FIAE Chapter 1

I found the debate over whether differentiated instruction could actually be doing students a disservice by making things too easy for them an interesting one. In the face of mounting pressure for traditional academic success and exceptance to top colleges, a lot of emphasis is placed on independence and personal achievement. While these are undoubtably positive elements of education, they can sometimes make learning an isolating experience for students and unintentially do away with some of the collabortive and creative elements of education. Differentiated instruction brings these factors back and shows how teacher involvement and diverse instruction can bring about those desired results while allowing students to become well-rounded learners capable of adapting to varied learning situations. Paying close attention the ways that differentiated instruction affects students both in and outside of the classroom is a skill that I will bring into the classroom with me. Everything teachers do has the ability to have long-term effects on a student, and this is something that it is extremely important to remember. I also learned a lot about how differentiated instruction really is necessary for a successful classroom. Up until now, I think we were sort of given the impression that it was only used from time to time, or pulled out of the teacher tool box during difficult situations. But so much of what teachers do on a daily basis is differentiated by nature, without having to attach a label to it. Effective teaching requires instructors to constantly evolve and adapt their methods, often right in the moment and without time for extensive preparation. These intrinsic skills are a big portion of what differentiated instruction is all about, and that makes the whole thing seem a lot less intimidating.