Differentiation with Technology

 Technology is a great resource for students in school to attain information within a click of a button. With differentiation in technology, students can get their educational needs met. There are qualities of  differentiation in the classroom. Some include: 

- Provides opportunities for students whole class, small group, and individual instruction

- Student-centered classrooms

- Relevant content using real world problems and information for students to learn about

- Pre and post assessments as well as informal assessments used throughout the unit (ACSD, 2011). 

There are also some great differentiation tools that students can use for classroom projects as well as homework. These websites are:

- BrainPOP (Brainpop.com)

- The Khan Academy (www.khanacademy.org)

- National Library of Virtual Manipulatives (http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/vlibrary.html)

- BC Skillwise (http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise)

When writing my 3-day unit lesson plan including differentiation, I have revised it using technology included in each lesson plan. Technology will be implemented to whole class instruction and will be used as part of the lesson. For the first day, we have a lesson on verbs. Students will each be given a tablet. Then, on Google Docs, they will be get 5 minutes in order to write down as many verbs as they can. After the 5 minutes are up, they will be given a writing assignment via Microsoft Word based on the verbs they wrote down and try to use as many action words in the story as they can. 

    For the next day, students will be using Prezi in order to complete their own classroom presentations. This lesson is based on nouns. Students will be assigned to write down as many nouns as they can think of in their family home. They then will explain what they came up with and whether or not they are nouns. This will bring in culture and community into the lesson and promote global awareness (Theirworld, 2021).

    The last lesson will be used with Kahoot. This program is a fun question based program where students and teachers can ask questions to their class and see if they are understanding. It can be made into a game and also promotes learning. The lesson is on pronouns. Students will write questions about foods they eat at home and have other students in their class determine the parts of speech in the sentences. This will informally show other students in the class what types of foods are eaten in their cultural community and also promote global awareness. According to Elizabeth O. Crawford and Misty Kirby (2008), "Global education is essential to students' development of knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for future employment and for building successful relationships in an increasingly interconnected and pluralistic society."

ASCD. (2011). Using technology to differentiate instruction. https://pdo.ascd.org/lmscourses/PD11OC109/media/Tech_M4_Reading_Using_Technology01.pdf

Crawford, E. & Kirby, M. (2008). Fostering students' global awareness: technology applications in social studies teaching and learning. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/26498775_Fostering_Students'_Global_Awareness_Technology_Applications_in_Social_Studies_Teaching_and_Learning

Theirworld. (2021). Technology and education. https://theirworld.org/explainers/technology-and-education

 

 

Creating A Differentiated Lesson Plan

 

As an educator, we must be able to design curriculum that is differentiated, standards-based, and measurable. Because each student learns differently, the way that lesson is taught must be able to be differentiated in order to support that learner. Also, success and mastery potentially will look different for each student. There are so many variables when it comes to the education of a student.

            When choosing instructional strategies for my class, I take into consideration a number of different factors. First, what is the demographic of the class? How many students am I teaching for this lesson? Is there a learning gap with some students because of their background and culture? Do I have enough materials? Am I going to be able to meet the needs of all my learners including my ELL learners, special needs students, gifted and talented, as well as my early finishers?

            As I ask these questions when preparing a lesson, I can get a basic idea of what I need to differentiate in order to meet the needs of my class. I can also see if the lesson in general would be a good idea, or if I need to modify it in order to scaffold and make it a successful lesson.

            I chose to teach about Verbs. The definition of a verb according to Merriam Webster Dictionary (n.d.) is a word that show an action (sing), occurrence (develop), or state of being (exist). In the National Core Curriculum for 2^nd grade (2021), teaching about irregular verbs is a standard to meet. This is the standard:

Conventions of Standard English:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.2.1
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.

            CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.2.1.D
            Form and use the past tense of frequently occurring irregular verbs (e.g., sat, hid, told).

