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Differentiating for the Young Child
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Differentiating for the Young Child
Teaching Strategies Across the Content Areas, PreK–3

Second Edition
Edited by:

Foreword by George S. Morrison



November 2009 | 280 pages | Corwin

Praise for the first edition:
"Smutny and von Fremd's very special talent is in helping adults nurture and cherish the creativity and learning joy that is so intrinsic in young children."
—Susan Winebrenner, Author and Staff Development Specialist
Education Consulting Service, Inc.

"The authors use teacher voices, classroom stories, and solid foundations to guide the reader's thinking. Practical examples and specific guidelines make the book very useful without resorting to templates or gimmicks!"
—Carol Ann Tomlinson, Professor
University of Virginia

Praise for the second edition:
"Using the ideas presented in this book make teaching and learning more personalized and exciting for both teachers and their students. This book provides a breath of fresh air for the teaching profession!"
—Carole S. Campbell, Educator
Higher Ground Educational Consulting

"This book is chock full of great examples and classroom applications, providing specific guidance and clear-headed advice."
—Nancy H. McDonough, Second-Grade Teacher
Walter Stillman School, Tenafly, NJ

Meet the highly diverse needs of primary students with these differentiated teaching strategies!

Every student who walks through the classroom door brings special gifts to the learning table. Differentiating for the Young Child helps primary teachers value and support the unique experiences and learning styles of diverse young learners.

Joan Franklin Smutny and S.E. von Fremd offer strategies and methods for promoting creative thinking and intellectual discovery across key discipline areas. They also tackle issues relating to underserved students and discuss differentiated technology use. Revised to make differentiated learning easier, this second edition:

  • Includes new charts with high- to low-preparation strategies for differentiating lessons in math, science, social studies, and language arts
  • Presents new focus questions to help teachers clarify their own priorities and target student needs efficiently
  • Offers Web sites for further reference

Because the primary grades influence all the years that follow, this resource helps early childhood and primary teachers use creative, differentiated teaching strategies to meet the individual learning needs of all young children and encourage their future academic success.


 
Foreword by George S. Morrison
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Authors
 
Introduction
 
1. Preparing for the Journey of a Differentiated Classroom
The Metaphor of a "Journey"

 
The Primary Classroom and Differentiation

 
Student Learning Needs

 
The Teacher's Knowledge and Experience

 
Essential Concepts, Knowledge, and Skills

 
A Learning Environment for Young Students

 
Resources to Explore

 
Priorities and Preparation

 
Beyond Planning

 
Looking Ahead

 
 
2. Assessing Primary Learners
Why Assess in a Differentiated Class?

 
What Do I Assess?

 
Who Assesses the Students?

 
When Do I Assess My Students?

 
How Do I Assess My Students?

 
Looking Ahead

 
Web Sites for Teachers

 
 
3. Strategies for Differentiating the Learning Journey
I. Manageability or "Rules of the Road"

 
II. Strategies for Differentiating the Learning Journey

 
Looking Ahead

 
Web Sites for Teachers

 
 
4. Using the Arts to Differentiate the Primary Curriculum
The Central Role of the Arts

 
Benefits of an Arts-Infused Curriculum

 
Arts Applications

 
Looking Ahead

 
Web Sites for Teachers

 
 
5. Differentiated Instruction Applied to Language Arts
The Big Picture: Language Arts Goals

 
The Five-Step Plan

 
Know the Travelers (Step 1)

 
Choose the Learning "Destination" (Step 2)

 
Identify Evidence of Understanding (Step 3)

 
Plan the Journey (Step 4)

 
Assess and Adapt Instruction (Step 5)

 
Six Examples of Teaching Strategies and Learning Activities

 
Looking Ahead

 
Web Sites for Teachers

 
 
6. Differentiated Instruction Applied to Social Studies
The Big Picture: Social Studies

 
Know the Travelers (Step 1)

 
Choose the Learning "Destination" (Step 2)

 
Identify Evidence of Understanding (Step 3)

 
Plan the Journey (Step 4)

 
Assess and Adapt Instruction (Step 5)

 
Six Examples of Teaching Strategies and Learning Activities

 
Looking Ahead

 
Web Sites for Teachers

 
 
7. Differentiated Instruction Applied to Science
The Big Picture: Science

 
Know the Travelers (Step 1)

 
Choose the Learning "Destination" (Step 2)

 
Identify Evidence of Understanding (Step 3)

 
Plan the Journey (Step 4)

 
Assess and Adapt Instruction (Step 5)

 
Six Examples of Teaching Strategies and Learning Activities

 
Web Sites for Teachers

 
 
8. Differentiated Instruction Applied to Mathematics
The Big Picture: Mathematics

 
Know the Travelers (Step 1)

 
Choose the Learning "Destination" (Step 2)

 
Identify Evidence of Understanding (Step 3)

 
Plan the Journey (Step 4)

 
Assess and Adapt Instruction (Step 5)

 
Six Examples of Teaching Strategies and Learning Activities

 
Looking Ahead

 
Web Sites for Teachers

 
 
Bibliography
I. Resources for Teachers–General Topics

 
II. Resources for Children–Creativity and the Arts

 
 
References
 
Index

"The authors do a very thorough job of integrating the implications and applications for classroom teachers. Each chapter includes both the why's and how's of differentiating instruction."

Tammy Tiong, Special Education Teacher
Dulce Elementary School, NM

"Represents a giant step forward in recommended teaching practices that are very likely to result in meeting the standards and testing requirements of any state. Using the ideas presented in this book will make teaching and learning more personalized and exciting for both teachers and their students. This book provides a breath of fresh air for the teaching profession!"

Carole S. Campbell, Educator
Higher Ground Educational Consulting

"This book is chock full of great examples and classroom applications, providing specific guidance and clear-headed advice."

Nancy H. McDonough, Second-Grade Teacher
Walter Stillman School, Tenafly, NJ

For instructors

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ISBN: 9781452272757

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