Differentiation in the Elementary Grades: Strategies to Engage and Equip All Learners

In this comprehensive resource for elementary school teachers, Kristina J. Doubet and Jessica A. Hockett explore how to use differentiated instruction to help students be more successful learners - regardless of background, native language, learning preference, or motivation. They explain how to

• Create a healthy classroom community in which students' unique qualities and needs are as important as the ones they have in common.
• Translate curriculum into manageable and meaningful learning goals that are fit to be differentiated.
• Use pre-assessment and formative assessment to uncover students' learning needs, tailor tasks accordingly, and ensure that students are "getting it."
• Provide interactive learning experiences that encourage students to engage with both the content and one another.
• Present students with avenues to take in, process, and produce knowledge that appeal to their varied interests and learning preferences.
• Navigate potential roadblocks to differentiation.

Each chapter provides a plethora of practical tools, templates, and strategies for a variety of subject areas developed by and for real teachers. Whether you're new to differentiated instruction (DI) or looking to expand your repertoire of DI strategies, Differentiation in the Elementary Grades will show you classroom-tested ways to better engage students and help them succeed every day. Includes URL and password for free downloadable forms.

Table of Contents

Foreword: Learning from Literature - and Children

Acknowledgments

Introduction: Differentiation Gets an Upgrade

Chapter 1. Building a Healthy Classroom Community

Chapter 2. Articulating Learning Goals

Chapter 3. Constructing Useful Pre-Assessments

Chapter 4. Providing Interactive Learning Experiences

Chapter 5. Checking for Understanding Using Formative Assessment

Chapter 6. Differentiating According to Student Readiness

Chapter 7. Differentiating According to Student Interest and Learning Preference

Chapter 8. Considering the Nuts and Bolts of Implementing Differentiation

Conclusion: How Can I Continue to Upgrade?

Appendix: Strategy Index

References

About the Authors

Related ASCD Resources

An ASCD Study Guide for Differentiation in the Elementary Grades