Suggested Books for a Professional Library which supports Differentiated Instruction
Trish Underwood, Educational Consultant Spring 2002
Title
Author
DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION (“DI”)
The Differentiated
Carol Ann
Classroom: Responding to Tomlinson
the Needs of All Learners
How To Differentiate
Carol Ann
Instruction in Mixed-Ability
Tomlinson
Classrooms 2nd Ed
Differentiating Instruction
Diane Heacox
in the Regular Classroom:
How to Reach and Teach
All Learners, Grades 3-12
Layered Curriculum: The
Kathie F. Nunley
Practical Solution for
Teachers with More than
one student in their
classroom
Differentiated Instructional Gayle H Gregory &
Strategies: One Size
Carolyn Chapman
Doesn’t Fit All
Teaching Gifted Kids in the Susan Winebrenner
Regular Classroom:
Strategies& techniques
every teacher can use to
meet the academic
needs of the gifted &
talented 2nd ed
Flexible Grouping in
Michael F. Opitz
Reading: Practical ways
to help all students
become better readers
Flexible Grouping for
Literacy in the Elementary
Grades
Marguerite C.
Radencich & Lyn J.
McKay
Year
Publisher
Comments
1999
ASCD
The “touchstone” book
Theory into practice
2001
ASCD
2002
free spirit Publishing
(www.freespirit.com)
You “buy in” to the theory…this has lots of details on
HOW – teacher’s role, environment, instructional
strategies which support DI
Nice connections to multiple intelligence theory
Good examples from a variety of grade levels
2001
Morris Publishing
1-800-650-7888
http://help4teachers.com
2002
Corwin Press
2001
free spirit publishing
www.freespirit.com
1998
Scholastic Professional
Books
1995
Allyn & Bacon
Takes a different “spin” on DI – the idea of kids
choosing activities for varying points to earn a “C”, a
“B” or an “A”. More suited to older grades, though
her website has units submitted my many teachers k12
Another good book about DI – many examples,
charts, & connections
I wish the title was “How to make sure all kids are
‘stretching’ in your classroom” because the
strategies the book advocates are ones that would
benefit ALL kids!
Can also purchase a CD of all the forms, units, etc. in
the book to modify for your needs.
While not specifically about DI, this book is an easyto-read/use book about using groups for many
different purposes. ALL of the DI advocates say one
of the keys to a good differentiated classroom is the
use of Flexible Groups!!
A much more “serious” or “heady” look at flexible
grouping options. Detailed research was done & is
reported here. Not as “user friendly” but important
to know
DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION (“DI”) cont’d
Leadership for
Carol Ann
Differentiating Schools &
Tomlinson & Susan
Classrooms
Demirsky Allan
Passport to Learn: Projects Jacque Melin
to Challenge HighPotential Learners
MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES (“MI”)
Multiple Intelligences in
Thomas Armstrong
the Classroom 2nd ed
2000
ASCD
2001
Zephyr Press
1-800-232-2187
www.zephyrpress.com
2000
ASCD
For the administrator, professional development
committee, etc… How to make systemic change to
have DI happen
A variety of challenging projects…sold as
“independent study” for kids who are ready to
stretch.
The easiest to read, most useful of the books on the
theory of MI and its relevance to classroom
teachers. VERY user-friendly with lots of examples,
charts, diagrams…
How to use MI when designing lessons to reach kids
with strengths in all of the areas. Examples of MI
projects, learning center ideas
Developing Students’
Multiple Intelligences
Hundreds of practical
ideas to integrate into
your lessons & activities
Intelligence Builders for
Every Student: 44
Exercises to expand
multiple intelligences in
your classroom
Celebrating Multiple
Intelligences: Teaching for
Success
Kristen NicholsonNelson
1998
Scholastic Professional
books
David Lazear
1998
Zephyr Press
1-800-232-2187
www.zephyrpress.com
Book is filled with activities to learn about your own &
your students’ intelligence strengths. Exercises
provided help students develop & strengthen all of
the 8 intelligences.