 

            We have been working on our grammar and now that it is time for verbs, we went for it! I taught a lesson using technology as well as writing and kinesthetic learning. We listened to an online story about verbs called Kites Sail High: A Book About Verbs by Ruth Heller (2020). Then, we had a direct instruction lesson about what is a verb. After this, we were able to partner up and have students choose action words and the other person has to guess their action.  We came back together as a class and discussed past-tense verbs. They are actions that have already happened. So, we played Charades as a class. I gave students an action word- “Run” for example. A student acted it out. Then, I turned on the Slide Show to “Past-Tense” and the class had to repeat what the word “Run” is in past-tense. They shouted, “RAN”. We continued to do this for a few more slides.

            I gave an assessment to my students after this. They were given a 10-question fill-in-the-blank quiz. To differentiate our learning, we had students who were ELL learners make sure that they could see the pictures on the Slide Show presented in order to match the correct verb with the correct picture. For my Special needs learners, they only had to complete 6 of the questions as well as have the sentences read to them using headphones and a slideshow if needed. For the Gifted and talented students, they had to write a paragraph under their completed quiz. It had to have the following: Complete sentences with correct punctuation and grammar, five verbs, and five past-tense verbs included. Students who finished early raised their hands. I came and checked those students’ papers. If they got them wrong and seemed to not understand, I made them look at the slideshow that the ELL learners used in order to see that the action goes with the picture.

            Technology was used by using computers, PowerPoint, audio learning, document camera, and a projector. Each of my students learn using different learning styles- kinesthetic, visual, and auditory. I was able to cover each of those in my lesson by using the slide shows, listening to the book on YouTube, and by playing Charades.

            I felt like this was a successful lesson. I was able to see the summative and formative assessments and determine if the students understood what was being taught. We used thumbs up and thumbs down for words that were verbs and words that were not verbs. Then, by having students complete their assessment, I could formatively see how the students did and determine if they needed a re-teach or if they understood.

 

 

 

 

 References

English Language Arts Standards " Language " Grade 2. English Language Arts Standards " Language " Grade 2 | Common Core State Standards Initiative. (n.d.). http://www.corestandards.org/ELA-Literacy/L/2/.

Heller, R. (2020, April 2). Kites Sail High: A Book About Verbs. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWvaDkGG0LU.

Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Verb. Merriam-Webster. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/verb.

Learning Style Analysis

 

  Teaching to each student can be a tricky process. By understand their learning styles and background, we as teachers can better accommodate to our students.  I had administered a learning inventory assessment last week from Georgia Department of Education (2020). This assessment was based on the learning styles using visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning. This was a 14-question assessment that determined which type of learning style worked best for them. Here are the results:

 Each student showed a learning style that works best for them. Student 1 scored highest on the visual learning. Student 2 scored highest on kinesthetic learning. Lastly, Student 3 scored highest on visual learning.

Interconnections between learning styles and developments of the students:

 Student 1 is from a lower socio-economic status. He is below grade level in his reading and scored below average on his state testing in reading. He has high attendance and his at school regularly. According to this assessment, he scored the highest on visual learning. According to Kelly Roell (2019), visual learners make up about 65% of your class. These students are good direction followers. They are great organizers, can see words from a book in their mind, and tend to visualize objects. This is a great example of Student 1. He is very organized, is kind, and follows directions very well. Some strategies that we could use to help with his reading might be:

-          Incorporating more color into class lessons and presentations

-          Give written instructions and expectations

-          Use videos to help explain the lessons

-          Vary teacher read alouds with silent reading time (Roell, 2019)

Each of these strategies might reinforce visual learners when trying to increase reading scores.

             Student 3 also scored highest on visual learning; Student 3 is below grade level in her reading as well. She is on grade level for her math and struggles with writing. She has scored below grade level on her spelling tests throughout the year. Her attendance is high, and she participates well in class discussions. By using these strategies for Student 3 as well, we can determine using assessments if she is able to catch up to her grade level in reading, writing, and spelling.        

