What are some tools and resources that teacher mentors can use or recommend for differentiation?

1 Learning Profiles

Learning profiles are summaries of students' strengths, interests, readiness, and preferences for learning. They can help teachers design instruction that matches the learners' characteristics and goals. You can help your mentees create learning profiles by using surveys, inventories, interviews, portfolios, or observations. You can also suggest some online tools, such as Learning Style Inventory, Multiple Intelligences Survey, or VARK Questionnaire, that can generate learning profiles for students.

2 Flexible Grouping

Flexible grouping is a way of organizing students into different groups based on their learning needs, levels, or interests. It allows teachers to provide differentiated instruction and support to each group, while also fostering collaboration and peer learning. You can help your mentees use flexible grouping by providing them with guidelines, strategies, and examples of how to form and manage groups. You can also recommend some online tools, such as Flippity, Group Maker, or Team Shake, that can create and randomize groups for students.

3 Choice Boards

Choice boards are menus of options that students can choose from to demonstrate their learning. They can offer different levels of difficulty, formats, topics, or products, depending on the learning objectives and criteria. Choice boards can motivate and empower students to take ownership of their learning and express their creativity. You can help your mentees create choice boards by providing them with templates, rubrics, and samples of choice boards. You can also suggest some online tools, such as Google Slides, Padlet, or Symbaloo, that can create and share choice boards for students.

4 Technology Tools

Technology tools are devices, applications, or platforms that can enhance and support differentiated instruction. They can offer various features, such as adaptive learning, multimedia, feedback, accessibility, or collaboration, that can address the diverse needs and preferences of learners. You can help your mentees use technology tools by providing them with training, guidance, and recommendations of how to integrate them into their instruction. You can also suggest some online tools, such as Edpuzzle, Quizizz, or Flipgrid, that can provide differentiated learning experiences for students.

5 Professional Development

Professional development is the ongoing process of learning and improving as a teacher. It can help teachers develop their knowledge, skills, and confidence in implementing differentiated instruction. You can help your mentees access professional development by providing them with feedback, coaching, and mentoring. You can also recommend some online resources, such as ASCD, CAST, or Edutopia, that can offer articles, videos, webinars, or courses on differentiation.

6 Peer Networks

Peer networks are groups of teachers who share and learn from each other's experiences and practices in differentiation. They can provide teachers with opportunities to collaborate, discuss, problem-solve, and reflect on their instruction. You can help your mentees join peer networks by facilitating or participating in PLCs, book clubs, or online communities. You can also recommend some online platforms, such as Twitter, Facebook, or Edmodo, that can connect teachers with peers who are interested in differentiation.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?