//Math Workshop Benefit: Individualized/Differentiated Small Group Instruction and Stations//

Differentiated instruction consists of recognizing the varied needs and readiness levels of each student in your classroom. While taking the students strengths, needs, and readiness levels into consideration, the educator plans differentiated lessons by adjusting the concept being taught to fit the diverse student population.

Four classroom elements that can be differentiated based on student readiness, interest, and learning profile include:

1. Product: Educators should allow students to showcase their understanding of the content that was taught in a way that makes most sense to the child.

Examples:

- Give students a choice as to how they want to express what they have learned

- Allow students to work independently

- Allow students to work collaboratively

-Encouraging students to be creative and design their own final products

2. Process: The methods children use in order to begin to process and comprehend the information being presented to them.

Examples:

- Providing activities that allow students to practice the same skills, but "proceed with different levels of support, challenge, or complexity."

- Incorporating stations that encourage exploration of the concept being taught in a way that is relatable and interesting for the students

- Offering hands-on manipulatives

3. Content: Providing students with a variety of experiences to better interpret information.

Examples:

- Visuals such as pictures, examples, videos, drawings,

- Auditory tool such as computers, CD players, iPad's, read alouds

- Level texts

- Small group instruction

- One-on-one

- Collaborative work

- Independent work

4. Learning Environment: It is important to create a learning environment that is safe, child-centered, and flexible yet routine based.

Examples:

- Provide a variety of work areas throughout your classroom that allow students to work quietly and independently or that encourage collaboration

- Incorporate materials that support different cultural backgrounds

- Give students opportunities to work independently and collaboratively

-Develop classroom routines and expectations

For more information on differentiated instruction please check out the article Differentiation of Instruction in the Elementary Grades by Carol Ann Tomlinson!

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