4/11/2010 12:53:25 PM permalink
Anna2549 Posts: 12	I love to differentiate and do so everyday within my class. I would love to be able to create more units and more activities that are more clearly differentiated. The problem that I continually run into is that I do not have enough time to plan for these wpnderful ideas that I have. Our planning periods are continuously being eaten up by meetings, phone calls, trips to the copy machines, bathroom breaks, etc. My question is: when and how do you have time for planning for all of these wonderful ideas?
	7/27/2010 4:28:08 PM permalink
mrobinson Posts: 3	Many of us certainly have the same question. Carol Tomlinson addresses this a bit in How to Differentiate Instruction in Mixed-Ability Classrooms. Maybe you need to narrow your focus and not try to see the whole big picture all at once. This could actually be differentiating for yourself (metadifferentiation?)! Put yourself on the Equalizer in figure 8.1 on page 47. She recommends not to try every method of differentiation at the beginning, but to phase things in. Pick one technique or tool you'd like to try. For instance, from a practical standpoint, focus on independent projects or flexible groups. Or, from a more philosophical standpoint, focus on differentiating by interest or differentiating content. Try a few new things each term and put gradually amass a toolbox without overwhelming yourself!
	7/29/2010 1:02:41 PM permalink
Shans Posts: 9	This was going to be a question that I was going post! Time is something that teachers lack a great deal of in the first place, and the concept of incorporating differentiation with everything I teach when I have 6 different classes everyday is overwhelming to say the least! However, I was going to suggest what 'mrobinson' offered up, which is to differentiate piecemeal. This year I will tackle a half dozen units and then slowly catch up with the rest as time goes by. For example, this year I will focus on differentiating 'Of Mice and Men', 'Lord of the Flies', 'The Great Gatsby', 'The Catcher in the Rye' and 'The House on Mango Street' to start off. I also have ideas for a poetry unit that I've never done before. As 'mrobinson' said, I will gradually be amassing an arsenal over time instead of trying to do everything all at once.
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