Differentiation
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Differentiation is a full embrace of the idea that all learners are individuals and require different instruction to learn best. Differentiated instruction might include teaching the same lesson at different paces or going more or less in depth with the material. It could also include teaching based on students' multiple intelligences or learning styles. The key to differentiation is this occurs for the whole class instead of just for gifted or advanced learners.
Stations or centers make it easy for teachers to differentiate lessons. Teachers can plan a lesson then present it in more/less depth or more quickly/slowly depending on which group of students is at each center.
Stations and Centers
Book Clubs are a fun twist on guided reading groups. When participating in book clubs, students get to read a book (usually a chapter book) and engage in discussion and activities with the book. They may complete a book report project when finished or present what they read to the class.
Not all of your students might be ready for book clubs. It's okay to have a few students participating in book club and the rest reading leveled readers.
Book Clubs
Finding students' instructional reading level naturally lends itself to differentiation. Whether classes participate in guided reading groups or reading workshop, students will be reading and exploring texts at their own level.
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Make sure your class library is stocked with books that are advanced enough for your gifted learners. Some might be reading one or even two grade levels above.
Reading Levels
Technology makes differentiation much more possible in many ways. There are countless apps and computer games (in particular math apps) that are self paced. As students complete each level or topic, they move right on to the next level. This provides a gifted student with the ability to move at his/her own pace through the games.
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One example of such games is Xtra Math. One section of Xtra Math, the fact fluency section, requires students to master each section before it adds more numbers to the questions or moves from addition to subtraction and on.