Teaching is a very habit-bound endeavor. We're unsettled by the unfamiliar. We're creatures of habit too. Carol Ann Tomlinson More Quotes by Carol Ann Tomlinson More Quotes From Carol Ann Tomlinson Differentiation is simply a teacher attending to the learning needs of a particular student or small groups of students, rather than teaching a class as though all individuals in it were basically alike. Carol Ann Tomlinson teaching class teacher Differentiated Instruction is a teaching philosophy based on the premise that teachers should adapt instruction to student differences. Rather than marching students through the curriculum lockstep, teachers should modify their instruction to meet students' varying readiness levels, learning preferences, and interests. Therefore, the teacher proactively plans a variety of ways to 'get it' and express learning. Carol Ann Tomlinson teaching teacher philosophy Differentiation is classroom practice that looks eyeball to eyeball with the reality that kids differ, and the most effective teachers do whatever it takes to hook the whole range of kids on learning. Carol Ann Tomlinson teacher kids reality In differentiated classrooms, teachers begin where students are, not the front of a curriculum guide. Carol Ann Tomlinson curriculum students teacher A teacher in a differentiated classroom does not classify herself as someone who ‘already differentiates instruction.’ Rather that teacher is fully aware that every hour of teaching, every day in the classroom can reveal one more way to make the classroom a better match for its learners. Carol Ann Tomlinson teaching doe teacher Creating a classroom environment that encourages students to take the risk of learning. We've known for a long time that when students lack a sense of safety or of belonging or of contribution, learning takes second place to meeting those needs. Carol Ann Tomlinson creating safety long We need to develop a robust set of tools - strategies and routines - that help us address student variance. It's easy to come to rely on two or three "trusty" instructional strategies like worksheets and lectures. Those are of little help in planning for a variety of student needs. As we develop a better toolbox, we're empowered to meet students where they are. Carol Ann Tomlinson three two needs Assessment is today's means of modifying tomorrow's instruction. Carol Ann Tomlinson assessment today mean As educators we need to understand that there is no finish line in our work. Carol Ann Tomlinson educator lines needs We need teacher educators who are hungry to learn about and implement contemporary approaches to teaching and learning in their own classrooms and who are reflective about their work with their students. Carol Ann Tomlinson teaching teacher needs Teachers craft classrooms that are good matches for their teaching styles as well as for learner needs. Carol Ann Tomlinson style teaching teacher We're teaching a generation of students who've been schooled to produce quick, right answers on demand. They are not comfortable with ambiguity. The implications of that in the long term are discomforting. Carol Ann Tomlinson generations teaching long Until a teacher learns to use elements like time, space, materials, groupings, and so forth flexibly, it's incredibly difficult to teach students as they need to be taught. Carol Ann Tomlinson space teacher needs The central job of schools is to maximize the capacity of each students. Carol Ann Tomlinson students jobs school Important element is deeply understanding our curriculum. Most teachers know what they're going to cover this week or this term. Few of us can specify precisely what students should know, understand, and be able to do as a result of any particular learning experience or set of learning experiences. Without that specificity, alignment between content, assessment, and instruction is weak. Carol Ann Tomlinson assessment understanding teacher A gifted teacher has an unfailing eye for magical classrooms & loses sleep over anything less than the highest quality. Carol Ann Tomlinson teaching sleep teacher The high stakes test culture runs almost totally counter to what we know about how people learn. It causes us to engage in professional malpractice on a regular basis. Carol Ann Tomlinson causes running people It is not so important to have all the answers as to be hungry for them. Carol Ann Tomlinson important teaching answers We can always gain more depth and breadth in our work [as educators]. There are always new discoveries to be made. Carol Ann Tomlinson gains depth discovery Plan to be better today, but don't ever plan to be finished Carol Ann Tomlinson learning teaching today
