RUNNING HEAD: DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION
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Differentiated Instruction
Essay Liberty University
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Educators are constantly looking for strategies to effectively instruct all their students and
help in their process of learning. In fact, teachers plan and provide instructions to meet and
challenge the student’s needs, interest, and disabilities. Uniquely, differentiated instructions are
just that. It provides strategies for teacher to implement in instruction to assist with all aspects of
a child’s self- development, learning, and comprehension. In this essay, I will define what
differentiated instruction necessitate, and how I as an educator will differentiate instructions for
lessons in math for a third-grade class.
Differentiated instructions can be described as multiple strategies used by educators to
reach and meet the challenges in learning that every student face despite their different learning
abilities. Per Orlich, Harder, Trevisan, Brown and Miller, differentiated instruction is A “means
of devising or creating multiple paths to achieve learning goals or objectives. The teaching
practice of using a wide variety of techniques during lessons so that every student will benefit
from at least one mode of every presentation.” (Orlich, et al. (2018). In addition, effective
teaching derives from differentiated instructions where teachers implement differentiated lessons
in many ways. Teachers that are challenged with including differentiated instruction into their
lesson can always implement it in other ways for example the content, processes and products.
Content in differentiated instructions deals with the use of technology, media, and approaches
teachers use to convey and educate competencies, concepts and material. The next two ways
differentiated instruction can be used is processes which “exercises and practices students
perform to better understand content”, and products which are the assessments of the student’s
comprehension of the skills taught. Differentiated instruction when implemented adequately it is
the best technique for teachers to ensure their students become self-directed learners, as well as
excel academically.
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Mathematics for many is a challenging subject and can be equally challenging for
students in the third grade. For they moved up to more complicated concepts in mathematics. In
addition, a teacher will face the hardest challenge Therefore in the third grade the concept
measurements consist of a major portion of common core standards as well as the standards of
learning that must be taught. In implementing a differentiated approach to teach measurements I
would use four different techniques of differentiated instructions to assist in this lesson.
The first technique I will incorporate from differentiated instructions in my math
classroom is creating learning stations without mandated rotations. Learning stations will allow
me to focus on specific pupils built on their needs. Within this learning stations I will provide
content such as hands-on materials to manipulate, measuring tools, as well as an answer key that
will allow them to learn, and self-check their work. In addition, I believe creating learning
centers and stations are a great way to differentiate instructions because it allows me to create an
environment that will promote independent learning, as well as provide resources that reflect a
variety of features to influence the students’ demands.
Secondly the Use Math EdTech that Adjusts Itself to Each Student is an exceptional
strategy to implement differentiated instruction for my math class. In fact, I have observed the
use of Prodigy with my children using prodigy at home to enhance their understanding of certain
math concept. I will use prodigy as well in my classroom because it provides differentiated
lessons based on the level of performance of each individual student needs. It is a great tool to
use in assisting teachers to teach a lesson as well as a motivated approach for students to learn
math concepts. In addition, prodigy is not the only math EdTech out there, therefore, I will
implement many math ed tech resources that will guide and encourage my students to work on
mathematics. I believe this strategy is one of the most effective strategies because children thrive
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through play and when lessons are fun, therefore the use of tech will offer those qualities that
students will enjoy.
Thirdly relating math to Personal Interests and Everyday Examples is another great tactic
to implementing differentiated instruction into my math classroom. In fact, culture, social
interactions, and behaviors have all contributed to the way in which students learn. For example,
when I teach the lesson on measurements I can have students measure things at home with their
parents’ guidance to utilize the home environment to include their personal comfort zone to teach
measurements. Also, providing ways to get to know my students outside of the classroom will
allow me to create instructions that are relatable to their interest. One way I could implement this
strategy is by using charts or graph to find out what interest the students. For example, I could
chart the use of video games and if there is a high demand for students using video games, I
could bring in games that apply to certain math concepts that will assist in helping my students
develop understanding of those notions.
Lastly Analyzing my Differentiated Instruction Strategy on a Regular Basis is an
effective way for me to ensure that my other strategies are working. Self-reflecting will allow
me to adequately implement this strategy. Therefore, constantly revising and reflecting on the
content, processes and products that I utilize in my math classroom will benefit the development
of my students. If I use the same materials and they are not helping enhance my students
understanding or engaging my students, then those materials need to be evaluated and adapted to
their needs appropriately. Per Marcus Guido from the Prodigy website (2016), reflecting
recurrently on the accuracy among the classroom and my teaching strategies will allow me to
“refine my approach to appropriately accommodate the multiple intelligences of students”
(Guido, 2016).
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Although there will be many obstacles that I must face as a starting teacher, one being
recognizing and meeting the needs of my diverse learners will be a huge challenge. However,
throughout my learning endeavors I have discovered that differentiated instruction, applied
correctly will allow me to meet the needs of my students. With use of learning stations, math
EdTech that adjust to students needs, determining the personal interest of my students and
constantly adapting my resources to benefit the level of performances of my students will permit
for me to be the most effective teacher I can be. Furthermore, I will use all those differentiated
strategies to ensure my classroom is the best learning environment for my class.
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References
Guido, M. (2016). 20 differentiated instruction strategies and examples + downloadable list.
Retrieved from https:// www.prodigygame.com/blog/differentiated-instruction-strategies-
examples-download/
Orlich, D.C., Harder, R.J., Trevisan, M.S., Brown, A.H., & Miller, D.E. (2018). Teaching
Strategies: A Guide to Effective Instruction. (11th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage.
