Strength lies in differences, not in similarities.
―Stephen R. Covey
The Beauty of Different Needs
Fair is a place you go, not something that happens in this house. That is one of those things my kids remember me saying often when they were growing up. They laugh about it now, but in the moment it wasn’t their favorite thing to hear.
We live in a world that is obsessed with fairness, yet the nature of our humanity means we need different things. Can you imagine if we were all given the exact same shoe…in the name of fairness, of course.
How many people would actually benefit from the exact same shoe? Not only the same color and style, but the same length, width, and cushion.
It would be silly for us to think that giving everyone the same shoe would be fair.
Equally as silly is to believe that every student has the same learning needs. It is the beauty of our humanity that we need different things. Our contributors capture this beauty in remarkable ways. This week we look at engaging with differentiation—plus more, as always.
Shine on,
Ruth Ayres
Editor in Chief
Mandy Robek realizes her classroom library isn’t working for her second graders, in part because many of the books are still too difficult for students early in the year. She explains her process of sorting and stowing books for later use.
Shari Frost describes how a sixth-grade teacher provides a range of poetry options to meet the needs of all students.
We Are Teachers shares the 15 best poetry websites for kids, teens, teachers, and classrooms.
If you are an instructional coach, you don’t want to miss the Coach-to-Coach network that meets once a month for a cams-on, high-energy, good vibes dose of positivity and practicality. Join FREE by registering on our sister site, The Lead Learners. The next meeting is Wednesday, March 20, from noon to 12:35 p.m. (EST).
Do you wish you had more time to share new books with your students? We know you don’t need fluff or pretty activities. Instead we get to the heart of what you need to thoughtfully share new books in your classroom.
NEW! Our book guides are created and vetted by in-the-field educators. They hold true to the tenets of giving students choice and voice in their reading lives, while empowering a teacher to expand the representation of books shared with students. Click here to see all of our new book guides.
Begin with the 2024 Caldecott winner…
Big, written and illustrated by Vashti Harrison, is the story of a young girl who receives many messages about what it means to be big and which of those messages she chooses to own.
New members-only content is added each week to the Choice Literacy website. If you’re not yet a member, click here to explore membership options.
The possibilities for differentiation during morning message are almost endless. Ruth Metcalfe highlights ways to meet a wide variety of needs via morning message.
Julie Cox reminds us that for many students, the loneliness and fear of COVID years clings like smoke, and they don’t always have the language to talk about it. While we have worked hard at helping students reclaim content knowledge, we must also help them express and process feelings they might not know how to recognize.
Choice Numeracy | Mallory Messenger emphasizes the importance of providing time for students to share their learning and offers different formats for a share session. Mallory guides us in making decisions so that share time consolidates and uplifts the learning.
In this encore video, Katie Doherty works with a small group of sixth graders who need extra support as they read the poem “Aspects of Autumn.“
New members-only content is added each week to the Choice Literacy website. If you’re not yet a member, click here to explore membership options.
Josie Stewart and Hannah Tills compare embarking on a new curriculum program to a journey to a new country. Their “travel tips” and encouragement will position instructional coaches to navigate the new program.
Jennifer Schwanke shares tips for ensuring your classroom visits aren’t unexpected or unwelcome.
Principal Lee Snider explains why it is important for coaches to schedule in-class time with every teacher, and how principals can help support this work.
Quote It:
In differentiation, not in uniformity, lies the path of progress.
—Louis D. Brandeis
That’s all for this week!
