I know, I know . . . it was our 1 month Blog-iversary Friday, and I totally left you hanging. I’m sorry about that. I hope you’ll accept this small differentiated token of my affection for all of my followers.
I made one of these lovely little I-Spy activities for St. Patrick’s Day and thought that perhaps with Easter right around the corner, another might be useful. This freebie is tiered based on Dolch lists 1-3. Students use magnifying glasses to spy a word, then they record it and when their page is full, they read it to a partner.
My kids loved this activity and I loved that I was responding to their level of readiness. (It’s always a plus when I can write my code D/Tiered next to an activity in my lesson book. It’s just some coding I use to remind myself if my adminstrator asks how or if I differentiated an activity.)
With the new teaching evaluation requirements coming down from the top, I’m always interested in how other classrooms are required to show that their differentiating in their classrooms. So . . . how do YOU show your administrator that you are doing the differention dance? Drop me a line and let me know I’d love to hear from you.
By the way, if you also need levels lists 4-11, you can get them by clicking HERE!
Eeek! So cute– I love it! Sight words is one area in which I am *not* differentiating this year (boo). I know I need to and I do plan to, but I honestly think I won’t start til next year. Too many things on my plate this year! I know reviewing these words with my kiddos who already know the ones we’re learning isn’t detrimental, either and it would be a different case if they were showing signs of being disengaged. Luckily, everyone seems enthusiastic about sight word study!
One of the major ways I differentiate in my classroom is by providing scaffolding for my students with greater needs in certain areas. For example, in Science we work all year on doing Science writing and documenting in our science notebooks. However, I do have a handful of kids who still can’t organize their thoughts and data in the way I’m aiming for them to. So, I provide templates I draw up for them to glue into their notebooks to help them get the information down and still meet the expectations. I then only expect them to “fill in the blanks” with the keywords rather than compose sentences, but am still providing them with the format so they can feel successful and know what they’re aiming for eventually. I also make sure all my partnerships in math and science are mixed ability pairings so I can take advantage of peer mentorship opportunities as much as possible. I think differentiation is essential. I am so glad you have this in mind in all you do! Thank you for sharing your great ideas!
<a href=”http://abcprimary.blogspot.com>Primarily Primary</a>
Thanks for the awesome comment and for sharing how you differentiate.
I love getting mail. You made my day.
Marsha
Oh, this is too cute! Thanks! I am also interested in hearing ideas others have for showing how they differentiate. I know as teachers, we have things in place, but how do we make sure our principals and assistant principals know we are doing what we say?
Thanks for sharing! I’ll be checking back to read the comments………….thanks!
kellybrown28021@gmail.com
This is so cute!!! What program do you use for clipart and to make your packets?? I think they are SO good!!
I just found your blog and I am totally in LOVE with it. I have a co-teaching classroom where we differentiate EVERYTHING! Thank you for sharing such wonderful ideas. I am so excited to follow you! I would love for you to stop by my very new work in progress blog!
Thanks so much. I’m so glad you can use these items.
Marsha,
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your differentiated TPT products! We HAVE to show differentiation too. As a “new” teacher (in this state), I have to have FOUR observations, so differentiation is a HUGE deal! Thank you so much for such creative products!
Dana
Thanks so much for sharing how you show differentiated instruction, and for you kind words about my stuff!
Thank you!! I just found this on Pinterest and downloaded. Love it! I’m now a new follower of yours. I hope you’ll stop by my K blog, too, so we can swap ideas! 😉
Little Miss Glamour Goes to Kindergarten
Marsha,
Your website and activities have changed my year! I have used so many of your fabulous ideas and my students have made such great strides in math and literacy at there own levels!And related to the common core too! Each month I can’t wait to see what you post next! All though I have had to promise my left leg and right arm to my principal and my husband for all the printing and laminating, it has all been worth it!!!! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!