Monthly Archives: August 2011

New Differentiated Instruction Link!

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New Differentiated Instruction Site

I came across this website because my blog was used and I was really impressed with it. It is a great resource for differentiated instruction and gives many view points on the subject. Have a look!

http://www.scoop.it/t/differentiated-instruction-using-technology

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Kasha-Mastrodomenico helps social studies teachers differentiate instruction. Check it out!

Written by,

Kasha Mastrodomenico (Connect with me on Linkedin.com)

http://www.socialstudiesdifferentiatedinstruction.com

kasha@socialstudiesdifferentiatedinstruction.com

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Kasha-Mastrodomenico

How can you differentiate instruction with a compare and contrast graphic organizer?

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Compare and contrast graphic organizers help students see similarities and differences between two or more items. Venn diagrams are a popular version of compare and contrast graphic organizers. These include two or more circles intersecting. Where the circles intersect or overlap, students write or type in the similarities. Where the circles do not intersect, the students write the differences.

Another version of a compare and contrast graphic organizers where there are two topics then a single box underneath for similarities. It then branches out into two boxes for the differences.

Some compare and contrast graphic organizers use tables to find similarities. Others may use circles to disconnect differences from similarities as seen below.

Compare and Contrast Graphic Organizers can help Differentiate Instruction

Graphic organizers can help teachers differentiate instruction in two different ways:

  1. Leveling: Content can be simplified and clarified through lists and groups by using a graphic organizer. Graphic organizers are often stated as accommodations for SPED and ELL due to this. Vary the amount of content already typed or written in before the student receives it in order to differentiate instruction more. Advanced students will have the least amount of content in their compare and contrast graphic organizer so as to encourage as much critical thinking as possible.The same content must be used in order to differentiate instruction correctly with every ability level.
  2. Multiple Intelligence Learning Styles: Compare and contrast graphic organizers use both the logical multiple intelligence learning style, through the organization of ideas and facts, and the spatial multiple intelligence learning style due to the visual it creates. The spatial multiple intelligence learning style can be increased by allowing students to draw the content instead of writing it or drawing it to reinforce the content along with the written text. Teachers can use compare and contrast graphic organizers as well as other multiple intelligence learning styles such as musical, kinesthetic, linguistic, intrapersonal, and interpersonal to differentiate instruction. I noticed that when I taught using multiple intelligence learning styles my students were much more interested in the content I was trying to get them to learn.

Repetition is important for the learning of students and graphic organizers can increase this by using them as an opening, closing or homework assignment to review the content. Repetition of content is important but so is the repetition of organization. Use the same type of graphic organizer time and time again so that the students get used to using it. Many teachers seem to get caught up in the cuteness of some graphic organizers and those are often just a distraction for students. A great resource for graphic organizers and differentiated instruction is http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Kasha-Mastrodomenico. Inputting content is fast and easy with her graphic organizers because they include text boxes.

Written by,

Kasha Mastrodomenico (Connect with me on Linkedin.com)

http://www.socialstudiesdifferentiatedinstruction.com

kasha@socialstudiesdifferentiatedinstruction.com

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Kasha-Mastrodomenico

How can you differentiate instruction using a classification graphic organizer?

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Classification Graphic Organizers can help to Differentiate Instruction

Classification graphic organizers are used to classify content or information into categories. This type of graphic organizer is used often in the Sciences, however it can also be used in other subjects as well.

Graphic organizers can help teachers differentiate instruction in two different ways:

  1. Multiple Intelligence Learning Styles: Classification graphic organizers use both the spatial multiple intelligence learning style, due to the visual it creates, and the logical multiple intelligence learning style, through the organization of ideas or facts. Teachers can increase the spatial multiple intelligence learning style that is used by allowing students to draw the content instead of writing it or drawing it to reinforce the content along with the written text. Teachers can differentiate instruction using the multiple intelligence learning styles by using classification graphic organizers as well as other multiple intelligence learning styles such as linguistic, kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal and intrapersonal to teach the content. In my experience as a teacher, students seem to be more interested in the content when the multiple intelligence learning styles are used.
  2. Leveling: Graphic organizers are often stated as accommodations for SPED and ELL students because content can be simplified and clarified through groups and lists. One way to level a classification graphic organizer is the amount of content already typed or written in before the student receives it. Students who are considered advanced will have the least amount of content in their classification graphic organizer so as to encourage as much critical thinking as possible.

