Where are my students now?

Where are my students now?

How will you differentiate your practice in response to students’ learning and support needs?

Differentiation relates to understanding individual differences and devising teaching strategies to challenge and support every student’s learning.

Differentiation is evident in units and lessons when a teacher:

  • gathers information about student experience, interests, knowledge, skills and understandings

  • uses ongoing assessment information to adjust teaching and learning

  • provides sequenced learning experiences to extend and deepens each student’s current level of understanding

  • monitors and assesses students’ changing understandings and skills

  • reflects on the success of teaching strategies and learning experiences in meeting student learning needs.

Teachers differentiate at different points throughout the teaching and learning cycle.

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Lynda Lovett explains curriculum differentiation.

Lynda Lovett, A/Senior Curriculum Policy Officer
Gifted and Talented,
NSW Curriculum and Learning Innovation Centre

You will be able to answer this question once you have considered the readiness of a class you teach:

  • What do my students already know and what can they do?

  • What are their interests?

  • What cultural and background knowledge do they bring?

  • How do I know this? What is my evidence?

  • Which students require extension in particular areas?

  • Which students require support in particular areas?