The final step in the Spiral playbook is “the check”: “The purpose of your inquiry is to make a difference in outcomes that matter for learners. The checking questions ask: Are we making enough of a difference? How do we know” (Spiral-Playbook.pdf (c21canada.org)). This was the most important step for me, because it showed if what I was doing was actually working.

I felt that my differentiation in Math was successful because my top students were being challenged, and I felt that my low students were being met where they were at, and still were able to learn at a pace that was suitable for them.

In Literacy, I applied a similar strategy to the one I used in Math. My top students had extra work that they could challenge themselves with, but at the same time, it did not feel like they were being punished for getting their work done early with more work. They just different work that was specifically suited to their educational needs. For my low students, I again tried to meet them where they were at. This could mean many things from using scribes, having certain texts read aloud to them, or even one-on-one work from myself, an EA or a Resource teacher.

I know my teaching wasn’t perfect, and I know that it never will be. I am always a learner first, and a teacher second. Differentiation is my greatest challenge as a teacher, and also my greatest reward. I will always strive to meet students were they are at, and try to help them learn in the best way that they can.