Subject | Grade | Differentiated: | Tiered Instruction Samples: |
Ethics | HS |
Content, Product |
Ethical Decision Making |
Language Arts | MS | Content, Product | |
Language Arts | MS | Process, Product | |
Math | MS | Process | |
Math | MS | Process | Vacation Math |
Math | MS | Content, Process | Measurement |
Math-Statistics | HS | Process, Product | Statistics-ConsumerData |
Math & Science | MS | Process | Math with Force, Motion, Energy |
Physics | HS | Content, Process | Physics in Everyday Life |
Science | MS | Product | MammalsEvolution |
Science | MS | Process | DNA |
Science | MS | Content, Process, Product | Matter |
Science | MS | Product | Dinosaurs |
Science | HS | Process | Chemistry |
Science | HS | Content, Process | Physics |
Science | HS | Process | Structured_Matter |
Social Studies | Elem | Process,Product | Pioneers |
Social Studies | MS/HS | Content, Process, Product | Primary Sources |
Social Studies | HS | Process, Product | Constitution With Rubric |
Social Studies | HS | Process, Product | Cold War with Rubric |
Based on work by Carol Ann Tomlinson
Powerpoint from: www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/.../TieredInstr.ppt
Basic Information from http://www.derry.k12.nh.us/dvs/staff/cmccallum/differentiation/tiered.pdf
In a differentiated classroom, a teacher uses varied levels of tasks to ensure that students explore ideas and use skills at a level that builds on what they already know and encourages growth. While students work at varied degrees of difficulty on their tasks, they all explore the same essential ideas and work at different levels of thought. Groups eventually come together to share and learn from each other.
Tiered assignments should be:
Basic Tiered Activity
Example: Completing a Character Map
Tier 1. (Low)
Describe:
-How the character looks
-What the character says
-How the character thinks or acts
-The most important thing to know about the character
Tier 2. (Middle)
Describe:
-What the character says or does
-What the character really means to say or do
-What goals does the character have
-What the character would mostly like us to know about him or her
-What changes the character went through
Tier 3. (High)
Describe:
-Clues the author gives us about the character
-Why the author gives these clues
-The author’s bottom line about this character
Tiered Activities
Tiering can be based on challenge level, complexity, resources, outcome, process, or product. (Heacox, 2002)
1. Tiering by Challenge Level:
Use Bloom’s taxonomy as a guide to develop tasks at various
challenge levels.
Example:
Elementary activities for book talk presentations.
Lower levels of Blooms:
Higher levels of Blooms:
2. Tiering by Complexity:
When you tier by complexity, you provide varied tasks that address a student’s level of readiness, from introductory levels to more abstract, less concrete, advanced work. Be careful to provide advanced work to the higher level student, rather than just more work.
Example:
After whole group class reading of a current events issue in the Time for Kids magazine such as global warming, students complete a related activity differentiated by complexity.
Tier one:
Students are asked to write a public service announcement
using jingles, slogans, or art to convey why global warming is a problem
and what people can do to prevent it.
Tier two:
Students conduct a survey of peer awareness and understanding of global warming. They design a limited number of
questions and decide how to report their results such as with charts or in a newscast.
Tier three:
Students debate the issue about the seriousness of global warming, each side expressing a different viewpoint. The must provide
credible evidence to support their opinions and arguments.
3. Tiering by Resources:
Use materials at various reading levels and complexity to tier by resources. Students using tiered resources may be engaged in the same
activity, (such as find five examples of contributions made by Native Americans ), or they may be working on a different, but related activity. (such as one group researching plants of the desert, while another
researches animals of the desert).
4. Tiering by Outcome:
Students all use the same materials, but what they do with the
materials is different.
Example: Pattern block Math
Tier one:
Tier two:
Tier three:
5. Tiering by Process:
Students work on the same outcomes, but use a different process to get there.
Example: What are the characteristics of a hero?
Tier one:
Tier two:
Tier three:
6. Tiering by Product:
Groups are formed based on learning preference, using Gardner’s multiple intelligences.
Example: For a unit on the solar system, Study of rotation and revolution
of the earth.
Tier one:
Tier two:
Position and move three people to demonstrate the concept of revolution and rotation of the earth with respect to
the moon and sun. (bodily-kinesthetic)
Tier three:
References:
Heacox, D. (2002). Differentiating Instruction in the Regular Classroom. Minneapolis, MN: Free Spirit Publishing Inc.
Tomlinson, C. (1999). The Differentiated Classroom, Responding to the Needs of All Learners. Alexandria, VA: Association for
Supervision and Curriculum Development, (ASCD).
Tiered Activity Resources:
For more ideas and specific tiered activities that you can use in your classroom, check out the following resources, available in the PACE
department at Derry Village School:Coil, C. (2004). Standards-Based Activities and Assessments for the
Differentiated Classroom. Pieces of Learning.
Davidson, K. and T. Decker. (2006). Bloom’s and Beyond: Higher Level Questions and Activities for the Creative Classroom. Pieces
of Learning.
Heacox, D. (2002). Differentiating Instruction in the Regular Classroom. Minneapolis, MN: Free Spirit Publishing Inc.
Tomlinson, C. (2003). Fulfilling the Promise of the Differentiated Classroom. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and
Curriculum Development, (ASCD).
Witherell, N. and M. McMackin. (2002). Graphic Organizers and Activities for Differentiated Instruction in Reading. New York, NY:
Scholastic.
The following web sites can provide further information and examples.
Best Practices: Instructional Strategies and Techniques
http://www.saskschools.ca/curr_content/bestpractice/tiered/index.html
Tiered Lesson Plans
http://www.doe.in.gov/exceptional/gt/tiered_curriculum/welcome.html
Tiered Instruction
http://www.derry.k12.nh.us/dvs/staff/cmccallum/differentiation/tiered.pdf