Providing Differentiated Instruction Article Critique

Reading levels and skills of students are varied depending on their exposure and interest at the elementary level. All too often, teachers are overwhelmed with this challenge. Providing differentiated instruction has become a way of life in today's classrooms. No Child Left Behind is a common denominator in the quest to reach all students at all levels, for 100% proficiency in literacy on state tests by the year 2013-2014. I am an avid believer that technology and education can assist in this quest. The resources are out there to utilize, so why not try them!!!

This article, by Adria F. Klein, is based on differentiated instruction. It discusses and provides on line resources that cater to the individual learner at their instructional reading level. The web-based collection of resources assist the teacher in monitoring their student's progress and brings a variety of reading strategies, methods and skills into the classroom that are cost efficient, interactive and creative. These web pages are a great supplement to your student's learning experiences. They are accessible around the clock, comprehensive and time savers. The Learning Pages are a compilation of websites that will motivate and improve reading skills utilizing differentiated learning. It is a suite of resources that can assist the teacher, as well as the student in different classroom settings.

Reading strategies, such as alphabetic knowledge, phonological awareness, high frequency words, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension and assessment/reflection are the key skills that students must obtain for reading success. Differentiated instruction and a scaffolding of these skills, combined with technology, is a winning combination for improving the student's reading abilities and success. They can be used to customize lessons to the needs of each student. Incorporating the Learning Pages suite into your instruction will enable your students to reach higher levels of performance in their reading and writing skills at an individual level, and keep them engaged, fostering a love for literacy.

I found the article to be very informative and I can foresee the unlimited benefits. The possibilities of using the web to supplement and enhance instruction are boundless. In the world of education, I realize that differentiated instruction and the use of technology go hand-in hand. You must afford your students all of the possibilities and opportunities available to education. This suite of resources is at our disposal and is cost effective. Download your books, get lesson plans, individualize your instruction, engage your students and provide them with the virtual experience they are desiring! http://www.readinga-z.com/research/raz_whitepaper.pdf