Student 2 scored highest on kinesthetic learning. Student 2 is below grade level in both math and reading. She is a hard worker and tries to do well. She lacks participation because she does not understand the concept. Students with kinesthetic learning styles have a hard time in traditional lecture-based schooling because their body is not doing something to make the connection (Roell, K., 2018). This could be why Student 2 does not participate in classroom discussions, rather than not understanding the concept. Students who are kinesthetic learners have good hand-eye coordination, good at sports, high energy, and quick reactions. Some strategies for students that are kinesthetic learners might be:

-          Standing up at your desk while learning

-          Change up your writing tools while you read- underline passages in books and papers

-          Use tension and relaxation while you study

-          Use exercise while studying or during lessons (Roell, K., 2018).

           Each of these strategies might be effective for the kinesthetic learner in your classroom. This learning styles inventory could be administered to a whole class and the data could be analyzed to help with differentiating teaching styles to the learners. After learning about strategies and traits of each type of learner, teachers can use appropriate teaching methods in order to accommodate.

   Addressing learning styles when developing and implementing assessments: 

Rhoda P. Erhardt (2014) discusses this. She says, “Teachers, therapists, and parents who want to teach academic, motor, and self-help skills to children effectively need an individualized assessment methodology that (a) identifies preferred learning styles, (b) contains correlated teaching strategies, and (c) provides ways to evaluate results of the selected intervention strategies in order to adapt or modify them. Thus, tests must be both qualitative (to individualize learning modes), and quantitative (to measure progress). By using her steps of teaching to the learning style of the student, using correct strategies, using interventions as necessary based on informal assessments, and using qualitative and quantitative data on the test, we can make sure we are meeting the needs of our learners.

 

References

Erhardt, R. P. (2014). The Process of Creating a Learning-Teaching Style Assessment: A Checklist for Documenting Observations and Teaching Strategies. Comprehensive Psychology. https://doi.org/10.2466/07.IT.3.11

Georgia Department of Education. (2020). Learning style inventory. Retrieved on April 28, 2021 from https://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Special-Education-Services/Documents/IDEAS%202014%20Handouts/LearningStyleInventory.pdf

Roell, K. (2018, Sept. 11). The kinesthetic learning style: traits and study strategies. ThoughtCo. Retrieved on May 5, 2021 from https://www.thoughtco.com/the-kinesthetic-learning-style-3212046

Roell, K. (2019, Aug. 15). The visual learning style. ThoughtCo. Retrieved on May 5, 2021 from https://www.thoughtco.com/visual-learning-style-3212062

Technology-Based Resources for Differentiated Teaching!

 

 

 

 

            We live in a time where there are many technology-enriched learning experiences that our students and teachers have access to. These programs help incorporate subject-based learning into the classroom, or if preferred, virtual education. Here are a few to compare and see which ones might work best for you!

            EDpuzzle is an online platform where teachers can make videos for their students and track their comprehension. It is engaging for students and they can learn at their own pace. Teachers can ask interactive questions and check to see how many students are watching the videos and understanding the information. EDpuzzle allows you to upload videos from other websites including YouTube, Khan Academy, Crash Course, and others to save time preparing lessons. You are always welcome to upload your own videos as well! EDpuzzle can be used for in-person or virtual learning. Classrooms can use EDpuzzle to work on assignments and projects. According to EDpuzzle(2020), it is used by more than 50% of US schools.

            EDpuzzle can differentiate for readiness, interest, and learning styles. According to the EDpuzzle staff (2020, Dec. 9), students who might come into school later in the year do not have to play catch up. EDpuzzle can be used to assign videos, review grammar and vocabulary, and new materials the student may have missed. This can be used even when students are learning different languages. Another differentiation that students can use is the chance to do homework independently. You can use cross-curriculum by having students write a story about a math problem they have been assigned. There are opportunities for re-watching videos for instruction as well as providing support to students who might need the extra help.

