Differentiation

February 22, 2013

In the end, all learners need your energy, your heart, and your mind. They have that in common because they are young humans. How they need you, however, differs. Unless we understand and respond to those differences, we fail many learners. –Carol Ann Tomlinson

Many teachers understand the need for differentiation yet struggle to come up with a systematic approach that will ensure that the diverse needs of their students are met. Fortunately, they don't have to.

Gail has been a voracious consumer of educational research. In addition, she has done her own action research with students of all ages for years.

The Daily 5 structure provides extended periods of time for students to practice the skills they need to develop while reading books that are a perfect fit for them. The CAFE system guarantees that the instruction students receive will be a perfect fit as well.

Fifteen years ago, Gail told me I needed to work smarter, not harder. Daily 5 and CAFE have let me do just that.

If you are wondering if the Daily 5 and CAFE will work for you, I'm going to encourage you to jump in. It doesn't matter that it's the middle of the year. I'm sure that once you get going, you'll discover you have both the time and the ability to understand and respond to the needs of your learners in authentic and powerful ways—differentiation at its finest.