Category Archives: Planning Differentiated Instruction

Differentiated Instruction

Differentiated Instruction gets my Students Excited

Differentiated Instruction

Every teacher desires and struggles with getting their students excited about their subject. We want our students to be as passionate about it as we are. The percentage of pure passion for a subject is limited to a few in each class. So how can we get the rest of the students to enjoy and look forward to coming to our class? I suggest trying to use multiple intelligence learning styles, differentiated instruction as well as increasing student choice.

Multiple intelligence learning styles are a great way to start to increase interest in a subject and use differentiated instruction. The multiple intelligence theory was developed by Dr. Howard Gardner. There are seven original multiple intelligences and thus the same number of learning styles but there are considered to be more now. Some even think there are hundreds of them.

I like to stick to the original basic seven as to not be overwhelmed during the differentiated instruction planning process. In my experience they will work for most students in the class. In the rare occasion they don’t, teachers can include one of the new multiple intelligence learning styles to reach the student.

The seven original multiple intelligence learning styles are intrapersonal, interpersonal, linguistic, spatial, musical, logical-mathematical, and kinesthetic. You can use multiple intelligence learning styles in all aspects of the lesson to include different ways of presenting each piece of content in a mini-lesson or offering choices for activities during a work session dealing with different multiple intelligence learning styles, which brings us to the next suggestion to get students excited in a class, differentiated instruction.

Differentiated Instruction has been a hot topic for a while now, however many teachers still don’t quite know how to do it, don’t have time to do it, or they just think it’s a phase. It can be a great tool to use to interest and excite your students and, in my opinion, shouldn’t be overlooked as an option for every day lessons.

Differentiated instruction can be done through the use of the multiple intelligence learning styles as well as leveling, scaffolding or tiering.

Teachers can use multiple intelligence learning styles to differentiate instruction in not only the mini-lesson but also the work session activities and pretty much any other part of the lesson. Offer students up to four choices of activities for a work session, all using the same content, but using different multiple intelligence learning styles. The students will choose the one that they think will be the most interesting to do. I’ve noticed that if you allow them to choose the activities the day before, their interests peak. They feel like they have ownership in their education and look forward to coming to the class the next day. I have also noticed a decrease in complaining about work sessions because they can’t blame you as the teacher. After all, they chose it.

I’m sure you are wondering how I actually have time to create four options of activities for students to choose from. I created a system of activity templates that saves me a ton of time. I offer about 55 of them at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Kasha-Mastrodomenico. They even include rubrics. I can tweak them easily to fit almost anything I need my students to work on.

Another way to differentiate instruction to increase excitement is through the use of leveling. Leveling is also known as tiering and scaffolding. This can be done by using the same content once again but at different levels. This is not less and or more work depending on “how smart” your students are. It has to do with taking students from one level to the next through the use of small steps. Differentiating instruction through the use of leveling is easily done with expository writing. Teachers can take a student from a topic sentence and the listing of three facts to a topic sentence with one fact sentence and then listing two facts and so on. Students need to see that there is hope at the end of the tunnel and if they have a learning disability or are ELL, many times writing can be an overwhelming task for them. Using small differentiated instruction leveled steps helps them feel success and improves their attitude in the subject.

Whether a teacher uses leveling or multiple intelligence learning styles to differentiate instruction, they stand a chance of really interesting their students in their subject area or content. To read more about differentiated instruction, click here.

Written by,

Kasha Mastrodomenico

kasha@socialstudiesdifferentiatedinstruction.com

htttp://www.socialstudiesdifferentiatedinstruction.com

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

Differentiated Instruction

Differentiated Instruction Systems

Use Differentiated Instruction Systems to Save Time During Planning

The administrations that I worked under were always pushing differentiated instruction. I think I attended more differentiated instruction training seminars than years I taught. The biggest problem I found when I taught middle school social studies was finding time to plan for differentiated instruction. I had to learn the content before I could create a lesson plan and then I had to differentiate it and with only one planning period which was many times a week taken away for meetings. I was staying at work until nine at night and getting there at six in the morning to try to get everything done. Needless to say, I was exhausted and I was burned out before five years. I took a year off after moving, my husband is in the Army, and then started again. I ended up running around in circles once more.

I realized that there were two ways this could go for me. I could switch careers and work normal hours and actually have weekends off, or I could figure out a way to plan for differentiated instruction in a much faster way. I decided on the latter because I love to teach. I began to systems that helps me plan for differentiated instruction.

The first system I created was a leveled expository writing system. It has nine levels that can help bring a student who needs to focus on just writing a topic sentence and then listing the facts that support it underneath to a DBQ essay within a year’s time. Each template included the directions. They also included the grading checklist so that the student could see how they were going to be graded. All I had to do was write in the question I wanted my students to explore and the assignment was created. By using my leveled writing system, I increased the amount of writing that was done in my classroom and my students became much better writers. There wasn’t one student that didn’t show some sort of improvement in writing that year. When I became the SST chair for my grade level, I realized that this could also be used for the RTI process because it shows small achievable goals each student has made in their writing.

