References:
Holman Bible Publishers. (2013). The Holy Bible: NKJV.
Kelley, M. J., & Clausen-Grace, N. (2010). Facilitating engagement by differentiating
independent reading. The Reading Teacher, 63(4), 313–318. https://doi.org/10.1598/rt.63.4.6.
It is important for teachers to differentiate reading instruction because not all students are the
same and learn the same way. Just as students have different interests, they also have different
ways that they learn the best. Students may learn better with choices, centers, small groups, or
projects. Also, students may be more of a visual learner, kinesthetic learner, or auditory learner.
Differentiation allows the teacher to teach in multiple different ways, so that each student is able
to learn the content. The same thing applies with reading. Within the classroom, there are
students who excel at reading, students who are at their grade level, and students who struggle
with reading. It is up to the teacher to provide differentiation in the reading classroom. In order to
provide differentiation in the reading classroom, the teacher must first get to know their students.
Teachers are not able to properly help their students improve on their reading skills unless the
teacher knows each student individually. By doing this, it makes it easier for the teacher to know
how to specifically help each student with their reading skills. Kelley and Clausen-Grace (2010)
state, “Knowing more about students’ habits allows the teacher to differentiate independent
reading to meet everyone’s needs” (p. 313). If the teacher knows their students’ habits and
interests, then it will be easier for the teacher to help their students be successful when they read
on their own. Teachers will be able to change how the class approaches independent reading, so
the students who excel at reading, students who are at grade level reading, and students who
struggle with reading are all benefitting from reading independently. Not only will the students
be able to benefit from this, but they will also be more engaged.
The reason that there needs to be differentiation within reading instruction is because everyone is
different in their own ways. God made everyone unique. No person in the world is the same as
another person. In the New King James Version of the Holy Bible, Psalms 139:13-14 states, “For
You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am
fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well”.
(772/1560). Every student has different ways that they learn best because God made them that
way. He created everyone in His image. Everyone is the same in the sense that God created
everyone in His image, but everyone is different besides that. God created every person in this
world for a reason and how He created everyone was for a reason as well. God does not make
mistakes. He has a purpose for everything that He does, which includes making everyone
different in their own ways.
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