Day 2: Master Teacher Summer Conference

So Tuesday felt like a long day. The speaker, Rich Cash, titled the presentation "Differentiated Instruction: Quality Teaching and Learning Strategies to Maximize the Learning of ALL Students." The wikipedia definition of Differentiated Learning is...

Differentiated instruction (sometimes referred to as differentiated learning) involves providing students with different avenues to acquiring content; to processing, constructing, or making sense of ideas; and to developing teaching materials so that all students within a classroom can learn effectively, regardless of differences in ability.^[1]

I would have to say, 70 percent of the time was spent establishing a need for the training, explaining basic brain functioning or the differences between the sexes. Many observations focussed on how boys learn differently. Thirty percent of the time was spent reviewing tips that boil down to three simple words: Know Your Students. Suggestions where provided, four pages of bulleted lists or tables covered concrete, take-it-to-class information although they were somewhat vague. It is always good to start the school year with a reminder of what I need to do, just wish I had more concrete things, actionable items, from today.

Two Words for Implementation of Differentiated Learning:

Start Small.

Three Words of Resonance that Were Ah Hah's for many:

Praise the Effort

(Not the inteliigence) of the Student.
OK, well that is more than three words but you get the idea.

Perhaps this is oversimplification, but that's my day in a nutshell. I just saved you eight hours of your life, now log off and go outside! Read a book, email me a cool link to share with other teachers.