The Faculty of the
New City School
1994
self-published by the
school, pre-paid orders
only. Phone #: 1-314-3616411
www.newcityschool.org
Succeeding with Multiple
Intelligences: Teaching
through the personal
intelligences
The faculty of the
New City School
1996
Math for Humans:
Teaching math through
the 8 intelligences, grades
3-8 (revised edition)
Mark Wahl
1999
self-published by the
school, pre-paid orders
only. Phone #: 1-314-3616411
www.newcityschool.org
LivnLern Press
1-360-221-8842
mathman@markwahl.com
WORTH the relative hassle to buy it (you must
prepay). This book (& the next) are a treasure trove
of LESSON PLANS for preprimary- ~6th grade. They
show how to teach using MI in real (as opposed to
contrived) ways. GREAT plans, activities…ones that
easily modify “up” to 8-9th grade
Another winner, chock-full of lesson plans. “Do these
tomorrow”! Great find!
About 1/3 of the book explains how MI relates to
math teaching & learning. Very engaging writing &
some really cool analogies of different types of
math-learners. The 2nd part of the book has good
lessons on how to teach some typical “basic skills” in
ways that are more student-friendly
MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES (“MI”) cont’d
The Best of Multiple
contributed by
Intelligences Activities
classroom
from Teacher Created
teachers
Materials
Awesome Hands-On
Susan Van Zile
Activities for Teaching
Literary Elements
Creativity Inside Out:
Terry Marks-Tarlow
learning through multiple
intelligences
Using Young Adult
Jacqueline
Literature: Thematic
Glasgow
activities based on MI
Multiple Intelligences
Activities, grades 5-8
Multiple Intelligences and
student achievement:
success stories from six
schools
Becoming a Multiple
Intelligences School
1999
Teacher Created Materials,
Inc
www.teachercreated.com
2001
Scholastic Professional
Books
1996
Addison-Wesley
Unique projects abound in this book, which is written
by an artist.
2002
Christopher-Gordon
Publishers
1-800-934-8322
contributed by
classroom
teachers
Linda Campbell &
Bruce Campbell
1996
1999
Teacher Created Materials,
Inc
www.teachercreated.com
ASCD
Each of these well-done, comprehensive units takes
as its centerpiece a quality piece of young adult
fiction. Additional novels, picture books are given.
LOTS of creative, MI extensions are woven in.
full of lesson plans for middle school kids in many
content areas
Thomas R Hoerr
2000
ASCD
For the administrator and professional development
committee and/or teacher-leaders that wish to
move their whole school toward an MI model.
1997
Creative Teaching Press
www.creativeteaching.co
m
Irene Allen & Susan
Peery
2000
Karen Bauer, Janet
Bruno et al
2000
multiple authors
2000
Creative Teaching Press
www.creativeteaching.co
m
Creative Teaching Press
www.creativeteaching.co
m
Creative Teaching Press
www.creativeteaching.co
m
The premise of this book is that teachers need
focused, uninterrupted time to work with small
guided-reading groups… Her answer is independent
literacy centers…with “tickets” and assignments
tailored to each student. 30 independent activities
Same write-up as above
19 centers
grades 3-5
51 centers are explained & set up…ready to copy &
go. Very interactive way to have kids engage in
math activities. Linked to the NCTM standards
same as above
CREATING LEARNING CENTERS
What is the Other Kids
Donna Marriott
Doing while you Teach
Small Groups? grades 1-3
Literacy Centers: What
you Other Kids Do During
Guided-Reading Groups,
Instant Math Centers:
Hands-on, Independent
Math Activities, grades K-1
Instant Math Centers:
Hands-on, Independent
Math Activities, grades 2-3
TONS of lessons/units & ideas
Quality of said lessons/units is ok…some are much
better than others. Groups lessons by “lower
grades” and “upper grades”
Teaching characterization, plot, setting, and theme?
Then BUY THIS BOOK! It really is awesome!