The same content must be used in order to differentiate instruction. A great resource for graphic organizers and differentiated instruction ishttp://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Kasha-Mastrodomenico. This seller includes text boxes in all parts of her graphic organizers so that inputting content is fast and easy. She has many other ideas for differentiated instruction too.

Written by,

Kasha Mastrodomenico (Connect with me on Linkedin.com)

http://www.socialstudiesdifferentiatedinstruction.com

kasha@socialstudiesdifferentiatedinstruction.com

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Kasha-Mastrodomenico

How can you differentiate instruction with a cause and effect graphic organizer?

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Cause and Effect Graphic Organizers Differentiate Instruction

Cause and effect graphic organizers are used to organize content into two categories. Usually the categories have one event leading to another event. However sometimes one of these categories uses an idea as a cause or an effect.

In some cases there are multiple causes and one effect or one cause and multiple effects. Another version of a cause and effect graphic organizer is when there is a cause or causes, an event and then the effect or effects.

Graphic organizers can help teachers differentiate instruction in two different ways:

  1. Multiple intelligence learning styles: Cause and effect graphic organizers use both the logical multiple intelligence learning styles, through the organization and order of events and or ideas, and the spatial multiple intelligence learning styles due to the visual it creates. Teachers can increase the spatial multiple intelligence learning style that is used by allowing students to draw the content instead of writing it or drawing it to reinforce the content along with the written text. Teachers can differentiate instruction more by using the multiple intelligence learning styles by using cause and effect graphic organizers as well as other multiple intelligence learning style activities such as musical, kinesthetic, linguistic, intrapersonal, and interpersonal. This will increase the interest of students in a classroom.
  2. Leveling/Scaffolding/Tiering: Graphic organizers are used often for lower ability level students. Content can be simplified and clarified through lists and groups. For this reason graphic organizers are also often stated as accommodations for SPED and ELL students. Another way to level a cause and effect graphic organizer is the amount of content already typed or written in before the student receives it. Students with a higher ability level will have the least amount of content in their cause and effect graphic organizer so as to encourage as much critical thinking as possible.

Teachers need to remember that in order to differentiate instruction the same content must be used. A great resource for graphic organizers is http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Kasha-Mastrodomenico. They include text boxes in all parts of the graphic organizers so that inputting content is fast and easy.

Written by,

Kasha Mastrodomenico (Connect with me on Linkedin.com)

http://www.socialstudiesdifferentiatedinstruction.com

kasha@socialstudiesdifferentiatedinstruction.com

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Kasha-Mastrodomenico

How can graphic organizers help teachers differentiate instruction?

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Graphic Organizers Help Differentiate Instruction

Differentiated Instruction is when teachers use the same content but deliver it in different ways for different students. Teachers can do this by using different multiple intelligences or learning styles, leveling/scaffolding/tiering, or enrichment and remediation sessions.

Graphic Organizers can help teachers differentiate instruction because they use the following multiple intelligence learning styles:

  • Spatial Multiple Intelligence Learning Style
  • Logical Multiple Intelligence Learning Style
  • Intrapersonal or Interpersonal Multiple Intelligence Learning Style
  • Linguistic Multiple Intelligence Learning Style

Graphic organizers can also be used for the leveling/scaffolding/tiering approach for differentiated instruction because they can help students simplify and organize information during mini-lessons.

The third way to differentiate instruction with graphic organizers is to use it for remediation while other students who have mastered the content do enrichment activities. This is also because graphic organizers simplify and organize information, as previously stated.

