Differentiating Instruction Whether you teach first grade or AP Calculus, your class is certain to have a variety of learners. Perhaps you have some ESL/ELL students, some learning support, some emotional support, some gifted, and some very “average.” TeachersFirst has resources to help you understand and adapt for student differences, including general ideas for any and all students and for specific student needs. For Any and All Students: Browse examples Many TeachersFirst resource reviews include differentiation suggestions and practical ways a resource can help you meet individual needs. For Specific Student Needs: Autism and Aspergers Find resources and information to help you understand and work with this increasing population. Adapt-a-Strategy for ESL/ELL Adapt your existing lesson plans using these simple strategies to help ESL students. Gifted Special Ed Special Ed regulations change frequently, and many are specific to your state.
What UDL? Universal Design for Learningis a set of principles for curriculum development that give all individuals equal opportunities to learn. UDL provides a blueprint for creating instructional goals, methods, materials, and assessments that work for everyone--not a single, one-size-fits-all solution but rather flexible approaches that can be customized and adjusted for individual needs. Why is UDL necessary? Individuals bring a huge variety of skills, needs, and interests to learning. Recognition Networks The "what" of learning How we gather facts and categorize what we see, hear, and read. Strategic Networks The "how" of learning Planning and performing tasks. Affective Networks The "why" of learning How learners get engaged and stay motivated. Source: CAST - What is UDL? Learn more about UDL:
What Is Your Learning Style? What Is Your Learning Style? This quiz asks 24 questions and will take less than five minutes to complete. Try not to think too hard -- just go with your first thought when describing your daily activities and interests. By the end, you may have some new insights into your learning preferences. Editor's Note (2013): There is no scientific evidence, as of yet, that shows that people have specific, fixed learning styles or discrete intelligences, nor that students benefit when teachers target instruction to a specific learning style or intelligence. The Noon Day Project Welcome to the Noon Day Project The next Noon Day project adventure will start on March 10, 2014. I hope you can join us then. For more information contact Greg Bartus, the project leader. Special greetings to our colleagues at AMTNJ (Association of Math Teachers of New Jersey) who are celebrating their Centennial anniversary this year! Measuring the Circumference of the Earth The Goal of the Noon Day Project is to have students measure the circumference of the earth using a method that was first used by Eratosthenes over 2000 years ago. Students at various sites around the world will measure shadows cast by a meter stick and compare their results. From this data students will be able to calculate the circumference of the earth. The Eratosthenes Experiment Watch as Carl Sagan describes some of the background surrounding Eratosthenes' experiment, which is the basis for this project.
Digital Library for Earth System Education