Strategies for Differentiating Instruction: Best Practices for the Classroom [Paperback]

Julia L. Roberts (Author), Tracy F. Inman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2006

This easy-to-use book offers practical strategies for teachers to use in the classroom--strategies that allow all students to learn at appropriately challenging levels and make continuous progress by focusing on their various levels of knowledge and readiness to learn. Strategies address the interests and learning preferences of students in order to motivate them to produce their best work. Written in a teacher-friendly manner, "Strategies for Differentiating Instruction" presents strategies that can be used in any classroom to ensure that each student's needs are met. Designed specifically for teachers new to the differentiation adventure, the book offers sound, practical advice for preassessing students, implementing differentiation strategies, managing student learning, and assessing student learning. This book is full of the essentials that any educator needs to know in order to differentiate instruction and address all students' needs, interests, and abilities. Educational Resource

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Julia Link Roberts, Ph.D., is the Mahurin Professor in Gifted Studies and director and founder of The Center for Gifted Studies at Western Kentucky University. Dr. Roberts was named a Distinguished Professor at Western Kentucky University and was honored as the first recipient of the National Association for Gifted Children David W. Belin Advocacy Award.

Recently, she was named Executive Director of the Center for Gifted Studies and the Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky.

Tracy Ford Inman has devoted her career to meeting the needs of young people, especially those who are gifted and talented. She has taught on both the high school and collegiate levels, as well as in summer programs for gifted and talented youth. She currently serves as associate director of The Center for Gifted Studies at Western Kentucky University.

Tracy Ford Inman has devoted her career to meeting the needs of young people, especially those who are gifted and talented. She has taught at both the high school and collegiate levels, as well as in summer programs for gifted and talented youth. This Who’s Who Among American Educators was a Kentucky Teacher of the Year semifinalist in 1992, and now serves as Associate Director of The Center for Gifted Studies at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green.

Tracy has presented papers at both state and national levels and has been a writer and editor for The Challenge, an award-winning news magazine of The Center for Gifted Studies. At Western Kentucky University, she earned a BA in English in 1986, secondary teacher certification in 1988, an MA in education in 1992, and an endorsement in gifted education in 2001.

Product Details

• Paperback: 222 pages
• Publisher: Prufrock Press (September 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1593632053
• ISBN-13: 978-1593632052
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #193,218 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Every classroom teacher should have this book!, July 4, 2009

By 

Lorel Shea (New England) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Strategies for Differentiating Instruction: Best Practices for the Classroom (2nd ed.) (Paperback)

Strategies for Differentiating Instruction - Best Practices for the Classroom (2nd edition) is a fantastic resource for teachers of all grade levels. It explains why differentiation is a good idea, gives clear instructions on how to differentiate, and offers numerous tools to streamline planning and implementation of differentiation strategies. It is sure to be an asset to any classroom teacher, and especially those who work with a population that includes gifted students.

Authors Julia L. Roberts and Tracy F. Inman state that teachers can enhance the learning experience of their students by, "Allowing each child to learn on an ongoing basis... and go on to say ,"differentiation allows continuous progress for ALL students!" Utilizing this guide, teachers can assist each student in learning at their own pace and appropriate challenge level. A powerful analogy is presented in the book's first chapter, " It is no more fair to require every child in one grade to wear the same size of shoe than it is to provide one set of lesson plans for children who read at various levels. "

This guide contains many helpful diagrams. Page 14 has a ladder model of levels of academic success. Many gifted students end up getting stuck at level one. According to Susan Assouline, quoted in appendix A, they do not learn the lessons of work ethic, study skills, and time management, among others. Dedicated teachers who encourage students to challenge themselves can make a tremendous impact on our most able learners.

Levels of Academic Success

1: gets good grades with ease
completes assignments with little effort

2: earns high grades on assignments that challenge
completes assignments that require effort

3: learns with satisfaction and joy
student is on way to becoming a lifelong learner

Another great feature is the guide's wealth of reproducible worksheets. These include a multiple intelligences checklist, an interest survey, Bloom's taxonomy chart, Think Tac Toe project pages, Venn diagrams, and more. Kids like to be involved in planning their own learning, and these tools will assist the instructor in finding ways to optimize the educational experience of each and every child.