Professional
development for differentiation practices in Wilmette has evolved
simultaneously with the teachers' affirmation
of differentiation practices
in the classroom. Administrators and teachers embrace professional development in the best practices that come from quality training in differentiated instruction. We believe...
The practice of DI requires powerful, practical
training
for the novice as well as the veteran teacher.
Our Continuum of Growth
| Between 1994-1999 Dr.
James Curry, (University of Southern Maine), presented workshops
and training on the Curry/Samara model presenting understanding
about higher level thinking, creative thinking, and defining quality
products.
His
work helped
early innovators focus on the content, product, and process. (see early staff
development) |
| DSTs began building-based
book studies using Tomlinson's classic, The Differentiated Classroom during
the next two years. (The 'purple'
book is still given to new teachers in the district.) Other building-based
courses were built around DI key concepts and continued to be offered. (staff
development history) |
| The Differentiation Team offered our first Differentiation Summer Institute in 2003 (a
week long, graduate-credit class with the team
as instructors. Participants attended whole group and break-out
sessions; time was given for writing differentiated instructional
lessons. The team provided side-by-side coaching and resources. (photos
Institute 2004) |
| Over the course of the last twelve years
we've had powerful learning experiences with nationally known experts.
The inclusion of differentiated instructional goals in district
school improvement plans (SIPs) and into the District 39's Long
Term Strategic
Plan had given integrity to the value of professional development for DI. |
| The annual Summer DI Institute
continues to be an integral part of our professional development for our staff (now in its 6th year). Other courses offered during
the school year have focused on specific training such as using technology to differentiate instruction, pre-assessments, (preassessment
course) Understanding by Design/and DI, and how RTI and DI connect.The DST team continues to provide ongoing professional development experiences
for Wilmette teachers conducting mini-workshops during district grade level meetings. |
District 39 teachers continually seek
methods and strategies to strengthen
differentiated
instruction
in their classrooms. Many teachers proactively support grade level team members to plan together for differentiation. |
