Differentiated Literacy and Assessment

Course Description

Every classroom is made up of students who have diverse backgrounds and different strengths and weaknesses. A "one-size fits all" approach to reading instruction will not adequately address the needs of all students. Differentiated instruction is an instructional approach designed to understand students' developmental level and provide instructional support that scaffolds individual learning. At its most basic level, differentiation consists of the efforts of teachers to tailor instruction to meet individual needs. This course will focus on four basic classroom elements in discussing differentiated instruction - content, process, product, and learning environments. The content is what the student needs to learn about reading and what various methods will be used to help the student access that information. The process is the specific activities that the student will engage in order to master the reading content. The products are the various projects and activities that require the student to rehearse, apply and extend the information that he has learned. The learning environments are the way the classroom is structured to support the differentiated instruction activities and grouping practices. Assessment is essential in all facets of differentiation, because data show the teacher what children already know, how well they are learning new information, and what kinds of activities would best support their continued learning. This course has been designated as a writing intensive course. In their writing for the course, students will practice (a) effective organizational structure, (b) advanced instructional terminology, and (c) clear and logical communication. The writing assignments are designed to teach students about the kinds of writing that are specific to early childhood classroom teachers. Specifically, students will be asked to produce writing that is appropriate for fellow educators and parents.

Code

ECED 3296

Credits

3

Subject

ECED