            Next, SAS Curriculum Pathways is a great technology-enriched learning website that can be used to benefit students. It is easy to use for teachers and students. There are resources of different subject areas- K-12 as well as international studying as well. It is available at no cost and you can sign up using a Google account. It can be used on tablets, computers, or smart phones.

            For teachers, SAS Curriculum Pathways has lesson guides as well as plan books, State Core standards, and differentiated instruction. They use differentiated instruction by allowing the material to be used for elementary through high school. The materials are engaging and interactive. The materials that are provided engage struggling students as well as gifted and talented students.

            Instructional strategies that are used are project-based learning (PBL) as well as a flipped classroom. A flipped classroom is where students receive their primary instruction outside of the classroom based on teacher-made videos. Then, the teacher can continue students learning by helping them finish assignments, with questions, participating in discussions, etc. This strategy works well with SAS Curriculum Pathways (SAS Curriculum Pathways, 2020).

            Lastly, Newsela is another technology-enriched website that gives students access to become more engaged in their learning. Newsela has content that allows students to be global citizens and learn about the world around them. The materials included in Newsela are ELA, Social Studies, Science, and SEL. Because it does not include all subjects, that is a con to Newsela. It is a subscription-based learning site.

Newsela include distance learning, equity, and anti-bias and anti-racism lessons. It is beneficial because it focuses its curriculum on news stories and real-life situations that they integrate into reading and writing lessons. Differentiated instruction can be used with Newsela. This can be through in-person learning, virtual learning, cross-curriculum, and by having multiple subject areas (Newsela, 2020).

            EDpuzzle and SAS Curriculum Pathways seem to be a better fit in the classroom in terms of using all the subject areas and more differentiated instruction. Both of these learning sites promote learning and create ownership of learning within the students. In both EDpuzzle and SAS Curriculum Pathways, students can move at their own pace. This is a great way for students to become responsible for their learning. Once they have mastered a skill, they can move on to the next.

            With SAS Curriculum Pathways, I think that it is more based on the students’ motivation. If the students are not as intrinsically motivated, they may not get as much learning done. This could be due to a flipped classroom mentality versus live teaching for the students. With EDpuzzle, teachers can choose when they want to teach live or recorded lessons. Both are beneficial, but one might be better than the other based on what subject the teacher is teaching or by trying to incorporate more differentiated instruction (Stern, J., 2015, March 30).

 

 

 Resources:

EDpuzzle. (2020). Make any video your lesson. Retrieved on April 28, 2021 from https://edpuzzle.com/

EDpuzzle Staff. (2020, Dec. 9). 4 Reasons why parents will love EDpuzzle. Retrieved on April 28, 2021 from https://blog.edpuzzle.com/edtech/4-reasons-why-parents-will-love-edpuzzle/

SAS Curriculum Pathways. (2020). Interactive, standards-based resources in the core discipline. Retrieved on April 28, 2021 from https://www.curriculumpathways.com/portal/#

Stern, J. (2015, March 30). Edutopia. Enhancing learning through differentiated technology. Retrieved from https://www.edutopia.org/blog/enhanced-learning-through-differentiated-technology-julie-stern EDpuzzle. (2020). Make any video your lesson. Retrieved on April 28, 2021 from https://edpuzzle.com/

Life as we know it!

It's been a while since I've blogged. I've missed it. I love writing. Especially as I get older.  So, I'm finally updating everything.  A lot has happened since last blogging. I have 2 kids. Logan is in Pharmacy School at University of Utah. I still coach swimming, but I just got a job teaching violin next year at Westmore Elementary. Tate is talking like a champ! Griffy still isn't walking. He turned 1 last week. He crawls everywhere... and eats everything!

I'm sitting here in the waiting room while Tater is getting his teeth fixed. We went to the pediatric dentist last week for a cleaning and check-up and he has 7 CAVITIES... WHAT?!?! I swear I brush the kids teeth. Sheesh. Then, the dentist says Tater has to have surgery to get them fixed. Poor kiddo. So here we are. Fixing his teeth.