A look at 6 schools which have become “MI
schools” and how their students are achieving on
standardized tests
CREATING LEARNING CENTERS cont’d
Primary Literacy Centers:
Susan Nations &
Making Reading and
Mellissa Alonso
Writing STICK
2001
Maupin House
1-800-524-0634
www.maupinhouse.com
Linda Holliman
1996
Creative Teaching Press
www.creativeteaching.co
m
Marilyn Burns &
colleagues
varies
http://www.mathsolutions.
com/
Math for Humans:
Teaching math through
the 8 intelligences, grades
3-8 (revised edition)
Mark Wahl
1999
LivnLern Press
1-360-221-8842
mathman@markwahl.com
Baker Street Whodunits:
Puzzles of Deduction
Tom Bullimore
2001
Sterling Publishing
Company, Inc NY, NY
Marvelous Multiplication:
Games and Activities that
make math easy and fun
Chances Are…making
probability and statistics
fun to learn and easy to
teach
A Mathematical Mystery
Tour: Higher-thinking Math
Tasks
Lynette Long
2000
John Wiley & Sons, Inc
Nancy Pfenning
1998
Prufrock Press
1-817-756-3337
http://www.prufrock.com
Mark Wahl
1988
Zephyr Press
The Complete Guide to
Classroom Centers:
Hundreds of Ideas that
really work
MATH
Any title written by &/or
edited by Marilyn Burns!
Part One is a “how to” and WHY section on using
learning centers in the classroom. They are clear
that anything in a literacy center should have
already been taught during reader’s/writer’s
workshop. Part Two helps teachers set up literacy
centers: reading, word work, listening, research,
literature response, writing and poetry.
¼ of the book is how to plan for & set up centers in
your room. The bulk of the book is activities for the
following centers: writing, listening, reading, poetry,
math, art, SS, research, science, computer, k/1
theme “the farm”, 2/3 theme “the ocean”. Lots of
good ideas for each of those centers.
She’s got so many great books on teaching
particular math topics (e.g. place value) to students
of various ages. Check out the website for topics
you’re interested in!
About 1/3 of the book explains how MI relates to
math teaching & learning. Very engaging writing &
some really cool analogies of different types of
math-learners. The 2nd part of the book has good
lessons on how to teach some typical “basic skills” in
ways that are more student-friendly
Fun, difficult puzzles that force mathematical
reasoning & problem solving for
intermediate/middle grade students
Games, problems & activities for multiplication
tables. Also in series: Dazzling Division. Coming
soon: Fabulous Fractions and Measurement Maina
A whole UNIT on probability …creative lessons,
diagrams, how-to solve. Upper elementary – middle
school.
An exploration of Fibonaccie Numbers & the Golden
Ratio. Written by the same author of Math For
Humans (see above), this guy thinks about &
teaches about math completely “outside the box”!
MATH cont’d
Super Graphs, Venns &
Glyphs…Data collecting…
Grades 1-4
Teaching Math with
Favorite Picture Books
Grades 1-3
Honi Bamberger &
Patricia Hughes
1995
Scholastic Professional
Books
Judi Hechtman &
Deborah
Ellermeyer
1998
Scholastic Professional
Books
Harvey Daniels
2002
Stenhouse Publishers
www.stenhouse.com
Bonnie Campbell
Hill, Katherine L.
Schlich Noe &
Nancy J. Johnson
B. Campbell Hill, N.
Johnson, K Schilick
Noe
Laura Robb
2001
Christopher-Gordon
Publishers
1995
Christopher-Gordon
Publishers
2000
Scholastic Professional
Books
Laura Robb
1998
Scholastic Professional
Books
Using Young Adult
Literature: Thematic
activities based on MI
Jacqueline
Glasgow
2002
Christopher-Gordon
Publishers
1-800-934-8322
Read It Aloud! Using
literature in the secondary
content classroom
Judy S. Richardson
2000
International Reading Assn.
www.reading.org
LANGUAGE ARTS
Literature Circles: Voice
and choice in book clubs
and reading groups 2nd ed
Literature Circles Resource
Guide: teaching
suggestions, forms, sample
booklists & database (CD)
Literature Circles and
Response
Teaching Reading in the
Middle School: a strategic
approach to teaching
reading that improves
comprehension & thinking
Easy-to-Manage Reading
and Writing Conferences
Lots of ideas for surveying & data collection 
graphs, charts, etc. Could be “beefed up” for
intermediate/early middle school grades.
