Differentiation in Vocabulary

Many students read differently, and many students comprehend a lot different as well. This is why teachers find some vocabulary to be tedious and in the way. How can we change this? Easy!!!! 

DIFFERENTIATE!

I have found that by putting movement to the vocabulary words, kids understand them a lot better. Not only that, but they retain the information a lot better as well! 

Let's practice with the word "Focus". Explain the word with a movement, like putting both fingers on the head, or by making the "ooooaaaam" (monk) pose. 

From here, you can play many games, like 'Say and Do'. This is where you as the teacher do the motion and say "say", and they must say the vocabulary word. OR you can say "Focus-do" and this is where the child does the action for the word. 

Once students get these down, you can even break off to play a game of charades. They love it, and you can do this in different groups so students can practice at their own levels. 

It is possible for higher students to pull out their Writing Bingo to create stories that encompass these words. It is a joy to see. 

Give it a try. 

Getting to Know You

A huge part of differentiation is getting to know your students...here is a fun way how too! Just click the link below to check out this Student Interest Survey!

Student Interest Survey

Anchor Activities

This is going to be a simple and short post today! 

I want to share some of my favorite activities that I find great for differentiation. Writing BINGO is one of my favorite activities for students to do. I think writing is such an important topic, and it is something that is quite fun to differentiate. I have taken the time to attach a BINGO board of my own. Feel free to use it if you would like too! Click the link below!

Writing Bingo Sheet

Why is the Cold Hard Truth so hard?

Even though teachers know everything they know, and have all the tools we are supposed to have...why is it so hard at times? 

Let me answer that for you. Living the simplest truths is seldom easy, and that is certainly the case inside of the classroom. Teachers mean to care, and I have seen that through professors in college, high school, jr. high, elementary school, and inside the schools that I have been in for my training. I have noticed at times it is hard for teachers to care when they don't feel "smart" or "prepared". 

"It's hard to care deeply about the kid whose questions make us feel dumb. It's hard to care deeply about the child whose temper destroys the tone of the classroom in an instant. It's difficult to care about the child whose demeanor seems threatening, the one who stares with blank eyes, and the one who literally says, "I hate you." It's hard to care because we don't know how to see through someone else's eyes."

Teachers work extremely hard. They care for 20-30 students everyday from when the bell rings to when it rings again. Teachers also have people at home who rely on them as family. It seems like there needs to be more than just "one" around. It is hard because we are taught how to teach, and we should already know how to care. We are not taught how to truly love a great child, or even a tough child. Yet, we learn how to do this.  It is hard because people keep telling us how we should teach and how we should not teach. 

BUT...

There is one promise that all teachers should, and will make you. It is a guarantee. Teachers will learn how to care for each child, even if the child does not care for us. Teachers will care everyday, even if the day is long and hard. Teachers will take the risks, and the hardships. Because we take these risks the lives of children become more fulfilled, and more prepared. Even our lives become more fulfilled each day. 

we have ALL the tools we need!

Our tool box now is home to 17 different tools, and each tool is amazing and does so much. Our tools create beautiful things, and one of the best things these tools create is positive and lasting effects on the lives of students.

These tools help to create so much. They create much more than I am about to tell you.

• Students consistently want teachers who respect them, listen to them, show empathy toward them, help them work out their problems, and become human by sharing their own lives and ideas with their students. Investment
• Teachers who create a warm and supportive classroom environment tend to be more effective with all students. Invitation 
• Effective teachers set high expectations for themselves and their students with an orientation toward growth and improvement evident in the classroom. Challenge

These are just a few examples of what our teaching tools can do for our students. As teachers we need to use our tools, constantly. We must show the students we care about their needs, we need to show them that we are listening and seeing. We need to show that we care, so that they can show us they care.

"The Simple, Hard Truth About Teaching"

There is always a truth to everything, and it can be easy to hear, or it can be hard to hear. I want you to be the judge for what I am about to say...Teachers are going to accept responsibility for students whom they genuinely care. 

"Those of us lucky enough to make connections with students once or twice or three times know this to be true, because its truth shaped our lives forever. those of us who live our professional lives in classrooms know this to be true because of our observation of classrooms that captivate and extend the capacities of each student in them." -Carol Ann Tomlinson

James Stronge defines effectiveness as creating a positive effect on student achievement as well as other important outcomes that have positive and lasting effects on the lives of students. 

Teachers are going to strive to create a positive effect on students achievement, and want to create that lasting effect on students lives. However, this may not happen to every single student that comes our way. Teachers will always hope and try for that one student that helps us see that we can create a positive effect. 

In the past I have talked about having a teachers toolbox, and I would like to open it for just a moment. There are some other tools that I have talked about that I would like to add to this. 

In this tool box we have two main tools, Curriculum and Instruction. We also have 5 tools that help our curriculum and instruction work: Importance, Focused, Engaging, Demanding, and Scaffolding. Now, there are some other tools I would like to add to our toolbox, and we have talked about them previously. I would like to add Challenge,Affirmation, Contribution, Power, Purpose, and Challenge.

These five tools are the tools teachers use to successfully give the students what they need and what they seek. 

I would also like to add 5 more, Investment, Persistence, Opportunity, Reflection, and Invitation. 

These tools here are how we as teachers can respond to what the children need and seek. 

By using all of these tools, we can differentiate inside the classroom, and can be successful in making connections in one or two or three students. 

A Teachers Tool Box

I want to expand just a bit more on my metaphor about a Teachers Tool Box.

However, you can still think of it as a vehicle if you would like. 

My husband works on cars, auto body to be exact. He would not be able to do his job without his drill and his clip tool. Those tools have to be in his tool box. He uses them on every single car he works on. However, he has other tools that help those tools work.

 Sockets, Screwdrivers, Wrenches, Ratchets, and Goggles. 

He needs these tools, so that others can have a working vehicle. His tools meet their needs. 

Curriculum and Instruction are a teachers main tools. Those tools would not work without with a few more tools. Teachers need the tools of Importance, Focused, Engaging, Demanding, and Scaffolding. Teachers need these to teach, and guess what? Students need them too. These are the tools for responding to a students needs. 

When my husband works on cars, there are a few things he has to make sure of before the owner can take them home. He must make sure the car is safe for the owner to drive in again. They must also make sure that the car looks new again, and that the paint and body work look perfect. They must understand, that if the owner finds something they think is wrong with the vehicle, it is his responsibility to look at it again, and clarify or fix. 

This is just the same as a teacher showing a student that they matter. A teacher is going to make sure that he/she teaches  and a student learns what is genuinely of value, piques a students curiosity, and capture attention by making something satisfying, help a student become more than they thought they could be, and to be a partner. 

My husband creates amazing vehicles with his tools. He can fix them to be new again, or he can build one to be beautiful. As teachers, our tools are just as important. Our tools mold a future leader, teacher, doctor, parent, or artist. 

Our tools help students discover how ideas and skills are useful in the world. 

Our tools provide choices that ensure focus. 

Our tools look for fresh ways to present and explore ideas.

Our tools aim high!

Our tools take a NO EXCUSES stance!

Our tools help students realize success in the result of effort. 

It is not cheap to fix a vehicle, and many people put trust into the shop where my husband works. My husband and his coworkers invest their time and effort in what they do. We as teachers need to put just as much effort, or more, into what we do. 

"Please invest in me," says the student.

We will.

Why?

We see their value, we see their uniqueness, and we will honor them by using our tools to teach them what matters most in their life. 

Open up your tool box. Give the students what they need.

Differentiate.