Week 2 Response

1) Carol Tomlinson mentions "definitions" or partial definitions of differentiation in chapter one. What makes sense to you, in attempting to define differentiation?

Before reading Carol Tomlinson’s explanation stated in chapter 1, I was very unsure of the meaning of differentiation. As I searched for the meaning as I read, a few passages stood out to me. I liked as she stated "Differentiated instruction is responsive instruction" I realized that differentiation means responding to your students and having a positive attitude to help them achieve their goals. Carol goes on to say "It occurs as teachers become increasingly proficient in understanding their students as individuals, increasingly comfortable with the meaning and structure of the disciplines they teach and increasingly expert at teaching flexibly in order to match instruction to student needs with the goal of maximizing the potential of each learner in a given area" After reading this passage, I realized the importance of differentiation and how using it in your classroom can maximize the potential of each of your students on an individual level.

2b) There are two powerful insights on page 12. Are there any statements, quotes or insights that speak to you from chapter one and/or chapter 2. Explain:

A passage I found insightful is on page 18, it states, " young learners seek a sense of purpose in what they do, Purpose, like power and contribution, is a factor in developing a sense of self-efficacy. This passage spoke to me because when we are teaching our students a concept, it is vital that they see the purpose of learning it. I know from my past experiences, that when I understand why I am learning something, it helps me grasp the concept because it is important to me. I hope that I can help my students have a passion for learning and I can allow them to see the purpose of receiving an education.