Component 2: Differentiated Instruction Flashcards

A teacher uses 'anchor activities' as part of differentiation. What is the primary purpose of anchor activities?

Answer: To keep early finishers productively engaged while the teacher works with other groups

Anchor activities are meaningful, independent tasks that students move to when they complete assigned work, allowing the teacher to give attention elsewhere.

Which statement BEST describes the relationship between differentiation and high expectations?

Answer: Differentiation adjusts the path to high expectations, not the expectations themselves

Effective differentiation maintains rigorous goals for all learners while varying the support, complexity, and pathway to reach those goals.

A teacher collects exit tickets every day and uses results to form next-day small groups. This practice primarily supports differentiation by:

Answer: Using ongoing formative data to respond to current student needs

Daily exit tickets provide timely data that allow teachers to adjust grouping and instruction before the next lesson.

A student with a gifted IEP requires differentiation. Which approach is MOST aligned with NBPTS standards for this student?

Answer: Providing curriculum compacting and then engaging the student in advanced content or projects

Curriculum compacting respects mastered content and replaces it with appropriately challenging work, meeting the student's readiness needs.

In a differentiated classroom, a 'learning menu' or 'choice board' primarily differentiates by:

Answer: Interest and/or learning profile, giving students agency in how they engage

Choice boards primarily honor student interest and learning profile preferences, increasing intrinsic motivation and ownership.

Which evidence would MOST effectively demonstrate differentiation in an NBPTS portfolio entry?

Answer: Student work samples at different complexity levels alongside the teacher's reflective commentary linking them to assessment data

Work samples at varied levels combined with reflective analysis show how the teacher assessed needs, planned varied instruction, and evaluated outcomes.

A teacher is concerned that differentiation is too time-consuming. Which strategy makes differentiation more sustainable?

Answer: Building two or three tiered versions of key tasks rather than individualizing every activity

Creating two to three tiers for key tasks is far more manageable than fully individualized planning and still addresses the range of learner needs.