Re-teaching and Enriching Math concepts

The fourth grade team at my school is fantastic at working together to help all the students reach mastery.  All three teachers teach the same math lessons.  (with their own teaching style of course)  But after every unit test the teachers evaluate which students need some reteaching on the concept just tested.  So for one whole week the fourth grade classes are split up for 30 minutes.  There are 3 groups at 3 different readiness levels.  Group one did fantastic on the test and are clearly ready for the next step so they are put into a challange group where they are taught more challenging concepts based on the subject of the last test.  The middle group needs a little bit of help still and they are getting a quick re-teach of the concepts that were most tricky on the last test.  And the last group is not up to par at all.  These students get down to the nitty gritty basics of math and get a reteach on the simpler math problems they are missing.   For example the last unit was on 2 digit by 2 digit multiplication.  This lowest group reviewed basic 4 x 6  = 24 multiplication problems.

I think it is fantastic that the whole grade level is willing to really tier their math instruction based on the students needs.  I think that is very powerful that they are taking the time to fix the problem before moving on.  This 3 group reteach/enrich is a fantastic way to differentiate and I hope that when I get a job that my team of teachers will be just as willing to differentiate.

Words Their Way

I am almost done with my field experience this semester.  I have learned so many lessons it is amazing!  I am so thankful for my students and for my cooperating teacher Mrs. Monson.  She is amazing and she makes teaching look so easy.    One of the best lessons that I have learned these last three weeks is how to differentiate with spelling.   Last semester I learned about how to use Word their Way.   But in Mrs. Monson's class that is the only thing that she uses to teach spelling.

She has 5 color groups and they are all on different spelling levels.  She has each of them complete the same activities each week but on different days.  This allows her to spend one day a week working with each group.  She is able to focus on their individual needs and they get more personalized time with the teacher.   I haves helped administer these spelling tests for the past 3 weeks and every week the students do amazingly.

By differentiating their spelling words the students are able to be very successful.  The words are on their level and the students are mastering their spelling skills.  I believe that this is a fantastic use of differentiating.  It is far more important for the students to be challenged and successful than for all the children to learn the same concept.  The Words their Way program differentiates for students readiness.  It is fantastic.  When I get my own classroom I am going to adopt this program.  This is the simplest and easiest form of differentiating I have tried and it is working wonders in my class. :)