Tate is the best. For the anesthesia, they have the kids "Blow up a balloon" in order to inhale the gas that will put them to sleep. Good thing he is obsessed with balloons. He probably blew that balloon up so good that he went to sleep on the first breath.

Having kids is so amazing. They are like little molds. Not scared of anything unless you teach them to be scared. They are so open-minded. They are so perfect and innocent. I love seeing the strength of small children. I learn so much from them.

Super scatter-brained blog. I'll get back at it again!

pj and tate

I'm sitting in my living room right now watching my son try to pet my dog, PJ with a shoe. It's quite entertaining. PJ is the most patient dog I've ever met. Tate is the cutest boy I've ever met. (I'm totally not biased). I'm looking at how blessed I am to have the life I do. What a good life. Tate's my little best friend while Logan is gone. He makes my days exciting. Filled with lots of entertainment! And PJ- man's (or woman's) best friend. Best statement ever. I don't know if your dogs are as loyal and always excited to see you as mine is, but I guess I just lucked out. While I'm writing this, my son just learned how to take off his diaper. I'm in trouble!

Excuse my pictures. I couldn't find one with them together. I would have taken one but I have a broken camera. Bummer!

Today is full of possible. (Mt. Timpanogos Gardens)

 

Well Hello! I'm back from my hiatus. It's been a long time since I've blogged and I missed writing. I forgot how therapeutic it can be. It's also nice to have everything documented via technology. So.. since I've last blogged, a LOT has changed. My little guy is 1 years old and I have quit teaching school to be home with him. It's been such an amazing opportunity to be a mom. I love it. Heavenly Father has blessed me with so much! Sometimes it is definitely hard to see the blessings during all the hard times of NO sleep, or crying, teething babies- sometimes I have to take a step back and breath and just realize that my little guy isn't going to be little for very long. Then, I can sometime change my perspective on that. I love everything about being a mom and feel so extremely lucky to have MY son in my life. I don't think that Heavenly Father could have made a better match for our family.

This last year has been so great. I haven't felt happier in a long time. It's such a nice feeling because I have felt like the storms have been raging against me for quite sometime before that. I know that everyone is constantly searching for happiness and looks for quick fixes for everything. All I know is that you have to be PATIENT with yourself. Rely on your family. Rely on Heavenly Father. Rely on the Gospel. Rely on the temple. Rely on your true friends. And ENDURE.  I know that helped me.

I have had some really great things happen that I didn't expect to happen. I was handed a job to coach swimming- which truly is my passion and love. I have sure grown to love my little swimmers and it's so fun being able to see the improvement they have made because of their dedication and friendships that they have made. I also have been able to spend a lot more time with my siblings and my nephew and my son are good buddies. It's so fun to see them spend time together and become close. I have also gained a stronger love for my sisters. They are awesome people and so fun to be around. I am truly blessed.

My Husband. is. awesome. He has made this last year so exciting for me. He's in the process of applying for pharmacy school right now. I'm so proud of the hard work he has put in to school. He works full time and goes to school full time so that I can be with my Tater. I don't know a harder worker than him. NOT saying it's always easy. But Logan sure is the steady one in the relationship. When I'm a hot mess, he is always level-headed. Is it hormones? Or is it my actual personality? Probably a little of both. None the less, I married up. For sure.

We've had the chance to do some exciting things this past year. We have gone to Grand Targhee Ski Resort with Logan's family. We have gotten to go to San Fransisco and visit our closest friends Kristin and Justin and their new addition Dean. We have gotten to go camping and fishing. We have gotten to run some races and do some triathlons. We have gotten to go to Lake Powell. We have gotten to spend some quality time with family around home.  It overall has been a great year so far. I hope you realize how much you have and try to be grateful for the small things. One of my favorite quotes via pinterest is "Don't beat yourself up. Just get back on track." and "I think I like who I'm becoming."  I love that. Have a happy day!

Love, Car