Initiation to Differentiation

Identifying an Area of Need

Brian J. KocsiPrincipal, New Cumberland Middle School

The Vision…• Increase meaningful learning by

providing teachers the tools they need to create and implement differentiated lessons for the variety of learners within their classrooms.

Where it began…

• New to the Building

• Infusion of staff

Where it began…

• New to the Building

• Infusion of staff

• Infusion of students

• Ethnicity

• Socio-economics

• Special Education

Where it began…

• Formal Observations

• Pre-Conferencing

• Post-Conferencing

• Reflections

• Informal Observations

Where it began…

• Formal Observations

• Pre-Conferencing

• Post-Conferencing

• Reflections

• Informal Observations

• Discussions

• Teachers

• Instructional Advisors

• Curricular Chairs

Where it began…

• Formal Observations

• Pre-Conferencing

• Post-Conferencing

• Reflections

• Informal Observations

• Discussions

• Teachers

• Instructional Advisors

• Curricular Chairs

• Student Achievement

A Clear Purpose…Staff Attitude:

Poor Student Performance is caused by a lack of motivation.

One lesson is good for ALL.

Major Impact…

• Teacher Effectiveness

• Domain 1 – Planning and Preparation

• Domain 2 – Classroom Environment

• Domain 3 – Instruction

• Domain 4 – Professional Responsibility

• Student Performance

Where We Were…

• Monthly Meeting: Professional Development

•What does Differentiation look like?

•What will it look like in your class?

• How can it help SE and RE students?

Where We Were…

• “Homework” Assignment

•Identify

•Differentiate

•Try•Reflect

•Report

Where We Are…

• Monthly Staff Meeting

• Peer-share differentiated lessons

• Report out

• Showcase a success

• Identify a need

• Everyone held accountable

Where We Are…

• Lessons reviewed

• Exemplars identified

Where We Are…

• Lessons reviewed

• Exemplars identified

• Additional Needs

• Identify Peer mentors

• Creation of War Room

• Continuing Development

• Identify Book for club reading

• Planned time for collaboration

Where We Will Be…

• Building up the War Room

• Book Club Reading Groups

Where We Will Be…

• Building up the War Room

• Book Club Reading Groups

• Adjusting Master Schedule

• Planned time for collaboration

• Adjust Minutes Template

Differentiation At Work…

• Varying levels of working knowledge

• Experiences with SE students

• ES

• LS

• Gifted Support

Differentiation At Work…

• Varying levels of working knowledge

• Experiences with SE students

• ES

• LS

• Gifted Support

• “Not my course” mentality

• “I already do that” mentality

Lessons Learned…

• Model your use of data to improve instruction.

Lessons Learned…

• Model your use of data to improve instruction.

• Continually document the progress of your staff within meeting minutes and communications with upper administration.

Lessons Learned…

• Model your use of data to improve instruction.

• Continually document the progress of your staff within meeting minutes and communications with upper administration.

• Collaboration is a key to Cooperation

Initiation to Differentiation

Identifying an Area of Need

Brian J. KocsiPrincipal, New Cumberland Middle School