Differentiated Instruction myths And facts As interpreted By:

1. Differentiated Instruction myths And factsAs interpreted By: Shea Havens-White

2. Take Away #1 • MYTH: “Some teachers and administrators reject DI because of the mistaken belief that DI rejects direct instruction.” • FACT: All teachers should be providing their students with direct instruction. Differentiated instruction actually allows us to work more with our students. Differentiated instruction is not giving students different work and telling them to do it, but working with each student or group of students to benefit them.

3. Take Away #2 • MYTH: “Good differentiated instruction challenges students of all levels at all levels of thinking, but these characteristics and/or instructional methodologies are not exclusive to a DI classroom.” • FACT: Every classroom should be a challenging place for every student. By making a weak curriculum, everyone loses. Our students lose a learning opportunity and we become weaker educators.

4. Take Away #3 • MYTH: “DI is only for students with learning disabilities.” • FACT: Differentiated Instruction is for all students. Many of times I use differentiated instruction more with my gifted students than my students with learning disabilities.

5. Take Away #4 • MYTH: “Some teachers, parents, and administrators think that DI “dumbs-down” the level of classroom instruction because kind-hearted teachers are loathe to “leave any child behind” and will slow the pace of instruction or adjust curriculum accordingly to ensure “success for all.” • FACT: Differentiated instruction is not meant to “dumb-down” any assignment, it is strictly meant to make an assignment that benefits all students based on their ability. Differentiated instruction can make the curriculum harder for gifted students.

6. Take Away #5 • MYTH: “Some say that DI requires way too much preparation, assessment, correction, and record-keeping.” • FACT: When done right, differentiated instruction does not take any more time than developing a normal lesson plan. Like everything else in education, it takes time and experience to become an expert in implementing it in our classroom.

7. TAKE Away #6 MYTH: The same instructional strategies work for everyone. FACT: Some differentiated instruction has nothing to do with the student’s ability but simply their interest and how to keep their attention.

8. Take Away #7 MYTH: Differentiated Instruction has to be done a certain way. FACT: Differentiated Instruction can be done in a variety of ways, pick one or many!