Gretchen Tew

Professor Isbel
Eled 300
March 31, 2016

Module 4

Introduction
When a teacher goes into their classroom they are having to think about so many
different ways to teach each one of their students. They have to think about being proactive, have
the classroom student centered, they also have assessments, and the classroom needs to be
blended. In this paper I will talk about the principles of differentiation, how it was used in the
classroom I observed this semester, and also how I will use it in my future classroom.
Principles of Differentiation
According to Kauchak and Eggen (2011) there are four principles of differentiation.
Proactive, student centered, assessments based, and a blend. Proactive is when a teacher goes
into a classroom already anticipating each of their students learning needs. Student centered is
based on the students needs and their interests. Sometimes teachers will go the extra mile and
take the time to learn about each of their students needs. Assessment is the third part of
differentiation and it is very important for teachers. In order for a teacher to know where the
student came from, and how they get there assessments are necessary. The final part of
differentiation is blend. Blend is really simple, it is when there is a mixture of whole group, and
individual instruction to meet all the students needs.

Mentor teacher
This semester I got the chance to observe a 4th grade class at Reed elementary. My mentor
teacher was a great lady that has been teaching 4th grade for six years. My time there was very
eye opening, I learned how to teach an older grade but I also got learn what not do. My mentor
teacher was great teacher but I only saw a couple of principles if differentiation. The ones that
was able to see her way of assessments, and how she does a blend. For example, her students
would do a math data quiz book everyday right before math. The problems from this quiz packet
all went right with the TEKS and helped them see problems that might be on the test. Her
students desks were set up in a square with numbers 1a, 2b, 3a, 4b, 5a, the numbers based on the
students learning needs.
Future classroom
In my classroom I hope to have a fun classroom, and for me to understand how to teach
each of my students. I know that everyone has their own way to learn, and as their future teacher
I am going to make sure they learn the important information I will teach them. I really want my
classroom to be a big blend, I want to have my students work in groups, and help each other out
because their friends might be able to explain the lesson better than me.
Conclusion
In this paper, I have talked about the four principles of differentiation, the way my mentor
teacher used the four principles, and how I will use the principles of differentiation in my future
classroom. When I become a teacher I want to be that teacher that makes her classroom fun and
have learned different strategies to help all my students.