Differentiated Instruction

Shepardson Elementary - Where All Students Shine

Challenging Students Through Differentiation
The Shepardson staff believes in differentiated instruction – working to adjust the teaching and learning activities to address individual learning needs and styles. Various differentiation techniques used at Shepardson include: 
 

Tiered Assignments
Teachers use different levels of activities for students to explore the same content but at different levels of complexity.
 

Curriculum Compacting
In order to eliminate repetition of previously mastered curriculum, Shepardson upgrades the challenge level of the regular curriculum and provides time for appropriate enrichment and/or acceleration activities while ensuring mastery of basic skills.
 

Flexible Grouping
Children are grouped temporarily according to skill, interest and/or instructional purpose.
 

Learning Centers
Stations are developed to provide content enrichment and skill development.
 

Contracts
Agreements are made between teacher and student that allow learners to work independently on a unit of study.
 

Some exciting examples of differentiation at Shepardson:
In the early years, standards-based learning centers provide a variety of activities to address different learning styles and needs. Parent volunteers enable children to work in small groups to explore, create and learn.

In mathematics, older students are grouped for instruction for each unit. They are given opportunities to test out of previously mastered material, and a more advance and accelerated curriculum is provided. To help students develop higher-level thinking skills, real world applications are incorporated in their daily work.
 

Differentiated learning experiences occur for students in a thematic unit on Africa. Students are immersed in the continent’s culture, experiencing the food, recreation, people, social structure and government. Flexible groups and tiered assignments are incorporated for students to explore the same content but at different levels of complexity.
 

In an integrated unit based on the Full Option Science System (FOSS) Air and Weather kit, students use the scientific method to investigate and make predictions by charting, graphing, and recording information. Reading and writing activities at each child’s level are tied to the theme. Opportunities for extended research are presented.