Reaction Paper
Page 1
Reaction Paper
Demetria Parker
Liberty University EDUC 306
Reaction Paper
Page 2
Abstract
Classroom differentiation is a very important aspect that teachers should have. Our
classrooms today are full of different types of students from all over the country with different
backgrounds, learning styles, special needs and interest. In order to ensure that teachers are
being productive and reaching every student differentiation has to be done. Differentiated
instruction is something that is not an easy task but it is very helpful in the classroom. Gone are
the days when a teacher just stands in front of a class and lectures to the students. If you walk
into any school today nine times out of ten you will see many classrooms using differentiated
instruction in many different ways. Teachers need to make sure that they are taking time when
planning their lesson to make sure that all students are being reached and they are able to grasp
the concept that is being taught. Differentiated instruction is something that takes time and work
but it is also something that is much needed in the classroom today.
Reaction Paper
Page 3
“Broadening the View of Differentiated Instruction”
Summary
“Broadening the View of Differentiated Instruction” is an article by Seth A. Pearsons,
Stephanie L. Dodman and Sarah Cohen that talks about the importance of having a broader view
of differentiated instruction. They stress the need and urgency of differentiated instruction in the
classroom. The article goes on to explain that each classroom is full of students that have many
different backgrounds and diverse needs and teachers need to be well equipped to handle those
needs.
Pearsons, Dodman and Cohen goes on to explain that with differentiated instruction
comes planning. A teacher cannot just walk into a classroom and think that he or she is just
going to start teaching a differentiated lesson without planning. A teacher has to consciously and
strategically plan for each and every student in the classroom taking into account each students
interest, learning styles and backgrounds.
Critique
This article provided vital information that all teachers need and can use when planning
for differentiated instruction in his or her classroom. It not only voiced the importance of
planning for differentiated instruction but it also talked about the difference between planning
and adapting. Every teacher can plan a lesson that is differentiated but not all teachers can adapt
to the situations that come while teaching.
The strength of this article was when the authors talked about planning plus adapting. A
teacher has to be able to plan for differentiated instruction, we all know that but a teacher must
also be able to adapt to different situations that may arise in the classroom. “Thoughtfully
adaptive teachers adjust their instruction in real-time to meet the specific needs of individual
Reaction Paper
Page 4
students or the demands of the situation in which they find themselves (Pearsons, 2012; Dodman,
2012; Cohen, 2012). What they were saying is that a “good teacher” can not only plan for
instruction but they can also change their lesson around in a real time setting to meet real time
needs of the students.
Personal Reaction
I found this article to be very knowledgeable and useful. I was able to find vital
information that I did not even think about when it comes to differentiated instruction. I have
done a lot of research when it comes to differentiated instruction but in all my research I have
never found one author that talked about the importance of being able to adapt to the day to day
situations that may arise when teaching a class.
Application
This article will be very useful for me when I enter my own classroom and have to plan a
differentiated lesson for my own group of students. It taught me the importance of not only
planning but the importance of adapting as well. We all know that each day in the classroom is
different from the day before and we all have to be able to adapt to what the day may bring.
“Differentiated Instruction”
Summary
“Differentiated Instruction” is an article written by Jerry Aldridge that talks not only
about the importance of differentiated instruction but it also talks about how differentiated
instruction came about and how to collaborate with different teachers. Individualized instruction
is what it was first referred to as until the beginning part of the 21st century when it was changed
to “differentiated instruction” (Aldridge, 2010). Aldridge writes about how to make differentiated
instruction actually work in the classroom. He presents different case studies that have been
Reaction Paper
Page 5
done in different classroom settings with different age groups and subjects that are being taught.
Along with how differentiated instruction came about Aldridge goes on to explain the importance
of collaborating instruction with different teachers.
Critique
All in all this article was very informative and gave a lot of good information about
differentiated instruction. The only thing that I did not care for was I believe it game a little too
much “data” information. It made the article a little difficult to want to finish reading because of
all the case studies that was included. The case studies did show how differentiated worked and
it was good information to have but there could have been less.
Personal Reaction
I found this article to be very informational and I liked the way it gave background
information on how differentiated came to be and the need for it. In the article a very vital point
stock out to me the most, Aldridge stated that differentiated instruction should not change what
you are teaching just how it is being taught (Aldridge, 2010). That is something that I will
always think about when lesson planning.
Reaction Paper
Page 6
References:
Aldridge, J. (2010). Differentiated instruction. Childhood Education, 86(3), 193+. Retrieved
from http://ezproxy.liberty.edu/login?
url=http://go.galegroup.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=vic_liberty&v=2.1&it=r&id=GALE
%7CA220468017&sid=summon&asid=d7618d056c9628f2df9447ae57eaa4fa
Parsons, S., Dodman, S., & Burrowbridge, S. (2013). Broadening the view of differentiated
instruction. The Phi Delta Kappan, 95(1), 38-42. Retrieved
from http://www.jstor.org/stable/23617757
