Instruction and Assessment Unique to Each Student

Instruction and Assessment Unique to Each Student If teaching were as simple as using the one best way to teach everything, it would be considered more of a science. However, there isnt just one best way to teach everything and thats why teaching is an art. If teaching meant simply following a text book and using the same size fits all approach, then anyone could teach, right? Thats what makes teachers and especially special educators unique and special. Long ago, teachers knew that individual needs, strengths and weaknesses must drive instructional and assessment practice. Weve always known that children come in their own individual packages and that no two children learn the same way even though the curriculum may be the same. Instructional and assessment practice can (and should) be different to ensure that learning happens. This is where differentiated instruction and assessment comes in. Teachers need to create a variety of entry points to ensure that student differing abilities, strengths, and needs are all taken into consideration. Students then need varying opportunities to demonstrate their knowledge based on the teaching, hence differentiated assessment. Here are the nuts and bolts of differentiated instruction and assessment: Choice is key to the process. Choice of learning activity as well as choice in the assessment (how the student will demonstrate understanding).The learning tasks always consider the students strengths/weaknesses. Visual learners will have visual cues, auditory learners will have auditory cues etc.Groupings of students will vary, some will work better independently and others will work in various group settings.Multiple intelligence is taken into consideration as are the students learning and thinking styles .Lessons are authentic to ensure that all students can make connections.Project and problem based learning are also key in differentiated instruction and assessment.Lessons and assessments are adapted to meet the needs of all students.Opportunities for children to think for themselves is clearly evident. Differentiated instruction and assessment IS NOT NEW! Great teachers have been implementing these strategies for a long time. What does differentiated instruction and assessment look like? First of all, identify the learning outcomes. For the purpose of this explanation, Ill use Natural Disasters. Now we need to tap into our students prior knowledge. What do they know? For this stage you can do a brainstorm with the whole group or small groups or individually. Or, you can do a KWL chart. Graphic organizers work well for tapping into prior knowledge. You may also consider using a who, what, when, where, why and how graphic organizers individually or in groups. Key to this task is ensuring that everyone can contribute. Now that youve identified what the students know, its time to move into what they need and want to learn. You can post chart paper around the room dividing the topic into sub topics. For instance, for natural disasters I would post chart paper with different headings (hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunamis, earthquakes etc.). Each group or individual comes to the chart paper and writes down what they know about any of the topics. From this point you can form discussion groups based on interest, each group signs up for the natural disaster they want to learn more about. The groups will need to identify the resources that will help them gain additional information. Now its time to determine how the students will demonstrate their new knowledge after their investigations/research which will include books, documentaries, internet research etc. For this, again, choice is necessary as is taking into consideration their strengths/needs and learning styles. Here are some suggestions: create a talk show, write a news release, teach the class, create an informational brochure, create a powerpoint to show everyone, make illustrations with descriptors, give a demonstration, role play a newscast, create a puppet show, write an information song, poem, rap or cheer, create flow charts or show a step by step process, put on an informational commercial, create a jeopardy or who wants to be a millionaire game. The possibilities with any topic are endless. Through these processes, students can also keep journals in a variety of methods. They can jot down their new facts and ideas about the concepts followed by their thoughts and reflections. Or they can keep a log of what they know and what questions they still have. A Word About Assessment You can assess the following: completion of tasks, the ability to work with and listen to others, participation levels, respects self and others, ability to discuss, explain, make connections, debate, support opinions, infer, reason, re-tell, describe, report, predict etc.The assessment rubric should contain descriptors for both social skills and knowledge skills. As you can see, you have probably already been differentiating your instruction and assessment in much of what youre already doing. You may be asking, when does direct instruction come into play? As youre watching your groups, there will always be some students who will need some additional support, recognize it as you see it and pull those individuals together to help move them along the learning continuum. If you can answer the following questions, youre well on your way. How are you differentiating content? (variety of leveled materials, choice, varied presentation formats etc.)How are you differentiating assessment? (students have many options to demonstrate their new knowledge)How are you differentiating the process? (choice and variety of tasks that consider learning styles, strengths, and needs, flexible groupings etc.) Although differentiating can be challenging at times, stick with it, you will see results.

Signs Youre Meant to Go to Law School

Signs Youre Meant to Go to Law School Think that law school is for you? Law school is notoriously expensive, hard, and often boring. Moreover, jobs are hard to come by, not as lucrative as depicted by TV, and certainly not as interesting. Many law students and graduates are dismayed to learn that a career in law is nothing like they imagined. How do you avoid disappointment and disillusionment? Make sure that you are going to law school for the right reasons and after seeking the right experiences.   1.  You Know What You Want to Do With Your Degree Law school is for making lawyers. Be sure that you want to practice the law. Sure, law degrees are versatile  Ã‚  you do not have to be a practicing attorney. Plenty of  lawyers work in other fields, but a law degree isn’t needed to work in these areas. Should you seek an extraordinarily expensive degree and acquire massive loan debt to get a job that does not require your degree? Make sure that you know what you want to do and that a law degree is essential to accomplishing your career goals. 2.  You Have Some Experience in Law Too many students apply to law school without having spent even an afternoon in a legal setting. Some law students get their first taste of the law on their internships, after a year ​or more of law school. What’s worse is that some of these inexperienced law students decide that they dislike working in legal settings but after investing the time and money in law school stick it out and potentially become more miserable. Make an informed decision about whether law school is for you based on having some experience in the field. Entry level work in a legal environment can help you see what a legal career is really like a lot of paper pushing and decide if it is for you. 3. You Have Sought Career Advice From Lawyers What is a career in law like? You can spend time in legal settings and observe, but it’s always useful to get the perspective of a few lawyers. Talk to experienced lawyers:  What is their job like? What do they love about it? What isnt so fun? What would they do differently? Also approach more junior lawyers. Find out about their experiences transitioning from law school to a career. What was their experience on the job market? How long did it take to find a job? What do they like best about their career, and least? What would they do differently? Most importantly, if they could do it over, would they go to law school? In today’s difficult market more and more young lawyers answer, â€Å"No.† 4. You Have a Scholarship With three years of tuition and expenses running $100,000 to $200,000, deciding whether to go to law school is more than an educational and career decision, it is a financial decision with life-long repercussions. A scholarship can ease that burden. Recognize, however, that scholarships are renewed only when students maintain a given GPA and grades are very tough in law school. It is not uncommon for students to lose scholarships after the first year of law school, so beware. 5. You Cannot See Yourself Doing Anything Else in Life Than Practice Law Be honest. It is easy to make this claim, but research job options and do your homework as outlined above. Whatever you do, do not go to law school because you do not know what else to do with your life. Make sure that you have an informed understanding of the field and what success in law school requires. If so, prepare your law school application and plan ahead.