“ To provide a comprehensive education for all students to become
successful critical thinkers as they enter a global society."
Central Greene School District:
Differentiating for Classrooms of the
21st Century
Keystone Educational Consulting Group
March 7, 2011
www.keystoneeducational.com
Introductions:
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Dr. Robert Snyder
Dr. Richael Barger-Anderson
Mrs. Meg Van Fossen
Dr. Michelle Miller
Mr. Brian Danielson
Ms. Jessica Nichols
Ms. Laura Kepple
Mrs. Lenna Calairi
Dr. Joseph Merhaut
Dr. Robert Isherwood
• Slippery Rock University www.sru.edu
• Keystone Educational Consulting Group
www.keystoneeducational.com
Important Reminders!
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We are not the enemy!
We are here to help you.
We respect you!
We appreciate you!
We value you and what you do!
We can work together to make a better system!
We want you to walk away today with at least
one thing you can use in your classroom
tomorrow!
A few quick brainteaser to get things
started!
Try another….
Are We Having Fun?
One More….
Why brainteasers?
• First 5-7 minutes of class can be a time when we
either get their attention or lose them!
• Brainteasers get them thinking critically as they
walk in the door.
• Make them fun not necessarily subject specific!
• Attach a contingency to it.
• Can be a great time if you have a co-teacher to
pre-teach a concept or remediate a skill.
• www.thinks.com
Why are we really here?
• Provide a comprehensive workshop on many of
the critical aspects of a 21st century classroom
including information on:
• Technology
• Differentiated Instruction
• Multiple Intelligence
• Bloom’s Taxonomy
• Co-teaching
• School law and compliance issues
External Pressure that is forcing us to examine
our practices and work to improve
Accountability
through
testing
School choice
movement
Digital Natives
Inclusion and
diversity
Public
School
Systems
in PA
Budget and
Financial
Crisis
What’s wrong with the way most of us
were taught in school?
A typical inclusion class that we observe at the MS level or HS level will have
between 30% to 70% of students with IEPs and many others are non-responsive
learners.
Do you ever feel like Jerry?
A system that considers
instruction, assessment,
materials, curriculum, and
interventions for all children to
ensure fidelity of practice
Co-teaching
SAS
New service delivery
model for the majority of
special ed students with
high incidence disabilities
Differentiated
A strategy for teaching
all learners in one
classroom regardless
of student profile
The 21st
Century
Classroom
Rigorous and
Relevant
Research supports relevancy as
a way to increase student
engagement and rigor can be
achieved through frameworks
for thinking like Bloom’s
Taxonomy
Technology
Address the learning
style of the digital
native and prepare
them for work
Multiple
Intelligence
The theory of neuro-diversity
supports theories and strategies
like multiple intelligence…none of
us are neurologically the same
Some brain food for thought!
Supporting Research:
• Research from Baylor University School of Medicine
supports the notion that the experiences students
have and the way information is presented will in
fact change the neural pathways in the brain…a
process known as neuroplasticity.
• Differentiated instruction supports the concept
known as neuro-science based education.
Dispelling the Myths (Static Brain Theory)
Brain is “hardwired” and can’t be
changed
Critical vs. Sensitive Period (Birth to 2)
We lose brain cells as we age and
can’t recoup them
Theory of right and left brain
From “Teaching With the Brain in Mind” by Eric Jensen
Is your classroom a “brain friendly
place”?
• Brain friendly classrooms:
1. Are multi-modal
2. Are student centered
3. Are safe, respectful learning communities
4. Meet all learner needs by considering level of
understanding, learning styles, preferences
5. Utilize technology
6. Emphasize collaboration and cooperation
If we are going to create brain friendly classrooms and differentiate
instruction for our students we need to consider their learning styles
and their strengths.
How do we differentiate instruction and create
opportunities for neuro-science based education?
Differentiated Instruction
Respectful Tasks
Flexible Groups
Ongoing Assessment
Teacher Differentiates via
Content
Process
Product
Teacher Differentiates based on
Student Readiness
Student Interest
Learning Profile
Consider this classroom configuration…much more brain friendly! The
possibilities for differentiation are endless.
Possibilities:
Engagement
Off-task behavior
Modality of learning
Gardner’s MI
Bloom’s Taxonomy
Technology
Grouping practices
Collaboration
Integration of subjects
Formative assessment
Problem solving
Student centered
Tiering
Multiple Intelligence…part of a
differentiated classroom!
Finally, what happens if we stick with
business as usual?