Differentiated Instruction Guide
Teaching Beyond the Test Provides Guidance for Projects, Assessments
Dec 12, 2007
Teaching Beyond the Test: Differentiated Project-Based Learning in a Standards-Based Age
In Teaching Beyond the Test, Phil and Dori Schlemmer, a husband and wife co-authoring team have produced a practical guide and CD-Rom for teachers in mixed-ability classrooms. The authors provide strategies for middle school and high school educators to creatively meet curriculum benchmarks without focusing solely on standardized tests. As the 2007 Free Spirit Publishing title suggests, the guide challenges teachers of all subjects to "teach beyond the test" so that students actually learn to use core objectives to solve problems and, ultimately, to continue learning.
Standards-Driven Projects
Although local, state and national Standards of Learning (SOLs) may leave teachers with very little choice when it comes to what to teach, standards-based projects allow teachers the flexibility to teach to individual intelligence, readiness, learning style, interests and culture. The authors provide ample guidance for teachers to achieve this individualized instruction in the context of small, heterogeneous groups or partner-learning.
The Schlemmers firmly believe that knowledge and understanding emerge from active learning. For this reason, they suggest using "curriculum-aligned projects" that allow students to make individual decisions in an authentic and meaningful context. Final products may vary, but ultimately each successful project will rely on a set of eight important skills:
- Reading
- Writing
- Research
- Planning
- Problem Solving
- Self-Discipline
- Self-Evaluation
- Presentation
Differentiation Strategies
With eighteen differentiation strategies from which to choose, teachers are bound to find project-based methods that will work in their own individual classrooms and content areas. A matrix outlines strategies to differentiate content, process and product while taking student readiness, interest and learning style into account. The authors suggest flexibility in grouping so that student interests as well as strengths and weaknesses can be taken into account for each project.
Research and Practical Teaching Methods
Teachers will appreciate this guide's combined use of research and practicality in the presentation of project strategies. Sample task sheets and assessment rubrics provide teachers with models for how to manage various classroom projects with course standards in mind. Additionally, the book's twelve ready-to-use differentiated classroom projects and more than 100 reproducible student handouts and teacher assessment forms available on the included CD-ROM allow teachers to adapt assignments to fit student needs. Project planners and assessment guides further simplify teacher planning and assessment.
Student and teacher materials are visually organized for clarity. Additionally, the ready-to-use projects provide students with assessment checklists so that they will know whether each project has achieved success.
All in all, teachers will find this Free Spirit publication quite helpful in meeting the individual needs of students of all levels. Thank goodness, there is a way to combine creativity with standards-based curriculum that actually yields test results.
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