points, Marks and Grades?
Design a Grade Scale by Considering “What’s an F worth?”
Practice Assignments for Overcoming This Obstacle
Obstacle #8: I Thought Differentiated Instruction Was for Elementary Schools
A Description of the Issue
Practice Assignments for Overcoming This Obstacle
Obstacle #9: I Subscribe to Ability Grouping
A Description of the Issue
Segregation Within the Classroom
Preparing Global Thinkers
Practice Assignments for Overcoming This Obstacle
Obstacle #10: I Have Real Logistical Issues
A Description of the Issue
Solution Strategies & Practice Assignments for Overcoming These Obstacles
Obstacle #11: I Want My Classroom Under Control
A Description of the Issue
Perception of Control Trumps All
Leadership Style Determines Perception of Control
An Easy Measure of Leadership
Practice Assignments for Overcoming This Obstacle
Obstacle #12: I Don't Know How to Measure My Students' Learning Style
A Description of the Issue
Take a cue from your IEP’s
Practice Assignments for Overcoming This Obstacle
Obstacle#13: I Have Neither the Time Nor the Funding for All That
A Description of the Time Issue
I Don’t Have the Time to Plan for All That
Practice Assignments for Overcoming This Obstacle
A Description of the Funding Issue
Practice Assignments for Overcoming This Obstacle
Obstacle #14: I've Been Teaching This Way for Years and It Works
A Description of the Issue
Practice Assignments for Overcoming This Obstacle
Obstacle#15: There’s No Support For It At My School
A Description of the Issue
Practice Assignments for Overcoming This Obstacle
Obstacle #16: My District Requires Me to Follow a Prescribed Text
A Description of the Issue
Textbook Options Can Create More Effective Readers
A Variety of Reading Materials Keeps Information Updated
A Variety of Texts Makes the Information Available to More Students
Practice Assignments for Overcoming This Obstacle
Obstacle #17: Parents Expect Lecture Format in High School For College Prep
A Description of the Issue
Differentiated Reading Strategies Help Prepare Students for College Learning
Practice Assignments for Overcoming This Obstacle
Obstacle #18: The Bottom Line—If They Are Learning, You Are Teaching
A Description of the Issue
Some Students Struggle with Linguistic Dependent Input and Output
Some Students Struggle with Visual Input and Output
Practice Assignments for Overcoming This Obstacle
Suggestions for Further Reading
Layered Curriculum and Other Specific Strategies for Differentiating Instruction
Neuroscience and Learning
Control Theory and Self Efficacy
History of the United States School System
Classroom and School Leadership
References
Index