I attended a webinar on November 13th from 6pm to
7pm. It was presented by Monica Burns over the topic of 10 Tips to Differentiate Reading. Monica began by introducing what
differentiated instruction is and how teachers can “actively plan for students’
differences”. This idea made me think of how when I make lesson plans, I always
have a section for accommodations. Monica talked about how accommodations and
differentiation can be made through use of multimedia materials – perhaps in
audio or visual support. It also is really important to gauge interest of your
students. You can do this through surveys, polls, conversations, or open-ended
responses. This is important because it gives students control of their
learning and therefore will keep them more engaged. For example, when asking
students to describe what kind of reading material they are interested in
(fairytales, superheroes, mysteries) you can ask them to take a survey and list
their top three choices. This helps teachers ensure they gather appropriate
materials and prepare for differentiated instruction. More tips that Monica
touched on were reading buddies, strategic partnerships, and high-interest reading
materials. These tips heavily emphasis on student collaboration, student-driven
instruction, and obtaining of valuable, highly desired reading materials. Consistent
conferring was the next tip that Monica touched on. She discussed how regularly
assessing and checking for understanding is critical in differentiated instruction.
Another tip was varying student responses. This means that students can respond
in many different ways such as audio, visual, or use of digital tools. This
gives students the freedom to illustrate their learning and understanding in a
way that works for them. The last tip Monica offered was family sharing because it emphasizes transparency and team-building.
In my future classroom, I'll try incorporate the tips that work best with my students and support my readers the most.
