Professional Development

I am at the ASCD conference this week in Orlando. Actually, I am at one of the pre-conference workshops. This one is on differentiation taught by the guru herself, Carol Ann Tomlinson. Geek that I am, the coolest thing is to go to something taught by the masters. I love to sit at their feet and drink in their wisdom.

The coolest thing about this workshop so far is that from the first minute, they were differentiating for us. We could see it in action without having to do anything but sit there. They offered us choice. They gave writing prompts in Sternberg's Intelligences, they had think-pair-share activities. At one point, Tomlinson said, "If you feel comfortable enough to ratchet it up a bit, come up here and we'll talk up front." Many of us did, while others stayed on another task. She sat down on the floor and we did too. She talked and we listened and questioned. We got the little extra something we wanted. Then, we got up and went back to the whole group. How cool it would be if a teacher were comfortable enough with instruction and planning to make her classroom like this. Wait...that's what differentiation is all about. LIGHTBULB!!!!!!!!

Differentiation is not another thing to do. It's a lifestyle, a thought process, a way of life. It is the best way to meet the needs of all your students all the time. It becomes natural if you do it long enough. It is hard, but it is worth it.

I have been working as a member of our district's differentiation team all year. We have been training to be experts in our content area that other teachers can use as a resource when wanting to differentiate in their own classrooms. We are a work in progress. It is due to my school district I am here.

What a way to spend the week before spring break!