The second system that I created was for activities based on the Multiple Intelligence Theory. At the top of each activity were the Multiple Intelligences used in the activity. Under those, student roles were included to help keep the students focused and on task. This also provided consistency in the way activities were run. All I had to do with the activity templates was write in the content I wanted my students to use for that assignment. I could provide four choices of activities for my students that could be ready in less than five minutes! Each one of the templates also included a rubric specific for that assignment but with an equal grading system as all of the other activity templates.

I was pretty proud of what I had created and since they took less than five minutes to include in a lesson plan, I saved a lot of time during planning. My brain wouldn’t shut off though. What about the other sections of a lesson plan? Was there a better way to do those too? Could I create a system for that as well?

After much deliberation I realized that there was a way to differentiated instruction for vocabulary that could be done with templates too. I created a template with three sections; one for the vocabulary word on the left, in the middle was the area for the definition, and on the right side students could choose from drawing a picture to represent the vocabulary word or write a sentence to show understanding. This choice brought in the Multiple Intelligence Theory and student choice.  From there I decided to level it. The enriched level allowed students to write the definition in their own words to provide a bit of critical thinking. The average level allowed students to fill in the blanks of the definition. The basic level provided the full definition. I chose this option for the lower level because I realized that many of them were having trouble just decoding the definitions even in simplified form. This allowed them the time to read and comprehend it and then use it in their choice box on the right.

Unfortunately, there really isn’t a way to systemize the creation of PowerPoints, note sheets and primary sources quickly. However, I have created many for American History for you to download. Most of my PowerPoints have two levels of them; enriched and basic. For each PowerPoint, there are two levels of notes; enriched and basic. The enriched notes allow for more critical thinking and the basic notes allow students to fill in the blanks as they go through the PowerPoint in class. There are many differentiated instruction primary sources available in my social studies differentiated instruction lesson plans as well to help you bring in the common core standards too. You can access my plans at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Kasha-Mastrodomenico.

To learn more about differentiated instruction, click here.

Written by,

Kasha Mastrodomenico

kasha@socialstudiesdifferentiatedinstruction

www.socialstudiesdifferentiatedinstruction.com

Left: Enriched/ Right: Basic

How can you differentiate instruction when teaching economic systems?

The NYS 8th grade social studies curriculum states that the students must learn the difference between laissez-faire (capitalism; market economy) and regulation (planned or command economy). When I was planning my social studies differentiated instruction lesson plan, I decided to create two different levels of note sheets. The enriched version allows the students to write their own notes in their own words. The basic version has students fill in the blanks of the notes as they go through the PowerPoint. The purpose of this is to allow the enriched leveled students more room for critical thinking and the basic leveled students the time for repetition. The notes include what laissez-faire and regulation are, the principles of laissez-faire, and what a mixed economy is.

Basic Note Sheets

Basic Note Sheets

Enriched Note Sheets

Enriched Note Sheets

I created an economic systems activity with two different ability levels to differentiate instruction. The same content is used. The enriched sheet allows for more critical thinking and asks the students to create everyday examples of people in a market economy, command or planned economy and a mixed economy. The basic sheet is set up for repetition and identification of the different types of economies. It gives them everyday examples and has them decide which economy the people live in. Students can work individually, with a partner or with a small group. You will need to make sure that if they are partnered or grouped, each member in the group has the same ability level sheet.

Economic Systems Differentiated Instruction Activity

Above Left: Enriched Version/ Above Right: Basic Version

Above Left: Enriched Version/Above Right: Basic Version

This is only part of a lesson plan called “Government Response to Industrialization and Abuses”. To find out more about this lesson plan, click here.

 

Written by,

Kasha Mastrodomenico

kasha@socialstudiesdifferentiatedinstruction

www.socialstudiesdifferentiatedinstruction.com

Jackson and Sectional Differences Differentiated Instruction Lesson Plan

Where can I get a differentiated instruction lesson plan on Jackson and sectional differences?

Jackson and Sectional Differences Differentiated Instruction Lesson Plan

Jackson and Sectional Differences Differentiated Instruction Lesson Plan

The “Jackson and Sectional Differences” differentiated instruction lesson plan can be found by clicking on the links below:

To find out what is included in the lesson plan, click here.

 

Written by,

Kasha Mastrodomenico

www.socialstudiesdifferentiatedinstruction.com

kasha@socialstudiesdifferentiatedinstruction.com

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

 

Constitution as a Living Document Differentiated Instruction Lesson Plan

Constitution as a Living Document Differentiated Instruction Lesson Plan

I am proud to announce that we now have the “Constitution as a Living Document” differentiated instruction lesson plan on http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Kasha-Mastrodomenico! I specialize in middle school social studies differentiated instruction. If you are an American History teacher, you will want to check out my store. My store will save you a lot of time during those short planning periods.

