How to Differentiate Instruction in Mixed-Ability Classrooms, 2nd Edition (Professional Development)

I like the theory and implementation strategies behind this book! It was easy to read and understand, too. I bought it for an education/ teaching methods course and I've used it to write every lesson plan, unit plan since. It relates to the idea that classrooms are made up of so many diverse types of learners that you must try and vary your instruction. (It's a lot like Howard Gardner's "Ways of Knowing".) It gives suggestions on how to add "difference" to your lessons. A lot of school corporations near where I live are adopting "DI" as well. It's catching on along with "Understanding by Design." Differentiated instruction works really well with Special Needs students, too. I recommend that anyone teaching these students at least read a copy of the book if not keep one for their own libraries!

Loved this book. I teach a differentiated classroom and part of the course is based on this book. Great introduction to differentiation. Instead of giving you fish (list of differentiation activities) it teaches you to fish (create your own differentiation activities. If you are about to take a differentiation course or want to learn more about DI, read this book. Also, has suggestions for wonderful activities that can be adjusted and remodeled for your grade level and subject matter. Follow this book with Differentiation in the Classroom: Responding to the Needs of All Students. This book gives even more examples of how to use DI strategies. If you want to really get a taste of DI and are in the NJ/MD/PA area take a Regional Training Center course at thertc.net website.

So I've been teaching successfully for almost 20 years. I'm proud of that -- and think I do a good job -- but I've NEVER been good at differentiating learning in my classroom. Worse yet, I've NEVER had ANY good PD around how to make differentiation happen in the classroom. As a result, it has always been a concept that intimidated me. In theory, I'm down with differentiation. In practice, I never do it.Tomlinson's book -- which is full of practical and approachable examples of differentiation in action -- has been super valuable to me mostly because I can see all kinds of places where I can incorporate differentiation into my work without radically changing what I do. That matters, y'all. Innovation is about evolution, not revolution -- and Tomlinson has shown me places where my practice CAN evolve without killing me!#goodstuff

I fall under the former category--I went through my methodology courses where my professors were very good with teaching my classmates and I about differentiated instruction. However, I have to say that this book (which I'm reading right now) is even more helpful. It's like having a really sweet professor who you're not afraid to talk to explain away all the confusion without judgment. It's very concise, gives great examples and even if you know about DI already, it just gives you more ideas that you can definitely implement in your classroom, regardless of the content you teach. I think that's especially important because despite what it seems, all subjects taught in school interconnect in various ways. Anyway, I think this book is wonderful for all the newbie teachers (such as myself) and for the more seasoned professionals--it's useful and informative for all, and I definitely don't regret purchasing this. :)

If you are of the firm belief that our current education system lacks diversity and you want to move towards implementing change this is the book for you. Not only does this book expound on differentiated instruction it also gives examples to drive content home. An excellent read.

It's the best book I've found for differentiation in regular education classrooms with mixed ability levels (and I have been teaching special needs students for awhile). However, it still misses the big picture. If we stop focusing on "strategies" and simply look at the individual student, and Ask The Student what he/she needs in order to learn, we get the very best results.

Tomlinson's "How to Differentiate Instruction" has been quite helpful in two ways. First, she gives an excellent summary of differentiated instruction- a brief breakdown of what it is and is not. Second, she provides practical tips in how to manage a differentiated classroom, dealing with parents, etc. I'm not sure how helpful this would be for an experienced teacher, but for me (a first-year teacher wanting to begin differentiating instruction) the tips were practical and to the point. I felt this was more than theory- this was a how-to, which is exactly what I needed. I had actually borrowed this from a library, but wanted to hold onto for a reference so much I ended up buying it.

How to differentiate instruction in mixed-ability classrooms is essentially a very watered down version of constructivism. This is not a bad thing, in fact constructivist theorists knew others would catch on as the accountability movement grew. The book talks specifically about student centered learning and authentic assessment as well as disposes myths about what differentiated learning is and is not.As the accountability movement matures, I believe we will see that Tomlinson and others who discuss differentiation are really part of the larger strain of constructivist theorists who are rooted in the idea of making learning meaningful through authentic class explorations of knowledge as well as authentic assessment.