Ask the Experts: Differentiation in Middle School Math
A wise person (probably a teacher) once said, “What’s equal is not always fair. What’s fair is not always equal.” This certainly goes for teaching. Middle school math differentiation of instruction is a key to meeting the individual needs of students and helping ensure their success in learning. We asked a few top middle school math teachers, math coaches, and curriculum specialists to weigh in on common questions middle school math teachers have about differentiating instruction. “I have several students who are very good with computation and mathematical procedures, but who struggle in applying what they know in problem-solving situations. My other students are not as skilled with procedures, but they can problem-solve. What can I do to help each group?” We asked two veteran middle school math teachers from Princeton Junction, NJ for their best advice. Mike Delasandro recommends putting your students into mixed school groups. He says, “Start with an assignment that involves bot...