Blog #10 Webinar 11

Do you differentiate instruction? Why? Why not?  What is the importance of differentiating instruction?  What impact does it have on student learning? 

I try to differentiate instruction, but feel like I rarely succeed in doing so. The biggest problem for me is time honestly. I feel like even though some of my students might need differentiation, I just do not have the time to give it to them. Unless, of course, they come in before of after school for individual help, then I will go over topics in as many different ways as possible with them, until they understand it. As far as time limitations go, this semester I was maybe one lecture behind my content leaders, but wound up having to do an entire unit in essentially 1 day (plus a shortened day for review). This goes back to one of my biggest problems in general: when I see the students just not getting it, do I stop progressing and spend the extra time to get it, even though it puts us behind for the rest of the curriculum? On a similar note, when I have some students literally smacking their heads because the material is too easy (it really is), but a good percentage of the class is behind, do you cater to the slower kids or the faster? Its a really really difficult question and one that I have not gotten a perfect answer too (maybe there isn't one).

Clearly, we need to attempt differentiation in order for the greatest percentage of our kids to succeed. I hope and try to encourage kids to come in for tutoring if they are struggling, since that is the best time that I can 1 on 1 differentiate instruction directly aimed to the problem they are having.  When kids do come in and get that extra help, especially 1 on 1, you can really see a difference in their understanding. I had a few students this semester, one in particular, that managed to drastically turn their grades around by simply making a commitment to tutoring. This made a huge difference, as I was able to specifically target their needs. Clearly differentiation can have a huge impact the education of students.