Good ideas for lessons using more than 25 picture
books. Many could be adapted for older children
(grades 4-6)
Why do lit circles? How do you set them up? How
come they are so multi-leveled (differentiated)?
Read his book for all the answers…all the nitty gritty.
You name the lit circle form, it’s here…all grade
levels!
14 Chapters submitted by teachers of all grade
levels that are using lit circles. Especially helpful are
the chapters on using circles with emergent readers.
Often the focus of reading in the middle school is
content…not comprehension. Easy to read & full of
useful lessons & ideas, this is a book middle school
language arts teachers should have so that they
can teach all of their students.
This volume preceded her book (above). It’s a good
“skinny” volume of forms & ideas on how to make
conferences (teacher-led & student/student) more
productive.
Each of these well-done, comprehensive units takes
as its centerpiece a quality piece of young adult
fiction. Additional novels, picture books are given.
LOTS of creative, MI extensions are woven in.
Secondary content areas are often driven by one or
two learning styles… The idea of reading exciting
literature aloud to older students is often just what
kids need to get a “picture in their head” of what
the teacher is teaching. Contains excellent
chapters for science, math, SS, art, PE…also
chapters on ESL students & students w/ special
needs.
LANGUAGE ARTS, cont’d
Teaching with Picture
Books in the Middle School
Iris McClellan Tiedt
2000
International Reading Assn.
www.reading.org
Image Grammar: Using
Grammatical Structures to
Teach Writing
Harry R. Noden
1999
Heinemann
http://www.boyntoncook.c
om
The Literacy Map: Guiding
Children to Where they
Need to Be (4-6)
J. Richard Gentry
2002
Mondo Publications
http://www.mondopub.co
m
Patti Drapeau
1998
Scholastic Professional
Books
Very appropriate for the younger grades (1-4). Easy
to use, fun for kids. Good teaching topics for use.
Imogene Forte &
Sandra Schurr
2001
Incentive Publications
It’s great to have graphic organizers for math…and
writing prompts for math (since we all have the state
test to think about)! Good book – useful, practical,
good tips!
Nancy Witherell &
Mary McMackin
2002
Scholastic Professional
Books
This book (I’ve seen it, though it’s not due to be
released until summer 2002) is great! It clearly
explains how graphic organizers can be used to
differentiate for students of differing
abilities/interests/needs.
D. Barnekow &
Marcellus Hall
D. Barnekow &
Marcellus Hall
Michelle O’BrienPalmer
Imogene Forte &
Sandra Schurr
1999
Weston Publisher
Use GOs in science!
1999
Weston Publisher
Use GOs in social studies too!
1997
Scholastic
1996
Incentive Publications
Grades 2-6… GOs to use in language arts with books
that students choose
8 major sections (charts, Bloom’s, Groupwork,
Interdisciplinary work, planning forms, research,
webs, & writing) w/ directions for use.
GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS
Great Teaching with
Graphic Organizers:
Lessons & fun-shaped
templates that motivate
kids of all learning styles
Standards Based Math
Graphic Organizers,
Rubrics, and Writing
Prompts for Middle Grade
Students
Graphic Organizers and
Activities for Differentiated
Instruction in Reading: 50+
Reproducible, Leveled
Literature-Response Sheets
That Help You Manage
Graphic Organizers for
Science
Graphic Organizers for
Social Studies Classes
Great Graphic Organizers
to Use with Any Book
Graphic Organizers and
Planning Outlines
Gives solid rationale for using picture books to teach
middle school students everything from writing style,
to voice…to content-knowledge.
This guy takes the teaching of grammar and
completely turns it on its head! It’s a very exciting,
innovative way of using images to teach
grammatical structures…and immediately apply
them to writing. WOW! Comes w/ a CD.
Well-researched & documented guide to what a
literacy curriculum (grades 4-6) should be. Gentry
published the k-2 volume (same title) a few years
ago.