Differentiated Learning

To get a grip on differentiated learning from a parent's prospective, you need to know some basic educational ideas.  The first is that all students are the same AND all students are different.  That's a huge idea to get your head around, but let's break it down.  You know that your child is a child and will do things that children do, correct?  A baby cries, a child explores, a teenage looks for identity; these are all parts of development that are expected and encouraged in ALL children.

You also know that your child is different, your child has different interest, different ways of responding to things, and different goals than the other children in the classroom.  THAT is what differentiated learning is about.  The teacher understands and accommodates both the developmental (normal kid stuff) and the learning differences (responses to education) in your child and tries to plan lessons that make these differences work to your child's advantage.  

That's pretty cool!  But it's also really difficult for a teacher to do in a class of 30 kids.  There are things you can do to help.

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The images below describe something called a Bell Curve.  This is the next idea to consider.  Most people, in terms of research, fall somewhere on this scale.  The first one shows support required from a teacher and the second one shows performance levels.  Some kids just need more help, then there are some kids that are on very similar levels, and then there are kids that wish the teacher wasn't there at all.

Have a look...

68% of people on average are average.  Look at the middle part.

28% of people need a little more/less help than others.  Look on either side of the middle.

2% of people need individualized, direct instruction.  Look on far left.

2% of people need individualized, self guided instruction.  Look on far right.

These numbers and graphs SHOULD NOT discourage you!  They're awesome.  It means there is a 96% chance your kid is completely, totally average and if you work with their teacher will stay on track.  The other 4% are great, too!  They just need a little more guidance.  

There is more light at the end of the tunnel.  The last thing to consider about differentiated learning. There are estimates as high as 70% of children WILL benefit from differentiated learning.  Learning that 'tweaks' educational input and expected outcomes on the learning abilities and interests of the learner.  Differentiated learning helps the 35% on either side of the middle...all of the lower performer, about half of the most average learners, and all of the high performers. 

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Exercise

This one is easy.  Really it is.  Differentiation for parents is easy.  Provide materials that your child is interested in and lots of it. Talk to your kid.  Try to love what your little person loves.  That's it.  You know your child the best and you have the ability to make this part of their lives better for them.

The hardest part of this is optional.  Offer to help your kid's teacher.   Really help.  Not just show up for your kid's class, but help the teacher.  This gives them more time to work on their lessons and, by extension, more time to work with your child.

This site has the best suggestions that I can find, Ways to Help the Teacher.  Just be there.  If you make a commitment, show up.  Many of these ideas relate to elementary school, but like we discussed before, your child is a child and needs the same help, even if it is in different ways.

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Cleaver, S. (n.d.). 12 ways to help your child's teacher. Retrieved April 8, 2015, from http://www.education.com/slideshow/help-your-childs-teacher/parent-helpers/

Robb, L. (2008). Differentiating reading instruction: How to teach reading to meet the needs of each student. New York: Scholastic.