Focus area 1.

.5 Differentiate teaching to meet the specific learning needs of students across the full range of abilities
Descriptor
Develop teaching activities that incorporate differentiated strategies to meet the specific learning needs of students across the
full range of abilities.

Rationale
Differentiated teaching engages students to interact and participate in the classroom in a richer way. It is based on the
assumption that all students differ in their learning styles, strengths, needs and abilities and that classroom activities should be
adapted to meet these differences.
Examples
of evidence
Allan planned very well for his classes-including various learning stretegies, ICT, and various modes of language use. He
also had to plan for and teach students with special needs , and students of all levels of ability and engagement in the
classroom J.Damen- LOTE Mentor teacher

During my practicum for LOTE Japanese year 9, it was clear that some students were disengaged either due to their limited
language ability in Japanese or because they had decided to discontinue with their Japanese studies the following year. To
resolve t this issue an inquiry based learning project was implemented. This inquiry learning project had student led
outcomes informing the development of the teaching and learning activities which met the specific learning strengths and
needs of students across a full range of abilities (See attached Inquiry Learning project Japanese document)

Year 7s at Altona P-9 College were required to sit a spelling test every week. Students in this class varied greatly in their
literacy levels. To engage students in interacting and participating in the spelling test in a richer way the test was
differentiated to meet and challenge students levels. The test was broken up into three categories of increasing number
and complexity of words selected from the NAPLAN level 6 to level 8word list. Students were able to move up or down
categories according to their previous test scores. This task demonstrates a teaching strategy used to meet the specific
learning needs of students across a full range of abilities. (See attached annotated spelling test)

During my practicum at Williamstown High School I had the pleasure of attending a school-wide meeting focused on
Differentiation Action Teaching. This was led by the Learning Support Coordinator and then teams broke off into their
teaching methods. Teaching strategies were then developed as a result of collaborative planning within this group ( See
attached Meeting agenda and handout on Differentiated strategies).