Graphic organizers are a great way for teachers to differentiate instruction in their lesson plans. http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Kasha-Mastrodomenico offers over 65 graphic organizers. They all include text boxes to input content fast and easy.

Written by,

Kasha Mastrodomenico (Connect with me on Linkedin.com)

http://www.socialstudiesdifferentiatedinstruction.com

kasha@socialstudiesdifferentiatedinstruction.com

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Kasha-Mastrodomenico

What multiple intelligence learning styles are used with graphic organizers?

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Graphic organizers have been used for a long time in education. They are a great way for students to visualize their content. The spatial multiple intelligence learning style is used due to the visual aspect of graphic organizers. To increase the amount the spatial multiple intelligence learning style is used, pictures can be drawn to represent the content in addition to the written words or as a replacement, depending on what is better for the student.

Another good aspect of graphic organizers is that it allows the student to use logic. Organizing information into groups uses the logical multiple intelligence learning style.

Students can be given a choice as to whether they want to work by themselves or with a partner. If students are given this choice then they could use either the intrapersonal multiple intelligence learning style or the interpersonal multiple intelligence learning style. Student choice also gives students more ownership over their education. The teacher will still have the power to put them into a partnership that will be productive.

Graphic organizers also use the linguistic multiple intelligence learning style due to the content that is used and needs to be written into the graphic organizer itself. How much the linguistic multiple intelligence learning style is used depends on the amount of content that needs to be written into the graphic organizer as well as how it is written; in lists or sentences.

Graphic organizers are a great tool to use to teach content and to review it. They can be used in the classroom as well as for homework. No matter when you use them, you can rest assured that they can hit many of the multiple intelligence learning styles.

 http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Kasha-Mastrodomenico offers over 65 graphic organizers. They all include text boxes for fast and easy content input.

Written by,

Kasha Mastrodomenico (Connect with my on Linkedin.com)

http://www.socialstudiesdifferentiatedinstruction.com

kasha@socialstudiesdifferentiatedinstruction.com

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Kasha-Mastrodomenico

Epitaphs can be used to Differentiate Instruction!

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Differentiate Instruction with an Epitaph Activity

Epitaphs are not just cute to use around Halloween but can be a great way to allow students to use small pieces of content and critically think.

An epitaph is written on a gravestone. You might be surprised that epitaph activities can work in most subject areas. For instance, in Social Studies an epitaph can be used for a historical person. In Science, it could be for the extinction of a species. In math, a symbol like the division sign can be used. In Language Arts, a character from a book in a story might need an epitaph.

Epitaph activities use multiple intelligence learning styles. The following are used:

  • Spatial Multiple Intelligence Learning Style: decorating the grave stone to match the content
  • Linguistic Multiple Intelligence Learning Style: writing the epitaph
  • Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Multiple Intelligence Learning Styles: allow students to choose how they work on this; individually or with a partner

An epitaph activity can be used to differentiate instruction. Here are two ways you can differentiate instruction for an epitaph activity:

  • Multiple Intelligence Learning Styles: Teachers can give their students choices of activities that use different multiple intelligence learning styles and the same content.  http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Kasha-Mastrodomenico offers over 50 activity templates with rubrics to help teachers differentiate instruction quickly.
  • Leveling/Tiering/Scaffolding: Students with a lower ability level will often need more guidance. Teachers can list, in simple text, the content that needs to be used in the epitaph. They still need to use their critical thinking skills to come up with the epitaph. Teachers can also state exactly what decorations should be put on the gravestone. That way they only have to deal with how to draw it. You could also provide clip art, already cut out, that they could just paste on. It still works as a visual component. Students at a very high ability level could use humor or an emotion in the epitaph to increase the amount of critical thinking.

Teachers need to make sure that when they plan for differentiated instruction that each student is using the same content. They also must all be challenged at their own level with with their own multiple intelligence learning style.

Written by,

Kasha Mastrodomenico

http://www.socialstudiesdifferentiatedinstruction.com

kasha@socialstudiesdifferentiatedinstruction.com

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Kasha-Mastrodomenico