Week #2

1.
Differentiation is having the knowledge of each and every student in the classroom, and teaching them the way they need to be taught. It is challenging, but will be worth the time and effort that is put into it. Each and every student will have a chance to learn and grow because as a teacher I chose to teach with differentiation. I love how Carol Tomlinson says that differentiation is responsive teaching. I need to always be learning and growing for each and every one of my students, but still have a solid foundation to build on.

2a.
"Schools are like airport hubs; student passengers arrive from many different backgrounds for widely divergent destinations. Their particular takeoffs into adulthood will demand different flight plans." (Levine)

"School, however, does not exist to be a cocoon or to substitute for a psychologist's office- although both elements are arguably represented in effective classroom environments. A distinctive responsibility of schools is to help young people develop knowledge, skills, and understandings to contribute to society."

"How is it going to be for me in here?" they ask, "If what we do here meets my needs to be safe, to become stronger, I'm with you. If not, I can be simultaneously present in the room and absent from what you are asking of me."

A learner seeks to meet 5 things:
*Affirmation
*Contribution
*Power
*Purpose
*Challenge

"Effective differentiation begins with awareness and understanding of basic student needs."

Explain:
I love all these quotes and insights from chapters 1 and 2 because they explain differentiation so well. They focus so much on accommodating each and every student, which is a great reminder and something I will be sure to do in my classroom. As teachers we are not subject to just teach the core, it is so important as educators to teach life skills to help our students be assets to society.