"This practical and thought-provoking book offers time-saving strategies essential for every teacher in every discipline. The numerous self-assessments demonstrate that the best formative assessments are not merely given "to" students but are an interactive learning experience involving students, teachers, and professional colleagues."
-Douglas B. Reeves, Founder
The Leadership and Learning Center
"This book provides a wealth of information for teachers and mathematics leaders to consider when implementing intervention models, RTI programs, and differentiated instruction for low achievers through high achievers."
-Don S. Balka, Professor Emeritus
St. Mary's College, Notre Dame, IN
"Many of the seemingly abstruse or vague concepts-such as differentiated instruction-come alive in the numerous vignettes. Included are many examples of ways to quickly assess relevant student background knowledge before teaching a new topic and how to use this information for tiered instruction following an RTI (Response to Intervention) model."
-From the foreword by Russel Gersten
Director, Instructional Research Group & Professor Emeritus, University of Oregon
Seven easy steps to differentiating math instruction for busy teachers
Are you able to support your struggling students while also challenging your high achievers? Abundant research supports the value of differentiating instruction to students' individual levels, but putting it into practice can be daunting. Staff development expert and former math teacher Leslie Laud provides a clear roadmap for using formative assessment to differentiate mathematics instruction for students in Grades 4-10. She provides a comprehensive framework of seven research-based practices that show how to:
Get started and establish norms
Implement formative assessment
Create tiered lessons
Manage a multitasking classroom effectively
Tested and enhanced by experienced math teachers, the book's strategies are designed for use in conjunction with any curriculum or textbook. Included are a wealth of practical examples, reproducibles, and student activities-all developed with effective time management in mind. Whether you are just starting or interested in enhancing your mathematics instruction, this book will prove an invaluable resource.
Table of Contents:
List of Figures
Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Author
1. Getting Started and Establishing Norms
Getting Started
Establishing Class Norms
2. Formative Assessment
What is Formative Assessment?
Where Am I? Involving Students in Self-Assessment
Where Am I Going? Conveying Criteria or Learning Targets
How Will I Get There? Providing Feedback
Impact of Assessment on Confidence and Motivation
3. Tiered Instruction
What Is a Tiered Lesson?
Tiering by Student Characteristics
Tiering by Instructional Characteristics
Tiering Existing Textbook Lessons
Creating a Tiered Lesson
4. Supporting Students Who Are Low Achieving
Differentiating Instruction in Basic Facts
Differentiating for Conceptual Understanding
Differentiating Procedural Support
5. Challenging Students Who Are High Achieving
Exemptions Based on Prior Knowledge and/or Pace of Learning
Opportunities for Higher-Order Math
Strategies to Avoid
Importance of Challenge
6. Time-Saving Management Strategies
Planning Lessons and Units
Managing Students Working on Different Tasks
Assigning Homework
Grading
Wrap-Up
Suggested Resources
References
Index
