Parent Resources and Information
Do your kids complain of "being bored"? That may not be such a bad thing! According to a recent article by Ann Pleshette Murphy, "when kids have a chance to sit with their thoughts-not while playing a video game, watching TV, or doing homework - their brains benefit in ways that enhance other kinds of learning." Check out The Benefits of Boredom.
Internet Safety
These websites offer some thoughtful discussion and practical advice for supervising your children while they use the internet. They also have some great links.
What is differentiation?
Not all students are alike. Based on this knowledge, differentiated instruction applies an approach to teaching and learning so that students have multiple options for taking in information and making sense of ideas. The model of differentiated instruction requires teachers to be flexible in their approach to teaching and adjusting the curriculum and presentation of information to learners rather than expecting students to modify themselves for the curriculum. Classroom teaching is a blend of whole-class, group and individual instruction. Differentiated Instruction is a teaching theory based on the premise that instructional approaches should vary and be adapted in relation to individual and diverse students in classrooms.
To differentiate instruction is to recognize students varying background knowledge, readiness, language, preferences in learning, interests, and to react responsively. Differentiated instruction is a process to approach teaching and learning for students of differing abilities in the same class. The intent of differentiating instruction is to maximize each student’s growth and individual success by meeting each student where he or she is, and assisting in the learning process.
from the CAST website