Grab some resources to help guide you through
the rest of your first year. You got this!

It's a wrap!
We've wrapped up all three sessions of the 2017-18 Beginning Teacher Network and WOW what a great group of new educators. We hope you gained knowledge and resources to help you complete your first year with tremendous success. The collegial connections you've made don't have to end here. Please continue to stay in touch and those you've met along the way. Collaboration is key and we can sometimes be each others best point of resource and guidance.  Thank you!
Session 3 Stats
44 First-Year Teachers Engaged in Session 3
24 Elementary Teachers |  20 Secondary Teachers
7 Districts & 22 Schools were represented

Highlighted Topics:
  • Identifying learners' needs: analyzing the information provided by student work, pre-assessments and formative assessments
  • Developing lessons: incorporating instructional strategies that differentiate the learning for all students
  • Managing the classroom: creating an atmosphere that promotes learning for all
Feedback (32 of 44 participants responding):
  • 100% reported being able to apply what they have learned into their practice
  • 100% reported an increase in their knowledge
  • 97% reported the presenter as "effective" or "very effective" 
  • 97% reported an increase in their skills
  • 97% reported what they learned would positively impact their students.
  • 70% or more reported being either "mostly knowledgeable" or "very knowledgeable" regarding each of the topics AFTER completing the training session. 
Hear from Session 3 Participants
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  • "I enjoyed the training and it offered great insight for differentiated instruction and assignments." (Elementary Teacher - Fargo - McKinley Elementary)
  • "Being able to actually analyze our student's work was very valuable." (Elementary Teacher - Fargo - Bennett Elementary)
  • "Thank you for leading this professional development Carol! You did an amazing job and I enjoyed the others who taught as well! I learned many valuable things that will help me become a better educator!"  (Secondary Teacher - Sargent Central Public School)
  • "I loved learning more about differentiation, as it is something I try to use in my classroom all of the time.  I will be using a tiered assignment in January!  I'm really excited to put what I learned to good use!" (Teacher - Fargo - Discovery Middle School)

Resources to save!
A message from Carol Beaton,
"In reviewing your thoughtful  responses to the final survey after the Beginning Teacher Network's third and final session, many teachers shared that they'd like more on implementing differentiated instruction.  The links listed below may be redundant for some, but hopefully, will provide some tidbits that may be noteworthy. In several cases, the time spent digging deeper into the sites will be rewarded with some meaningful  information."


This article cements the relationship between pre-assessment (and the information gained from it) and differentiating instruction. 
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From Edutopia,  this site includes several videos and strategies that are easy to implement but have good results.
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"This paper has presented a very brief overview of links between curriculum, formative assessment, and differentiation and described the ways in which these three central classroom elements maximize learning for students who inevitably come to school with different entry points, interests, approaches to learning, races and cultures, languages, economic backgrounds, and experiences."   
 
There is a lengthy  list of strategies for scaffolding or extending the learning. The article finishes with discussion of 5 FAQ dealing with topics which a number of you raised: differentiating assessment;  grading formative assessment;  if homework isn't graded, how do teachers get students to do it; and how to grade in a differentiated classroom.  It is well worth the time to dig through.  The white paper is authored by a familiar name in differentiation:  Carol Ann Tomlinson.
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A flow chart of differentiation.  Again, the work of Carol Ann Tomlinson.
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Digging into this Resource Round-up can yield lots of ideas and thoughts worth considering.  From Edutopia, there is a wealth of information here. 
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Strategies for Managing a Differentiated Classroom
17 tips to help with the management issues when implementing differentiation.  The article contains basic ideas but expanded upon to provide useful tips. 

 
South East Education Cooperative
Carol Beaton, Beginning Teacher Network Coordinator