Eight Random Things MEME

Teach Web 2.0 and Othersideofthedesk both tagged me for the 8 random things MEME, so here goes…

Rules:

1. Post these rules before you give your facts.
2. List 8 random facts about yourself.
3. At the end of your post, choose (tag) 8 people and list their names, linking to them.
4. Leave a comment on their blog to let them know they’ve been tagged.

Eight Random Facts About Me:

1. I love to travel and have been to Poland, Israel, Mexico (several times) and Italy, as well as various places in the US, and I hope to add more countries to my list this next summer.

2. I am a voracious reader and have recently become obsessed with Shelfari.

3. My first department head was also my 6th grade English teacher. YIKES!

4. I have an Italian Greyhound named Abbey.

5. I stopped drinking sodas about six years ago and haven’t had a taste since.

6. I used to kick-box and now enjoy boxing with my heavy bag in my garage.

7. My maiden name is Stephens and my married name is Stevens. Hee hee!

8. I am a very picky eater. I don’t like chocolate, butterscotch and am very particular about the meat I eat, but I love ALL vegetables. 🙂

Four Blogs I’m Tagging

1. FinalCurve
2. Jig-Saw History
3. What I Think
4. LeftLane Ends
5. The Education Fuse 
6. CatWhillock’s Blog 

Sorry… only tagging six.

Join the Differentiation Discussion

Jig-Saw History posed some questions about differentiation the other day and there has been a great discussion taking place over on his site.  Other people have started to join in the conversation too… check out the responses on Change Agency and Teaching Mr. Belshaw.

Take a minute to share the ways you differentiate in the comments below or over on Jig-Saw History.

My Answers to the Ten Differentiation Questions

One of my colleagues asked some good questions about differentiation over on his blog, and I thought I would attempt to answer them. So, here goes…

The following are 10 questions about classroom differentiation.

1. Do you differentiate by content, instructional method, assignment or some other way? The most common way I differentiate is by assignment or product. Giving the students choices by allowing them to present information in a way that is the most comfortable or engaging for them is the quickest and easiest way to get students actively involved in their education.
2. For whose benefit do you differentiate?I differentiate for the benefit of the students as well as for myself. Differentiation allows students to learn at the level and in the way that is best for them while also allowing me to teach in an environment that is continually changing.  Differentiation often times also helps me by allowing students to “cover” more of the curriculum in a shorter amount of time because they take some of the instructional burden off of me.
3. To what percentage do you differentiate you assignments? 100%, 50%, 10%?Hmmm… this number is totally arbitrary but in the past I would say I differentiated lessons about 40-50% of the time and it tended to be more on projects than on everyday assignments. Next year when I am back in the classroom,(yes, you heard me right… I am TEACHING half-time next year.  Woo hoo!) I plan on using the Adaptive Release feature in Blackboard to differentiate grammar and vocabulary assignments.
4. What are the immediate student benefits of differentiation? Engagement, success, a voice in their own education, a peek into the educational process…
5. What are the long term benefits for teachers? Decline in classroom management issues, students interested in their learning, inability to stagnate…
6. Were you taught about differentiation before or after you became a teacher?After… I figured out after my first year teaching that I needed to allow students to have some choices and a voice about what they were learning, but I didn’t actually hear the term differentiation until about my fourth year teaching.
7. Does differentiation take more of your time to implement than other instructional approaches?In the beginning yes, but like most things once you become accustom to creating differentiate lessons I think the time evens out… and the time is worth it.
8. How do you keep from differentiating only to your own interests and styles? I am not sure I “get” the question… but I will venture an answer.  I think you give the students an opportunity to critique lessons and offer input into their design. You may have certain objectives to teach, but students can help you devise how they are taught/learned.
9. Is there such a thing as too much differentiation? Sure.  Differentiation is great, but so is candy… too much can make you sick. 🙂 But seriously, there are some topics that may not require differentiation to engage the students.  There are some times when you might want to have an old-fashioned discussion or need everybody on the same page.  The trick is to mix it up and give the students input.
10. Have you ever sat through a lecture on differentiation? Bonus: Did you find it ironic? Yes and yes… In fact, I have given a lecture on differentiation and thought… “Wow, what a bad example I am.”

After reflecting on differentiation and answering the above questions, I have decided to make this a meme of sorts… so, I am tagging… Otherside of the Desk, Left Lane Ends, Finalcurve, Miguel Guhlin, Wesley Fryer and Change Agency.  Hope to see your answers!

Leadership Meme

Chris Lehmann over at  Practical Theory tagged me for Miguel’s leadership meme.

So, here goes…

What are seven things we don’t know about you that help you be a leader?

1. I am honest and to the point (sometimes to a fault).
2. When I believe in something, I am very passionate and quite tenacious.
3. I continually search for knowledge and love to learn.
4. I am able to see things from others’ perspectives and often try to do so.
5. I love to debate but am okay with agreeing to disagree.
6. I am a hard worker and am very organized.
7. Although I like to be in charge most times, I am able to work well within a team environment.

My answers are short and concise… just like I like them. 🙂

I have decided not to tag anyone specifically.  Instead I am inviting you all to answer the question if you like.