DI Debate
When you get the chance, read the debate over Differentiated Instruction that is occurring on the New York Times. You'll see how educators view it in a range of ways.http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2011/10/02/are-top-students-getting-short-shrift
I just read the article and the discussion that surrounds it. What worries me the most about this article is the thought of every single teacher catering to 30 different students every single day. Is that a realistic expectation? Good teachers will do it without thinking about it. They will truly understand their students and make education meaningful and engaging. One of the things we mentioned in our jigsaw discussion was that good teachers use DI without even realizing they are doing it. They provide options and alternatives to cater to students’ abilities and desires.
ReplyDeleteHere's a question, what is more important / what should a teacher place more value upon:
1) Bringing a low-achieving student up to speed?
Or
2) Raising a high-achieving student to new levels?
Think about the answer to the above scenario in two ways...the way YOU want to teach and the way you feel students are currently taught. Are they similar? Different?
-Taz