The areas below show you what is included in the “Constitution as a Living Document” differentiated instruction lesson plan. It is based on the 7th grade NYS social studies curriculum and standards but will work for many other states as well.

Constitution as a Living Document Differentiated Instruction Lesson Plan

Constitution as a Living Document Differentiated Instruction Lesson Plan

This social studies differentiated instruction lesson plan includes:

  • Lesson Plan
  • 3 Ability Levels of Vocabulary Sheets

 

Differentiated Instruction Vocabulary

Differentiated Instruction Vocabulary

  • 2 Ability Levels of Note Sheets for the Enriched PowerPoint
  • 2 Ability Levels of Note Sheets for the Basic PowerPoint (Enriched note sheets works for the Basic PowerPoint Version too)

 

Basic Level Note Sheets

Basic Level Note Sheets

  • Activity Choice Sheet to help teachers plan for the activity

 

Activity Choice Sheet

Activity Choice Sheet

  • 2 Choices of Activities based on the Multiple Intelligence Theory with rubrics for each (Nonfiction Rhyming Poem and Rap and Dance)

 

Differentiated Instruction Activities

Differentiated Instruction Activities

The “Constitution as a Living Document” differentiated instruction lesson plan also comes with a Leveled PowerPoint mini-lesson. It includes the following content:

  • elastic clause
  • amendments
  • bill of rights
  • judicial review
  • unconstitutional

 

Constitution as a Living Document PowerPoint

Constitution as a Living Document PowerPoint

Constitution as a Living Document PowerPoint

Constitution as a Living Document differentiated instruction PowerPoint

Constitution as a Living Document differentiated instruction PowerPoint

To find out where you can find this incredible resource, click on the link below:

http://socialstudiesdifferentiatedinstruction.com/where-can-i-find-the-constitution-as-a-living-document-differentiated-instruction-lesson-plan/

 

Written by,

Kasha Mastrodomenico

www.socialstudiesdifferentiatedinstruction.com

kasha@socialstudiesdifferentiatedinstruction.com

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

Constitution: The Functioning of the Federal Government Differentiated Instruction Lesson Plan

Where can I find The Constitution: Functioning of the Federal Government Differentiated Instruction Lesson Plan?

Constitution: The Functioning of the Federal Government Differentiated Instruction Lesson Plan

Constitution: The Functioning of the Federal Government Differentiated Instruction Lesson Plan

The “Constitution: The Functioning of the Federal Government” differentiated instruction lesson plan can be found by clicking on the links below:

PowerPoint

Lesson Plan

To find out what is included in the “Constitution: Functioning of the Federal Government” differentiated instruction lesson plan, click here.

Written by,

Kasha Mastrodomenico

www.socialstudiesdifferentiatedinstruction.com

kasha@socialstudiesdifferentiatedinstruction.com

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

Constitution: The Functioning of the Federal Government Differentiated Instruction Lesson Plan

Constitution: Functioning of the Federal Government Differentiated Instruction Lesson Plan

I am happy to announce that the “Constitution: Functioning of the Federal Government” differentiated instruction lesson plan is now available on http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Kasha-Mastrodomenico! This is based on the 7th grade NYS social studies curriculum and standards. If you are looking for help with differentiated instruction for middle school social studies, you should check out this lesson plan.

Social Studies Differentiated Instruction Lesson Plan

This social studies differentiated instruction lesson plan includes:

  • Lesson Plan
  • 3 Ability Levels of Vocabulary Sheets
Average Vocabulary Sheet

Average Vocabulary Sheet

  • 2 Ability Levels of Note Sheets for the Enriched PowerPoint
  • 2 Ability Levels of Note Sheets for the Basic PowerPoint
Basic Note Sheets

Basic Note Sheets

  • Theme Party Planner relating to the Constitution with grading rubric

Social Studies Differentiated Instruction Activities

  • Homework Paragraph Writing with Grading Checklist
Social Studies Paragraph Writing

Social Studies Paragraph Writing

  • The Constitution: Functioning of the Federal Government differentiated instruction lesson plan includes the following content in the Leveled PowerPoint that goes with it:
    • Preamble
    • branches of government
    • function of branches
    • Article IV of the Constitution
    • Article VI of the Constitution

 

Cover

Cover

Social Studies Differentiated Instruction PowerPoint

Preamble of the Constitution differentiated instruction PowerPoint

Preamble of the Constitution differentiated instruction PowerPoint

Constitution Differentiated Instruction PowerPoint

 

Follow the links below to find out more about the “Constitution: Functioning of the Federal Government” differentiated instruction lesson plan:

Where can I find the “Constitution: Functioning of the Federal Government” differentiated instruction lesson plan?

 

Written by,

Kasha Mastrodomenico

www.socialstudiesdifferentiatedinstruction.com

kasha@socialstudiesdifferentiatedinstruction.com

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