Differentiating Instruction II – Going Deeper and Broader to Meet Student Needs
(A 36 hour, 4 credit course)
Offered by: Simmons College
Instructor: Dr. Betty Calise
Location: Barrington Middle School, Presentation Room
Dates: January 25, February 29, March 21, April 11, May 9 and May 23, 2012
Time: 8:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.
Target Audience: Grades K-12 Prerequisite: Differentiating Instruction I
Limited to: 25
Graduate Credit: 4 Graduate Credits from Simmons College is optional; the district pays the tuition and graduate credit. Participants must attend all sessions to receive graduate credits.
Course Description:
Differentiated Instruction has become the buzzword of the educational landscape today. We know that students will progress and perform at high levels only if teachers respond well to the varied needs of learners in today’s classrooms.
Differentiated Instruction II builds on the skills and knowledge gained in Differentiated Instruction I by expanding participants’ repertoire of strategies for DI. Quality differentiation is hard and requires sophisticated skills and knowledge, time, and collaboration. In Differentiated Instruction II, teachers will create a portfolio of practices that reflects a more in-depth implementation of DI. Participants must attend all sessions to receive graduate credits.
Specifically, the portfolio will include:
An expanded repertoire of strategies for differentiating instructional content, activities, and products.
Ideas on how to establish a classroom culture and climate that supports differentiated practice.
Techniques and practices for grouping students.
Record keeping that matches the values and structure of DI classrooms.
Reflections on how differentiation is implemented and why.
In order for teachers to match strategies for student success, we need to understand the full range of learner profiles represented in the classroom. We will examine the needs of students with specific learning disabilities, as well as those who have a strong base of knowledge and skill. Teachers will learn how to match instructional content, activities, and products to those needs.
If you would like to register, please email Sandi Michael @ michaels@bpsmail.org by December 1st.