FIAE- Chapter 1

This chapter made me analyze and understand the idea of differentiated instruction as well as its’ definition and rationale. All teachers, even though they may not call it differentiated instruction, do just that, differentiated instruction. In order to truly master this type of instruction we need to understand how student’s think. This can be difficult since what we know how the brain learns and how it works is still being tested. One of our goals as teachers should be how to get the classroom to reflect what as been distilled from the research. Teachers need to step up and use the tools that have “stood the test of time.” When teachers do not spend as much time on identifying tasks for certain students, they can make sure they have taught in the best way possible for the students’ brains to learn and understand.
Differentiated instruction is doing what is considered fair for students. It’s a collection of the best teaching strategies which then gives teachers the best tools possible to handle anything. Because of such differentiated approaches each student can develop and individual style and strengths. Teachers can give students tools to handle their own learning, making them their own advocates for their education. It is true then that, “what is fair isn’t always equal” and the overall goal is to be fair and appropriate not “one-size-fits-all equal”. It is not we teach that is important but what the students have learned that matters. This approach to teaching is a variety of the best ways or practices to maximize students’ learning with all material and giving them the tools to handle anything they may encounter.
Not only does differentiated instruction help all students’ to learn but it helps the teacher to develop different and unique learning styles keeping the classroom entertaining and comfortable. Creating a safe, relaxing, and fun learning environment is important to a student’s learning. Differentiated instruction allows for many new ideas and activities in the classroom as well as helps the teacher to control the class in a less controlling way. This chapter has helped me to understand why differentiated instruction is so crucial to good teaching. It is not the material you teacher but how you teach it that matters.