1. Tomlinson, C. A. (1999) The Differentiated Classroom : Responding to the Needs of All Learners. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision & Curriculum Development.This is a book by an author who has done a lot of researching and writing about the subject of differentiating instruction in the classroom. It includes the "who, what & why" of differentiation. She talks about instructional strategies, learning environments, how teachers make differentiation work, and the importance of support from educational leaders. She talks about Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences and how that fits into this philosophy. There is a section where she talks about equity and excellence for every student, and the need for students to be appropriately challenged in order for them to make progress.
This book is great resource for any teacher who is concerned about being an effective teacher. It is especially helpful for middle school teachers who want to get away from tracking, yet make sure every student is appropriately challenged. Tomlinson gives examples of how teachers differentiate instruction at different levels. Within those examples are ways teachers have differentiated middle school instruction in an eighth grade physical education class, and with a seventh grade lesson that was a review in all the subjects. Real-life examples of teachers teaching this way and the benefits the students reap make this book worth taking the time to read.
2. Heacox, D. (2001) Differentiating Instruction in the Regular Classroom: How to Reach and Teach All Learners, Grades 3-12. Minneapolis, MN: Free Spirit Publishing, Inc.
Heacox's book on differentiating instruction is written from her experience in the classroom and from the study of many experts in the subject of education. According to middle school philosophy, every adolescent is different and should be challenged to achieve at higher levels, regardless of the student's ability level. In this book, Heacox offers a variety of strategies for teachers to use in a classroom where there is a wide variety of levels of skill. Some are just quick tips; some are quite comprehensive plans, while others are somewhere in between. She explains how not every gifted child is gifted in everything and how teachers can recognize where students have strengths and weaknesses.
This is a book that every middle school teacher should have for a reference. Heacox includes templates, forms and other useful tools, as well as helpful scenarios. She shows how mandated curriculum can be differentiated. For a middle school teacher who wants to change from tracking to heterogeneous grouping, or who wants to differentiate within tracked groups, this book would be a great tool to have.
Created by: Students at the University of Maine at Farmington
Carolyn Shorey:carolynshorey@hotmail.com Sarah Olmsted:omisj@hotmail.com
Becky Waugh:waughb42@aol.com Eric Feeney:efeene@hotmail.com